And that’s reason enough for FIC to
continue lobbying for more change. While Nova Scotia passed a provincial Healthy Living Tax Incentive for chil- dren, a similar bill for both children and adults has been put on hold in the province of Alberta. Trish Sarker, FIC association man-
ager, says the organization is current- ly fighting the Harmonized Sales Tax (13% in Ontario and 12% in British Columbia) levied on the cost of fit- ness club memberships in these two provinces – a tax that clubs were pre- viously exempt from charging their members. Sarker says that this added tax burden is bound to slow member- ship sales and increase membership attrition, especially in a slow economy when people watch every penny they spend. A website that encourages people to
participate and lobby their elected rep- resentations to repeal what amounts to a tax on health and fitness (www.
nofitnesstax.ca) was launched as part of FIC’s ongoing effort to get that tax off the books.
back page
Fitness Tax Credit which would poten- tially offset the additional cost of the Harmonized Sales Tax. FIC success- fully lobbied for the Child Activity Credit which was implemented in Ontario in 2010. If re-elected this fall, the Liberal party has pledged to amend the credit to include adults. Gilbank and Hardy will continue this lobbying campaign in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec. FIC continues to build on its accom-
FIC launched
www.nofitnesstax.ca to lobby the removal of the HST from the cost of fitness club memberships in Ontario and B.C.
Last May, FIC organized a No
Fitness Tax public rally at Queen’s Park in Toronto to raise awareness and gather support for this issue. The crowd, nearly 500 club owners and representatives, delivered a message of solidarity when it delivered 15,000 anti-HST petitions. Since then, FIC staff have met with
Ontario’s Minister of Revenue John Wilkinson to request that the gov- ernment implement a No Age Limit
plishments: In a recent court battle, it fought new fees imposed on fitness clubs for using copyrighted music in fitness and dance classes. A decision is expected later this year. The organization continues to
FIC organized the No Fitness Tax public rally at Queen’s Park in Toronto, May 2010.
Fitness Industry Times
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support consumer protection legisla- tion in the fitness industry, especially legislation that safeguards the pub- lic against fraud, and it fosters fair- ness and competition in the fitness industry. While there are still challenges
to face, Hardy is confident that the organization is in a good position to affect those changes. FBC
Kathryn Korchok is a freelance writer whose current passion is tennis. She also loves yoga, dance, hiking and seeking balance in life.
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Fitness Industry Council of Canada is a not-for-profit trade organization that represents the Canadian fitness industry and seeks to create a more physically active and healthy country. FIC is completely funded by memberships from club owners and suppliers. Smaller clubs (fewer than 2,000 members) are asked to contribute $500 or $42 per month. Larger fitness centres are asked for a membership contribution of 25 cents per member per year. For information on how to support FIC, visit
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September/October 2011 Fitness Business Canada 19 Payment Method
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"FIC is well positioned to continue to promote and protect the Canadian fitness industry." ~ David Hardy, FIC president
A Bi-Monthly Newsletter by Fitness Industry Council of Canada
July 2008
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