The Fitness Industry Council of Canada is trying to get Ottawa to include gym memberships and services as a medical expense on personal taxes.Canada’s fitness industry is stepping up efforts ahead of a possible fall election to try to get Ottawa to include gym memberships and services as a medical expense on personal taxes, alongside other eligible costs such as physiotherapy, dietician consultations and medical cannabis.
closings. Instead of asking for money, the FIC put forward what it views as a longer-term solution to help improve the fitness industry and the physical and mental health of Canadians.“We thought, ‘how about we have an ask that includes improving Canadians’ accessibility to fitness, putting the power in their hands,” says Sara Hodson, who is leading the FIC initiative from British Columbia.
The FIC proposal is to have fitness memberships and services, such as fitness training, considered a health care expense in line 33099 on a personal tax return. Ms. Hodson says it would be an easy change since there’s already a line for “athletic or fitness club fees,” on the tax form, but they are listed as “not eligible.” The government would just need to agree to switch it to “eligible,” she says.
Meantime, the Liberal government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced a new physical activity tax credit in its recent budget last month, which provides a refundable tax credit of up to $2,000 per family for sports and recreational activities. The government said the tax credit would incentivize people to get active and support the local health and wellness industry.
However, he notes many of the roughly 140 items that are eligible are to treat medical conditions, not prevent them as a fitness membership might. Terri-Lynn Thomson, 41, says she would love to be able to deduct her gym membership as a medical expense on her taxes. The Sarnia-area resident says she easily spent about $2,400 a year on her gym membership, which includes small group fitness classes, before the pandemic closings – and is ready to get back to that routine.
Covering mouth & nose will weaken lungs, so how scientific is this solution?! The more lungs expand, the healthier they become! The world has turned into hospitals & clinics! Finally, people had the chance to look like a doctor or a nurse! Ignorance did not belong to Dark Ages!
Staying at home eating adds to obesity, so how scientific is that? Drinking alcohol became an essential part of life during a pandemic, how scientific is that? Mental health clinics & hospitals are under tremendous pressure as a result of this method of handling this virus?
As long as the tax deductions also go to the cost of setting up and maintaining a home gym...why the hell not?
Come on give your head a shake, promoting a healthy lifestyle Ridiculous
Why?
Yessssssss!!!!
how bout you make work clothes and commuting tax deductible?