HST & other crap from the BC Liberals

A bunch of wasted money on construction projects, to bad planers cant think ahead more than two weeks.

If they wanted to solve the traffic problems coming from the BCR site, all they had to do was ask Canfor, they took care of the problems by closing down the mills.

Actually the biggest news stories in PG have to be fire and water.

The fires, NT Hanger, Columbus, was NCP in 2009 or 2008? To go with that the Nechako floods.

The worst news in 2009 was the horrible job our lame ass Mayor and council did.

I agree "Stompin Tom". How much will they increase our taxes this time to cover for their incompetence!

Bad weather or bad politicians?? My vote goes for the snow job Gordo has done on the taxpayers of this once beautiful province.

Locally I would say the completion of the work on both bridges.

Regionally, the mill closures...

Provincially, would be the HST. This tax changes our constitution and yet the people have not been consulted. Any constitutional change should go to referendum.

The addition of two new bridges (one new, one replaced), and international airport with expanded runway. We are setting ourselves up to be a proper hub of the north.

I think despite how hard this year was with the global financial crisis, the story of how we continue to grow is a ray of light.

P.S.
** Important message for our city council **

It is going to snow next winter, plan and budget for snow removal.

The deception of the HST.

Not only was it introduced contrary to to the B C Liberals stated position in the Provincial election campaign that it wouldn't be, but also that it IS a further surrender of our sovereign rights as a Province under the Constitution.

Without even asking "the people" in an 'honest' vote whether they really want such a tax, or the change in the Constitution it implies.

It's bad enough that the "One World Government" crowd wants a supra-national 'Authority' to impose taxes on us using climate change as an excuse, we sure don't need a Party in government Provincially that's ready to surrender control of taxation to the Feds, for a bribe that amounts to no more than "a mess of pottage".

"Without even asking "the people" in an 'honest' vote whether they really want such a tax, or the change in the Constitution it implies. "

Again I ask, can someone tell me when in Canadian history the population was ever given the opportunity to vote referendum-style on a new tax?

Obviously, everyone would vote 'no'. People want all the services the governemnt provides, but don't want to pay for them. It's human nature to want something for next to nothing.

The biggest news story has to do with the economic recession and its effect on PG.

Bt far the biggest story is the HST fraud and the way it was put forward by the liberals without discussing it during the election and without any consultation with the citizens of BC. To surrender our provincial taxation sovereignty without any democratic accountability and through deception makes a complete mockery of the democratic will of the people.

The HST is nothing more than a tax transfer from the low income and working class citizens to the corporations that fund our corpocray we now find ourselves living under.

Mr. PG:- "Again I ask, can someone tell me when in Canadian history the population was ever given the opportunity to vote referendum-style on a new tax?"
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It's done regularly at the Municipal and Regional levels of government.

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Mr. PG:- "Obviously, everyone would vote 'no'."

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That's not "obvious" at all. Many times people vote "yes", if they believe the tax is going to provide something which is going to be of benefit to them.

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Mr.PG:- "People want all the services the governemnt provides, but don't want to pay for them. It's human nature to want something for next to nothing."

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It's not only "human nature", it's the nature of "nature" itself.

Does a worm, on spying a ripe apple, freeze with fear before it takes a bite that it might have to "pay" someone something before it can eat?

It's there, the apple is there, it's hungry, it eats.

We're of a little higher order than mere worms. But if the government CAN provide services for us that are needed and desired, and it's deemed that the best way to provide those services is through the government, we should have no difficulty in paying for them.

Without being taxed to the point where the standard of living we've established for ourselves, from our own individual efforts, is progressively diminished through that taxation.

The FACT that overall "debt" levels, both government and private, seem to be escalating exponentially should tell us that we ARE having difficulty paying for them, and a lot more besides ~ for "debt" is no more than a cumulative deficiency of purchasing power recorded over time.

Now why should that be? Why can we not FULLY pay FOR what we've DONE, FROM what we've DONE? And if we can't, then please explain to me how are we supposed to pay for it FROM WHAT WE'RE DOING, or ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO.
C'est impossibe, mon ami.

There's currently a disconnect between "money" itself, and that which is "priced in money". If we don't move to correct that, and we certainly AREN'T going to do it through the HST, Carbon Taxes, or any of the other coming levies those at the apex of the financial 'pyramid of power' are going to order those we elect to impose on us, we're going to be continually working towards making BC 'Number One' again ~ but counting from the BOTTOM up!

Not a fan of the HST or campbell BUT people are forgetting that it's the Conservatives that pushed the provinces to put in an HST.

From Stephen Harper's 2008 budget:

"Replacing remaining provincial retail sales taxes (RSTs) with value-added taxes harmonized with the GST is another area where provinces can contribute to strengthening Canada's Tax Advantage. Provincial RSTs impair competitiveness because they apply to business inputs, increasing production costs and deterring investment. By comparison, a value-added tax system provides most businesses with full tax relief through the input tax credit mechanism. Provincial sales tax harmonization is the single most important step provinces with RSTs could take to improve the competitiveness of Canadian businesses."

The single most important step we can take to strengthen Canada's "Tax Advantage". Single most. Not one of the five biggest. Not something we should strive for by 2017. In Stephen Harper's words, the single most important step we could take to improve the competitiveness of Canadian business is harmonizing the GST and provincial sales taxes.

Why is everyone giving Campbell a tough time at the same time they are giving Harris and Jay a Free ride.

I don't get it. I guess it's another example of not holding EVERYONE accountable to the same standard and in the end everyone votes for the same way again. lemmings!

"Mr. PG:- "Again I ask, can someone tell me when in Canadian history the population was ever given the opportunity to vote referendum-style on a new tax?"

Socredible: It's done regularly at the Municipal and Regional levels of government."

I'm talking provincially or federally. Remember the GST? Did we get a vote on that? How popular was that one?

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Mr. PG:- "Obviously, everyone would vote 'no'."

Socredible: That's not "obvious" at all. Many times people vote "yes", if they believe the tax is going to provide something which is going to be of benefit to them. "

You clearly have a different view of the electorate than I do. I can't think of anyone who thinks more taxes are good, even when they are 'justified'.

Mr. PG:- "You clearly have a different view of the electorate than I do. I can't think of anyone who thinks more taxes are good, even when they are 'justified'"
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So long as goods and services are going to be provided privately for public account, the payment for those goods and services has to be from some form of taxation.

We are sometimes asked, by referendum, at the Municipal or Regional levels, to approve some new tax to finance some specific project.

And the FACT that some of these things do get a majority of taxpayers approving them is a pretty good indication that people realize there are some actual benefits that, in their opinions at least, outweigh the detriments of a further hit on their incomes through taxation.

We aren't afforded the same opportunity Federally or Provincially. In fact, we are often deceived in regards to what the governments we elect have in store for us when it comes to taxation.

The HST deception by the Campbell Liberals is a perfect example of that.

Changing Parties at the next election seldom seems to ever rectify the problem. Once a tax has been put in place, it's generally quite difficult to get rid of it. Such will be the case with the HST if the Liberals are turfed in 2013.

What's 'promised' in that regard, by those seeking our votes now, is likely to be a promise that's not kept.

Ergo, the supposed 'apathy' of nearly half the electorate now when it comes to voting.

Many have realized the utter hopelessness of the situation, when no matter who is elected, or what they've promised, we're very shortly going to be treated to them "crying poor" once they're in. And the imposition of further taxes, somewhere in the whole apparatus of government.

Taxes which only impoverish us further financially 'individually', generally without any lasting commensurate enhancement of our situation through what we're supposed to be paying for 'collectively' through these taxes.

Even if we do manage to get rid of some tax that's completely odious, like the one-term NDP Barrett government's "capital levy" on production machinery, for instance, (where businesses were taxed not only on the assessed value of their real property and buildings, but also on the assessed value of machinery and equipment and fixtures in those buildings), often we'll find that tax has only been shifted elsewhere. ( And watch for this "capital" tax to re-appear someday, it's coming.)

The problem with taxation as it's currently carried on, particularly at the Federal and Provincial levels, is that it isn't what it purports to be.

For it to be that, i.e., for us to fully pay for what the government provides for us totally through taxation at the SAME RATE that it provides it; or, if you prefer, for us to TRULY have a "balanced budget", not only of the government, but of all within the country as well, we'd have to have a substantial change in the way "money" and "prices" relate to each other in the economy as a whole. NO government, not even ANY of the current Parties who would be government, even want to TAKE A LOOK at that. Let alone ever trying to make the necessary changes.

If we made such changes, if the 'figures' of Finance truly REFLECTED the 'physical' realities of the actual RATES of production and consumption in the whole economy, "prices", to Consumers, would actually be falling relative to the 'financial' costs of production with each increase in "efficiency" ~ our overall ability to better do things. We do see a bit of that now, due to such things a 'mass production'

eastcoaster:-"Why is everyone giving Campbell a tough time at the same time they are giving Harris and Jay a Free ride."
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Because only the Province can "opt in" to having a HST. Stephen Harper can't "force" it on us, regardless of whether or not he thinks it's something we should do.

It's Gordon Campbell who has sold us out on this, just as he's sold us out on a number of other similar issues ~ through the process of deception. Lets place the blame squarely where it belongs.

Naturally ANY Federal government would like to further enhance it's taxing powers. This puts the Provinces in the same position many US States have now found themselves in. Of beggars ~ beholden for their very existence to an all-powerful Federal government. Their 'sovereignty', limited formerly by common consent, has been removed from them completely without any citizen consent.

At very least, a BC government that was truly acting in the best overall interests of British Columbians, would insist on the PROVINCE collecting and administering the HST, and turning the GST portion of it over to the Feds.

We don't have a Provincial government that acts in "our" best interests. Instead we have a corrupt regime led by a 'global groupie', who, to even a greater degree than Mr. Harper seems to be, so far, is all for "One World Government" and the centralization of taxation and everything else into the hands of an all-powerful elite. Of which he no doubt hopes to be a member. I think he's in for a disappointment, myself, he's just not fit for even such a team.

socredible- you are correct with the fed government but didn't the local MPs get elected on a promise to be accountable and represent the interests of their constituents?? Wasn't that why they were elected?, supposedly,???

what were the 2 local MPs views ? Did they fight for your interests?

Sheeple collecting a paycheck like the rest of them. Hold them accountable too. they deserve it

eastcoaster:-"Sheeple collecting a paycheck like the rest of them. Hold them accountable too. they deserve it"

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No doubt they do. They are not 'representing' US when it's clear that a majority of US, if we're to believe every poll taken on the HST issue by pollsters in whom the government itself sets great store, are against the imposition of this tax.

This begs the question in regards to the whole set-up of "Party" politics. If the people we elect DON'T "represent" US publicly in Parliament or the Legislature, but instead are there to represent the 'policy' of their Party and Leader to us, (often a 'hidden' policy, not revelaed until they assume office), then just WHO is it that determines that policy?

The answer seems to be inherent in the old saying, "Follow the money." And if we do just that, the ONLY beneficiary of a tax like the HST, or the overwhelming majority of most taxes, for that matter, are the current operators of the FINANCIAL SYSTEM itself.

These taxes enable them to keep their 'product' ~ MONEY ~ scarce in the hands of the general public, (who are the ultimate payers of ALL taxes, including those levied on the 'big corporations'), and that general public continually coming back to them to BORROW 'more'.

So, yes, the Federal MPs are culpable, too, in not voting against a measure that their constituents don't want. But the larger blame still lies on the shoulders of Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals ~ for it is he, as a little tin-pot tyrant, and they, as gutless "yes-men" (and "women") who've sold us out again.

Their scripted 'excuses' of this being something they "have to do" just don't cut it.

There are numerous alternatives to maintaining "global competitiveness", if that's supposed to be the be-all and end-all of everything nowadays, that DON'T involve placing us all further into a subservient poverty through additional taxation. A true "Leader" would search them out, instead of following lock-step with what's set down by those 'globalists' who'd have their local lackeys sell us out.