Do Pat and Shirley know about this? There was supposed to be a reduction. *wink , wink*

The story is that is one of the reasons why facility uses rates at the City went up, HST now added ...

The new motto has changed from "Use it OR you will lose it" to "Use it AND lose it" .....

More signatures for the recall campaign this fall.

No way! The merchants should be lowering prices because they are getting such a grea deal with the HST. Remember? HST is not going to cost us more.

Can we spell I-N-F-L-A-T-I-O-N yet?

An opportunity to raise prices like this and pass the blame on legitimately to the government comes only once in a lifetime. Grab it while you can is the motto of the day.

thanks for nothing pat shirley and john, im nothing short of staggered at how much the cost of everyday items have gone up.
the hospital uses this same parking outfit as well and those parking fees will also rise.
Colin hansen and his feeble attempt last week the have some items expempt from this foul tax only to find out its a federal jurisdiction now sorry these goons have got to go! recall in the fall

My tel bill went up, my security bill went up, my hydro bill went up, my gas bill went up, everything has gone up except my pay cheque. Taxed to death in BC

Gus. The Merriam-Webster dictionary (web site) gives the following definition for inflation:

- a continuing rise in the general price level usually attributed to an increase in the volume of money and credit relative to available goods and services

I beleive that as a taxpayer, once we build an University, or College, or School or Hospital with our tax dollars, and then pay for the staff to run these facilities, that the very least we could do is supply he Students, or patients free parking.

Whe seem to have the need to stick it to Joe Taxpayer at every opportunity. I or one am quite sick of this mindset.

We all know that students are not usually loaded with money, and after they pay their tuition, etc; the least we could do is give them a parking space.

Why do you take more Money from Students, to make Ends meet after paying for Tuition is not easy, you People never know when to stop. 40 bucks a month for little PG ,you are desperate to get the last Penny, admit you are broke!

Who never saw this coming?
Who actually believed Gordon Campbell when he said the HST would actually reduce costs to consumers?
Everything is up.
I am still searching for something that has gone down.
And considering we now pay a tax on a lot of things we never paid a tax on before,I can only assume we were scammed by a buch of elected political liars!
And yes,that would include local MLA's.

This is a crime! Although it was many moons ago, I do remember clearly being a poor and starving college student. Every penny mattered. Outwest is right. Taking money away from students is the lowest of the low. Horse Shit Tax absolutely!

The increase from 2.00 to 2.25 is more than just the HST.
Just another excuse to increase rates!

are the students,pensioners and all who ride on the transit system aware that the bus fares are going up next month to.
i'm a pensioner and am so tired of these increases on everything.how can we stop them?

I think we have to take a hard look in the mirror. We are the most wasteful group of people on the planet and we complain about a consumption tax. By making just a few changes in ones lifestyle your cost can be the same or less. I am not an environmentalist but I believe the best way to tax is through consuption, at least it has some people reavaluating how they spend there money. I am not saying it is perfect but think about it. The more expendable money you have the more you are taxed. Don't cry about gas, electricity, parking and all the other things you take for granted. Use less gas, use less electricity, walk in September and April. Where there is a will there is a way. Or just keep going down the same road of wastefulness and complaining.

"Who never saw this coming?
Who actually believed Gordon Campbell when he said the HST would actually reduce costs to consumers?"

I certainly saw it coming. I am generally a supporter of the BCLiberals in case no one noticed. And I am not one who subscribes to the "lying" theory. I am simply one who subscribes to the "STUPID" theory. They were and continue to be downright stupid in what they did and continue to do with regard to this. There are many like me out there, that is the other thing I am relative certain of.

If they needed more money in these economic times that we find/found ourselves in, there were other ways to do it. It is not only the optics of this way that is unsound as we are getting to see every day, but it is the actual fact of whether it is achieving program wise what they thought it would achieve.

There is absolutely no indication of that and there likely never will unless someone buys some extra mirrors and smoke to use at the presentations to the public.

They haver a tough road ahead because right now they are clearly headed for the "anyone but the BCLiberals" way of thinking by the electorate.

At the bottom of the page linked below is a post I made in August of 2009.

http://www.opinion250.com/blog/view/13721

I wrote:
"If we remove tax from the manufacturing of a product and fail to collect that tax from all the products sold outside of BC, let alone outside of Canada, the shortfall in tax must be regained somehow. IT LOOKS LIKE THE CITIZENS OF BC ARE THE ONES WHO WILL MAKE UP THE SHORTFALL SO THAT PEOPLE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD CAN GET OUR PRODUCTS MORE CHEAPLY."

I do not hold to the theory that is being given us that it will produce jobs in this country or this province. No one will ever be able to prove or disprove that. There are too many confounding factors that need to be considered for such a proof.

The government forget the notion that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." I gave the reasons, in that post of last year, why forestry was broken in this province and in Canada in general. Upping costs to the general public in food and parking for students and utility use at home simply does not fix a forestry problem. A forestry problem is fixed by changing the Chief Forester, just for starters, if he is not of a mindset to fix the problem internal to the operations of forestry.

Maybe this tax will let them expand their lot for more parking and increase the hiring of more parking attendants. Could happen. Campbell said so. Would he lie?

Jimbo in favour of this tax? If so, maybe he should put a big sign in the window of his Save-On Foods store to let everyone know.

Already decided to boycott Jimbo and I never miss a chance to let friends and family know of the disparity of prices between Save-not and other grocery stores.

Also interested in boycotting any other HST supporters. Gathering info and ready to vote with my pocketbook. Oh and looking so forward to the recall process.

cougs78 .... your theory flies out the window as soon as some people earn more than others, not because of the additional labour they put in, but because they happen to be in a type of job that pays more than many other jobs that takes just as much brawn and just as much brain power.

If everyone were paid the same or closer to the same, then your theory works quite well. But that is not life, and you know it but conveniently forget the most basic of the principle of fairness to all or, as it is known in natural law, equity.

Based on that very basic inequity in society it is much more equitable to tax the monetary gain through work input rather than the spending habits with across the board taxes.

Do your really want to tax consumption across the board? Be very careful now. Our entire economy is based on that. It always has been for centuries.

We consume, therefore we produce. That is certainly the fact for the basics we require to survive.

When we move from needs to wants, it becomes more that we produce, therefore we consume. We produce stuff, and then we encourage people to consume the stuff we produce. The majority of our modern western society, and now the Chinese and Indians and all the smaller Asian countries are moving along the same path.

You want to stop the consumption? Or do you want to redirect the consumption?

I vote to redirect. How about instead of new ways of shaping metal around basic car frames to make them look like boxes or aerodynamic shells we cut that crap for a while and put money into consumables such as recreation, culture, beautiful surroundings, longer lasting homes, advanced education for all, research into better health, food, etc. getting along with others in the world better, etc.?

We still consume, we still create jobs, we still pass money through the system so that we get access to it to buy those things that are made available to us because at the moment, that is the only way we know how to do it. We are still into this notion that we have to keep "busy" and "meaningful" jobs. And we will be that way for some time and we will continue to bitch about those who are not on that same treadmill.

So, no, consumption tax straight across the board is a non-starter for me. Does absolutely nothing to improve society. Quite the opposite actually.

So, will Harper at least accomodate us by creating a $2.25 coin?

Gus: The rich don't pay equitable tax and never will. If you are suggesting more of a socialist everybody is equal situation ,count me out, although I am not sure which system is more corrupt!

The HST is a tax grab pure and simple. It is a $1.8 Billion transfer from business and corporations to consumers.

If we sit on our butts and bicker about the small stuff, we will get screwed in the ear. Campbell and his cronies are fronting for big business at a huge cost to consumers.

Once the economy turns around and these large corporations are making hundreds of millions in profits, we will still be paying this tax, and they will still be on a tax vacation.

Dont kid yourself, there will not be any jobs created by this tax, nor will there by any reduction in prices. If you disagree, then give me some specifics, and get the hell away from the generalities.

This tax will in 10 years cost consumers approx $18 Billion dollars, that could have been spent in BC and could have had a dramatic effect on the economy. Giving this money to Corporations, and their shareholders wont help the economy at all. Smaller business's will just put the savings in their pockets.

The recinding of the HST calls for action from the tax payers of BC. If we can get this tax thrown out, we can then begin to look at taxes in other areas, such as Municipalities.

Very simply put, if you do not put some action to your words, and actually do something about this tax, nothing will happen.

What we have here is a conspircy between our elected Government and Business. We had a tax system in place, and they changed it so that they could get their hands on more money at our expense.

Your choice is simple. Roll over and let them kick you again, or stand up and kick their butts.

Considering that the whole HST thing was hatched in Ottawa Harper, Hill and Harris have been doing an excellent job of keeping their heads low while everybody has forgotten about them and has been heaping all the scorn and ridicule on Campbell.

If it wouldn't be making big bucks for Ottawa the Feds wouldn't have produced this rotten scheme!

Palopu, a few months back you were in support of the big corporations who were fighting their municipal property taxes (because they said they were too high), even though such a situation would also shift the municipal tax burden from big business to the average joe.

Now you are against the HST because you state it shifts the tax burden from big business to the consumer (I don't disagree with this thought BTW).

Can you reconcile the two for me? It just seems odd to me that you had these different view given that they are both essentially the same situation, that being an overall attempt to shift corporate taxes and their share of the tax pie to the consumer or individual.

NMG. Seems to me my point at the time was that big business had the money to take on City Councils and have them stop raising taxes, or to decrease taxes.

The average tax payer does not have this kind of clout, and therefore has great difficulty fighting City Hall.

I dont think that the City should be able to increase taxes to Corporations just because they have the ability to do so.

I dont beleive that the City should be raising all sorts of taxes to the average tax payer under the often used guise **we need the money for***

It does not logically follow that if Corporations paid less tax, that the City would come to the average tax payers to make up the difference. Certainly they wuld try, and that is what they are doing in regards to the HST. However this line of thinking implies that the City needs every dollar that it takes in, in taxes, and that there is no room for finding the money in other areas.

This of course is BS. The City the same as the Province is swimming in money. the problem is that they are addicted to tax dollars, and need to increase their fix every year.

Some Provincial Examples.
1.New Port Mann Bridge $3.3 Billion
2.Canada Line Rapid Transit $2 Billion
3.Golden Ears Bridge $800 Million
4.Trade and Convention Centre $883 Million
5.BC Place new roof approx $458 Million
6.2010 Winter Olympics cost could range from $2.5 Billion to $6 Billion.
7.ICBC Reserve Fund $3 Billion
8. Transfer from ICBC to General Revenue in the next 3 years $780 Million
9.Transfer from BC Hydro to General Revenue $600 Million
10. Transfer from the Federal Government to the Province, to General Revenue in the last 5 years from the Softwood Lumber Agreement $1.5 Billion.

I have hardly touched the surface of Government revenues and spending. Needless to say it is totally out of control.

So my position is, is that Corporations, business, and the average tax payers should all get tax reductions. Governments have to reel in their spending, and become more fiscally responsible. They are way out of line.

If we cannot control Government spending, then we have no control over Government.

Its time to take off the blinders and see the situation for what it really is.

Our local City spends money faster than they can collect it, and that is why we are so far in debt. But heh, dont let that stop them. Lets keep this ship afloat.
Lets spend money on.
1. River Road $7 Million
2. Boundry Road $18 Million
3. Community Energy Centre $15 Million
4. Wood Innovation Building $50 Million
5. New Police Station $48 Million
6. Performing Arts Centre $50 Million.

Of course we will have to raise taxes, sewer, water, and garbage rates, etc but what the hell, all these things are necessary. Right.

Lets all go and have a picnic on the new $33 Million dollars Airport Runway. The chances of a wide body cargo jet, landing on that runway while we are having our picnic would be 10 Million or more to 1.

There is no shortage of money in the Province of British Columbia, what we have is greedy business, corporations, and Governments.

I was going to post some thoughts but then Palupud had to rant about the runway AGAIN... brought me back to reality - keep on with your one track thoughts and tinfoil helmet.

Charging the student for parking was brought in by the BC liberals over the Christmas holidays with no announcement even to faculty back in 06 I think it was. That was a huge surprise then because students were on fixed budgets for the entire year and then sudden;y had to factor in a new $35 a month in parking costs.

What bugs me about it is that it was a no bid contract to an Alberta based corporation that makes millions of dollars off of the students who just want to park in what was a free parking lot bought and paid for long ago by tax payers. Now a corporation makes millions for little effort, and I'm sure most of their other contracts with the BC liberals were no bid contracts as well... and it all amounts to the best business deal one could ever buy with political donations... the right to privatize and tax an essential resource of the public for guaranteed profits.

Watch soon our water meters being installed will be privatized in the same manor to some Euoropean multinational that will win the right to guarantee their profits from the water meters installed on our homes.

City Council will be so deep in debt by that time they will offload the cost of the water system to the private multinational so they can have the ability to focus all their home extortion taxes to pay for the debt incurred for the PAC and the new RCMP station when interest rates go to 10% and above.

At least they sure look to be planning it that way.

Whether they are 'planning' it that way or not, Eagle, that is exactly what is going to happen. It's the natural outcome of an uncorrected financial system that is increasingly less fully self-liquidating as time goes on. And it'll only get worse, until we finally recognise that's the real problem, and make some changes in the bookkeeping to correct it. Judging from what's happened so far, that'll probably be the LAST thing we'll ever look at. We'll continue wasting our time fruitlessly trying to deal with 'effects', while the 'cause' remains untouched, and only robs us further in a different area.

Gus: The rich don't pay equitable tax and never will. If you are suggesting more of a socialist everybody is equal situation ,count me out, although I am not sure which system is more corrupt!

Students pay some pretty serious tuition fees, without a doubt.
Seems they should parking for free.
All others pay cash!

Cougs78 ... the only thing I am pointing out is that unless everyone is on a relatively equal footing as far as access to money goes, consumption tax does not stop those with money from the capacity to keep on consuming non essential items. Those who just have money to buy essentials with a few wants rather than needs now and then will have to decide long and hard where they will spend their money, or go more into dept, if they have the credit.

So, your decision. Either say my rebuttal is wrong and prove that it is, or say we simply have two different opinions, or suggest a way that you primary purpose of putting on a consumption tax, reducing consumerism, can be achieved in another way.

The thought of socialism seems to have stopped your thinking process in its track. You did not address 3/4 of my post which was not even close to having anything to do with socialism. :-)

Hey .... if multi-nationals are not acceptable, are multi-provincials okay? How about multi-municipal?

Are multi-national companies the same as international companies?

"Charging the student for parking was brought in by the BC liberals over the Christmas holidays with no announcement even to faculty back in 06 I think it was"

Paid parking has been in effect at CNC for considerably longer than that. Am not sure of exactly when it was brought in. However, the governing party had nothing to do with it. It is a college matter. Payment for parking is not the same across the province. About half the post secondary institutes do not pay at all.

The number of spaces provided and whether they are free or not and how much has to be paid if there is a fee varies across the province.

Here is a report from a last year that gives some background on the state of the union across the province.

http://camosun.ca/documents/about/transportation/university-college-survey.pdf

The notion of paid parking at CNC was introduced in the mid 1990s. The rationale was that there was not enough parking since cars were parked on the road and the City was concerned about the amount of parking there was.

The first move was by the City to restrict parking on 20th. That did not solve anything. Also, I think the bus route was altered so that it looped right into campus rather than students having to cross the highway. There was even ridiculous talk of building a pedestrian bridge across Central rather than the no brainer solution of looping the bus onto campus.

I believe it was shortly thereafter that pay parking was introduced. Which, of course, caused more cars to be parked on the street.

BCLiberals, eh??? ..... LOL

Let me just remind (I have posted this on several occasions) anyone talking business property tax, that Prince George has the most equitable ratio of business to residential property tax according to the linked CFIB paper

http://www.fcei.ca/legis/bc/pdf/BCPTR.pdf

Prince George 1.65
Kamloops 2.18
Chilliwack 2.25
Kelowna 2.26
Nanaimo 2.27
Abbotsford 2.49
Victoria 2.78
Surrey 2.94
Port Coquitlam 3.10
Richmond 3.11
New Westminster 3.17
North Vancouver 3.35
Burnaby 3.49
Coquitlam 3.90
Vancouver 4.35

Almost everyone on here is claiming poverty when it comes to property taxes. Well, I suggest you tell the Chamber to go jump into the lake, since they are in the best spot in BC for larger communities when it comes to property taxes for their businesses.

Of course, with Palopu's thinking, if business pays the same tax or even less or no tax compared to the residential taxpayer, the money would be found by providing fewer services or even poorer services than we are already getting.

Or, we can go to our current favourite way of taxing - a user or consumption tax.

Toll bridges. Delivery truck taxes to businesses. Taxes for street parking next to businesses. Lane frontage taxes as well as street frontage taxes to businesses (build up and reduce your taxes). Sidewalk taxes to businesses (some businesses, such as in light industrial do not have sidewalks thus do not need to pay that tax)

So, while residential taxes pay for their part with a lump sum system, businesses can start paying on a cost recovery consumption tax basis. The list started at the top is just the tip of the iceberg. :-)

Thanks, but no thanks.

Wrong again Gus. Look it up. 2005 was the first meter installed at CNC for parking and it was done after a political appointment of the BC liberals to the CNC board made the decision to do it with no input from faculty. I think what worked out was faculty raised a big stink and got their parking eventually covered and they left the students to dangle on their own once they got what they wanted.

red2b is right, obviously the price increase to $2.25 from $2.00 is more than just the addition of 7% (the former pst)
I have to assume that the gst was included in the previous fee of $2.00 so the cost of parking nice and close to the college WAS $1.90 + gst = $2.00.
The new rate should be $2.13, incl. hst,
but of course they want to round it up for conveniance or for extra profit.
If a person really has to drive to college, and wants to park in the college lot, they really should buy a monthly pass.
Even for the short school month of September (18 school days if you don't go in on week ends) your cost per day is less.
I suspect that CNC is addicted to the revenue they get from parking, it's too bad that so much of the money generated goes out of town. If the college maintained their own parking (as does UNBC I believe) at least all of the revenue would stay local.
metalman.