Bethlenfalvy's fall statement promised a 2022 Ontario Staycation Tax Credit
“To help the tourism and hospitality sectors recover, and encourage Ontario families to explore the province, the government is proposing a new temporary Ontario Staycation Tax Credit for 2022. The credit would provide an estimated $270 million to support over one-and-a-half million families to further discover Ontario.”
Ontario government (2021 Fall Economic Statement news release), · 2021 Fall Economic Statement (Build Ontario)
What happened · Dec 9, 2021
The credit was legislated in Bill 43 (Royal Assent December 9, 2021) and claimed on 2022 tax returns. The tourism ministry later said it paid about $180 million to just over 900,000 families, less than the $270 million and 1.5 million families first estimated.
The refundable credit was 20 per cent of eligible 2022 Ontario accommodation costs, up to $200 for an individual and $400 for a family. It was enacted through the Build Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2021, which received Royal Assent on December 9, 2021. On March 10, 2022, the government confirmed that stays from January 1 to December 31, 2022 qualified and that residents would claim the credit on their 2022 returns. In March 2025, a tourism ministry spokesperson told CBC the credit "provided about $180 million to just over 900,000 families". That was about two-thirds of the $270 million estimate and fewer families than projected. The credit was temporary as announced and was not renewed after 2022, despite industry requests in 2025.
Promise: Ontario Newsroom, Government of Ontario
Outcome: Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Ontario Newsroom, CBC News