What happened to the Fitness Tax Credit for adults in Canada?

Do you remember hearing about this back about a year ago? Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada "announced that a re-elected Conservative Government will introduce a new $500 Fitness Tax Credit for adults once the budget is balanced (Target 2015). In addition, Mr. Harper announced that he will double the existing Children’s Fitness Tax Credit from $500 to $1,000 dollars during the next Conservative mandate." Fitness Industry Council of Canada

I remember, and I was pretty excited about the prospect of being able to claim some of my fitness club fees on my tax return. Adult Fitness Tax Credit

Of course, like most, I failed to really hear the part about "once the budget is balanced". Sounds alot like, "when turkeys bark like dogs". Which, could be a really long time coming.

Sigh....... The FIC even made a really cool little poster to promote excitment and get people talking about the announcement.

The Child fitness credit has been in place since January 2010. Again, its been a great idea and sounds fantastic, but in reality it provides a max of $50 per child per year. My daughter is a competitive gymnast. Her training fees are almost $3k per year. Even a parent who's child takes swimming lessons at a recreational facility will spend $300-500 per year, if they attend sessions year round. So $50 isn't alot, but its more than what we got before.......

Governments are silly aren't they? They spend time and money on wonderful studies, but I wonder if they ever read the studies??

Here is a small exerpt from the Adult Fitness Tax Credit web site:

"... The federal government would save $2.5 billion over the next 21 years by extending the benefits of the current Children’s Fitness Tax Credit program to adults, according to Dave Hardy, President of the Fitness Industry Council of Canada (FIC) following the release of an economic study on the effects of the program.

“The financial incentive offered by a federal adult fitness tax credit will encourage nearly one million more Canadians to get active and healthier,” said Hardy. “These healthier Canadians will need less health care and miss less work due to illness.” "

Seems like a no-brainer.

If you agree with the implementation of this new proposed (promised) fitness tax credit, why not contact your local MP and let your opinion be counted??

until next time; don't sweat the small stuff