Make that 1 more.I cannot afford any more new taxes and increases in old ones(carbon tax} plus the ever increasing city taxes.
tax tax tax tax tax tax tax tax tax tax
die........

make that 2 more, retired and living on pension is getting to be impossible nowadays.so my wife and i will be signing the petition.

Make it three

I don't like the thought of paying more taxes either but I'll refrain from signing until I hear a viable alternative for raising money. Health care and education won't pay for themselves. In case Carole James hasn't noticed; the economy is in the tank right now, there is not much money flowing into the government coffers.

It's quite easy for the NDP to say they're opposed to the tax (duh! who isn't?) but unless they provide something other than lip service it's all just political BS.

Exactly! Government revenues are way down, federal and provincial because of the long lasting global recession. This is not just an Asian flu, this is global. Still, our basic services like healthcare and education need to be funded as much as possible. It's called belt tightening.

Therefore, more taxes are on the way, on way or the other. Everywhere, on all continents.

What is the alternative? More massive borrowing and passing more of the financial obligations on to the next generations?

So, again: What is the alternative, NDP?

Since there will be no answer I shall venture to provide the obvious one:

More taxes, hidden or open and more user fees, no matter who runs the show!

Make it four with me.

" the economy is in the tank right now,"

If the economy was good now and all British Columbians were employed and the government hadn't emptied the coffers on the GAMES there might not be such a kafuffle over a little thing like the HST- but it's not and they did. This is not a vote for the NDP(I would not do that no matter what kind of GoldenGoose they came up with),this is just telling the current batch of political BS'ers that right now with probably half of BC's work force not working and more on the way(strikes and lockouts coming up with Steelworker/lumber industry negotiations)the time is not right for another tax grab.The only people that are getting ahead right now are the CEO,s that are getting out (golden handshakes)and our elected government members giving themselves raises cuz who's to stop them.

Diplomat and Faxman like to muddy the waters and talk about the shortage of money available for Health Services and Education. This is the same argument put forward by the Liberals when they say that the $1.6 Billion they will receive from the Federal Government to implement this tax (no strings attached) could, REPEAT COULD, go to help funding health care and education. Note they did not say WOULD.

This tax is about giving a huge tax break to BC Companies. Its time people woke up and realized whats happening.

(1) In 1991 the Conservative Government, got rid of the Manufacturing Sales Tax of 13.5% that was levied against all companies that produced products in Canada. Exporting companies told the government that they could not compete on the world stage with this tax in place, because other countries did not have this tax. The Government cancelled the tax, however in order not to lose any revenue they implemented the 7% GST. In effect having consumers pay the tax that was once paid by corporations.

Flash Forward.

(2) Gordon Campbell and his cronies want to eliminate the PST paid by Corporations ie; 7% PST that they presently pay on all thier purchases. Corporations in BC claim that they cannot compete on the world stage if they have to continue to pay the7% Prov Sales Tax (PST) Same excuse that they used in 1991 to get out of the MST.

This tax presently amounts to approx $150 Million dollars that will be saved by the Corporations who would be able to reclaim this money the same as they now reclaim the GST. Once again the money saved by corporations will be paid by the consumers through the Harmonized Sales Tax. (HST) In addition the Government will save $30 Million dollars in administration costs, because most of these costs will be picked up by the Federal Government. Naturally some of these savings will be the result of layoffs in Government and Private Business because they will no longer have to collect, and administer he PST.

What we have here is a savings in taxes to Corporations of 13.5% in 1991, and a further 7% in 2010 if the HST goes through, for a total savings of 20.5%. The taxes that were originally paid by Corporations and business, will now be paid by the consumers, who will be paying 12% HST on almost everything they purchase.

The Provincial Government also stands to make approx $4 Billion per year with the implementation of this tax. The average taxpayer in BC will pay an additional $2100.00 or more per year once the HST is implemented.

This is nothing more than a dirty rotten, tax grab by the Liberals to pay off their buddies in business, and to help bail them out of the big deficit they have created through their own ignorance . It has nothing to do with Health Care, Education etc; etc; etc;. All areas of Government will have to be reduced in the coming years, mainly because they are out of control when it comes to spending, and they will have to learn to operate on reduced budgets.

Dont get sidetracked by the hyperbole. Stick to your guns and sign a petition, and when the time comes attend a rally to oppose this tax.

Very simply put you are being robbed by your own Government, and they are counting on voter apathy to get this tax implemented.

typical NDPERS want everything for nothing...Thats how they broke our province last time they were in power!
Like their Unions give me more for less....

What the hell did all you Liberal lovers expect!

getajob, you seem to forget that, in the 90's, the NDP were elected because the BC Liberals (nee Social Credit) were ruining the province. Added to that was the Asian meltdown which hurt the BC economy as well as many other parts of Canada. It was in this decade that Alberta was giving its welfare recipients one way bus tickets to BC. What about fudget budgets. Look at the last one the BC Liberals brought in. Already it is way off due to miscalculations by the gov't of BC. Wait and see how far out it is when the audit comes down this fall. How convenient that is for Campbell and his cronies.
As for unions get big raises in the 90's, this is not true. Since the province was having a tough time unions did not request large increases.
The Fast Ferries were an attempt by Clarke to develop some manufacturing in this province. I believe with a bit more work they could have been made useful but they were auctioned off on the day that Campbell's sentence was announced. The press was given a distraction from Campbell's conviction.
The NDP left the BC Liberals with a massive budget surplus. The BC Liberals then ran 3 deficits in a row . So who is better to run the province? Campbell's moves with the IPP's will cost the residents of this province billions of dollars in increased hydro fees.

Carole James is giddy with joy....she's already got more signatures than she got votes !

Once this is done, she can start on her petition to cancel the Olympics.

Brilliant initiative NDP! People dont like increased taxes? Really?

Now if you can correct your platform of high wages for unskilled labor and more taxes for everyone I would even consider voting commie.

"The NDP left the BC Liberals with a massive budget surplus. The BC Liberals then ran 3 deficits in a row . So who is better to run the province? "

Do you think that the NDP would be running a surplus in this economy? Simple people tend to give governments alot more credit (or blame) than they should.

NDP = Fast Cat fiasco and Skeena Cellulose. Two of the stuipidest things that any BC government has ever done. Not only does communismn not work but its not even the best system we have.

Its a good thing Vancouver is a beautiful place to live or all the hand working people would leave BC and the overpaid union bums would have no one to hold hostage for higher wages.

"I don't like the thought of paying more taxes either but I'll refrain from signing until I hear a viable alternative for raising money. Health care and education won't pay for themselves."

Brilliant statement faxman. The NDP and union way is to screw everyone for higher wages that according to the NDP platform just magically fall from the sky. What about services? Why higher taxes of course. Thats why its so funny to watch the NDP rail against taxes (to anyone who understands politics, anyway).

Keep following that format and we will all be screwed in the end. I am going to end up in the same place as a lazy union worker but I will have worked hard to get there.

"This tax is about giving a huge tax break to BC Companies. Its time people woke up and realized whats happening."

You mean like the companies that we work for? So keeping businesses operating is a bad thing? Remember no businesses mean no one for unions to screw over for higher wages. Strong businesses = higher pay. Sustainable higher pay, not to be confused with 'running the company into the ground higher pay' like that paid to pulpmill and autoworkers.

Palopu, the manufacturing corporations always passed ALL their expenses (including all the various taxes they paid/pay) on to the consumers in higher prices!

It has never been any different and it never will be!

All the fancy explanations boil down to the same end result: The purchaser (consumer) pays, including a profit for the manufacturer.

Our HST is going to be in the 12% range - check out some other countries, the E.U. for instance. Many countries have a VAT (Value Added Tax) of close to 20%, some higher than 20%.

I don't like it any more than you do. Perhaps enough of a backlash will cause the ones in charge to think some more before it is implemented. Gordon Campbell is not going to step down before the Olympics (which were a bad idea from the start) but after the two weeks of partying are over I think that a leadership convention wouldn't be such a bad idea.

But us retired poor people who didn't get a bank full of cash from their parents are hurting and that is OK? NDP and Liberal are BOTH socialists and they are intent on breaking this province for their own gain.

Any one who voted liberals or NDP into power for the third time needs their head read.

You Gordo lovers can look forward to a 3% increase in the PST soon and remember: I told you so.

"Any one who voted liberals or NDP into power for the third time needs their head read."

Gotta love comments like this. They never seem to go far enough to say who they would have voted for. Probably didn't bother voting at all. Those people tend to squeal the loudest.

What bugs me about the HST is being a retail business owner with a huge inventory is the fact that my inventory is costing me another 7% when I purchase it and don't get it back until it sells,I won't be getting anything from the government for them using my money.

BorninBC, not all union workers are lazy and overpaid. Broaden your horizon, won't you?
metalman.

Born in BC has tunnel vision. Every Union Contract was signed off on by a Corporate CEO. The blight on this land is three fold. Big Business, Big Unions, Big Government. They all have their hands in our pockets, and they are bleeding us to death.

Diplomat. Lets get real here. Corporations in BC probably do pass on the cost of their expenses and taxes to the consumer, however the point you miss is that 80% of what is manufactured in Canada (which includes BC) is shipped out of the Country. Export products are Zero rated and not subject to GST, nor will they be subject to HST. So in effect the Canadian Taxpayer is paying the taxes for the Corporations who export to other Countries. The tax dollars that are saved by the Corporations go directly to their bottom line, and then to shareholders.

If 80% of what is produced is exported, then the other 20% is sold locally, however this will make little or no difference to consumers because most of what they consume comes from outside the Country. There is very little that is produced in Canada that is actually consumed in Canada. The clothing industry is dead. The furniture industry is dead. Most fruits and vegetable for most of the year come from California.

Obviously there is some products that are produced in Canada that are consumed in Canada, however the bottom line is that this is nothing more than a reduction in the costs to Corporations of 12% that will be picked up by taxpayers.

Once the recession is over, and all the lay offs have taken place, and the Corporations start to sell huge volumes into other Countries again, they will make huge profits and pay no PST, or GST. This means a savings to them of approx $150 Million per year, in BC. The Provincial Government stands to make $4 Billion per year in increased taxes.

There is no way that this increase in taxes to the average taxpayer can be defended. Those that try to defend it really do need a head check.

It is simply a tax grab, by the robber baron Politicians, and Big Business. Anyone who sees it differently are looking through rose coloured glasses.

Its the old Marie Antoinette ***Let them eat cake*** situation, and the end result should be the decimation of the Liberal Party in BC. Actually if they kicked them the hell out of the Federal scene also it would be a great help.

Ontario's proposed Budget:

Starting July 1, 2010, pending legislative approval, Ontario would move to a modern, single value-added sales tax (HST) to make Ontario more competitive and lead to job creation. Four Canadian provinces and more than 130 countries have adopted a value-added tax structure, which is more efficient than a retail sales tax and would enhance the ability of Ontario businesses to compete and grow.

Books, diapers, children's clothing and footwear, children's car seats and car booster seats, and feminine hygiene products would be exempt from the provincial portion of the single sales tax...

The McGuinty government is proposing $10.6 billion in temporary and permanent tax relief for people over three years to help consumers through the transition, and to provide a permanent personal income tax reduction and enriched ongoing sales tax and property tax relief for low- to middle-income people.

Eligible families with an income of $160,000 or less would get three payments totalling $1,000 to help them adjust to the new single sales tax. Eligible single people with an income of $80,000 or less would get three payments totalling $300.

The first benefit payment would arrive in June 2010, the second in December 2010 and the third in June 2011.

The government is also proposing:

One of the most generous sales tax credits in Canada, providing low- and middle-income Ontarians with a permanent refundable credit of up to $260 for each adult and child.

Mr PG: I voted Refederation Party. They have real people not there for a pension. They WANT to change this rotten system for you and I.

http://www.refedbc.com/siteA/

Most people don't even know the Refed Party exists because they do no research. They just vote the same old, same old.

Don't let the smoke and mirrors fool you. In the end, the last man pays. You can pass it on, or you can roll it back. Either way, you will pay for it all. So, if we can reduce the cost of collecting, reduce the cost of filing and end up paying the same, then you might consider it. Do your own research first, before you react rather than respond.

In Canada's case the last man paying is in China, Europe, or the USA, as they are the end users of what we produce. So this is nothing more than a Liberal Tax Grab, and a windfall for BC Business.

Diplomat. Your post on the Ontario Budget is almost word for word that was ;put out by the Liberals as a press release for the HST, on July 23rd. The only difference is that Ontario is trying to buy support for this stupid tax by bribing the Ontario taxpayers with their own money. What a bloody laugh.

Look up BC Government News Release for July 23rd to get all the propaganda.

Ive seen the results of socialism for the past 20 years and that is more research than I need. All I have to do is watch control of the BC resources go south.

Born inBC there is one big scary monster union lurking right here -it is called the LIBERAL PARTY. They lie and lie then lie somemore and when no one is watching they give themselves huge pay raises and monster pensions. In your opinion that is ok? - because that is free enterprise.

Consumers would pay an extra $1.9 billion a year –- with all that money going to big business. Not a dime of the HST will pay for healthcare, education or social services.


The HST is coming straight out of the worker's pockets and going into the coffers of big business.If I am going to pay this tax I want it spent for the betterment of my family and myself. In fact the more I think about this tax the more angrier I become and my anger is righteous. Is yours?

Ok excuse the "more angrier" I meant angrier. Now who's with me?

"Mr PG: I voted Refederation Party."

"Most people don't even know the Refed Party exists because they do no research."

Nah, I'd say it's because the majority don't want to throw their vote away on some fringe party that has no chance of getting elected... ever.

Palopu, I did not claim authorship for the informational bit I posted on Ontario's proposed budget.

The BCLiberals are bringing this in and they know very well that it is going to raise a lot of objections, as it did it in other provinces.

If they seal their fate politically by doing so I am not going to shed any tears. Would the NDP (if elected) reverse it after it has been instituted?

No.

Being a realist I watch all the political wrangling, posturing and so forth but that is par for the course especially in B.C. politics.

How do the 130 other countries and 4 Canadian provinces handle their VAT-HST reality?

Chester, good way to look at it!

What about buying a vehicle from a private person? WIll that be subject to the HST also instead of the current PST?

I can see the underground economy upsurging.