For all Canadian stores....Effective January 1, 2008, the rate of the GST and the federal component of the HST will be reduced from 6% to 5%. The provincial component of the HST will remain at 8%. This means that the rate of HST will be reduced from 14% to 13%. Please note that the HST applies only to purchases made in or imported into New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador (the participating provinces) and the GST applies to supplies made in the rest of Canada.