- Ms Kaye is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Mary Carlisle is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Prem Gill is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Nancy Flight is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
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- John Westover is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Nora Etches is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Edward Henderson is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Bharadwaj Chandramouli is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Dean Chatterson is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Marius Scurtescu is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Robert Parkes is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- James Murton is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Susan Doyle is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
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- Subir Guin is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Kimball Finigan is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Joanne Manley is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- David Leach is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
Tax Revolt! HST Hatred Keeps Growing
More than four out of five BCers oppose it; 65,000 join Facebook protest group.
Angry enough to recall Libs? Image by Nora Kelly.
"The HST is going to be good for all concerned, but there are exceptions."
-- BC tourism minister Kevin Krueger.
There is only one way to stop the B.C. Liberals’ plan to impose a Harmonized Sales Tax on British Columbians -- a recall campaign that ends their legislative majority.
Premier Gordon Campbell is clear -- despite enormous opposition and more than 65,500 people joining my Facebook protest group NO BC HST -– that he will go ahead despite the fact that 85 per cent of BCers despise the HST.
Those Ipsos Reid polling results show that people realize anything currently taxed with the five per cent GST will get an extra 7 per cent tax added on in July 2010 for a total 12 per cent HST.
Consumers would pay an extra $1.9 billion a year –- with all that money going to big business. Not a dime of the HST will pay for healthcare, education or social services.
Reasons to recall
It looks like the only way to force Campbell and Finance Minister Colin Hansen to drop the HST is to threaten their legislative majority and, if necessary, recall enough B.C. Liberal MLAs that they cannot remain in government.
The appropriate response to abuses of power is to remove that power. Taking out just eight B.C. Liberals would defeat the government.
It’s not easy. Despite promises to improve recall legislation -- sound familiar? -- the Campbell government did nothing.
But it’s also far from impossible.
First, the recall campaign cannot start under Elections B.C. rules until 18 months after the election -- November 2010 -- but organizing can take place now to identify voters who want to recall their B.C. Liberal MLA.
That’s important because once the recall petition process begins you only have 60 days to collect the signatures of 40 per cent of voters who were registered voters for that riding during the May 12th provincial election.
A tough task -- but recall pre-organizing can happen without spending limits until petitions are filed.
Liberals most vulnerable to recall
Successful recall pre-organizing could panic the government into dropping the HST, because if not, Campbell and Hansen would lose power long before the 2013 election.
That may be enough, but if not, here are the unlucky 13 B.C. Liberal MLAs easiest to recall, in order:
Eric Foster -- Vernon-Monashee, 37 per cent; John Slater -- Boundary-Similkameen, 37 per cent; Pat Pimm -- Peace River North, 43 per cent; Bill Barisoff -- Penticton, 44 per cent; John Les -- Chilliwack, 45 per cent; Murray Coell -- Saanich North and the Islands, 45 per cent; Marc Dalton -- Maple Ridge-Mission, 46 per cent; Ida Chong -- Oak Bay, 47 per cent; George Abbott -- Shuswap, 47 per cent; Terry Lake -- Kamloops-North Thompson, 47 per cent; Margaret MacDiarmid -- Vancouver-Fairview, 47 per cent; Don McRae -- Comox Valley, 47 per cent; Donna Barnett -- Cariboo-Chilcotin, 48 per cent.
And one more for good measure. At 17th place, there is Gordon Campbell -- Vancouver-Point Grey, 50 per cent.
If you haven’t joined the Facebook group 'NO BC HST' you can do so here.
The B.C. NDP also has an online petition against the HST, as do a few other folks and the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association. ![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
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Grumpy
2 years ago
What we need is a quiet revolution..................
.............and do a mass recall of liberal MLA's, which is certainly better than the alternative, a violent revolution.
mmphosis
2 years ago
rabble.ca
http://rabble.ca/babble/western-provinces/no-bc-hst
Tieleman
2 years ago
Bill Tieleman - correction and update
The first line of this column is a hilarious quote from BC Tourism Minister Kevin Krueger, not from me! I'm sure it will be correctly attributed shortly.
And NO BC HST now has more than 65,700 members - far more than the 55,000 when this column was written on Sunday!
You can join at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=105998706732
DPL
2 years ago
My gosh Bill the T/C
My gosh Bill the T/C Editorial mentioned your No HST as a place to protest. They even spelt your name correctly
southdeltawalker
2 years ago
Recall follies
Yes we did the recall thing to try to rid ourselves of our useless MLA Val Roddick here in Delta South in 1995.
Hundreds of folks worked on it and got thousands of signatures in the time frame.
Many of these signatures were "challenged" as being phoney. Looks like BC Liberal supporters signed the petitions using false names and then challenged the process.
So good luck to anyone considering the recall route.
The B C Liberals lied and got re-elected.
The NDP could have won but put on the worst campaign in memory...are they the alternative?
Dan the socialist
2 years ago
I think the only way to stop
I think the only way to stop it is getting the Lt. GG to refuse Royal Assent...
Those recall ridings you listed I have lived in some of them like Peace River North and Chilliwack and those areas I doubt you could recall and if it happened they would vote BC Lib again anyways. Those two and a few others on your list vote for the furthest right wing party every time federally and provincially..
The other thing, yes that poll yesterday showed the Libs losing 12 points but the NDP stayed at the same 42% they received on the election. With all the HST hatred the Libs go down and NDP stays the same, so that tells me unless the NDP get a new leader as 51% NDP members want......http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Support+government+falls+takes+lead/1876059/story.html
Canoe pass
2 years ago
Your right Bill T
Start organising,start knocking on doors,the HST revolt,according to Ipsos reid,85% oppossed,that is almost 9 in 10 opposed,I have never seen so much anger on any issue,sorry Southdelta walker,the hospital issue wasn`t big enough to get people to rally.......
When Delta attempted recall,80% had voted Liberal in the previous election,the anger wasn`t there....
The anger against Campbell has been building,start knocking on doors now,signing people up,yes and start in point Grey,sign up I would guess 80% of the signatures,call the people back every month to verify their intent,parties have a good idea who voted for who.......
There are more than one issue,Campbell lied about the deficit(Toxic fudge)lied about health cuts,education cuts,the olympic fraud,massive pay hikes for Campbell and his cronies,Hash Heed,John Les,these people are under,or should I say still under a cloud......
8 Ridings,that is all it takes,lets start rattling the cages,kn ocking on the doors,cmon people,we can do this........This could be a rallying point for a new political realm in BC,stop lying or your gone,overstep your authority and your gone........
Imagine the possibilties,this day has been decdes over-due
Skywalker
2 years ago
"The HST is going to be good for all concerned, but there ...
...are exceptions" does sound like something Kevin Kruger would say. At least it provided a good laugh here. The devil is always in the exceptions. "All" is the forest companies who make a bundle. "the exceptions" are all the other schmucks like us left to pay the extra.taxes. Not the sharpest knife in the liberal drawer, he probably misspoke and right now is being hauled up in front of the King Campbell for a thorough flogging>
Rhea
2 years ago
axe the tax!
OK, I'm all for the recall (Marc Dalton is the MLA for my area), but as southdeltawalker pointed out, the Libs have weaselled around that in the past. I think this needs a multi-pronged approach which includes recall campaigns, forcing each shaky MLA to publicly face groups of their constituents and hear their outrage, and basically getting as many people as possible out in the streets to protest. People are too passive about what the government does...it's accepted, and they just ignore it...totally frustrating!!!!
I'd support a general strike as well. The Liberals can't fire the whole province, and it's not like there's much economic activity going on anyway!
Grumpy
2 years ago
Forget about recall and a general strike........................
.............if you really want change, one must rally one's forces and storm the palace gates. One must revolt!
Now I'll wager there are very few that have the stomach for that, so the HST will pass and Campbell will go his merry way destroying the province.
toquer
2 years ago
But Bill...
But bill...if everyone has to pay the tax, how exactly will this hurt your consulting biz or the restaurant industry? Whether you go to restaurant x,y, or z, you'll pay the tax. If you choose to stay at home and cook, you'll pay the tax. Given there is no way to avoid paying the HST, it's hard to imagine how it will do the harm you claim: people aren't going to stop eating out on account of an extra $5 or so on a bill (works as a pun when applied to your consultancy...). Your competitors in the consulting game all have to charge the tax: so how does this in any way change the lay of the land? Targetted taxes, like corporate taxes certainly have the effect you describe: people will usually choose the least cost option. But when everyone pays, the competitive pricing of things stays relatively the same, does it not?
MichaelT
2 years ago
yeah I've been looking to
yeah I've been looking to remove my MLA in Vancouver Fairview. I will do this.
biscotti
2 years ago
recall is NOT the only way
...there are many, many creative ways to take direct action in a province with BC's geography in such a way as to stymie this government. But they don't involve political consultants ;-)
freebear
2 years ago
Stop paying your MSP premiums!
If we all did this would it get Campbell's attention?
seth
2 years ago
Faint hope
It was the NDP's Dave Zirnhelt who said the BC government can do anything it wants.
For the next five years, The Gordo has almost absolute power to carry on his environmental and economic destruction of the BC economy until all that is left is bare rocks and polluted water devoid of life, giant corporations, multimillionaires and servants. Carole James with her abysmal campaign highlighted by her inability and refusal to fight the Gordo on economic issues bears much of the responsibility for this.
As long as Carole James is hanging like a millstone around the neck of the progressive movement, a conventional protest or recall movement has no chance of stopping the Gordo. In fact, it is because because James is so out her depth as a leader El Gordo feels perfectly safe coming up with health care cuts and the HST. With more effective leadership he wouldn't have dared. In a recall campaign people will just look at the Carole James alternative and as in the election stay home and watch the Simpsons on the big screen TeeVee. Carol James needs to resign and a more effective can we say charismatic leader found. Jenny Kwan, Adrian Dix, Jim Sinclair, Ken Georgetti - somebody please help.
If an issue isn't clear in a 30 second news clip you have exceeded the attention span of todays voter. Tieleman used that tactic to a fair thee well in the STV campaign, so confusing the voter that a voting system obviously far superior than current one was defeated. There are many good points to the HST that the Canwest/Gordo could use in a recall campaign to confuse Joe Six Pack and keep him back home in front of the TeeVee on election night.
The only hope is that enough angry and pragmatic NDP and Green party members will abandon their chosen political movements, buy BCLiberal party memberships and join the progressive members of the BCLiberal party in throwing out the Neocon pestilence that has overwhelmed that once "liberal" party. Send The Gordo and his gang over to the BC Con's for Chris Delaney to deal with. Apparently Liberal party offices have had to stop answering calls so great is the anger over this. If only a few protestors will buy party memberships..
MichaelT
2 years ago
well I don't know about that
well I don't know about that seth - Liberal parties tend to have structures that make it difficult to impossible to change their culture by simply adding members.
Certainly we are all disgusted with James the worst opposition leader I have ever seen in my 45 years - she's more like an enabler of the Libs than Opp. leader - but joining the Libs won;t work.
Moderates should join the NDP and force James out in time for the Recall next November.
southdeltawalker
2 years ago
Remember Solidarity/Solidarity Coalition?
Forget about wasting time trying to recall Liberal liars. Time for folks to organize and bring these f**kers down.
There was almost a general strike in the early 80's against the Bill Bennet gov't.
Community groups-The Solidarity Coalition and Labour-Solidarity worked on actions to lead to a general strike until a certain Labour leader Jack Monroe flew to Kelowna to meet with Bill Bennett and sold everyone out.
People/community groups have to take the leadeship in this. Don't wait for the NDP and Labour. We have learned.
Norman Farrell
2 years ago
Liberals allow poor people new opportunity to contribute
Caring about la crème de la crème
or
le lait écrémé?
http://northerninsights.blogspot.com/2009/07/keeping-creme-de-la-creme-from-souring.html
MichaelT
2 years ago
very nice norman - very apt.
very nice norman - very apt.
Skywalker
2 years ago
So toquer..
..a tax gouge is OK because everyone is being gouged. But you missed something in your haste to rationalize the scam. Some are getting more from the amount others are paying. The gougers (or their friends in big business) get while the gougees (the public) get screwed. Got it now!
Hermans Hermit
2 years ago
What a Joke
The Lieberanos have fooled BC'ers and the NDP have fooled BC'ers. Remember the Axe the Carbon Tax? Now the NDP supports it. What a sham.
Now the NDP government is moving ever so closer to implementig the HST.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2009/08/11/manitoba-doer-harmonization.html
Boy people are gullible. It's time to throw the Lieberanos and the NDP into the political dust bin.
Viva la BC Visionistas! A new way to govern.
Rubber stamp
2 years ago
Only a foolish goverment
Would add a huge tax load on a already cash strapped consumer.
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Personal+bankruptcies+climb+cent+june/1881956/story.html
RickW
2 years ago
Clever Gordon!
Stiring up this tempest in teapot so early into his mandate. Outraged citizens will find it next to impossible to keep up this rhetoric over the next three years,
Perhaps we can take some solice in the Mayan calendar, which says the world will end in 2012. It will save us the trouble of remembering what we were so angry about in 2009, come election 2013......
G West
2 years ago
Nada
The only people who say the NDP supports the Carbon Tax are BC Liberals. That meme is just another Campbell lie trotted out by his stalking horses in the Public Affairs Bureau and the bought and paid for media. Don’t fall for it.
The NDP does not support the Campbell Tax - Ms James simply stated the obvious - when the VOTERS of the province returned a mandate to the CEO the 'debate' about the Campbell Tax was, in effect, over.
For Carole James or anyone else to continue tilting at that windmill is just plain nonsense - which is NOT TO SAY ONE AGREES WITH IT - simply that it's the law and it's not going to change any time soon,
That's realism - to do or say anything else would be stupidity.
The HST, on the other hand, is not a fait accompli until July 1, 2010.
A continued fight against the HST isn't just a good idea - it's an absolute necessity...something that every real progressive recognizes. The amount of erosion which is currently biting into Campbell’s rump will continue and increase in the months ahead…even Pee Wee has recognized this was the CEO’s decision and he’s backing way off – Campbell is going to swing in the wind on this one – for months.
Add to that the consequences of a massive bill after an El Nino Olympics and the climate in British Columbia is very likely to change radically…it just won’t happen overnight.
mary jane
2 years ago
general strike faster??
If the health care cut back happen will the nurses etc help with a general strike?? How many others are willing to do a large scale strike?? Hopefully it will happen before we are actively fight swine flu or H1N1 and there is no one to help. Gordos an idiot needless to say If I heard correctly there is to be a gathering on the parliment steps SEpt 1 09 WE CAN ONLY HOPE
sunshine coast girl
2 years ago
It would be easy to beat
It would be easy to beat Dalton in MRM. Bocking only lost by 76 votes. I've offered to help with VanderZalm's campaign; just waiting to hear from him.
I think that mass rallies and pre-recall organizing are the way to go. Let the bastards see the palpable anger right now and let them sweat about the recall later. Also let them know that it will not let up during the Owelympics. Wonder how Campbell will like his legacy then?
And what about Aug. 17th and the emails? I can hardly wait.
This is not like me. I feel real hatred for these people and can't seem to let go of it.
RickW
2 years ago
maryjane
Didn't the BCNU executive sell out to Campbell......?
Grumpy
2 years ago
General Strike! General Strike! General Strike ...ya, ya, ya!
A General Strike is a waste of time unless it were to happen, say, during the Olympics?
You want to send Gordo a message, boycott the Olympics; boycott the supporters of the Olympics; and have a General Strike during the Olympics.
Ain't ever going to happen, BC residents are as weak as water! They love to complain, but when the chips are down, they scatter like scared mice.
Gordo is a bully and the only way to face a bully is direct action and as I said, it ain't ever going to happen.
Isabella2
2 years ago
HST
Here I are, Mr. Kreuger - one of your EXCEPTIONS!
Had it with Campbell and all his DECEPTIONS!
Petitions? He'll ignore them.
Recall? Didn't work then, will not work now.
General strike? Would be blamed on the unions.
There's only one thing that would work - 50,000+ on the steps of the Legislature, preferably on the day the Leg goes back in session later this month. If people don't care to bus, bike, walk to Victoria, then we organize a coordinated demonstration at every Liberal MLA constituency office in the province.
UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED...WE GET TO PAY THE HST.
mary jane
2 years ago
RickW
In one article on the health care cut backs the nurses and other health care emplyees will lose jobs. If the cut backs go deep enough won't they complain? Its hard to tell now the nurses had a VERY strong union at one time. It would help if the unions would get involved here or other places so we could get an understnding of what they are thinking.
Hermans Hermit
2 years ago
Lieberanos, NDP - They All Lie and Deceive
And that's what infuriates me. The Lieberanos lie and deceive with their HST. They have lied to us before.
The NDP plays opportunistic politics on the HST. They have also lied to us before in and out of government.
Yet their NDP counterparts in Manitoba now seem to embrace the HST. What a joke!
"Manitoba Premier Gary Doer said Tuesday his province has no choice but to look seriously at harmonizing its provincial sales tax with the federal GST, despite comments last week when he appeared to differ from his finance minister."
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2009/08/11/manitoba-doer-harmonization.html
Come on people WAKE UP!!!! Don't be FOOLED AGAIN!!!!
We need a true BC Party for and behalf of British Columbians.
Viva la BC Visionistas! A new way to govern.
Chris Bouris
2 years ago
The means of the message
Not meaning to ask overmuch, but, might every poster please endeavour to try and write like an adult? Some are succeeding.
You may "dis" the policy makers, but if you sound worse than the policy, you'll come off as the joke, not they.
Some may disagree, but the means of the message is as important as the message itself. I wonder if the means aren't actually the message, all said and done.
morechatter
2 years ago
They All Lie and Deceive
I would like to think not, and if so the very least who ever they are, in this case the premier, Gordon Campbell needs to be held accountable, a single promise he could actually keep.
I understand the former leader of the NDP payed the price for his indiscreation and the very least Campbell should pay for his along with party members. I turst James has the interest of the citizens while Campbell has taken the coporate route.
Its the process that stops politicians from taking the route of out and out lies and corruption, you know public contempt and then ousted from the job if they get caught in down in out lies.
I don't believe the NDP is enabling the Liberals as the NDP party has done anything but. Who is to blame for the sad state of affairs but voters who failed to come and and mark their X and left Campbell with a majority despite the majority of voters beleiving the man wasn't to be trusted.
So you get what you vote or in this case who you don't vote for and since deceiption is Campbell's game I do believe BC'ers are in for a whole lot more.
morechatter
2 years ago
It Could Happen Over night
The way the premier has been running this province it wouldn't surprise me there is a whole lot more citizens would be mighty upset with. As its what happens when that can of worms starts to crawl out of the can.
And I am confident the NDP will continue to expose the Liberals, and especially their leader for his part in the deceiption.
So anything could happen, as take the Basi Virk case that came from out of the blue. So don't be so dishearted I believe Mr. Campbell is going to be held accountable its what he wished for. And we all know the implications of that be carefull what you wish for it could come true. Now how true is that?
North of Hope
2 years ago
HST not Tories‘ idea, MP says
Here is an article from the PG Citizen that I found a bit interesting. I'm not sure where the $1.6 billion bribe fits in in all this.
HST not Tories‘ idea, MP says
Written by Citizen staff
Monday, 10 August 2009
Bringing a harmonized sales tax to B.C. isn't the federal Conservatives idea, Cariboo-Prince George MP Dick Harris is emphasizing.
Reached Monday for comment on the issue, Harris said the Conservatives are merely adhering to federal legislation passed by the old Chretien Liberal government that includes a formula to determine how much funding a provincial government should get for making the move.
Victoria will receive $1.6 million from Ottawa as part of harmonizing the provincial sales tax with the federal goods and services tax. Businesses have generally welcomed it, but some -- notably restaurants -- have been vocally opposed while it will also mean consumers will be paying a sales tax on a wider range of items.
"The legislation is still there, of course, and even if we wanted to change it, the Liberals and the NDP and the Bloc would not vote to change it and we're a minority government," Harris contended.
Asked what the Conservatives' position is on harmonizing the provincial sales taxes with the federal goods and services tax, Harris said the party hasn't really taken one saying it's strictly a provincial government decision.
There are pluses and minuses to the move, he said, saying businesses general like the move while consumers are not so sold on the idea, but also noted low-income families receive a rebate to offset the cost of the tax.
"Personally, it hasn't been high on my agenda and now that we've got it, I suppose I'm going to have a look and see how it affects me and how it's affecting other people," he said. "It's a year away and there's a lot of speculation about how it's going to affect people but once it kicks in we're actually going to know in fact how it does."
Skeena-Bulkley Valley NDP MP Nathan Cullen is away on holidays and could not be reached for comment.
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/20090810207170/local/news/hst-not-tories-146-idea-mp-says.html
sunshine coast girl
2 years ago
they knew and they deliberately lied.....
Miro Cernetig (today's Vancouver Sun opinion)
Premier Gordon Campbell, a keen student of Canadian politics, knows the unpopularity that befalls a leader seen as a tax-and-spender. It's why you never heard much about the dreaded HST -- harmonized sales tax -- in the run-up to or during the May provincial election.
But within the government, five months before the provincial election was called, the premier was presented with a full report listing the economic benefits and political downsides if he introduced the HST. It came from the B.C. Progress Board, essentially the premier's policy think-tank, in a report called Investment British Columbia: Current realities and the way forward.
It pretty much outlined the policy we have today and predicted a public backlash if the government introduced the HST, which will put a 12-per-cent sales tax on just about everything you buy.....
Read the rest at the Vancouver Sun
alive
2 years ago
same old
Following Mr Bennets system, our Gordo will push hard for the HST, and then at the last moment give a bit of ground.
It is such a common trick to just let off a bit, and suddenly the populace will be thinking he is such a nice guy to actually listen to our complaints.
I see it as a pre-planned move, he will give a bit on certain items, and all will be well in never-never land
Grumpy
2 years ago
And guess what boys and girls...............
the carbon tax is a gas tax!
crh
2 years ago
cash
Fight back with cash deals. Ask everyone if they will accept cash without a receipt. Dodge taxes as much as possible to lessen the pain.
Cheating is okay after all...just look at our leaders.
Jerry Munro
2 years ago
Being Real in The New Times...
"Petitions? He'll ignore them.
Recall? Didn't work then, will not work now.
General strike? Would be blamed on the unions.
There's only one thing that would work - 50,000+ on the steps of the Legislature, preferably on the day the Leg goes back in session later this month."
You are right, in my view, Isabella2, but it really doesn't matter who will blame who at this point, because the Labour Movement is by now so near hopelessly co-opted into, or intimidated by the system, it's not really willing or capable of leading anything. It scarcely leads itself... let alone being able to lead the broader working class public.
That said, it is a situation which is still capable of being turned around... in time. But it is going to have to be dragged kicking and screaming, against the resistance of its own much, as I say, "co-opted", business unionism leadership, into again being an effective part of the "public resistance", .
Which in my view means, much as you suggest, that workers, in and out of "official labour" are most likely going to have to organize with the broader public, outside of their own compromised trade union organizations. (At some point, a fight has to go on within Labour itself, to change its leadership and its broader "public alliance" commitment. Of which I see no signs yet.)
The greatest likelihood is that folks have to stop waiting for leadership to come out of either official Labour or Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, the NDP. Both are too far down the road, at this point, of integration and co-operation with capitalism-, such that while they may not entirely agree with the extreme ruling class right wing politics of the Liberal-Cons, neither are they prepared to lead a street revolt of their members or the broader public. Neither the NDP or the trade union movements bear much resemblance any longer to their founding histories. (The NDP had gone through more than a series of name changes alone, but along with that, deep ideological and policy changes that have sought to harmonize it with the status quo system. It's more about votes, and less about real change.)
It is time to start anew and outside what has to here been the traditional resistance vehicles of the working class... hoping, like I say, to drag them along perhaps at some later time, for fear of losing their credibility altogether. It is time to be realistic about not only "the system", but as well Big Labour and Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition.
Rubber stamp
2 years ago
Not Quite right Alive
The "Deal" with the feds only allows for a total 0f 5% of the GST taxed based items to be exempted,and fuel takes up the 5%.......It`s a all or nothing deal.....
I have studied the Atlantic Canada experience with Harmonization/HST......
Here are some facts.....Newfoundland in 1997(the year of harmonization)their PST was 12% the GST was 7% for a combined tax rate of 19%....the same thing in Nova Scotia,their combined tax rate was 18.7%..........
So when they went to harmonization the tax rate was lowered by 4% points to 15% combined rate.....
And what happened to consumer prices,well,housing costs went up,housing starts slowed for a few years,but more importantly consumer prices fell by a grand total of 1%......
Thats right,consumer prices fell by 1%......
But before you think I`m a turn-coat,remember,the tax rate was lowered by 4%......
Which means business pocketed the difference and didn`t pass on any savings.......
And....we aren`t getting taxes lowered in BC,are taxes are being raised,so who the hell is screwing who?
Let me repeat that last part,Atlantic Canada had their taxes lowered by 4% and business only passed on 1% to the consumers!
Here is the link.....
http://www.timescolonist.com/travel/tale+HST+different/1875177/story.html
Rhea
2 years ago
apples to oranges
As others have pointed out, comparing BC's proposed HST to the eastern provinces is comparing apples to oranges. The net result of the BC HST is higher prices for consumers and taxes on a number of items previously exempted, while a lot of businesses that supported the Libs get a sweet cashback (TFB for the restaurants).
As well as fighting this, I'm making it a personal mission to pay as little tax to these greedy crooks as I can. For anyone interested, here are tips: Buy used, buy online from out of province, buy from the US, buy from private sales or farmers markets, trade or barter, make or grow your own food when you can, and use cash under the table as much as possible. I do a lot of this already, but now it's war....the BC gov't is going to get as little money out of me as possible. Screw them like they are trying to screw us!
demotto
2 years ago
Why worry
Why worry about the tax or price. Request a signed Bill when making a consumer purchase, sign it and return it for payment as per the Bills of Exchange Act. In paying the Bill the way we are supposed to rather than postponing the debt by using Canada Bank Note debt we can actually get out of debt instead of always adding to it. Canada Bank Notes are the first lean against the Bank of Canada, they are not money in the Financial Administrations Act of CANADA. They are nothing but debt instruments. Use the Bills of Exchange Act as it is meant for us to use.
Norman Farrell
2 years ago
Savings from cost reductions will not happen
Lieberals argue that prices will decline because business will pass through its savings from recovery of PST in the supply chain.
We recently imported Canon camera accessories from USA because the same products sold direct by Canon were priced 123% higher than the landed cost of the same products brought in from the States. Similarly, Air Canada last week priced a Seattle-Paris return trip 105% more than Vancouver-Paris, both flights with a Montreal stopover.
Canadian business, with active assistance of government, seeks to remove competition from the marketplace wherever possible. The two examples cited above demonstrate that cost inputs have nothing to do with selling prices.
Canada quite deliberately has the weakest anti-trust and competition laws in the developed world. Large businesses have purchased the souls of politicians like Gordon Campbell and the entire thrust of Campbell's premiership has been to enhance large corporations and screw small business and individuals.
Next, I expect that Campbell will change to a flat rate provincial income tax. Its all part of protecting the creme de la creme.
Rubber stamp
2 years ago
Good points Norman Farrell
I would like to add some more on that theme...
Miro Certing in the Vancouver Sun wrote about the discussion paper about HST that Campbell read 5 months ago....
Who was on that panel, who wrote the paper? I will tell who,big business lobbyists....
This tax is voodoo economics for the people....
Here are some examples of the hypocracy
Big Oil.Look at what their profits were over the last few years,no matter how profitable their companies were thay didn`t lower prices,look at the pay packages of business CEOs, a thousand times the wage of a worker or more.....
Look at all the outsourcing to dollar a day worker countries overseas,no matter how many breaks business gets they want more....
This discussion paper Campbell read,who was representing the little ole consumer?
Wall street,investment banks,ratings agengies,accounting firms,they all cooked books,played in derivatives,for god sakes it was big business that drove this recession over the cliff.....Look at that teresan gas story,they used loopholes to avoid paying 37 million in BC taxes......
Electrolux(Vacuums and appliances)several years ago Michigan offered them 100 million per year in tax breaks,what did electrolux do,they said not enough,were moving to Mexico and they did,all for cheap labour with no benefits or safety nets!
You can see where this is going,a continual erosion of the middle class and a permanent foot kept on the underclass.....
I am so sick of whats good for wall street is good for America or Canada.
What next,no corporate tax,Canada to become a business tax haven like Bermuda,no taxes for business,just keep soaking the people....
This tax will have the reverse effect,who is going to buy their products? Some asian worker making 2$ dollars a day?
Tyee readers,Canadians,BCers,we are on the road to third world status,the erosion of the middle class started in the 70s....Well it`s in high gear now,if any of you care about your children,your grandchildren,future of Canada,make your stand today,now,before it is to late,it might already be too late
Cheers
Norman Farrell
2 years ago
Correction
Oops, I reversed numbers. The comparative price for Air Canada flight to Paris was 105% higher in Canada than Seattle, taxes and fees removed. Same travel days. Same intermediate stop-over.
Norman Farrell
2 years ago
No taxes for business
That is one of the aims of the overseers. The theory is that taxes should only be imposed on people and corporations should keep profits intact with taxes paid by shareholders when/if the income is distributed. Paul Martin, that Liberal friend of the working man, believed that at least his corporations should not pay tax. That's why he had businesses registered in Barbados and Liberia.
Baxman
2 years ago
The numbers are shocking
I work with people in the convenience store industry on the accounting side.
On July 8, 2009, I did a quick test of one of the stores to see what the HST results would be using that days sales. The store sales were $4225 and the actual PST collected was $20.96.
Some items are not taxable under HST (lottery, bottle deposits and some dairy products). All others items would be taxable. I exempted all non-taxable sales and did the calculation using a PST rate of 7% on all the HST taxable sales. The new PST amount that would have been collected would have been $246.38.
This is an increase of 1175%. The stores monthly PST remittance is between $500 and $650, varying due to the number of days in the month and sales.
Store Sales: $4225
Under current PST
PST Collected: $20.96
Monthly Remittance (31 days): 20.96 x 31 = 649.76
Under future HST
PST portion of HST Collected: 246.38
Monthly remittance (31days): 246.38 x 31 = 7637.78
The tax collected in 3 days will exceed the highest amount this store collects in a month.
Say no more!
rtbwa
2 years ago
So Bill.....?
So Bill, If I vote for the NDP next election (or after a successful recall);
..will the NDP repeal the HST?
RickW
2 years ago
Good on Ya, Rhea!
This Campbell government purports to support free enterprise. Well, about the free-est enterprise is the barter.........
Jerry Munro
2 years ago
Pulling the wool over working class eyes, yet again...
Very interesting figures, Baxman. And it speaks to the underlying facts of life occurring along the entire front of socio-economic policy within the ruling status quo system, especially since the late 70s; obfuscation, deception and theft of working class share. (Or if you are more inclined to the US obfuscation on class, the "middle class" share.)
First, obfuscation and deception in dressing up the old brown bag of cash right wing Socred "private enterprise" alliance as now "Liberal". With, now that this brand name is being discredited as well, some already beginning to plump for a so-called BC Party. (See the same right wing phenomena now dressed up in drag as the Saskatchewan Party.)
http://www.saskparty.com/theparty.html
And theft of working class share through, first, undermining labour rights and trade unionism with legislative changes since the 70s, the deception of shifts in tax policy favouring corporate welfarism and protection of corporate and ruling class incomes through the "recession" while throwing the working class to the wolves. And part of this "throwing the working class to the wolves", of course, has involved outright erosion of the health care system, assisted in part by the weak defence of it on the part of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition of all parties everywhere.
And now, addressing this growing class "disharmony" already built into the system. we are going to get a further theft of working class share by holding them up further at the point of sale with, "Yup!", now a "harmonized" sales tax.
It is an obfuscation and use of the language of double speak worthy of George Orwell's "Animal Farm"-, only that speaks more to "democratic" capitalism's criminal deceptions than Stalin's "working class utopia".:-)
What a twisted sense of humour history has. It sets us all up again and again, and then keeps knocking us down like bowling pins. :-) And the class system still endures.
It endures because "the people", though they know they have been and are lied to again and again, want to "believe"... at least until there is no other choice and they see some kind of credible alternative and means of changing it all, or at least try to change it all one more time.
Rubber stamp
2 years ago
HERE IS THE LINK ADDRESS TO THE bc PROGRESS BOARD REPORT
Gordon Campbell and Colin Hansen stated that the HST wasn`t on their radar even though the Ontario goverment introduced the HST in their march/2008 budget........
Well according to Miro Cerntegnig of the Vancouver sun.....He lays out in his latest column that in fact Campbell and Hansen read the paper/report from the BC Progress Board which was pimping for the HST to benefit big business and....
The report,early in the first few pages clearly states the the public/consumers/middleclass will freak right out over the tax shift from business to joe public........
So for Campbell and Hansen to state that it wasn`t on their radar,or their GPS or their blackberry,might be true,but only because it was in their briefcases.....BOLD FACED LIARS...
Here is the link
http://www.bcprogressboard.com/2008Report/Prod%20Invest/Prod%20Invest_12_12_2008_S.pdf
Cheers-Eyes Wide Open
Rubber stamp
2 years ago
The BC Progress board report
Campbell and Hansen read that report in december 2008.....5 months before our BC election......
Recall/recall/recall/march on Victoria/general strike/Olympic protests designed to embarass Gordon Campbell personally......LET THE GAMES BEGIN
P.S. Heard today that Gordon Campbell,1 week ago,with no one from the media present,handed out 1500 Gordon Campbell gold medals at the olympic village(his name and picture is on the medals)to the workers.......
Imagine that,Gordo`s bling bling campaign during a recession,with all the cuts to services,and his HST fraud,and to hand out 1500 Gordallions to a project that is 100s of millions over budget......
Place pouty face here_______
Cheers-Eyes Wide Open
Baxman
2 years ago
Gordallions
Gotta love it! What a hoot!
rtbwa
2 years ago
I'll ask again
So, if they get power, will the NDP repeal the HST?
Or are they just trying to score political points?
(hint: Studying it is not an answer).
Let's hope I don't hear crickets chirp like the last time I asked.
Jerry Munro
2 years ago
The Legacy of The Past and Its Consequences for The Present...
"There was almost a general strike in the early 80's against the Bill Bennet gov't.
Community groups-The Solidarity Coalition and Labour-Solidarity worked on actions to lead to a general strike until a certain Labour leader Jack Monroe flew to Kelowna to meet with Bill Bennett and sold everyone out." wrote SouthDeltaWalker
And it is with the consequences of that failure and betrayal of Operation Solidarity that occurred in 1983, that we have been living with down into the present day. What has happened to working (middle) class living standards, health care, income share, and all the other social programmes that were the legacy of a previous generation of workers, and yes, the loss of trade union and NDP influence and prestige, all flows as a consequence out of that time.
Rubber stamp
2 years ago
Rtbwa
The NDP are going to try and stop it before it is enacted.......
As for what happens when the NDP take over one way or another in 2013......
We will have to payback Ottawa or have transfer payments cut.......
Plus the hiring back of accountants etc etc etc......
It won`t be easy to remove,and it couldn`t happen in a flash,but forget that,your OBFUSCATING the issue.......
The easiest thing to do would be to leave it in place and replace all the PST exempt items....
We must stop this now,because Campbell lied his face off,but mainly because it`s voodoo economics,big business caused this recession,not the little guy,the people(Big busines,wall street)who drove the recessikon bus over the cliff are the same baffoons calling for this tax shift,WTF....they were wrong then,and they are wrong now,what is good for wall street is bad for the public......
THAT IS THE ISSUE
rtbwa
2 years ago
Thanks Rubber Stamp
For replying: I was beginning to think this would go unanswered....
Anyway. So the NDP is going to 'try' as you put it?
So tell me (and keep in mind, we're on the internet so you have no idea if I'm or my signifigant other is actual a CGA accountant.... or not). What would happen if the NDP can not stop the HST?
Would we have to live with the consequences of the HST and that I'll be stepping over the bodies of the people affected by this change?
Should I move to another province?
Should you move to another province?
Do you remember when the Federal Liberals prommised to get rid of the GST when the PC's introduced that in the 80's?
Talk the talk - but can they walk the walk?
if they can - they will get my vote!!!!!!
rtbwa
2 years ago
Let me put it another way
I couldn't care less if I catch Campbell drowning my daughter's kittens.
Will the NDP repeal the HST, as they seem to imply, or not?
Rubber stamp
2 years ago
Rtbwa
From what I have heard about the legislation is this.......
It is locked in for the first 2 years,then it can be altered,so there is a small out with the legislation,but until it is brought forward we can`t know for sure......
No doubt with the olympic hangover,a deep recession exaberated by this spending tax,Campbell will have to raise the tax,Campbell will claim that there is no way to reverse it without chasing all the business away......
Well,I don`t think so....What rivers can the ruin in the praries,where are companies going to get trees,Manatoba?.......
Voodoo economics...........
The same way manufactoring isn`t moving to BC.......
But lets stop this tax now either through recall,or general strikes or all out assault on Victoria........
We will see what happens when the legislature opens in 2 weeks,how many newbie Liberals want to end their political carreers before they get their pensions(it takes 8 years)....Wait til MLAs offices have non stop protesters,full email boxes....phone ringing off the hook....It is going to get lively......Stat tuned
rtbwa
2 years ago
I appreciate what you're saying Rubber Stamp
I sincerely do!!!
Where I'm getting at is:
When we spend 15 billion on Health Care per YEAR and spend (on the high end) 10 Billion for the Olympics over 5 years. I fail to see the impact of the Olympics to BC's overall problems - Manitoba has the same health-care issues we do - and they're not hosting the Olympics...How do you square that circle?.
I'm serious; I have voted NDP before (along with other parties both federally and provincially in MB, Ont and here in BC). I'll have no hesitation to vote for the NDP again or any party who blows the least amount of smoke up my arse!!!
So would the NDP repeal the HST as they, and Bill impies or not.
(don't take it personally - like I said I do sincerelly appreciate and actually respect your response, Rubber Stamp!)
Kevin
2 years ago
rtbwa, are you familiar...
with the phrase, "You can't disprove a negative?"
Nobody knows for sure what the NDP would do if they were in power.
For now, we have to take them at their word and assume that if they were in power, they wouldn't be trying to institute a new tax on British Columbians.
That's all we've got, for whatever it's worth.
sunshine coast girl
2 years ago
Where the hell is Vander Zalm???
He's waiting too long before making a move. Everyone is getting very impatient and I can't blame them. The news just goes from bad, to worse, to even worse every single day. We need to act NOW!
rtbwa
2 years ago
Kevin....
Right!!!! - so why should I vote for the NDP?
Here's my vote - now earn it!!!
ya, know - for ever what it's worth....
rockbysea
2 years ago
Just History Repeating Itself
sunshine coast girl wrote: “It [the HST] came from the B.C. Progress Board, essentially the premier's policy think-tank.”
Yep…a private think tank consisting of a group of high profile corporate leaders who tell the puppet Campbell what to do.
"Fascism should rightly be called Corporatism as it is a merge of state and corporate power."
Benito Mussolini
mary jane
2 years ago
memory??
If I remeber correctly it only takes 4 years to get a pension if you are elected. I think it was one of the first things gorso changed. If I am wrong please let me know.
crankypants
2 years ago
Recall a good start
Beginning preparations for recalls on ALL sitting Liberal MLA's is probably a good starting point. It will get their attention as well as the party's backroom strategists. Although recall has never been successful in the past, there is a first time for everything.
I think another effective tactic would be to hold some demonstrations in front of every Liberal MLA's riding office. Even though there has been a lot of media coverage on the HST, many citizens will not be cognizant of the impact this tax shift will have on their finances. I am of the opinion that a good many people do not realize the scope of this new tax and how it will impact them.
I also think that demonstrations should be held at all the sitting Conservative MPs. The federal conservatives are just as complicit in the HST as are the BC Liberals. I would play up the fact that the Conservatives are bribing the provincial government with 1.6 billion dollars plus another 4 billion dollars to Ontario. These are tax dollars extricated from all the citizens of Canada and last I heard the Feds are contemplating a 50 billion dollar deficit for this year alone. If these demonstrations can gain some national exposure, it could prove disastrous to the chances of the federal tories ever gaining the majority they so badly covet.
Lastly I would urge all those that oppose this tax to start being very frugal with their discretionary spending. This will have a negative impact on the economy which in turn should decrease the tax dollars flowing to both the provincial and federal governments. They may not understand the hard times that a majority of the population is dealing with, but they sure as hell understand less money going into government coffers. Will this hurt local business? Yes, but no worse than it will once the HST becomes a reality.
We must not capitulate. The well being of the general population is at stake.
alive
2 years ago
stupid voters
Seems a lot of posters conveniently forget that we have a low voter turnout at the best of times?
It would be a miracle to stir more than 35% of the registered voters to even go and vote, and some would vote against a recall!
The simple fact is that people are not suffering enough to get out of their comfort zone and begin to actually worry.
This is a "why worry, be happy" attitude that Lotus-eaters display every time.
Boycott the Olympics? give me a break, they will flock to any event no matter how silly it may be.
Revolution? My prediction is that eventually it will happen, but not untill they actually have to quit their cable connections and cell-phones because of lack of money.
Jerry Munro
2 years ago
About Self-Leadership...
"Kevin....
Right!!!! - so why should I vote for the NDP?
Here's my vote - now earn it!!! "
As much as I respect RubberStamp here, for myself, I would not take the word alone of any of the existing parties to the status quo, which includes the NDP. Trust your own analysis and actions, and that which you share with your peers.
Read crankypants. He/she is engaged in the kind of strategic and tactical think that needs to go on, in my view. Folks need to take responsibility for their own leadership and the kind of movement building that needs to go on.
I have taken part in leading an unsuccessful Recall attempt, and in the existing "confused" and not yet fully formed political climate in the province, have some doubts about a "premature" attempt at it again. (And that doubtless depends on what particular riding and sitting MLA one is looking at. The situation may be different elsewhere than here.)
What is most needed is some in depth tactical think leading to movement building and more effective and dynamic actions in the future... against ANY party as may be in the way of progressive social change. (Unless there is a sudden eruption of people prepared to move in massive numbers that I don't now see.) But what is most particularly needed, in my view, is the kind of actions around which some success, at even public education, is more certain. Success helps build additional success, whereas early failures tend to dishearten and take the wind out of the sails of movement building. And public education can occur around effective demonstrative and street actions no less as well.
I think there is another General Strike event out there, but that more prudent thought and action has to go into building to it, so that when and if it happens that there is another sabotage attempt to undermine it, even from within, that there is the strength of organization and understanding present to expose and defeat it. (For example, last time around, when the Fed of Labour became weak in the knees and caved in, folks simply threw up their hands and went home, where they have been hiding ever since. Folks will need the intestinal fortitude and understanding, next time, to simply and quickly throw up new leadership and move on, even taking the initiative themselves where "leadership" fails them.)
There needs to be a new dead seriousness take root to this business of moving beyond the status quo system, and opening up the way to a truly more democratic and progressive future for ordinary folks. And premature actions are often about as successful or satisfying as premature ejaculation.
Rubber stamp
2 years ago
Recall can be done
As for the low voter turnout,it actually lowers the standard to enact recall,you only need 40% of a smaller number.
The anger,the outrage will have people lining up to sign recall petitions......
Of course Canwaste news is going to say how hard recall is,their Gordo`s buddy,Campbell destroying records,BC Rail,enviromental issues,selling assets,who hasn`t had their ox gored by Campbell?Even BC Liberal voters are against this tax,85% opposed,75% strongly opposed,those are strong numbers,add all the health cuts,cuts to senior services,and wait,Translink is going dipping for money,probably 200$--300$ per year per tax payer,tolls,people have had it,to me recall looks easy,and small towns or rural areas where Liberals won squeakers will be easy to organize,a 100 signatures gatherers over a week-end could get 30 thousand signatures easy.....
We can do this......
More on Gordon Campbell arrogance ...Here
http://powellriverpersuader.blogspot.com/
freebear
2 years ago
Will BC Hydro have to pay HST when purchasing private elctricity
Now many Liberal voters are crying about re-electing the HST scammer MLA's!
What is it like to remove your blindfolds?
Hope the truth is not too bright without your rose coloured glasses!
North of Hope
2 years ago
Following Rubber Stamp's post
Here is part of the article Miro Cernetig wrote for the Van. Sun.
"So there you have it. Five months before an election, a blueprint for the HST was circulating inside the Liberal government. In fact, it was posted on the Internet for anyone to see.
So, the premier had a dilemma.
As a policy-maker, he had an easy choice. The federal government and many other provinces have embraced the HST. Economists -- and staff he trusted -- agreed the HST would increase the productivity of the B.C. and Canadian economy and attract capital investment.
But as a politician, and a man who knows how razor-thin victories often are in B.C. elections, Premier Campbell and his advisers faced another tactical problem. It would be political suicide to jump onto the HST five months before a provincial election.
And they were right. Since announcing the HST, the Liberal government's popularity has plummeted 12 percentage points in a recent poll, to just 34 per cent. It suggests that with an HST in his platform, the Liberals would not likely have won a third term in power.
So was it dishonourable to keep this major policy shift quiet? Is it a scandal?
No. It's just the craft -- and craftiness -- of politics."
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Crafty+Campbell+knew+risks/1883937/story.html
I have never read such an article excusing the lying of a politician. He loses any credibility he ever had. I find it unbelievable that a columnist would write such an article supporting this immoral activity.
freebear
2 years ago
Sames as excuses for an alcoholic convicted of DUI!
And people wonder why voters choose not to vote!
alive
2 years ago
quotes
"The HST is going to be good for all concerned, but there are exceptions."
good quote!
"We are all equal but some are more equal than others"
is another foolish quote
ME2
2 years ago
We're hooped
"So was it dishonourable to keep this major policy shift quiet? Is it a scandal?
No. It's just the craft -- and craftiness -- of politics."
So there you have it......The end DOES justify the meand, and if you don't play it that way, you're not going to get elected.
And it follows, of course, if a politician has to lie to get elected - for the best of reasons, of course - all we're ever gonna get is lying politicians - our own included.
Case closed, thank you very much.
crankypants
2 years ago
HST not for me
The Honourable(an oxymoron if ever there was one) Colin Hansen was on NW with Mike Smyth today lauding the virtues of the HST.
His first contention was that the HST was a much fairer tax than the GST-PST combo. If this is the case then why have all the BC Finance Ministers rejected it whenever the Feds have approached them? These were both NDP and Liberal ministers. Carole Taylor rejected it stating that it was bad for BC. The HST would diminish BC's autonomy with respect to using the PST to steer people's spending in certain directions by removing or adding the tax. If the HST is so fair now then it must have been just as fair last year. He was the finance minister for over a year, so why didn't he lay it on us then. We know why. Because he and a good number of the Liberal gang would on the hustings looking for employment.
Another thing that muddies the waters when proponents of the HST attempt to explain its virtues is that whenever they refer to businesses lowering their prices they never use words such as "will", but rather the usual weasel words such as "should and can". If competition works as well in other sectors as it does in the fuel industry then we are all hooped.
Rubber stamp
2 years ago
Ethan Baron columnist for the Province newspaper
He has written the best column on the HST,simple,direct,easy to understand,he explains this BULLCRAP TAX like no other.....
A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE........Here is the link
http://www.theprovince.com/opinion/will+taxed+voodoo+economics+/1883724/story.html
Cheers-Eyes Wide Open
North of Hope
2 years ago
@ Rubber stamp
Thanks for that. My favourite part of the article is, "The late Canadian economist John Kenneth Galbraith described the trickle-down concept as the "horse-and-sparrow theory," which promotes the notion that "if you feed the horse enough oats, some will pass through to the road for the sparrows."
crankypants
2 years ago
Rubber
I agree with you completely. Baron just cut to the chase.
bernadette.ntf....
2 years ago
Re: BULL HST TAX
Personally I believe this is part of how they expect to pay for all the pavement they have planned in the next 5 years. they get 1.6 billion from the federal government for this, but bet setting up collecting it will not take that much and they have to use the rest for something. Pretty sure it will not be schools or health care.
sunshine coast girl
2 years ago
HST rally with Vander Zalm
And, we're off!! Bill Tieleman can give you contact info to volunteer to help. That's it, folks. No more talk time; action time.
Camero409
2 years ago
Gordo and His Buddies!
Despite all the right wing drivel supporting Gordo and his minions, you only have to do one thing to find out whats going on. FOLLOW THE MONEY. If you do that you will see it heads straight to Wall Street, Bay Street, and the good old boys club in downtown Vancouver.
Say it ani't so all you right wingers. I challenge you.
Norman Farrell
2 years ago
Colin Hansen, may his integrity r.i.p.
Finance Minister Hansen told Michael Smyth that retail prices would drop when HST replaces PST. He explained an example, saying that $100 shoes made in BC or Ontario would no longer include a tax component at the manufacturer level, an amount he estimated to be 2.9%. Let us consider that.
Let us assume that the $100 shoes cost the retailer $50 and we can pretend they come direct from the maker. The shoe retailer buys resale product free of PST, the shoemaker pays no PST on the tangible products used in production (leather, laces, rubber, etc.) or on labor and management costs or on premises rentals. That might account for 80% of wholesale cost meaning the maximum PST now included in the wholesale cost amounts to 70 cents. That is the saving that a retailer might find on acquiring the shoes that will be sold for $100. They will save a few pennies more by getting back PST the retailer knows pays on cleaning supplies, utilities and a few other operating expenses.
Of course, we know that most shoes come into Canada across an international border and arrive with no PST included in the retailer's cost. Therefore, the saving potential comes only from PST now paid on operating expenses. Rather modest indeed.
If Mr. Hansen didn't know he was telling an untruth, then he is not bright enough to be Finance Minister.
But, perhaps he made a Faustian bargain:
http://northerninsights.blogspot.com/2009/08/faustian-bargain.html
crankypants
2 years ago
HST & next provincial election
It is time to let the sitting Liberal MLA's know that their tenure will come to an abrupt end come next election if they do not get some backbone and stop the implementation of the HST. All those first-time Liberal members can say goodbye to their gold plated pensions as their chances of attaining a second term will be minimal at best. Maybe they should start preparing their resumes now so that they will be ready to join the job market.
If the HST goes through, a good majority of voters will have so little discretionary income left to spend that they will be fortunate if they can take their family to a local fast food eatery for a meal once a month. Tourism and the hospitality industry depend on visitors from outside BC to make their businesses viable, but a large amount of their revenue is also derived from within the borders of BC. Many of these businesses will not survive as they will be lucky if they derive enough sales to cover their overhead expenses.
We have heard that the restauranters, new home builders and other left out industries have approached the Liberals with concerns about the HST. There is talk that they may gain some concessions from the Liberals to mitigate the impact on their particulate industries. Well consider this. If the Libs give these industries some form of tax breaks, then the government will be facing less income which will have to be made up by either more taxes on consumers or reductions in services(health care etc). They are already gutting the health services, so what is next. One can only speculate, but I'm sure it won't be pretty.
Those of us that are opposed to the HST must engage their friends, neighbours etc. and enlighten them as to the consequences they will face if it becomes a reality. Only a select group of supporters of the Campbell government will profit by the HST and the rest will pay for the privilege of increasing their undeserved gains.
HST must not become a reality in British Columbia!!!!
Isabella2
2 years ago
HST
We do not have until next July to fight the HST!
This deal has to be signed between BC and Ottawa "BY SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2009!" And, given his history, anyone who trusts Gordon Campbell not to fast track his signature should go to Brooklyn and buy a bridge. If we want to get rid of it, the Tieleman-Vander Zalm protest at the Art Gallery is a MUST. Those who cannot make it there should gather at their Municipal Hall with anti-HST banners, AND send a deluge of emails to everyone in the Campbell Caucus.
mary jane
2 years ago
voter turn out
Why vote when nobody is addressing the issues that matter to the voters. The NDP ignored the issues that many people wanted changed. My personal bugaboo is the numbers of people who died becasue of gordos policies on welfare and seniors, the gorwoing numbers of homeless people while importing out of country labour. Nor did C. James talk about the waste of $$ for the olympics. IF she did the Mainstream Media didn't report it. Which would be normal.
North of Hope
2 years ago
James talked about the issues
She did talk about those issues but you had to be there to hear it.
This was the problem the NDP faced in the last provincial election. The MSM did not look at the issues facing us in the last election. They spent their time on side issues like the "attack ads" which became an attack on the NDP, but no discussion of the real issues. Here is on example from a news show. On this broadcast there was a short story about lumber being imported from the US by a govt contractor for us on BC highways. It lasted less than 1 minute. But it is a big issue for lumber to be imported in BC when our mills are being shut down because no one wants our lumber, esp. the govt. Another item on the same news show was about C. James posing for a picture with some comedic radio newspeople who wore t-shirts satirizing the 2010 Olympics(TM). This non-issue story went on for 5 minutes. There was so little substance to the story that it was repeated to make the story 5 minutes long. It seems more important than the imported lumber story because it lasted so long. The average person watching the news, sees these stories and figures there is nothing worth voting for, so they don't. The BC Libs won't use our lumber but it's not a big deal and Carole James is reported spending her time horsing around, ignoring issues. This is why the NDP lost, they did not get the issues message to the voters. They relied on the MSM to be the medium to transport the message from the party to the people, but the media did not do its job. It did not report on the issues, whether if it was the economy, health, the economy and how the liberals destroyed it in BC, ROR's, green sustainability, education, etc. It was the media that dropped the ball. Maybe in the future, the electorate will have to go to the websites on the parties involved to find what the parties stance is because the MSM is not reporting. Or the parties will have to email everyone in the province or drop an issue stance on every doorstep in the province.
Rubber stamp
2 years ago
Read about more of Campbell`s sickness....
Campbell has lost his mind....
read more here
http://powellriverpersuader.blogspot.com/2009/08/bc-liberals-douse-olympic-flame-and.html