News Releases

At Connect 2025, DSA Canada hosted a powerhouse panel of legal and regulatory experts to decode today’s complex business landscape for direct sellers. From federal tax obligations to international tariffs and regulatory shifts, this session gave attendees the clarity and direction they need to stay ahead.

Here’s a recap of key takeaways and compliance tips from presentations by Colleen Ma (Miller Thomson LLP), John Bassindale (Millar Kreklewetz LLP), and Lewis Retik (Gowling WLG LLP):

Sales Tax Tips: Are You Charging the Right Rate?

• GST, HST, and PST vary by province. Nova Scotia now has 14% HST.
• Bonuses and commissions count as taxable services — ensure they're part of your GST/HST reporting and T4A slips.
• Tax treatment varies. In Quebec and federally, you can claim input tax credits (ITCs) on gifts. In some provinces like BC and SK, self-assessment may apply.
• Trademark applications are now processed in under a year. Don’t forget Quebec’s new French labelling laws when protecting your brand.

Tariff and Trade Updates: Navigating Cross-Border Complexities

• Canadian and U.S. surtaxes are hitting various product categories. Review your sourcing and supplier origins now.
• Segment shipments, verify origin, and prepare for surtaxes if sourcing from the U.S.
• Remission Orders are available, especially if no viable non-U.S. source exists. Apply before October 16, 2025, for eligibility.
• New federal rules require platforms (including direct sellers using buy-resale models) to report seller activity. Grace period ends July 31, 2025.
• Affiliates earning over $30K or generating too many non-consumer sales can disqualify companies from Network Sellers Method (NSM) GST/HST benefits. Track carefully!

Regulatory Watch: What’s New for Products, Labelling & Health Claims

• Natural Health Products (NHPs): New plain language labelling compliance deadline pushed to June 22, 2028.
• Fragrance disclosure: Starting April 2026, 24 allergens must be listed in cosmetics. By 2028, that grows to 81 allergens.
• Food labels: By January 1, 2026, prepackaged foods high in sugar, salt, or fat require front-of-pack (FOP) warnings.
• Quebec language law (Bill 96): As of June 1, 2025, most labels must be in French unless a registered trademark exemption applies. Legacy products get a grace period until June 1, 2027.

Advocacy in Action

DSA Canada continues to engage with regulators and legislators to advocate for practical, balanced policy development that supports the growth and integrity of direct selling in Canada.

We encourage all members to:

• Attend upcoming DSA Canada webinars and Member Talks events
• Reach out with your questions or concerns
• Share feedback that can help shape our advocacy priorities