HST fault: Campbell or Harper?

[arikara]

What would Stephen Harper do if Gordon Campbell announced that the HST was a bad idea and BC wanted out of the federal-provincial agreement? Sticking it to BC and insisting on not breaking the HST agreement until 2015 could cost Harper all of his 22 out of 36 seats in BC, and possibly any chance of clinging to power.

The petition against the HST is a political process; technical and legal arguments are irrelevant. Claims that little would happen if it succeeds miss the point. When the Recall and Initiative Act was drafted (I sat on the legislative committee and worked on the legislation), we believed that any government faced with a successful initiative petition would have to have a death wish not to comply with the will of the people.

While 10% of all registered voters in each of BC's 85 constituencies must sign in order for the initiative to succeed, it appears that the anti-HST petition could have more eligible voters signing than the number of people who bothered to vote. If that proves true, this could be an important rejuvenation of citizen involvement and democracy.

...more...

http://www.strategicthoughts.com/

[ZeitgeistObserver]

1. Other provinces have it.

Life will go on.

[arikara]

2. Oh good grief

Just accept whatever they hand out because its inevitable. What a pathetic attitude.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

3. Are you anti-environment?

Taxes serve a purpose you know.

And there is no 'they'.

[arikara]

9. No, I'm far from being anti environment

the problem being that the government that is bringing in this new tax for the benefit of foreign corporations also allows said corporations to destroy the land with impunity. Fish farms are decimating the wild salmon, western forest products, another foreign company was given crown land with the stroke of a government pen, and now they are clearcutting thousands of acres shipping the raw logs out of the country then selling the land on the open market. We are forced to buy back bits of our own land ourselves in order to preserve some of what is left. Campbell is considering allowing oil tankers to run through the sensitive inside passage. He's allowing corporations to destroy rivers and creeks. And we are giving them tax breaks to do this, they contribute little to the communities in the way of jobs and all profit transferred out of the country.

No, I'm not anti environment. Every time I see a logging truck pass by I die a little inside, all this destruction makes a person feel helpless. Our increase in taxes is not paying to preserve anything. "They" are cutting services to the people right left and centre and raising fees for everything they can. Yet there is enough in the kitty to give themselves a nice wage increase.

I guess a lot of the rage most of the people are feeling is being directed at the HST because it feels like we can actually do something. At least we're trying instead of simply bending over.

Edited to mention:

Not to forget about having to pay for the 2 week bread and circus Olympic party. It was a nice tv show while it lasted but worth the price? I hardly think so.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

10. It's not a new tax.

Same ones you've had all along, just put together, and it doesn't allow anything of the sort.

'They' are the people you elected, not outsiders taking over anything.

[arikara]

11. Look you aren't going to convince me

and I get that you are one of the ten percent who think its fine so feel free to have the last word. I must say I'm rather surprised to find several of you here in this forum, makes me wonder what that's about.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

12. Oh I know that.

I doubt anything could.

I live in Ontario, and we will have HST as well. Only the Conservatives are upset about it, but of course they won't repeal it either, it's just another election talking point for them.

Cutting taxes or repealing them is a Conservative view, after all.

[edwinmathews]

4. The blow back

in Ontario over the HST is just beginning . The tax burden is unbearable for most middle class people here in the land of the trillium .

[ZeitgeistObserver]

5. I'd say we have more important things to worry about

in Ontario than any HST.

[CHIMO]

6. Could You

Please explain the problem to all of us.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

7. I don't have a problem with the HST.The OP does.

[CHIMO]

8. I Wasn't

Replying to you.

I was asking reply #4.

[edwinmathews]

13. I shouldn't have to explain

the problem with the HST or the many other taxes that are now smothering the middle class here in Ontario . Heres a short list at some of the things we are going to pay more for .
http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/life/family/article/9642--how-will-the-budget-affect-your-family

I am currently paying one of the three levels of government two out of every three dollars i earn . The HST will be good for large corporations in the manufacturing sector but will be another haircut for the rest of us .

For those foolish enough to think only Conservatives are against the HST .
http://www.unfairtaxgrab.com/home.html

[CHIMO]

14. Thank You

So the way it appears to me is that the items that were exempt from the provincial tax are no longer exempt save for a few minor items.

There appears to be no change in the federal tax.

Thanks again for your explanation.

[edwinmathews]

17. It is going to cost Dalton

the next election .

[ZeitgeistObserver]

18. Doubtful. Nobody wants the NDP or PCs back.

It always amazes me that everybody wants these services, but they don't want to pay for them.

The sex ed might cost McGuinty, but not the HST.

[CHIMO]

19. Well

That's his problem.

However, I am not quite clear on why the purchase of a house, for example, should cost more. For instance the framing of the house would require many applications of the PST as material passed from supplier to supplier. In effect it was a tax on a tax. But not on the value added.

We forget that the GST was a tax that was to do away with the manufacturing tax, which had become an enormous exercise in establishing exemptions.

Anyway, if Dalton looses on this, then he hasn't taken the correct action.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

15. Or you could read something more up-to-date

http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/en/taxchange/faq.html

[tuvor]

16. 2/3 of your income goes to just one level of government?

That's a higher tax rate than Sweden or Denmark, and you haven't even accounted for the other two levels of government.