HST rallies opponents
Email
Print
Letter to Editor
Share
Updated: September 23, 2009 2:50 PM
After organizing a rally of a few hundred people last weekend, HST-fighter Brad Slade continues his advocacy.
"I think this will be a detriment to the consumer and the small-business person ... because the spending power of your citizens are going to be reduced," said Slade, the Victoria contact for the province-wide campaign, at www.fighthst.com.
Over the summer, the provincial government announced its intentions to harmonize the provincial and federal sales tax. The move would mean some products which previously enjoyed provincial tax exemptions, would no longer be exempt.
"There's a lot of ripple effects that I think people aren't aware of," Slade said.
As an example, Slade said a 100-bed care facility for seniors could face an extra $14,000 in taxes due to the tax increase on things like building repairs and medical supplies.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, however, felt the Sept. 1 provincial budget update contained several measures to help consumers cope.
"Personal income tax reduction and home energy rebates are very good," said Bruce Carter, the chamber's CEO. “Each of these new measures will help to mitigate the impact of HST on the personal budgets of every individual or in other words small businesses customer,” said Carter in a press release.
But there's still work to do, he added, pointed to the tax-rebate threshold on new home sales of $400,000, when average home prices are much higher.
rholmen@saanichnews.com
v2
