MUN eligible for federal rebates on book tax, but students aren't

Removing the provincial rebate on book taxes was an unfortunate step to knocking down the deficit, says Finance Minister Cathy Bennett, but rebates do apply for institutions like Memorial University.

"As part of measures to increase revenue, the HST rebate on books was eliminated, including text books for post-secondary students in Newfoundland and Labrador resulting in estimated savings of approximately $2.1 million," she said in a statement. 

• MUN students say new N.L. book tax hitting them hard

Bennett pointed to the federal book rebate as a means for public sector institutions, like Memorial University, to get back some of the money lost to the 15 per cent HST on books.

Not mentioned in Bennett's statement, however, is that rebates are of no help to students.

Luanne Kelly, manager of the Memorial University book store, said the rebate only applies to internal purchases — like a professor needing a copy of a book for instruction — and not the sale of books at the university.

Under the Excise Tax Act, Section 259, three provinces are eligible for full tax rebates on books for public sector institutions.

Newfoundland and Labrador is one of those provinces, and Memorial University is a qualifying institution.

The book store sought advice from the province before the book tax came into effect, Kelly said, and received verbal confirmation the rebate did not apply to books being sold in-store.

• Book tax annoying for readers, 'crushing' for independent store owner

A follow up message from Bennett's office to CBC confirmed the rebate does not apply to students.

The Memorial University Students' Union raised concerns this week about the impact of the tax on textbooks.

Many students spend hundreds of dollars on textbooks each semester, even before the new 10 per cent provincial tax was factored in.