After reading Mr. McLaren's letter to the editor I just had to respond.
He is partly right that this referendum has a lot of emotion in it but it also has common sense involved.
In May 2010 the Liberal majority government proposed the enactment of the HST. It was said at that time it would be revenue neutral.
In July 2010 the HST came into our lives. In May of 2011 it was found to be that revenue neutral was not the fact.
From the time it was enacted to the present I've heard a number of economists say that this would be great for the economy.
Not one of these scholars have said in their presentations when we will start paying down the debt of this province.
They maintain that a consumption tax VAT is the only way to go as they have in Europe. We all know the problems they are having now.
They also say that the costs would go down but these savings just haven't been passed on.
In June of this year we found out that the HST was indeed not revenue neutral. At that time it was announced that the HST would drop to 10 per cent by 2014, during that time business tax will go up 2 per cent.
During the last election and during this HST referendum fight, businesses have help fund the Liberal-dominated government fight for positive results in this manner.
It seems to me if they can fund all of this they can afford to pay more taxes.
Right now we are paying the full 12 per cent HST on most goods and services.
The provincial debt has not receded, in fact it's still climbing. Sooner or later we will have to grab the bull by the horns and pay down this debt.
My question is, "What tax rate do we need to start paying down this debt?"
Stan New
Prince George
