BC SUPREME COURT DECLARES PROVINCIAL SALES TAX UNCONSTITUTIONAL (SORT OF)

In a decision rendered February 8th 2005, the British Columbia Supreme court ruled, in response to a constitutional challenge, that low income individuals do not have to pay the 7% special sales tax levied by the BC government on legal services.

For legal services rendered on or after February 8th 2005, lawyers are not required to collect and remit tax on legal services rendered to individuals whose incomes fall below the qualifying thresholds for access to Legal Aid.

GreenWay Legal Centre has established a protocol for identifying and assisting those of its clients who may benefit from this court decision, and has sent a rude letter to the government complaining about how silly the resulting situation is.