Harmonized Sales Tax - British Columbia

[HST]

“UBC student uses YouTube to skewer HST opponents”, Vancouver Sun, May 25, 2011

Here’s the link to the above-mentioned article, which includes a video called "FightFightHST - A Letter to Bill Vander Zalm", in which Chris Thompson shows how the Fight HST organization has been, (and is), misinforming and misleading the public about BC’s Harmonized Sales Tax, which was the subject matter of the Initiative Petition, issued to the former Premier in February, 2010 and which is the subject of the upcoming Provincial Referendum.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/stu...165/story.html

To date, the video has had more than 55,600 hits.

See also: “Activist wants education”, published in the Nanaimo News Bulletin, February 08, 2010 3:00 PM

[All Ages Music Concerts]

I have the mailout *HST REFERENDUM VOTERS GUIDE*.

I have to admit I am somewhat confused as to how the HST protects jobs, creates jobs, better paying jobs.???

[The other Pat]

To date, the video has had more than 55,600 hits

Which is about 10% of the people who voted to get rid of the tax.

I don't have children, and my husband is not working, we are just over the limit so we don't get a rebate. I guess that we are not considered a "family".

Pat

[yorway]

My question is where is the anti HST advertising? I see a lot form the provincial government but none, as of yet, from those opposed to the HST.
I thought that both sides received a goodly sum to promote their positions. Are we (the tax payers) putting out more money for this pro HST propaganda?

[All Ages Music Concerts]

British Columbians need to stand the ground for once and not be so fooled by what the government considers Canadians to be so stupid to understand. Sure go ahead and give out a free payment one time cheque. Many low income families would welcome this cheque it is free today but costly tommorrow.

[The other Pat]

The $5 million is part of about $7 million the government will spend on informing people about the HST.

The total includes $200,000 on a series of HST telephone town hall meetings hosted by Falcon and other ministers; $500,000 toward both a pro-HST and anti-HST campaign; $500,000 for a series of public dialogues; and $700,000 to send a voter’s guide to every home in British Columbia.

New Democratic Party finance critic Bruce Ralston said the government is being unfair in how it is spending the money.

“They’ve given the opponents of the HST $250,000 and they’ve given themselves almost $7 million,” he said

Here is the link to the article: http://www.vancouversun.com/business...649/story.html

And those totals do not include the amount that Business is spending on advertising. So basically the government gave $250,000 to the anti hst campaign and the goverment is spending $5,000,000.

I am sure that you noticed a bit of advertising that isn't stick men, that would be put out by big business to tell us how good the HST is for us.

I did not check the cost, but I would bet that $250,000 does not buy much advertising.

Pat

[HST]

... I have to admit I am somewhat confused ...

As the result of the Referendum will affect ALL British Columbians, I sincerely hope that voters would, at least, equip themselves to make an informed decision and go to www.hstinbc.ca and avail themselves, as there is no shortage of access to information, (including YouTubes of the Public Dialogue Forums that have been held and which have all been "live streamed").

It's interesting, isn't it? .... At the outset, the BC government was criticized for not providing enough info regarding the proposed HST. Then, when it attempted to do so, it was advised by Elections BC, that it could not advertise (provide info to the public), as under the provisions of the Recall and Initiative Act, the government was treated as an "Opponent" of Vander Zalm's Initiative Petition and "Opponents" were required to register as such with Elections BC.

Pursuant to the totally flawed Recall and Initiative Act, would it not follow that any one of us, who did NOT agree with Vander Zalm/Tieleman & Delaney should have registered with Elections BC if they wanted to provide the public with information on the HST during the Initiative period, which was several months.

To this day, I still believe that when Elections BC approved Vander Zalm's application for an Initiative Petition on this TAX POLICY, (which is by no means, a simplistic topic), it did NOT serve British Columbians well by doing so. Vander Zalm, Tieleman and Delaney have had a "FREE RIDE" at the expense of ALL of us, whether we chose to follow them or not.

The period of uncertainty for making decisions (including decisions of ALL, who may be looking to invest in BC), has certainly been prolonged and the result of the Referendum will not be known until some time after July 22nd, which is the date that all ballots must be received by either Elections BC; a Service BC Centre; or an Elections BC Collection Centre (before 4:30 p.m.).

Regarding funding to the two sides, the Referendum Funding Decision Maker allocated $500,000 in Provincial funding to the YES and NO sides, subject to conditions and Elections BC accountability. He also oversees a Public Dialogue Fund with the YES and NO sides, running the public forums across the Province.

The Fight HST Society (supporting a referendum vote to return to the PST/GST) and the Smart Tax Alliance (supporting a referendum vote to retain the HST), succeeded in obtaining the funding.

[All Ages Music Concerts]

Really if the government had done it right the first time without being the sly dog; we the people would not be paying through the nose on this big mistake. It is time we woke up to what our rights are and stop paying for their dumb *** mistakes. Now they want to offer a one time cheque of $175.00 under certain conditions. ( right! target the seniors and low income category for votes. ) Yep a one time cheque for an ongoing control by the Federal Government because we allowed them to lure us for a $175.00 cheque. Really!!

[The other Pat]

Here is an interesting article, couldn't have said it better myself!

http://www.theprovince.com/business/...253/story.html

[HST]

... Yep a one time cheque for an ongoing control by the Federal Government ..........

BC has NOT lost its sovereignty over its provincial HST rate. Just as BC's personal income tax rates and corporate tax rates are set by the BC government, so is its provincial HST rate.

The agreement with the federal government, which came into effect on July 1, 2010, provided that the BC government could adjust, (in either direction), the rate of its provincial 7% component of the HST in two years' time, which is July 1, 2012 ..... almost one year from now.

When the HST came into effect on July 1, 2010, adjustments were also made to BC income tax and since that date, those on low income have been eligible for quarterly HST rebates, in the same manner as they had been eligible to claim quarterly GST and carbon tax rebates. In order to be considered for any quarterly rebates, taxpayers have always had to file an Income Tax Return.