andyt andyt:
OK Herbie, I stand corrected on manufacturers - of which we have very few in BC, in terms of economic importance. Still they don't lose a lot of money, just defer income for a quarter if I understand you right. But as you mention, companies buying equipment get a huge savings. One of the problems in BC has been the forestry industry not upgrading their plants - this might help them to do so, (as does the higher dollar). A complaint overall about Canada is that our workers are much less productive than say the US - having modern equipment will help in that department. You say equipment will cause workers to be laid off, but we really don't want to be a nation of ditch diggers. There is very little work done without equipment anymore - companies investing in equipment means they have to hire skilled people to operate it. It's one of the problems with spending stimulus money on building infrastructure - it benefits manufacturers of equipment more than the poor joes out of work.
Look at me defending the HST, when I signed the petition against it. It transfers I believe, 2 billion a year from business to consumers - I guess we'll have to see how that works out, and if savings really trickle down to the consumer. But everything I read in the paper is that consumption taxes are the best kind of taxation to have.
The main point of that gripe is
it doesn't matter that I get it back. The part or resale service I have to buy
today costs me 7% more. Which means that if I reserve $20K a month for purchasing, I now have to reserve $21.4K.
Actually Andy I am a supporter of VAT/GST/HST taxation. In the old fashioned Progressive Conservative way that you tax consumption and reduce tax on income. If there'd been a 1% reduction in income tax, or an increase in the basic exemption, all would be cool in my mind.
They LIED during the election.
They IMPOSED it without input and discussion.
They GAGGED their MLAs from discussing with their constituents, which they don't give a shit about.
They LIE about benefits to small business (tack on the actual loss for me of $80 - $100 a month commission for collecting the PST).
They LIE in the media and say we manufacturers paid PST on everything when we were exempt.
There is NO corresponding reduction in income tax, making this nothing but a straightforward cash grab.
SOMEONE said something to the Governor of neighbouring Washington State, who's tax code said tourists from provinces with less than 3% sales tax would be able for refunds, the HST was federal so there BC residents will qualify and boost tourism in Washington State. Then SNAP! reversed that decision saying the State needs the revenue (but Albertans still qualify!).
NEXT a business lobby files court action to test the validity of the HST (to make sure it goes through and they get their breaks) which represents only the HUGEST businesses in the province, not one small business is in the action.
I run a tiny little business in a tiny little town. Guys like me are the only ones hiring and making jobs, and they've added work to my job. Jeez, I'd love to take 12% of the gross for ME, I do all the bloody work. But now they even snatched the token commission and reduced me, the boss, into being an "indentured reven-ooer" for them! Fuck that, the lowest paid CRA worker makes double what I do, gets paid vacations, leaves, stats and a fat gov't pension. No wonder we hate civil servants.
CKA Uber 
