The harmonized sales tax (HST) was implemented on July 1st, 2010. It was implemented by Finance Minister Colin Hansen and was said to make “BC businesses more competitive, encourage new investment, [and] improve productivity… Most importantly, harmonization will generate economic growth and, over time, create jobs and generate more revenue”. Basically, the Finance Minister took the investors money (consumers) in order to finance his organization (the BC government).
In return for being taxed 12% on everything besides milk and vegetables, a small $230 refund a year is given to moderate to low income consumers. Yet, “a $2,000 used car alone will ding you for $100 in additional taxes… Haircuts, fast food, computer repairs, parking, school supplies, and campgrounds – add 7%…[and] funerals – 7% more-just in case you thought you could escape the HST by dying.”.
Gordon Campbell Voodoo Doll
Premier Gordon Campbell is “asking British Columbians to think like a finance minister when they vote on the harmonized sales tax next fall [09/24/2011], focusing on whether the HST is good policy, even if it hasn’t been good politics”. Campbell says “he’ll do away with the HST if more than 50 per cent of the ballots cast are against the tax. However that threshold would not be legally binding on government“.