Apparently, we are now going to be given the privilege of voting on whether or not we should have HST in this province. Better late than never!
This may be an opportunity for Christy Clark to right what is wrong and she’s even planning to change her name after the province’s bad marriage to the Liberals.
The HST first of all for those of you who aren’t sure about it has done the following:
Eliminated the PST/GST combination tax, where seven per cent was remitted to the province and five per cent remitted to Revenue Canada.
This also means that the PST collection jobs were also eliminated and you guessed it, hired more federal government people.
At the till, for the most part, you are paying what you always paid, 12 per cent.
The small business owner you paid that 12 per cent to, is now paying 12 per cent for their supplies, instead of five per cent. Their supplier is also paying 12 per cent, and their supplier is also paying 12 per cent.
So, the consumer is paying the same price for everything and the small business are paying more over and over again.
Yes, we can claim the 12 per cent we paid against the 12 per cent we receive.
But know this, the federal government is getting 12 per cent on product and shipping every time that item changes hands.
So, in a country where corporations are paying virtually no tax, can employ local people or not, the HST is just a tax grab from small businesses.
The revenue generated for GST, and now HST in five provinces I believe, goes into a black hole, where the taxpayers now have no right to ask what the money is spent on, or where in fact it has all gone since our current prime minister has virtually removed access to the Freedom of Information act.
The transfer payments to provinces have been cut for health care, education and a myriad of other services. That leaves the provinces to pay for everything.
We are lobbied and happily contribute to all of these shelters and hospitals and fundraisers for charities, but why?
So we can each get a peanut for a tax break!
“This is the single most important step provinces with retail businesses can take to improve the competitiveness of Canadian Business,” says Stephen Harper.
Really!
What he meant to say was, retail businesses are improving the competitiveness of Big Business in Canada.
I have no problem paying HST on anything, but one of the options on the upcoming vote should be, let’s keep the 12 per cent HST we all pay in this province.
It takes Revenue Canada four months just to read a letter.
We should keep as much as we can in B.C., so even going back to the PST/GST will restore some provincial jobs and some money in the province.
Nadine Wilson
Vernon
