The good premier and her entourage would have us believe that the legislated HST reduction, when it comes to fruition further down the road, is a good and beneficial thing for all British Columbians. After all, the “stickman campaign” all but guarantees it. However, there seems to be much assumption here.
Hmm, 2014 for a confirmed HST rate of 10 per cent. The assumption here being that the Liberals would have been re-elected in 2013, isn’t it? No one gave any thought to that possibility. Meanwhile, while we wait for the legislated HST reduction to transpire, we are filling the provincial coffers with what we’ve been told is a fair tax and also revenue neutral. The proof is in the pudding. However, is there a tax on pudding? You bet there is.
Here is a case in point. With the PST/GST formula, there were many exempt products that are now taxed by the HST. One of these that was exempt from PST tax was clothing for kids.
Let’s look at the GST/PST on clothing. For those under 16: to purchase $500 of school supplies, clothing and shoes, the tax was $35 GST with no PST. Now, those under 16 for the same $500 worth of material would pay $60 for the 12 per cent HST. In the future, those under 16 buying the same $500 worth of material will pay $50 in a 10 per cent HST.
Where are the savings for a family with the supposed reduction in the HST? I realize that we need taxes to provide many of the social programs et al. However, it seems that we are being gouged as we do so.
As for being revenue neutral and going into health care and education, if in fact that is happening, where is the improved service and where the improvements to the educational system?
Our provincial unemployment rate is higher than it’s been in a while. Where are all of the new jobs that were supposed to be generated? I have yet to see a major economic boom to this point.
Are we being sold a bill of goods on which we will have to pay HST?
Ron Barillaro
Penticton