Curves Rallies Against Tax on Fitness Memberships in Canada
Rally at Queen's Park gets politicians' and media's attention.
The HST fitness tax will mean a less healthy Ontario.
This was the message sent by more than 300 Curves owners and members to the government as they rallied outside the Ontario legislature at Queen's Park on May 19.
On July 1, the 13 percent harmonized sales tax (HST) is scheduled to take effect, combining the 8 percent provincial sales tax (PST) with the 5 percent goods and services tax (GST).
The tax, which includes fitness memberships but excludes junk food and value meals under $4, is nothing short of the government's endorsement of obesity, Curves owner Andy Soumbos told supporters, politicians and the media.
Soumbos addressed the crowd before handing over a box of petitions containing 15,000 signatures to Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak and rally sponsor PC MPP Lisa MacLeod (Nepean-Carleton).
(Pictured below, from left: Tim Hudak, Lisa MacLeod, Andy Soumbos)
“What really does not make sense is the exemption on fast food under four dollars. How can the government justify making fast food more accessible and fitness less accessible?" asked Soumbos, owner of 14 Curves franchises in Ontario. “A fit Ontarian is a productive Ontarian. A tax on fitness is a tax on good health.”
MacLeod called the new levy a $3-billion tax grab to pay for government waste.
Hudak called for the government to "ax the tax," as supporters picked up the chant in approval.
Other representatives of Canadian fitness agree.
“Taxing fitness is wrong as it creates a financial barrier to exercise which in turn will prevent more Ontarians from leading a healthy, active lifestyle,” said Dave Hardy, President of the Fitness Industry Council of Canada (FIC). “A fit and healthier Ontarian will need less healthcare and miss less work due to illness.”
Research consistently shows that a physically active person is more likely to have better health outcomes than a non-active person. Regular physical activity is effective in the prevention of several chronic diseases. The Ontario government should be removing financial barriers to a healthy lifestyle, rally supporters said, not building barriers through higher costs in the form of the HST.
The spirited event concluded with a 15-minute group exercise class on the lawn.
On July 1, the 13 percent harmonized sales tax (HST) is scheduled to take effect, combining the 8 percent provincial sales tax (PST) with the 5 percent goods and services tax (GST). 
“What really does not make sense is the exemption on fast food under four dollars. How can the government justify making fast food more accessible and fitness less accessible?" asked Soumbos, owner of 14 Curves franchises in Ontario. “A fit Ontarian is a productive Ontarian. A tax on fitness is a tax on good health.”
Other representatives of Canadian fitness agree. 
The spirited event concluded with a 15-minute group exercise class on the lawn.