CMRA Says Change in Government a Positive Outcome for Canada’s Recreational Boating Industry.
Jan 28, 2025
By Mathew Channer
The Canadian Marine Retailers Association (CMRA) says a switch to a conservative government in Canada will be a positive result for Canada’s recreational marine industry.
In response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation and the polls suggesting the high likelihood of a Conservative Party of Canada win in the upcoming federal election, CMRA President and Boating Ontario CEO Rick Layzell says he’s optimistic that a political switch-up will be a win for Canadian boaters.
“History has shown that conservative governments typically have a more amenable approach to recreational boating and recognize the contributions the sport makes to the GDP and the growth of the economy,” he said.
Specifically, the CMRA hopes that an incoming conservative government will act to remove Canada’s “Luxury Tax” on recreational vessels.
The CMRA is currently in open dialogue with the conservative party to assist them in removing the Luxury Tax.
“The signaling from the conservatives is that they will make the tax go away,” Layzell said.
Despite its optimism, the CMRA remains cautious about short-term reactive measures that may come from the current government in response to US President Trump’s intention to increase tariffs against Canada.
About CMRA:
As the voice of all aspects of retail in Canada’s recreational marine industry, CMRA members represent over 800 member companies across the country. CMRA was formed to create a cohesive and constructive national voice for advocacy issues on behalf of the recreational boating sector.
