"The truth is the first casualty of war".
Be aware many of the statements being made to convince us to vote for retaining the HST may be incorrect, or even disingenuous, and being made because proponents of this tax stand to greatly benefit financially.
Over 700,000 petitioners against this new HST were aware that this HST hurts seniors and families, is inflationary, and is bad economics for B.C.
Also realizing this, or as an incentive to gain votes, the new premier has now promised a $120 rebate and a ''fix" to 10 per cent - three years from now. Not nearly good enough according to the numbers. It will still be what it is, a very large tax increase.
Previously, under the old PST, business enjoyed extensive exemptions. Under the HST, large corporations can now pay nothing, and is a very unfair tax, placed on seniors and families and the average working citizen. Businesses normally strive to eliminate labour costs (jobs) with new technology and equipment.
Not being mentioned, and no wonder, is the extensive list of previously tax-exempt items under the PST, and now being taxed an additional seven per cent under the HST. Some of these items are cable television, telephone, taxi fares, bicycles, newspapers, restaurant meals, funeral costs, monthly strata fees, Realtor fees, homerepairs and renovations, home inspections and appraisals, new homes over $525,000, domestic airline flights, movies, haircuts, vitamins, health foods, non prescription drugs, some groceries, accountants and financial services, massage therapy, sports equipment, children's school supplies, and much more. These new additional taxes paid by consumers create inflation, with prices noticeably going up.
By voting "yes" to extinguish the HST, and return to the PST and GST, voters will remove the extra seven per cent additional tax on all of the above items, for a very large annual savings per year. Also, we will retain provincial jurisdiction and administration over our B.C. sales tax collection and authority, instead of this being given to Ottawa.
M. A. Mellor
Prince George
