I am a Prince George resident operating a business that employs between three to seven people depending on the
season. It is my opinion that the HST needs to be scrapped.
The politicians keep saying it will be good for business. Perhaps this is true for the real big players. They spend more time in New York watching the stock-exchange than trying to make a home here in the North. I believe taking money out of the consumer's wallet is a detriment to the economy in the same way taking away fuel will squelch a fire. The HST will take millions of dollars out of consumers hands and thereby reduce the customer base and sales for most businesses.
Another comment I keep hearing the politicians say is the HST will save businesses money in taxes that will then be passed on to the consumer through less expensive products. What a joke!
The Liberals don't seem to understand how much pressure businesses are under. We are getting buried with taxes, remittances, insurances, WCB, permits, licences, accounting and other fees, not to mention the growing problem of theft and vandalism. Most likely a hard-pressed business owner will pocket whatever benefits this tax will create.
Here's the bottom line: The extra tax revenue the gov't takes will quickly vanish down the black hole of gov't spending and after a few years they will need to find even more money. Has anybody heard what the money from the recent carbon tax has been used for? That was the latest stupid, short-sighted money grab. The HST will be yet another. It will never be enough. Meanwhile we will be stuck with yet another tax that will never go away.
Society is taxed out. Voters get very angry at the mention of more tax burden. Liberals please take note.
To balance a budget it will have to come out of the other end. Curbing corruption and fat cat gov't pensions might be a good place to start. Many programs and hand outs need to get slashed, Personally I like to see a slightly cash-strapped
gov't. They get more efficient. A full cookie jar is just too tempting for them. Inevitably they get caught with their hand in it. I would encourage people to sign the petition Van der Zalm launched. Just maybe we can curb any further tax burdens.
Fred McIntyre
Prince George
