Don’t shoot me. I’ve come to believe that the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) introduced by British Columbia’s Liberal government was the right thing to do.

It’s hard not to think so, if you take the time to speak with tax policy experts, look at the results of HST in other jurisdictions (most notably Atlantic Canada), and consider that most other provinces are following Ontario’s example by moving to HST.

The opposition can muddy the waters, and consumers can complain that they are getting the short end of the stick, but the truth of the matter is very simple — HST was a good policy move by the B.C. government.

Source ↑ www.thetyee.ca/…

V.c » I guess we will have to crunch the numbers to really know, but this seems like a whopping pile of BS to me. Maybe it will eliminate the paying of tax upon tax that we often pay unbeknownst thanks to the production chain, but this sure reeks of a tax grab to me. A huge list of products and services that have been exempt from PST, but not GST, will now be taxed with the combined tax of 12% known as the HST. Ummm, can you say tax grab. Oh, but because of the savings businesses will get from not having to pay the tax upon tax in the production chain, they will reduce their prices to consumers which will offset the extra 7% tax we will pay at the checkout. Yeah right, nice theory, but what are the chances of that actually happening. Hmmm, anyone interested in bartering?

Protest rally September 19

That’s why I strongly urge you to attend a major rally against the HST featuring former B.C. Premier Bill Vander Zalm, NDP leader Carole James, B.C. Conservative Party deputy leader Chris Delaney, independent MLA Vicki Huntington, B.C. Refederation Party deputy leader Jordan Braun and others on Saturday September 19 at 12 noon outside Canada Place in downtown Vancouver.

Source ↑ www.thetyee.ca/…

bcliberalparty (bcliberalparty) is now following your updates on Twitter.

bcliberalparty (bcliberalparty) is now following your updates on Twitter.

It’s decided, check the box for Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberal Party on my ballot. They are hip and cool and with it; they do the Twitter thing. Obviously they care about me if they are following my Twitter feed, we are like best friends now. Who cares if they want to sell our rivers to American Corporations or keep minimum wages the lowest in Canada or build jumbo bridges to the burbs at the expense of increasing public transit.

BC Place Rendering

NDP Angling to Cancel Retractable Roof Plans for BC Place

Based on online caucus statements and party advertising launched in late February, the BC NDP appears to favour scrapping plans for a retractable roof at BC Place stadium.

“It’s not explicit in the election platform release today, but they’ve made it clear in a series of pre-election trial balloons what their preference would be and that’s to scrap the plans for a retractable roof and proceed with a simpler replacement fixed roof,” said TEAM 1040 sport business commentator Tom Mayenknecht. “And if they proceed with that position, it’s not only wonky politics but it’s wonky economics.”

Source: www.team1040.ca/…

V.c » It is time for Campbell and his privatization agenda to drive off into a drunken Hawaiian sunset. But the NDP are a bunch of chumps if they decide to go cheap on the renovation of BC Place and forego the retractable roof. If they don’t go with the retractable roof they might as well scrap the entire renovation project altogether and spend the money elsewhere, like by sending all of us a cheque for the amount saved. Important infrastructure should evolve and be improved over the years, not just be spring cleaned. Imagine the events we could host with an awesome outdoor stadium on sunny summer afternoon.