I would like to thank the government for lowering the HST from 12 per cent to 10 per cent albeit over several years. That will help those who are on fixed incomes and families who are in the low income bracket.
In my opinion, now that the HST is in place we should make every effort to make it work. I say this in part because I realize it makes sense — especially for big business.
However, in order to really make it work for the average citizen further changes must be forthcoming. It’s fairly simple, and is nothing new.
Create the same tax exemptions to basic items such as food staples (bread, milk), hygiene products, drugs and basic health care, energy saving devices, etc., that we had for the PST.
Then, and only then will this new tax work for those who are now seeing a future of financial struggle.
Then, and only then will the ‘average’ citizen, and small businesses accept and whole heartedly support the HST.
As Ida Chong put it with the HST families will be better off on their routine expenditures. But many tax-based expenditures that adversely affect incomes are not routine expenditures. In fact more often that not the greater financial burdens come with those expenditures that are costly, and not routine.
I am disappointed that the wording of this referendum does not make any point regarding exceptions to this tax.
Len Fallan,
Central Saanich
