How will you vote on the HST? Our MLA will vote to scrap it…
Posted by editor on June 5, 2011 · 7 Comments
MLA Norm Macdonald
Why I’m voting ‘Yes’ to scrap the HST…
For the first time in our province’s history, an Initiative Petition was successful as more than 700,000 British Columbians showed their determination to stop the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST). In my constituency alone, many thousands of people signed the petition, and I was proud to be one of the volunteer canvassers who worked on that effort.
From the first days of the BC Liberals’ announcement that they were breaking their promise not to implement a HST, my office has been flooded with calls and emails from constituents who are absolutely opposed to this tax.
As you know, you will shortly be receiving a referendum ballot in the mail asking you whether or not you are in favour of extinguishing the HST. I believe the majority of British Columbians will vote ‘Yes’.
There has been a great deal of talk about ‘fixing’ the HST. Premier Christy Clark and her government have made the decision to stake their political futures on whether or not the people of British Columbia will be fooled by her promises of rebates and rate reductions.
These promised ‘fixes’ do not deal with the fact that the HST was brought in under false pretences. The BC Liberals campaigned on their promise that they would not implement an HST. They broke that promise.
Now they are promising a rebate and rate reduction, but in order to partially fund these new promises, they’ve had to break previous promises of tax cuts. This is a government that clearly cannot be trusted.
And it is also a government that is not capable of managing the books. If the government were to proceed with these rebates and rate cuts, we would see a massive hole in the provincial government. Arguments that we can’t cancel the HST because we can’t afford to give back the $1.6 billion to the federal government become moot if the cost of ‘fixes’ are so much greater.
The HST, both the current version and proposed version, still constitutes a massive shift of taxation away from large corporations and on to the backs of average residents. And it no longer allows British Columbians to make tax policy for themselves.
As we prepare to vote in the HST referendum, we need to remember how we came to be in this place. It is only because of the strong voice of regular British Columbians showing their opposition to the HST that we are getting this opportunity to make this decision.
I will be honouring the determination of so many British Columbians, and I will be voting ‘Yes’ to scrap the HST.
Norm Macdonald is the New Democratic MLA for Columbia River – Revelstoke. You can contact him toll-free at 1-866-870-4188 or through his website at www.NormMacdonald.ca.
We need to look back to the beginnings of this HST fray and remember that it wasn’t just another tax that angered the public; it was the way it was done. No need to rewind that sordid story and its aftermath, but don’t think it won’t be a factor in the upcoming referendum vote.
Taxpayers felt scorned, manipulated and disrespected by the political establishment and left without democratic representation as their elected representatives hung them out to dry and supported the tax, with the sole exception of Blair Leckstrom, but whom now supports it as a cabinet minister. Such is the sad perversion wrought by the doctrine of party discipline which has hijacked democratic representation.
The top few who run this province are gyrating with offers and maneuvers to save the tax, but it would be a huge mistake for taxpayers to roll over for these people. By offering a few minor adjustments to the original scheme they infer they think we are somewhat Pavlovian and can be made to do anything if we are given a treat, a pat and a promise they will actually make the adjustments after the vote. $7 million of our money allocated by the government arguing for the tax versus $250,000 for the against side is further cynical disrespect.
I personally am astounded by the fact that in all the words of advocacy spoken and written by politicians, and for that matter some of the media, I have not heard a single, solitary word of concern or sympathy about where the money has to come from; the taxpayers pocket which is already taxed to hell. It has all been about how HST best serves the government’s needs.
So when you vote, just remember you are also voting not to be kicked around by an inadequate system of representation that should have seen your MLA fighting like a tiger for you because the vast majority of you clearly thought this tax was unfair. You need to teach the system a lesson; don’t trivialize me. Make them dig their own way out of the hole they dug for themselves in the first place.
But, Mr. McDonald what will you be voting for? It’s all fine to say your voting against it, but how will you make sure revenue is increased and that all the essential services are taken care of for the people of the province. It’s fine to complain and knock the liberals, but are you suggesting anything that will work?
Why I am voting to keep the HST ?
It is good for B C citizens. It pays back to the low income folks where the PST system does not.
It does stimulate jobs in about 176 other countries in the world.
It does keep our communities current with competitivness in our world economy and yes, we in our communities compete in the world economy.
It is getting close to being revenue neutral with the changes that Christy Clark has initiated.
We do not have to hire back, the folks that have been rehired by the Feds to administer this program.
It is more efficient for business owners.
We in BC do not pay the imbedded provinceial sales tax, time after time after time. Manufacturer pays 7%, the trucker pays the 7%, the wholesaler pays 7%, the retailer pays the 7% and then you pay the 7% on all those other folks contribution.
In other words, the cost of goods purchased by you and I over time is reduced
That is why I am in favour of the HST
It is good for you and me.
To David R. Pacey – you must enjoy paying the extra taxes incurred for any of your purchased goods and services. The rest of us don’t. It may be more efficient for business owners but it is more costly for everyone else.
I was not in favour of the HST when it was introduced or should I say I wasn’t in favour of the way it was introduced. I’m still on the fence whether I like it or not. But in saying that if we scrap it then taxes will be raised elsewhere. So my question would then have to be ……do we go with the devil we know or the devil we don’t know? The devil being taxes.
Jane, I think you might have missed the point of what I and so many others are saying about HST vs PST.
The PST is imbedded many many times and is not seen by the consumer – you and I.
With the HST, the tax is once only, not 4 or 5 or 6 times 7%.
No, I do not enjoy paying taxes on taxes and that is exactly why I support the HST. I only pay once.