Re: "Yes, yes oh yes"
It's been said that the HST is terrific tax policy and terrible politics. Bang on. Your editorial (July 14)speaks to this. It's all about the emotional politics, while the rational policy of the HST gets left in the lurch.
The HST referendum is one of the most important public decisions in B.C.'s recent history.
It is not a public evaluation of the provincial government. It is not a provincial leadership election. That will come soon enough. The referendum is about voting NO to achieve the lower 10 per cent HST, or returning to the old, higher 12 per cent PST-GST.
Anyone can recognize that the tax wasn't implemented in the fairest, most transparent manner. Get over it. A decision of this magnitude must be based on facts, not anger. Logic, not fear. Reason, not hatred. You might hate the Liberals, but you cannot attack the logic behind the HST. A wrong decision comes with real consequences. Besides, the tax [will be] lowered from 12 per cent to 10 per cent. To say that the government wasn't tuned into this issue simply wouldn't be fair.
Keeping the PST-GST will mean the average B.C. family loses $120 more a year; children and seniors won't receive $175 transition cheques; lower-income families won't get rebate cheques up to $230; and 24,400 new jobs that would have been created with the HST, will vanish.
It also means we have to find a way to give back $1.6 billion federal government dollars that we don't have, money that would likely come from cuts to social services such as education and health, and/or other tax increases
These are the facts that matter for British Columbians, and for the future of B.C.'s economy.
Northern B.C. is on the verge of creating major capital projects in construction, transportation and mining. These are highly-paid private-sector jobs These jobs are desperately needed by hard-working northern families. For the first time in a long time - Northern B.C. will be at the centre of an economic "boom". I believe the best way to secure these jobs is to foster a tax regime that does not apply a 7 per cent penalty for doing just what we want firms to do - grow, expand and hire.
These new projects mean thousands of more jobs for families in the North, and a big boost for B.C.'s economy. Going backwards to the PST-GST would kill all of this promise, and put northern families at risk.
That's why I'm voting NO to keep the HST.
D. R. McLaren
President and CEO,
Commonwealth Group of Companies
Prince George
