Upcoming tax holiday a logistical nightmare before Christmas according to Christmas tree farmers

The upcoming holiday tax break the federal government recently announced is expected to be an "accounting nightmare" for Christmas tree farmers across the country, as many wind down their peak season just as the break comes into effect.

Christmas trees have been included with the goods that will be eligible for the new “tax vacation” that intends to give consumers a break during the holiday season and into the new year.

"Not only is it an accounting nightmare, but it's a logistical nightmare because every day it's being updated," stated Shirley Brennan, executive director of the Canadian Christmas Trees Association.

Brennan, who is also executive director of the Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario, said things remain unclear as to what farmers should do before the break goes into effect on Saturday, suggesting not enough notice was given in order to alter any point of sales (POS) systems to remove the tax from purchases.

"As of yesterday, when we called in for the update, we were told 'well this is still proposed,” said Brennan.

“It's not a guarantee but be prepared for it to be a guarantee.' So, all my farms, and a lot of the farms in Ontario are smaller... To have somebody to be able to change that POS system or change those signs, that cost involved to do that is an added cost that they didn't expect this year. So, it's just one more thing that hasn't been well thought of."

Brennan said she expects this weekend to be the last big weekend for Christmas tree shoppers, telling CTV News she believes the industry should have been included in conversations about the tax break sooner.

"That's all we're asking, right? I met with everybody across Canada in September,” she said.

“If I could have brought this to our members in September, it would have been so much easier. We would have been readily available. I would have been able to have answers for not only the members in Ontario, but all across Canada, because we're not getting any answers."

Brennan said the growing season was ideal this year in helping farmers rebound from weather-related issues that lingered in years past.

"Our season started out great," Brennan explained.

"We were all excited about the season. This is one of the first years in a few years that Mother Nature has aligned with us. We all started off on a great, great note and then the government passed this holiday tax."

She continued, saying while this might be the last big weekend for tree shopping of the year, anyone celebrating Ukrainian or Orthodox Christmas will buy one in January.

“Some farms after this weekend they're shut,” she said.

“So, then they've gone through the added cost of changing everything only for 24 hours."

Bastien Tree Farm owner, Ovide Bastien said he expects a busy weekend at his Essex farm as the tax break takes effect, but said it comes a little to late for most people looking for a real tree.

"The timing, right? Christmas is, like I said, most people got their shopping done by Dec. 14. It's kind of a little bit late, right?” said Bastien.

Bastien said his farm had no shortage of trees this year and that he's still waiting for word on what exactly needs to take place before Saturday's tax holiday begins.

"It's going to be the last-minute thing," he said.

"I think it's silly. I know a lot of people in small businesses, you've got to adjust all your computers, your tills, it’s just for all this for a couple of weeks."

The tax break begins on Saturday and lasts until February 15, 2025.