Editor:
Everyone is entitled to their opinion about the HST and most people have one. I support the HST and will vote no to extinguishing it.
The B.C. Federation of Labour is now running ads attacking me personally over the HST.
They, like anyone, are entitled to their opinion. I think their tactics are dishonest, but it’s their choice.
What isn’t their choice is to provide blatantly false information to people about the facts of the HST.
Here’s the truth:
Under a 10 per cent HST, the average family will come out $120 ahead in tax than under the 12 per cent HST.
Corporations benefit from the HST, and to rebalance the burden, corporate income tax rates will be raised to 12 per cent from the current 10 per cent.
Returning to the PST and GST at 12 per cent puts a $3-billion hole in the budget; the HST, by spurring investment and creating jobs, brings in more provincial tax revenue over the long term. That’s money we need for education and health care.
The BC Federation of Labour and their NDP partners are entitled to their opinions, but please, make them stick to the facts.
Donna Barnett
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA
