After meeting with provincial Finance Minister Colin Hansen, the Burnaby Board of Trade said it is not taking a side on the Harmonized Sales Tax issue, but at the same time said there is a lack of understanding about HST in the business community.

BBOT president and CEO Darlene Gering met with Hansen on Monday handing him 197 questions and comments from the organization’s membership.

The BBOT said some sectors will be negatively affected by HST, which combines the five per cent federal GST with the seven per PST because several goods and services not previously subject to the provincial tax will be added. But others, such as film and manufacturing, will be positively impacted.

The organization said it will help educate local businesses so they can make an informed decision, and it will work with the ministry to find ways to reduce the impact on specific business sectors. A report responding directly to the questions in a recent BBOT survey will be produced.

Gering said the absence of a formal consultation process by the province has led to a severe lack of understanding of the impact the HST will have on the economy.

“Minister Hansen showed keen interest and genuine concern about the number of misunderstandings and lack of education as evidenced in the feedback we gathered from our membership,” said Gering. “The minister agreed that the issue can be confusing and we believe the Burnaby Board of Trade can collaborate with the ministry to facilitate an education plan in Burnaby.”

At the meeting, Hansen responded favourably to a request for him to speak to the BBOT in the fall, something he’s done twice before in the past year.

The BBOT will be holding an HST business impact seminar on Thursday, Aug. 27, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., at the Executive Hotel, 4201 Lougheed Highway. The keynote speaker will be Patrick Banham, senior manager indirect tax for KPMG. To register call the BBOT at 604-412-0100 or e-mail admin@bbot.ca.