Editor:
Who is Premier Christy Clark trying to kid? Does she think British Columbians are stupid?
First the BC Liberal government says the HST will be revenue neutral. Now if we don’t have it, we’ll have a $3 billion shortfall in the provincial budget.
Bear with me; I’m not an economist or financial guru, but let’s see if I can do this math – $1.6 billion returned to Ottawa, leaving $1.4 billion that the province would not have made under the PST.
How is that revenue neutral?
The Canadian federal government has agreed to allow the B.C. portion of the HST to be reduced to 10 per cent by July 2014. Why wouldn’t they? The federal government stands to collect five per cent more in taxes on items that were exempt under the old GST. The reduction does not affect the federal government, but a return to the old GST sure would.
The federal government is in collusion with the BC Liberal government. Both would boldly lie to the people of B.C. whom they serve. In fact, the BC Liberal government have lied to the people of B.C., in my opinion. Even at 10 per cent, the HST will collect more tax than the seven per cent PST plus the five per cent GST, because of how the taxes are applied.
In the meantime, the HST will be 12 per cent until July 2012, then 11 per cent until July 2014, when it will finally be reduced to 10 per cent. How much extra tax will the BC Liberal government rake in during that time? They have taken in an extra $820 million more than expected during the first 11 months of the HST.
Do you see better health care or education? Do you see lower unemployment? Do you see lower prices? These were all things the HST was supposed to bring.
Come on, B.C. Wake up and vote ‘yes’ to extinguish the HST!
Bryan Peterson, Surrey
