Yes that's true, but if the PST comes back it's 12% anyway. It may be only on goods and some services, but there is nothing to stop any Govt to impose it on everything just as the HST has been.
PS you forgot to add the HST to your 2c worth LOL!
HST - how are you planning to vote?
- Thread starter whoisjohngalt
- Start date
PS you forgot to add the HST to your 2c worth LOL!
For those of you who want to get rid of the HST, do you realize that:
1) the province of BC will have to repay the federal incentives
2) the PST will come back and changes to past exemptions will be likely
3) other taxes will be raised to make up for any shortfall
4) businesses have spent considerable time and money to account for the HST which will go down the drain
5) consumption taxes have been shown to be fairer and easier on low income families
1) the province of BC will have to repay the federal incentives
2) the PST will come back and changes to past exemptions will be likely
3) other taxes will be raised to make up for any shortfall
4) businesses have spent considerable time and money to account for the HST which will go down the drain
5) consumption taxes have been shown to be fairer and easier on low income families
Adriana✿;1156911 said:
If you vote NO you will be supporting the HST. If people aren't prepared to actually study the issue and understand the question then please do us all a favour and refrain from participating. This is not about being pissed off at the current government but what is best for our economy. I personally have no problem with those who spend the most (ie: rich people) paying a consumption tax.
A nice mommy would explain why you need to take your medicine.Adriana✿;1156911 said:
A horrible mommy shoves it down your throat without a care of your reactions.
It doesn't make the medicine a bad thing.
Vote mommy off the island if you hate the way she treats you.
The election was a fraud. The Libs lied about implementing the HST just to get elected.
The issue is bigger than the tax - it's about integrity, honesty and what we expect from politicians who ask us to vote for them. Bill Good keeps reminding people to take politics out of it and do what's best for you and the province. Why? It was a completely political move to bring in the HST after the Libs had been saying it wouldn't be a good tax. As for what's good for me and the province - how about honest, reliable, decent politicians who don't lie? Not a bad goal to shoot for.
Does anyone really believe anything a politician says (especially this discredited pack of weasels) that isn't supposed to take effect years down the road? That's just a delaying tactic so they can come up with another issue when the date rolls around.
They also lied about the tax being revenue neutral, now it's draining $800 million more from us. Job creation? Where? Lower prices passed on to consumers? Where. Just one lie after another with these guys.
NDP was going to kill the economy if business taxes were raised. So Clark just raised them another 2% and it's supposed to boost the economy. More lies and BS.
The issue is bigger than the tax - it's about integrity, honesty and what we expect from politicians who ask us to vote for them. Bill Good keeps reminding people to take politics out of it and do what's best for you and the province. Why? It was a completely political move to bring in the HST after the Libs had been saying it wouldn't be a good tax. As for what's good for me and the province - how about honest, reliable, decent politicians who don't lie? Not a bad goal to shoot for.
Does anyone really believe anything a politician says (especially this discredited pack of weasels) that isn't supposed to take effect years down the road? That's just a delaying tactic so they can come up with another issue when the date rolls around.
They also lied about the tax being revenue neutral, now it's draining $800 million more from us. Job creation? Where? Lower prices passed on to consumers? Where. Just one lie after another with these guys.
NDP was going to kill the economy if business taxes were raised. So Clark just raised them another 2% and it's supposed to boost the economy. More lies and BS.
So, you're okay with politicians blatantly lying to get elected and make up serious tax policy on the fly with no plans? They were the ones who said the HST was a bad tax before they brought it in.
Show me a politician that doesn't lie, c'est la vie my friend. If you think the NDP idiots are any more honest or have more integrity than the Liberal pigs, then vote for them next time!
So you are saying that if getting rid of the HST is the absolute incorrect decision, you would still do it out of spite? I think Bill Good has a very valid point.
Exactly, voting against the HST to "send a message" is cutting your nose to spite your face. You don't punish yourself to "send a message" to politicians; that's what elections are for.
Some very good comments here. What I am noticing is that those who are planning to vote against the HST are either doing so as a protest vote against the Liberals or they are unable to explain why they believe that the PST is a better tax than the HST.
It has been said by others but I think it needs to be repeated: if you want to punish the Liberals, the proper way to do that is in the next election which is likely not far off. How one votes on the HST referendum should be based on the merits of the tax. If you are not willing to to the research or if you are unable to keep your emotions in check and make a reasonable analysis then you should stay at home on referendum day. This is not a game, it is serious business that will impact the economy and government finances for years to come.
A few reasons on why the HST is superior to the PST:
Fairness - We all know we need tax revenue to fund government services. That said, if we are going to impose tax, shouldn't it apply to everyone and everything in the most equal manner possible? The PST has numerous special rules and exemptions, whereas the HST, though not perfect, is more consistently applied with fewer exemptions. This is a good thing for several reasons. First, it makes it easier for businesses to comply with the tax. Speaking from experience, the PST is the most convoluted, inconsistent tax out there. Second, if special exemptions are on the table, then every industry group out there is going to spend time and resources trying to obtain such an exemption for their particular group. This is a waste of valuable resources that could be spent in other productive areas of the economy. Third, it fosters corruption because the exemptions become a political football that government officials now have something of value to hand out at their discretion.
Economic efficiency - All taxes impact the economy in a negative way but not all taxes are equal in this regard. "Value added" taxes such as the HST are less damaging to the economy than standard sales taxes like the PST, which is why no jurisdiction has implemented a PST type tax in decades.
Administration costs - Since there is already a federal GST complete with bureaucracy, auditors etc., duplicating this entire structure at the provincial level creates additional costs that can be avoided by harmonizing with the GST.
Impact on individuals - Even before the government proposed reducing the rate by 2%, the majority of British Columbians particularly those of low income were going to be better off under the HST after taking into account the expanded HST credit. With the 2% rate reduction virtually all British Columbians will be better off.
It has been said by others but I think it needs to be repeated: if you want to punish the Liberals, the proper way to do that is in the next election which is likely not far off. How one votes on the HST referendum should be based on the merits of the tax. If you are not willing to to the research or if you are unable to keep your emotions in check and make a reasonable analysis then you should stay at home on referendum day. This is not a game, it is serious business that will impact the economy and government finances for years to come.
A few reasons on why the HST is superior to the PST:
Fairness - We all know we need tax revenue to fund government services. That said, if we are going to impose tax, shouldn't it apply to everyone and everything in the most equal manner possible? The PST has numerous special rules and exemptions, whereas the HST, though not perfect, is more consistently applied with fewer exemptions. This is a good thing for several reasons. First, it makes it easier for businesses to comply with the tax. Speaking from experience, the PST is the most convoluted, inconsistent tax out there. Second, if special exemptions are on the table, then every industry group out there is going to spend time and resources trying to obtain such an exemption for their particular group. This is a waste of valuable resources that could be spent in other productive areas of the economy. Third, it fosters corruption because the exemptions become a political football that government officials now have something of value to hand out at their discretion.
Economic efficiency - All taxes impact the economy in a negative way but not all taxes are equal in this regard. "Value added" taxes such as the HST are less damaging to the economy than standard sales taxes like the PST, which is why no jurisdiction has implemented a PST type tax in decades.
Administration costs - Since there is already a federal GST complete with bureaucracy, auditors etc., duplicating this entire structure at the provincial level creates additional costs that can be avoided by harmonizing with the GST.
Impact on individuals - Even before the government proposed reducing the rate by 2%, the majority of British Columbians particularly those of low income were going to be better off under the HST after taking into account the expanded HST credit. With the 2% rate reduction virtually all British Columbians will be better off.
Can you please show proof of this? This is still a 1 to 2 billion tax shift from business to consumers.
- The government's original spin told us that this tax was revenue neutral. Now an independent audit shows that the govenrnent raked in an extra 850 million dollars in taxes last year - obvious tax grab.
- About 20% of goods that were exempt under the PST are no longer exempt under the GST. How does that help the average family? Do you like to pay more taxes?
- According to this article, the average family won't "break even" until 2022:
http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2011/05/26/ClarkCouldCrumpleCred/
Not sure about the wrong side of the bed, but when I woke up this morning I noticed that you weren't in the right bed.
I agree with you in part, however, I disagree with your last point. Basic necessities like food should carry little to no tax. We all have to consume these as a need to live. The question should put to the public, what things should and shouldn't be exempt. If you put too many taxes on things people won't be able to spend, therefore they can't consume and the government gets no tax dollars at all and business fail or have to reduce themselves in order to operate. The rich need to be taxed the most because at the end of the day, their quality of life will not be affected to any real extent. Think about it: If you taxed some person making $250,000 a year an extra $5000, it won't affect them all that much. They will still be able to buy a car and pay their bills and buy their groceries. If you tax someone making $50,000 and extra $1000, they will definitely fell more of a pinch, especially if they are supporting a family.
The rich, represent a very small part of the consumer market in terms of numbers. Economies are always at their strongest when the middle class is secure because they represent the majority of consumers. Make it easy for them to consume and businesses and governments will see the dollars rolling in. taxing everything is not the way to do that.
Everything depends on your definition of rich. Where would you draw the line between rich and not rich? IE, what number would you attach to it? 250,000? 100,000? 80,000?
The 850 million is the cost of the 1% reduction in the HST, not extra revenue brought in.
Well, flip it the other way. Do you like to pay lower income taxes? Because the exemption amount was raised when the HST was introduced, which means everybody paid lower income taxes. This also doesn't take into account the tax credit that was issued by the government to lower income individuals.
Do you like to pay lower prices on consumer goods? Because that's what happened in the Atlantic provinces when the HST was implemented there. That's a trade-off I'm will to take.
Do you like more jobs? Because every credible source that I've heard, including your independent audit, says that the HST is better for the economy and will lead to significant job growth.
I hate dismissing articles based on source; but Shreck is one of the most shameless liars I have ever encountered. His analysis doesn't take into account the reduction in prices of consumer goods, nor the decrease in income taxes from the raising of the exemption rate.
