One result of the European war was that Canada, in common with many other countries, had to impose special taxes. The Hon. W. T. White, Minister of Finance, outlined the various tariff changes and special taxes in the House of Commons, Ottawa, on February 11th, 1915, and a resume of the chief items in the new “budget” was published in the Weekly for Feb. 7th as follows:—
The tariff changes went into effect at the time of the announcement. The special tax on wine and champagne goes into effect at once. The other special taxes take effect at a date to be yet fixed. The stamp tax on letters means that the old 3 cent postage rate is restored, and a city letter costs 2 cents.
There is to be no income tax.
The following are some of the items of taxation:—
One cent on telegraph and cable messages.
Five cents for every five dollars on railroad and steamboat tickets.
Ten cents on sleeping car and five cents on parlor car tickets.
One to three dollars per passenger from steamboat companies carrying to ports other than in Canada, Newfoundland, the United States of America, and British West Indies.
Two cents on all bank checks, receipts and bills of exchange, express and post-office orders.
One cent on postal notes.