To the editor:
The controversy on the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) has a big player on the “yes” side – the provincial government.
Not only did the B.C. Liberals dictatorially force the HST through the legislature, but they’re now possibly spending millions to justify it.
The recent panel report comes from a group that certainly seems to be on the “yes” side judging by their qualifications, but still had to report some of the negative aspects of the tax. The panel figures of 15 per cent of families in British Columbia are earning less than $10,000 leaves a huge credibility gap in their number juggling, and if this were true, then they are in severe poverty, hardly an endorsement of the Liberal economy.
None of the so-called “experts” in finance have been able to show me how another tax is good for me. Prices aren’t down, there are no “extra jobs” generated by the tax unless you are in accounting or the government.
We don’t have to pay back any money to the feds if the HST is extinguished and we won’t send them $300 million a month that they now expect.
The B.C. Liberals promise to perhaps “reduce” the tax still has it applied to many more consumer goods than before with PST/GST and, of course, the tax can be increased at any time and no doubt will be.
The B.C. Liberals need the extra money to pay for the triple price contracts for run-of-river projects – the damming of small pristine creeks and rivers to produce super expensive and limited power.
Vote to extinguish the HST and it is one step to taking back your province.
Gary Young
Lac la Hache
