The recently announced federal tax break on GST-HST also applies to toys—so here’s a list of our recommendation for car-lovers
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Canadian Hot Wheels fans (and parents of automobile-obsessed children) rejoice! The federal government has taken the unprecedented step of introducing a sales tax holiday, a tax break if you will, that is specifically aimed at the diecast cars and trucks that we all love so much.
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Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration: the rollback of the GST (and, where applicable, HST) applies to a long list of consumer goods, including restaurant meals, prepared foods, alcoholic beverages, books, video-game consoles, and even Christmas trees. None of that matters, however, to the diehard Hot Wheels fans who zeroed in on the specific verbiage in the announcement made this week, which, in the “Qualifying Goods” section, referenced “a toy that imitates another item (e.g., a doll house, a toy car or truck, a toy farm set, or an action figure).”
If you’re more of a build-it-yourself type of miniature auto enthusiast, don’t despair: the feds made sure to include you too by covering “a construction toy (e.g., building blocks, such as Lego, STEM assembly kits, or plasticine).”
1. Hot Wheels 85th Anniversary Batmobile Collection
We’re not exactly sure how Mattel’s maths managed to sum out 85 years, given that the first model celebrated here is the classic 1966 car, but we’re happy to see the Tumbler, the weird Robert Pattinson muscle machine (from The Batman), and especially the Animated Series ride all included in this six-Bat set.
2. Ghostbusters ECTO-1 LEGO Set
3. Hot Wheels Car Culture Japan Historics 4 Container Set
With a package that resembles the trans-Pacific cargo containers that have become a familiar sight to anyone interested in importing JDM-specific metal, the Historics 4 group includes paint-job refreshes of familiar castings like the Mazda RX-3 and Nissan Fairlady Z; alongside newer additions such as the Toyota Corolla Levin, a customized ’73 Honda Civic, and a Prince Skyline GT.
4. Mercedes-Benz G500 Professional Line LEGO Technic Set
With 2,891 pieces inside the box, experienced constructors will find enough to keep them challenged and engaged, while the G-Class SUV’s 90-degree angles and styling seemingly designed to be venerated in brick form will help newcomers acclimate to the more demanding aspects of Technic kits.
5. Hot Wheels Car Culture World Tour 2024
The fun part? You can hunt these ones down individually, which means more excuses to browse the diecast aisle at your favourite retailer. If something else catches your eye, of course, you may come home with even more collateral damage to your wallet—tax-free collateral damage.
6. NASA Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle Technic Set
While your desk or dining room table might not be an exact double for the moon’s craggy surface, this ultra-detailed Technic model comes as close to doppelganger status as any home-assembled Lunar Rover could claim. Lego even includes several display plaques that refer to specific missions the moon buggy participated in, as well as different equipment packages that can be attached to and deployed by the Rover.
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