Here we are again: dealing with the HST. I don’t know about you, but I’ve already said “No,” to the HST. As did over 700,000 people in the province who signed the anti-HST petition in 2010 - they didn’t want it either.
Now, as if that never happened, we’ve all received the “HST Referendum Voters Guide.” It contains statements, which imply that we’ll completely ruin our future as a province if we don’t accept the HST.
Please, please - be very certain: the most important result of keeping the HST is that you will pay tax on products and services. Forever, and so will your children.
As long as there’s an HST in the province of British Columbia, anyone who needs a product or service in this province will be paying tax on both: products and services.
It’s like having a provincial GST.
It doesn’t matter if the premier lowers the HST to 10 per cent or any percent: instead of paying tax on only the products you buy, you will pay that tax also on: your residential phone line; the Internet; every time you need a plumber, or electrician, or carpenter; or park your car; go to a movie; golf; ski; camp at a campsite; travel by air, rail and bus; go out for a meal; get a massage; get a haircut; buy vitamins; newspapers; bikes; get your shoes repaired; - are you getting this?
You’ll be paying that tax on just about every aspect of your life. Do you want to do that?
When you get that referendum ballot which asks this question: “Are you in favour of extinguishing the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) and reinstating the PST (Provincial Sales Tax) in conjunction with the GST (Goods and Services Tax)?” (Yes/No) - Circle the ‘yes,” scratch out the ‘no,” do whatever you need to do to say: Yes, you want to go back to the PST/GST we had before July 1, 2010.
It’s that simple. And it’s up to you. Literally.
Annette Gallatin,
Trail