After reading your feature letter (The News, June 21), entitled HST Makes Sense,” I am breaking my vow not to get involved in public discussion on this matter. I feel that there are several points which must be addressed, to give a balanced view.
In regard to the “old and messy GST/PST” being replaced with a “very efficient” Value Added Tax, the writer cites the example of Europe.
As a regular subscriber to a British hobby magazine, I can tell you that the VAT in England is largely hated by private citizens. The most recent mention of the VAT (English HST) that I have read made mention of the “accursed VAT,” hardly a ringing endorsement.
I view with suspicion the Liberal promise to reduce the HST to 10 per cent not months, but years from now. This government has a record of breaking promises and offering bribes to voters. Once the HST is in place, government can raise it at any time.
Predictions of the value of the HST to jobs and the economy are just that — guesses. There are worldwide forces in play which render such predictions useless.
I am tired of hearing about the costs of extinguishing the HST and reverting to the old system. The Liberals brought this on themselves. If we repay this $1.6 billion federal bribe, it might be useful to compare it to such expenditures as the roof at BC Place, a huge expenditure with no direct benefit to most taxpayers.
Some people seem unaware that the HST is really about shifting a huge tax load from business to taxpayers. As for savings for business being passed on to consumers with lower prices — I haven’t seen this. In fact, prices seem to be increasing.
The anti-HST movement is symbolic of fed-up taxpayers showing politicians that they are not sheep, and they are not stupid.
R. Vincent Parsons
Qualicum Beach