PRESS RELEASE: After only three weeks HST is worse than anyone could have imagined
Jul 21, 2010 Press Release
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AFTER ONLY THREE WEEKS HST IS WORSE THAN ANYONE COULD HAVE IMAGINED
Delta – Less than three weeks after the introduction of the HST in BC, consumers and businesses alike are reporting that the impact of the new tax is much worse than many thought it would be, says former BC Premier Bill Vander Zalm.
We are finding that the government has not been truthful with us about the HST yet again. The new tax actually amounts to more than 12% in some cases, because we have a tax on taxes,” said Vander Zalm, leader of the Fight HST petition to repeal the tax.
Vander Zalm says that anyone who has purchased an item with an eco fee or a deposit fee will notice the HST is applied on top of those other taxes. “The same problem occurs with the Parking Sales Tax – 12% HST is added on the 21% parking tax for a total of 35.2% in tax. It is outrageous!”
Vander Zalm says many parking vendors, as well as other businesses, have used the HST as an opportunity to increase the cost of goods at the same time. “Many have noticed that parking charges were also raised along with the new tax. In some cases parking fees went from $ 6.50 per hour to $ 10.00 per hour.”
“But it’s not just parking garages. Some grocery items not subject to the HST went up as well. Our friend took their youngest son to the barber last week. Before the HST he charged $10, but after HST the haircut became $15 including the HST.”
Vander Zalm says that same barber would only cut hair for cash, and would not issue receipts. In some cases, people have reported being charged GST, PST and HST on the same bill. “My drycleaner tells me he is being hit twice – first with an eco fee and now the HST on his dry cleaning service. He says customers will now go without in order to save money they must pay elsewhere.”
Vander Zalm says the government has done an abysmal job of informing business on how and what to charge the HST on. He says it has given a lot of people a great excuse to up prices, and to overcharge on the tax.
Vander Zalm says he has received numerous emails from British Columbians complaining about the tax:
A Kamloops man was told he would not have to pay any HST on the purchase of a new home he was having built because it was under the $520K threshold. But then his builder told him he had to pay an additional $23,000 up front until he received his “rebate” from the government on his taxes a year from now. “I don’t have that kind of money lying around. I will have to borrow it from a bank at interest. So much for HST not affecting a new home under $520K!”
A Vancouver man says his wife bought a package of “Huggies” diapers and was charged .80 cents HST. “Wasn’t that the same product the Finance Minister was holding up on TV saying there would be no HST? Either Safeway doesn’t know what they are doing, or Hansen, or both. What a fiasco!”
A furious accountant recently found out when he went to sell his boat that instead of the buyer having to pay only 5% GST, they now had to pay 12% under a “new” provincial tax called the TDP which was implemented to compete with the HST. “The buyer refused to pay the additional 7%, so guess who had to eat that?!”
A North Vancouver woman who runs a child care centre got a huge shock when she went to pay the rent on her business. The commercial lease increased by $691 per month due to HST. “This will put me in dire straits if I don’t pass the cost on to my clients. People are already struggling, and now to hit them with this, just after the government voted themselves a raise! Enough is enough!”
A Fishing Charter company in Mission says business is down significantly over last year as consumers have less disposable income as a result of the HST. He says costs are also up, making the HST a double whammy for him. “Instead of coming out of a recession, the government is making it worse with the HST. This is going to kill my business. I hope they all rot in hell with the other dictators in history.”
A businesswoman put an offer on a C11 zoned house to use as a building for her business. Then she found out that another $40,800 in HST would be applied to the sale because the tenants are paying more than $20 per day each for the two suites. As the building has no revenues, she has no way of getting the tax back. “I cancelled the deal. The HST cost me my location, cost both realtors their commissions and cost the vendor his sale. What a great way to stifle economic growth!”
A manufacturer of automatic gates says the HST has been responsible for several sales cancellations and is doing irreparable harm to his company. “They have started another tax cheating society such like we see in third world countries where bribes and cheating on taxes is the norm.”
A customer at a Mac’s convenience store in Salmon Arm was charged $2.33 for a magazine listed at $1.99 before taxes. On the receipt it listed the taxes at 12% “PST” plus 5% “GST” for a total of 17% in sales taxes. “Even some large chains haven’t figured out what they are supposed to charge in taxes. It is a total mess and a total rip off!”
Vander Zalm points out that even a soothing, stress preventing cup of coffee at Starbucks that used to be $1.69 is now $ 2.00 including the HST. “The price just went up and so far nothing has come down, not even the price of a ton of coal or a barrel of oil,” said Vander Zalm. “So far we have only seen price increases but no price decreases. The Minister of Finance admitted that the Aluminum Company in northern B.C., this year alone, would benefit to the tune of $70 million. But don’t hold your breath waiting for the price of aluminum to come down.”
Vander Zalm says citizens have called to tell him that when they complained too many time to the government about the HST, they were blocked as “spam” by the Finance Ministers email.
“He doesn’t want to hear the complaints. He won’t hear them. This government has shut its ears and its mind to the people. Now, they are spending millions on radio ads, and a mail out to all BC households! They are drunk with power. It is total madness, and British Columbians are being asked to pay the price for it all.”
Vander Zalm says early reports on the petition signature validation have been positive, and he is hopeful both the petition and the court challenge will have positive results, forcing the government to reverse course on the HST, saving BC from its long term negative consequences.
“We are going to keep fighting until the tax is gone. We’ll do it with the petition, or the court challenge, or if necessary, Recalls. But we won’t stop until they cancel this hated sales tax,” promised Vander Zalm.
Tags: bc consumers, delta, dry cleaning service, drycleaner, excuse, haircut, job, money, parking charges, parking garages, petition, receipts, sales tax, youngest son
I say we get rid of Gordon Campbell immediately.
Agreed!! Here here. This is long overdue. Too long of his term in office remaining. I wonder if they honestly think BCers will forget about this come election time. This isn’t a democratic process!
Colin,
Abbotsford
Hopefully we won’t forget, and the only way theives with power get prosecuted is by not being reelected. Unfortunately, come election time BCers seem to forget the past and, once again starry eyed, reelect the same crooks. Lets face it, more jobs are never created, not ones that we can survive on anyway. Time for a change of scenery Gordo!
If people kept track of the HST cost to them, even just for two weeks,you’d have thousands of horror stories. I did this twice before the tax came into effect. The amounts blew me away.
Found out today I paid HST and also GST —- what is that about. And this is just the beginnng.
you got that right
Amen to that!
A G R E E D !
I for one am no longer paying any tax to these idiots! (the feds!) Why? cuz they have no legal basis whatsoever to collect it or to be in the tax collection business in the first place – proof is that Canadian tire does not recognize the ecco fee that Ontario is upset about. Told the gvmnt to stuff it. By the same token, if a fed were to knock on your door {HIGHLY UNLIKELY} just tell them to produce a document signed in blue ink that proves they have a legal right. They will run away! See
theclassactionsuit.com
Canadian Tax Racket
Dilly is dreaming that we will finally get rid of Gordie and all his cronies. then, the question is, who will take power, has anyone thought about that one?
Who is really qualified to run this province other than Mr. Bill Vander Zalm? I believe it is a certainty that he doesn’t want to run again and take over a mess, will take years to sort out what Gordie and his gang have got us in to.
He really had a lot to say about what other parties have done, as said, a liar, arrogant twit.
Mr. Vander Zalm was run out of office over trumped up allegations about a garden shop. Yet Gordon Campbell and the liberals steal millions/billions and thumb their noses at us, after we pay all their high priced legal fees, and do it again. ahhh Bill, I miss you.
And thank you Bill Vander Zalm, your knowledge and leadership once again united BCers and enabled us to do more than grumble and take it in the jaw.
We need to get organized for recall…and I would like to see them all recalled at the same time…immediately.
As predicted, the harmonized sales tax has afforded many businesses the opportunity to price-gouge. I saw the same thing happen at both retail and wholesale levels back when the GST was introduced…vendors seized the opportunity to publish new price lists and found it convenient to blame it all on the new tax.
It is incredible that the syrupy “damage control” radio ads the Campbell government are currently running would try to make us believe that we really won’t be paying more since the rebates will more than offset any increases…..which more or less begs the question: “why did the government invoke this hated legislation if they aren’t realizing more revenue?”
Anyone who believes that crap should get in line to buy some fine swamp land in Florida. This thing is an outrage.
Doug Robinson (Victoria)
Absolutely right about the retailers taking the opportunity to gouge, hiding behind the “tax”. Same thing happened in Australia and New Zealand when the GST was introduced. And there are some idiots up here who still want the sticker price to have the taxes blended in. That way we really wouldn’t know what we’re paying.
When GST was first introduced they said that the extra income would help eliminate the countrys’ deficit in 10 years. How did that work out? It is also interesting to note that all theses ads and lawyer fees that the government is spending is through our tax dollars.
Again I say “all this from a government who are best suited to manage our economy”
I say this government couldn’t manage a Kool-Aid stand.
They have rammed this thing down our throats and promised the moon while at the same time throwing us in the gutter.
Recall in the fall
I wrote in our small newspaper that ICBC would not be giving PST costs to total write offs.
I got a reply in paper from ICBC and another from Terry Lake saying I was wrong that Icbc will be paying full 12%.
I thanked ICBC for this info and told Terry I would be a thorn in his side, nothing personal, only because he is part of Gorden Campbell’s Sociopathic Liberal government.
Look uo sociopath and tell me if I am wrong. Wayne
I had occasion to buy a feminine product lately, charged with “L” tax, what on earth is that one?
interesting… I bought a feminine product today and solution for contact lenses. I got HST tax and “H5%” tax. Was wandering the same what is H5% tax? Is it the same like “L” tax for feminine products?
Maybe retailers not only increase taxes hiding behind HST, maybe they also invent their own little taxes while people are confused what is what?
I’m so very tired of this!!!
The government is going to be using OUR money to fight the legal battles, using law firms that contribute to their election campaigns, and don’t forget, there is HST on legal fees.
Forget the cost of legal action, and let’s go straight to recall!!
Start planning now. Let each Liberal riding form their committees, and let each MLA targeted know they will be getting pink-slipped, and hit the road running on November 12, 2010.
I live in an NDP riding, but I will help in any way possible in Parksville-Qualicum, or Greater Victoria.
I agree, forget the cost of legal action as Campbell will make sure his legal people will drag a court case forever and he will be able to say ” sorry I cannot talk or do anything about the HST as it is before the courts”
Let us go straight to recall.
I agree with posters who are saying go straight to recall. Let’s get rid of these bl@@dy liars who have taken office in an underhanded manner and continue to do their darnest to plow this province into the ground. Glen Clark with his silly deck ordeal and the Zalm with his flower shop deal is NOTHING compared to what these crooks are doing. I’m afraid they are gambling/selling out BC’s resources to the highest bidder as they make deals to assure their rich futures on the backs of the ordinary taxpayer. And what’s with the underhanded gambling scandal? That is really scary if mafia types have infiltrated the government and is laundering money through BCLC.
Let’s RECALL the whole works of them NOW. Practically anyone is better than these arrogant clowns.
Most of the Associations resisting our successful Anti-HST petition are fronts for multi-nationals whose customers are overseas. Their increased bottom-line after the HST will simply result in larger corporate profits that will go to foreign shareholders. Small businesses are hurt because their customers DO live in BC & will have had $2 billion taken out of their pockets in the next 12 months. When will the small business owners realize they have no interests in common with the corpocracy & stop supporting the BC Liberals – the representatives of Big Business?
I just heard a radio ad this morning and it says that there is no HST on phone, etc. I beg to differ. There IS ON MY PHONE BILL!!!!! The tax hasn’t changed on my cell phone. But it went up on my Landline bill. I even called Telus when I got my first bill – to make sure what was being charged – and was given the facts. And my bill can prove it. Just another nail in the Liberal coffin…….RECALL!!!!!!
My mother lives in an extended care facility. Her rent in July went up substantially, and I have to assume it now has HST added. Of course there is no notice of this on the bill. Where is the transparency there? And to rip off our seniors to this extend will drag in millions on a continuing basis for this government. They should be totally ashamed of themselves!!! They have to go before BC becomes a ‘third world’ province. Let the recall begin!
Sorry to hear about this increase in the care of our elderly but they are not the only ones affected. My husband and I decided a year ago to try to spread our meager wages as far as we could by living in our RV full time. This HST has added $350.00 a year to our rent. Does this government care, not a wit. They all have there 27% wage increase, expense accounts, and pensions.
As far as a third world province goes too late! The company I work for just screwed an already overworked staff by canceling assistant managers. They were given the option of staying at reduced hours minus their benefits or six weeks severance and no job. The only employee who will have full time hours will be the manager (who is already working way to many extra hours without compensation). Our hours are cut back pretty much on a weekly basis which leaves only one person on the floor for several hours everyday where we have to listen to the customers complain about the lack of customer service. The workload on the staff mirrors that of a third world sweatshop while the people who are responsible for the problems sit back and collect fat paychecks and most likely get bonuses. Sounds like our government doesn’t it. Well that the business world these days. If you are a shoplifter come to the Fields stores where there is no one to keep you honest.
HST is charged on 100% fruit juice (food) with no additives, when bought in a container size less than 600 ml. which means that if you are a single person and traveling around on a hot day, you have to carry the jumbo size 1 litre carton, to avoid paying a fortune more in tax. This ‘govt.’ is totally obscene and unfair.
I was so angry when I received in the mail yesterday July 20th, 2010 from Great-West Life the following and I quote them…..”Your investments & HST”
Effective July 1, HST is new in Ontario and British Columbia, while new rules now make the tax in the existing HST provinces applicable to all funds. For investors, this means HST will be payable on fund management fees and other fund expenses or service charges. Up until now, only GST was charged.
I am so angry this represents another 7% above the 5%. THIS IS OUR MONEY FROM OUR DEPTHS OF HARD WORK. I AM MIFFED FIRE THIS GOVERNMENT….CLAIRE INGRAM
Don’t just complain about it. Do something. Join the next Berma Shave Rally, Sunday, Aug 8, 2 pm at Stanley Park.
Eliminate the HST!
We travelled from PG to Kelowna last weekend, and the cost of eating out was the highest I have ever experienced. Looks like we are going to have to cut back on these kind of discretionary costs. This HST is going to put a huge damper on parts of the economy in BC.
Faced the same situation when my family went to dinner and a movie – dinner HST was $10+ – that’s a whole extra meal!!!
Unless you are Ida Chong – then it is only one sixth of an extra meal.
Time to quit “buying” unnecessary goods, unless you can get it TAX FREE,& at a reduced price.
I own a small tour business in Powell River that now has to charge HST. I phoned our provincial finance department to ask questions about the HST. I was informed that our provincial finance department does not answer any questions about the HST – we have to join the queue and phone Ottawa!! What an unbelievable loss of provincial jurisdiction!!!!
The online Canadian Encyclopedia under ‘Provincial Government’ states:
Provincial taxing powers are limited to direct TAXATION within the province, ie, personal and corporate income taxes, consumer taxes and certain property taxes. From their jurisdiction over the management and sale of public lands, timber and ownership of natural resources, the provinces derive authority for the principal source of nontax revenues. According to a 1982 constitutional amendment (92A), the provinces were granted an unrestricted taxing power (“any mode or system”) in the natural-resource field. This amendment, which clarified and expanded provincial legislative and taxing powers over nonrenewable resources, forestry resources and electrical energy, was designed to resolve the constitutional difficulties posed by revenue raising that strayed into the indirect tax field.
Iam going to buy American food and American gas. Thanks Campbell, where do you buy your booze?
PLease someone inform me why we are not recalling Gordon Campbell directly??? Don’t tell me it’s cause he’s going to step down anyhow…why wait???????
HI Bill,
I went drop my home delivery from 6 days a week to 3 days with the Vancouver Sun dropping my monthyl fee rate by $6.00 if I kept the 6 day delivery.
I do not buy certain products that are now HST taxed such as pop and am currently reviewing finding another hair dresser who charges less. I ‘think’ my hair dresser increased her fees as well.
I am all for an underground economy but even a plumber tried to rip me off with his offer of dropping 5.00 off teh bill which would of only cut the 5% GST.
A MESS IT IS………….AND IT HAS TO STOP!!!
there is more baby boomers retiring in the next comming years, Most of them have skills of some sort. already there is a booming underground economy. Don’t those idiots in the Government get it. Seniors already taking a beating. How else are they going to make ends meet. More taxes equal more underground . Pensions stay the same. Taxes. All Cambell wants is that i.6 billion to Pay off the the depts he put us in.
How much is the administration of the rebate cheques that we will all receive going to cost?
I cannot find out how much the ad “British Columbia best place on earth” is costing.
Why is this ad being run again. What was the HST on this ad.
i have a 10 year successful computer repair business in white rock. I have to charge hst where it was only gst before. People are calling now asking if i would work under the table for cash.. i still have a mortgage.. this rediculous tax is costing me business because i don’t work under the table.. thank you Gordon!
1)My Hydro bill for July has both GST and HST charges.
2)Tel bill for June has GST. PST and HST charges!
3)Tel bill for July also has GST, HST and PST charges!
4)I only have the basic shaw cable – HST is $4.31 per month!
Let us get this govt out soon.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. The Liberals are out of control and are grabbing at any way possible to find money to pay for their pay increases, the games and now they are promoting on line gambling. They believe they are above the law and can do whatever, just deny it. Look at Lottery controversery and their fine for breaching FINTRAC. Their wrong and they are going to appeal it!!!!! Grab, grab, grab all the money from the taxpayers, like Ida Chowdown. What an embarrassment they are to the residents of BC.
If the ultra right wing gets away with this, will Canada be the best or worst place in the G8 nations to raise a family?
Excellent press release – this will keep the issues alive – well done Fight HST Team – to all readers – send more examples to FightHST.com with your horror stories of tax grabs and price increases
The HST is both illegal and immoral. It is being sold by Campbell and company as a Federal tax. It is not.
I have a letter from my Member of Parliament stating that this tax was REQUESTED by the Province of British Columbia.
That means that the Campbell government is lying in its radio and television ads and their various public statements.
I fail to see how the change from GST and PST to HST would save any Corporation $70 Million per year as Campbell claims. At most, the reduction in administrative requirement would save one or two staff positions — more like $70,000 per year. You can bet that will go straight back into the company coffers, since the price of aluminum is largely governed by the Stock Market.
Every restaurant I know in BC is suffering. Every server is suffering still more.
I now go out of Province whenever I can to obtain a meal or to buy small items. Why? Because the price of the items elsewhere is lower to start with and the taxes paid are lower too, resulting in large savings. I also buy my gasoline out of BC, saving about 30%.
These actions mean less of my money goes back into the BC economy and less goes to the BC Government’s General Revenue Fund. This is almost entirely a result of the HST implementation.
This tax is totally unjust. It is truly a Hated Sales Tax. Personally, I call it the HeiST.
Didn’t Bill Vanderzalm ask for copies of those letters from Ottawa saying this a Campbell’s baby?
Thank you Bill Vanderzalm for this, many people feel hopeless about it now but you are giving the people of this province a voice. We need to get red of this tax!
I just got back from a wonderful HST-free vacation in Alberta, though I feel bad about not supporting BC hotels and restaurants. I met a lot of Albertans, and people from across Canada, who are not planning to come visit us because of the HST. Definitely not what our economy needs! Thanks for all the great work you are doing!
Bill thank-you for all your hard work. I say RECALL the S.O.B.’s right now.
Start the recall now. I own a small mechanical repair shop and this hst is killing us.
I had customer leave because I wouldn’t do a cash deal. He actually came right out and said “I will not buy your services if I have to pay H.S.T. on it” And we haven’t had any increases in prices always where 12% tax. We have even slashed prices but sales have fallen off.
Recall Gordon “the Liar” Campbell now!!!!
What the h***l is this Eco Tax? I purchased 6 small bottles of Pepsi for $2.99 THEN I was taxed 10% Eco Tax plus the 12% HST Plus 10% deposit. All this at Shoppers Drug Mart.
The Vancouver Art Gallery is still charging the GST on admissions. I guess they didn’t get the memo.
When will the B.C. Liberals respond to the will of the people?After we get rid of this HST, the Liberals will be able to hold their general meeting in a phone booth.
disgusting – it has increased the cost of ALL vitamins, herbs, health drinks, protein powder – in fact anything which people pay to keep themselves healthy and save tax payers’ health costs – by 7 – 12 % !!!
Mr. Vander Zalm, it is quite clear that Gordon Campbell has brought the Liberal government to it’s knees by way of trying to create a dictatorship government.
Democracy is a wonderful way of life and as a British Columbian/Canadian born of 71 years I do not understand why we as Canadian citizens that have expressed our opinion to the government on this HST matter, is being disregarded as though we did not exist, Gordon Campbells legacy will be of tyranny in a democratic society.
I am also concerned as to who is paying for the government to go agains’t the people on this matter, is it the tax payers that are paying for the government to fight the people, are we as tax payers paying the government for the right to fight the people on the issue of being democratic.
Seems to me we are paying to beat ourselves on this issue.
Hiel Hitler, viva Fidel Castro, and last but not least Hiel Von Gordon Campbell on his right to be an independant government. Gordon Campbells is definately a tyrant and is not welcome in British Columbia as a Leader of a democratic society, the sooner we get rid of him and his followers the better.
Dave Noble
Yesterday I had a procedure done in my doctor’s office which was not covered by my medical. I was charged $1040.00 plus an additional $124.80 HST.
I hope the voters will remember which MLAs supported the implementation of the HST and make sure they will never be re-elected.
Our MLAs were elected to work on our behalf and in our best interests, not to become Gordon Campbell’s puppets.
Recently purchased a phone system fron Future shop. Selling price was $ 94.94 then enviromental tax was .85 cents, then they added a tax called
BC HST of $ 11.50 For a total of $ 107.29 Highway robbery. Nestle’s pure spring water was $ 2.49 with allthe deposits and taxes came to over $ 3.00.
I hope that Gordon Campbell and his ministeries all fry in hell and that is even too good for the likes of tose damn thieves.
I too have been hit by the HST. Parking at work went from $12.50/weekly 2 months ago to $17.75/weekly (with us all thinking that would cover the HST) then on July 9, it went up to $19/weekly! I am now trying to park on the street as this is a $26 increase monthly. I work part time so work a total of 10 months of the year. My personal trainer, who I go to, to keep healthy and fit and not cost our healthy system money, has gone up $2.50/session. This works out to $20/monthly for me. My massage therapist has gone up $5/monthly who I was going to once a month to, once again, keep healthy and not cost the health care system money. This totals approximately $1K a year increase for me and that is only on 3 things that I can actually keep track of. Starbucks coffee has gone from $1.73 per cup (I take my own) to $1.86 for the same amount of coffee. My only revenge is that I go to the US now to fill up my car. I am a senior who has to work part time to survive – where are my saving with this bloody tax? I don’t even qualify for the rebate at the end of the year.
You should qualify for the rebate. If in doubt, look me up on Facebook and I’ll do your tax return. I am a Douglas College accounting student and I always do my own tax return (done it for over 10 years now). The only times I did not get a rebate on tax was when I worked full-time for for at least 7 months of the year. Keep all your receipts for medicines, physical therapy, dental work, moving, charitable donations, etc. It really adds up if you are consistent. Hope I can help — Karen Hundleby.
I have cut way back on my driving and spending. Consumerism is now a dirty word in my vacabulary. The good news is that my bank account is getting healthier as my money is spent only on essentials such as my telephone bill, etc. I will not circulate my money in this provinces economy unless I absolutely have to.
My question is and maybe already asked but with all this added taxes on items that were never taxed before should we be hanging on to our reciepts for a refund when the hst is abolished ??? Have not seen any comments on this so thought I would ask.
Reports from everyoneindicate strongly that this HST is a complete rip-off so keep sending in the results you find
Some businesses are still charging the GST and HST on a item. We just bought 3 pairs of sunglasses. The clerk added GST and HST to our bill. I pointed out that there is no GST only HST. The clerk couldn’t figure out how to remove the GST tax from there computer program. We were reimbursed the GST but have to go back to pick up our invoice once they figure out how to print it properly. Also Ontario published a book for all consumers to show what is taxable and what is not. It is free and gives the consumer knowledge to determine if they are being taxed properly. Where is our booklet?
where is the booklet and all the voters that should have come out and voted?????????
I was wondering if other people would notice that businesses were taking advantage of the HST to raise their prices. So much for the absurd notion that business would pass along savings to customers. Yeah, right! When did business ever miss a chance to make more profit? My Naturopath’s bill for a regular visit went from $73.50 (with GST) to $84.00 (with HST and her increase sneeked in). That results in a 12-1/2% increase. To add insult to injury, my extended medical plan has decided they will not longer cover a visit to the Naturopath. So instead of using a Naturopath to stay healthy, I guess I’ll just wait until I get sick and let the government health care pay, like most people do.
Sign Me: Fed Up
Hmmm… perhaps you had better not wait for the government to provide your health care. Health care has also been hit with budget cuts and long waits for surgeries and procedures are commonplace. I think the Government is trying to make our health care system so overburdened and inefficient that many people who can afford it will go to private pay clinics. I worry that before we know it Public Health Care will be gone… and again the most vulnerable with be left unattended. Campbell has an agenda and Health Care is on the chopping block!!!
Get this Liberal government out. Now!
I afraid Mr Campbell has hung both his MLA’s and the Liberal Party out to dry. Everyone suspects strongly that he won’t be around for the next election, but one has to ask why his MLA’s would allow this to happen as they would certainly have hopes of competing in the next one. One might ask just how much tention is in the air behind closed doors in Victoria these days>
I work as a driver on the carriage horses in downtown Victoria. Business is WAY down and our tips have nearly disappeared…last year at this time I would make on average $50 on an eight hour shift, last night I worked 10 hours and made 16 bucks in tips…an half hour tour went from $90 to $96 bucks…most people just round up to $100…so the Cambell government is taking 6 bucks an hour from me…I make minimum wage…I can’t support my family without the tips…I don’t know how these guys sleep at night!
I purchased a horse in the USA. (I have to buy and sell a horse a year to keep my farm tax status on a very small piece of property) I paid for it on June 28th, 2010. Because of an an outbreak of a disease in the state where the horse was living I have to have the horse live in Washington state for 21 days, this means I cannot bring the horse up until well into July. I am going to be charged HST on the total value of the horse even though I bought the horse in June, before the HST went into affect. Is the Hst retroactive??? C’mon man…
Save-on-Foods (Price Smart) charges HST on the “recycle” fee (tax), Safeway doesn’t! What’s with that? And a friend of mine owns an auto repair shop. They have had to call everywhere trying to find out who to remit the battery levy to. They finally found out that “ohh, that’s now been cancelled”. So watch out for that levy (tax) folks!!!
Just looked at my Telus bill and they are charging all 3 taxes, also terasen gas charges GST and HST. What a bunch of bull. Went to the casino for their buffet dinner and noticed another $3.06 on that bill where there was previously no tax added. Must remember to base the tip on the before HST amount. Also am bringing a picnic dinner tonight where I would ordinarily go out to dinner. What a bunch of ******
Also vet bills now go up due to HST
This HST is crap……I paid 2.00 on a bill of 16.49 …..I am totally avoiding paying anymore HST than I have to…..NO Chips for me…….all these eco fees where do we get a refund if disposed of properly????
WHERE IS MY TRANSITION CHEQUE COLIN……ONTARIO HAS IT WHERE IS B.C’S
Half of the products sold in my store were PST exempt and now EVERY customer is noticing the jump in price and they do not like it. I had to pay on July 1 $300 HST on my Lease payment, so my rent basically went up $300 per month just like that, how can all of us with small stores absorb this? Federal government gave the Liberals 1.6 billion for transition costs, what about ME!
I recently wrote a letter to the Chamber of Commerce asking them why they went out of their way and decided to support the Liberal Government and challenge the HST petition in court. Their response was that they didn’t think a petition was a true democtratic and constitutional form of making decisions.
My response was that I couldn’t think of a more democratic way of making decisions than having the PEOPLE of BC decide for themselves.
I also informed them that I would be cancelling my Chamber of Commerce membership after 14 years… and I am infuencing all my other business associates to do the same.
The harder they push us, the harder we push back… We have the numbers, they can’t beat us!
Do not waste no more time in bringing it to court for its just a waste of time and money. go for RECALL and get them all out. We are tired of all this adds that they are bringing out about the goof things about the benefit of HST.
How can you trust them now. When you implement Taxes for all British Columbian who are being tax so high through all the years while this Liberal Government are all receiving high salaries including meals while we are trying to work to death and can not even afford to retire.
I took my son golfing to a small par 3 yesterday. The tax-in price pre HST was $10.00 per adult and $8.00 per junior/senior. The new tax-in price is $11.00 per adult and $9.00 per junior/senior. We used to pay $18.00 and now we pay $20.00. If the owner had increased the rates to just reflect the new HST the cost to us should be $19.20. So not only did we get hit with the HST but a cost increase of 80 cents as well.
Business will most certainly pass on the savings! NOT.
The liberal Party really does not have a finger on the pulse of our society. For them to have gone through a recent election without any mention or debate on the HST, and then to launch it amidst massive protest right after the deepest recession we have ever experienced should tell everyone that they are not fit to govern. Although large blame lies with Gordon Campbell, the whole of the Liberal Party/MLA’s should be blamed and suffer the consequences of their decision. Not listening to the people is a big mistake…….
Let’s get these A-holes out of here.
They are too busy taking their own pulses….the same way a proctologist does…but with their thumb!!
I have a small but well known Fishing Charter company in Vancouver, and even though salmon fishing is open, we are not seeing any local people book! Business is way down despite our best efforts to promote and offer discounts.
And my costs are up, not down as promised.
I am so sick of this evil government!!!
I have noticed big increases in prices since July 1st especially in the food stores and speaking about price increases look at the prices at the pumps. Nearly every single item has increased. I thought his holiness Campbell was going to travel around BC to preach the benefits of the HST? Well where in hell is he? Too chicken to face an angry electorate same goes for his lacky MLA’s who also have no guts. Of course I gues when you have your BC Chamber of Commerce buddies taking the peoples petition to court to have it tossed that’s Campbell’s way of telling us to forget it what I say goes period! I am all for recall but in the mean time I think a province wide shut down is in order to stir the pot up even more! BC the most corrupt place on earth is becoming more and more a paradise for millionaires only!
I was at Granvlle Island buying my usual bowl of soup for lunch, where the price (which was inclusive of tax) was always $4.95. Now the same bowl of soup is $5.30. That is an increase of 0.35 cents. How is the HST making it cheaper to buy?
I said this months before the HST was to kick-in:
As a business operator, why would I lower my prices to my customers? The Gov’t presumes prices will drop with HST so I can pass on $avings ~ yah right!
No way can I afford to drop prices and I won’t.
Gov’t is full of cr@p.
As you can all see now, ALL retailers have INCREASED their prices to improve their bottom line.
No way is a business going to take a hit when they KNOW this HST is just a convenient smoke screen to jack up prices.
This government is not nothing more than a devil in a suit. Unfortunetly the NDP have no one that is electable, so I guess we are really in the soup.
Another double taxation issue:
For store owners who lease space for their business, they have to pay HST on their annual proportionate share of Property Tax which is billed to them by the owner of the land/building.
The owner or Lessor, does not pay GST or HST on their Property Tax bill, but when they divide the cost amongst the tenants of their building, legislature dictates that they must charge GST. It doesn’t make sense to me, or anyone in the industry and never has.
I signed the petiion against the HST, so far I have received one phone call to confirm that I did indeed sign it, man that was BORING, the lady just went on and on and on. Now, I received some time sensitive material in the mail to for another confirmation. Who is paying for these confirmations?
I too am very angry about the HST because I am a senior and between Canada Pension, Old Age Security and a small supplement couldn’t make it before the HST.
Rarely eat out, perhaps once in 5 or 6 months. Do go to A&W for a Seniors cup of tea which was $1.00 before, after July 1st, it became $1.25, not $1.12. I asked the clerk and she didn’t know it was even more than the 12% HST. I said I wouldn’t mind paying the extra if the money went to the clerk who makes minimum wage (which is the lowest in Canada) and at A&W they don’t even get tips and the work is always part time. No one can support themselves on minimum wage in this Province. I will be glad to see the day Gordon Campbell is ousted, he has no idea how the poor people struggle as it is. My shaw bill went up by $3.00 a month, and that is only one bill. I will check my Hydro and see how much more I will have to pay there when I get my bill. Just the necessities of life, that you have to pay, no fun items, will be more than the increase we get in our GST,HST rebate every 3 months. Thank you Mr. Vander Zalm for helping us poor folks out with this mess. How about running in the next election! I am sure you would get in!
I feel sorry for the business community as they are the ones who will be losing the most as a result of this dreaded tax. It’s no wonder that people are travelling to Alberta and spending their monies there. Let’s hope that Premier Campbell and his cronies take the anti-HST movement seriously. If not, then let’s all provide each and every MLA with a loud and clear reminder come the next election/by-election!
My mother is a low income senior in a nursing home. One of the very few pleasures left to her is a weekly hair wash and set and the occasional perm. She will have to cut down on these because they have become too expensive for her with the additional HST. A real blow for an 83 yr. old lady.
I am in agreement with everything said about the HST.
I am even angrier over what Gordon “the liar” Campbell has doneover the years and doesn’t give a hoot about it.
Campbell is everything we don’t want in our children – liar, dishonest, untrustworthy, no credibility, no integrity – thinks he is the greatest aka narcisistic and the list just gets bigger.
This latest SNAFU with the on line gambling and the BCLC is just the icing on the cake. CSIS and the feds think BC is allowing money laundering and have imposed the $670,000 fine as a starter. Wow – and SCampbell thinks he can win an appeal – even in a corrupt court with the Canadian government !!!!!
Hello – is anyone at home? It is time for the whole BC Liberal party to quit before they get thrown out by the recall and make political history.
Thank you
Who remembers the 2009 election when we had a chance to vote out Campbell?
Anyone?
I do, and I remember how much we all complained about him at the time of election. I did my part to vote him out. Who else???
Campbell is a CRIMINAL and should be prosecuted.
I did my part to vote him out too. We might be boomers but, so far, my memory is still intact.
Great discussion. Democracy is government by all the people for the people through elected representatives.
When our present elected representatives decide to turn their back on the people’s wishes we begin a slippery slope to fascism (a system of extreme right-wing dictatorship). Are we moving in this direction? If we are it is our duty to take back democracy.
Can 700,000 people all be wrong on one important issue?
Dave McGowan
I just wish that the 65% of the people who didn’t vote to stop whining and complaining and get out and vote…..and maybe we will change this government. face it the people who didn’t vote did the crime so pay it with your dimes……
Wake up silly abstinence is a vote. I want to see NON OF THE ABOVE on the ballot. I do vote when there is someone worthwhile to choose from but these opportunities are far and few between. To think that one should choose between the lesser of two evils is ludicrous. So get off your high horse and don’t expect the rest of us to settle just because you do. That 65% abstinence should be a message to our governments.
We can change this government, but who will we put in. All the sleazy MLAs in Victoria, every party, voted FOR the HST. Now watch them raise their own salaries.
Last election was a real struggle because there was nobody on the ballot we could trust.
I wonder why Shirley Bond, Mr. Campbell’s pet YES lady isn’t on the recall list?
Time to go underground. Campbell is SOOOO out. Forever. Personally, we have now quit buying a majority of items. The HST took us over the top for being in the “red”. We grow our own food, make every meal, trade among friends. The harder they try to squeeze us the more we slip through their fingers. Can’t say what I really think on this site as I must be polite.
2010/07/21
I recently purchased a used vehicle privately and instead of paying $300 in tax prior to the HST I had to pay $720 a difference of $420 more. Considering paying tax on a used vehicle is double taxation as it has already been taxed on the original sale.
Look at the barber who was charging $10 prior to HST and now is charging $15 including HST. a tidy profit of around $3.80 per haircut not bad
big add on the radio says that if you didn’t pay a tax before the hst, then you will not pay a tax now, so why did my Tim Horton’s coffee go up 13cents since the H(orrid)S(ales)T(ax). Seems like false advertising to me. I guess I will have to just shop across the border to Alta.
lets line them up and recall them all
My drycleaner said he was happy about the HST because now he gets to claim 7% more as a deduction… I told him not to be surprised if his customers bring 7% less clothes to be dry cleaned.
I think he got the message.
There is one thing that The BC Liberal Gov does not answer and avoids about the combining our provincial sales tax with the Feds , is the fact we have lost all control of that provincial money. For one to assume that Ottawa will honour all transfer payments is completely Moronic, they have defered transfer payments in the past , and if things get tough for the Feds they will do it again, so how does this help BC , giving control of our Provincial sales tax to Ottawa has to be the most irresponsible act that a BC goverment has ever done, never mind the harm to the all people on fixed incomes, seniors, small business esp contacters & tradesmen , and just the average person trying to get by.
If you should go to the highlands of Scotland you will find that the name Campbell is synonimous with “Treachery”
Reads about Glencoe, the massacre of.
let’s get this recall going and let’s do it now . starting at the top throw all them liars out . we don’t need these kind of people governing our provence.
Just received Terasen bill for Gas. Carbon tax charged more, and HST is also charged on Carbon Tax! What the hell is this Highly Stupid Tax!!!
Totally agree on skipping straight to recall.
If anything were to awaken Campbell, it would be the recall. If he does not have his eyes opened upon the recall process, then he deserves to be off-stage.
My brother-in-law is the mayor of a small military town in Ontario. He said the HST was forced on Campbell by the Feds. If BC doesn’t accept the HST we will not get any transfer payments.
I voted Consertive because the Fed liberals were theives and liars. I voted ndp (hate them) in the last provincial election because they are theives and liars.
The ndp won’t recind the HST even if they get into power.
I just have one question.
WHO THE HELL DO WE VOTE FOR NOW???
It’s time to start looking at a way to reduce the pension and paycheck of our politicians. I recommend that a clawback for their pension be imposed in the same way they do for the old age pension. Pay for politicians should be something they bid on at elections.
Here, here! These guys think they are royalty. They are civil servants and should be subject to the taxpayers whims not the other way around. Let’s also cut back the wages of the provincial and federal government workers who are making way to much already and always have their hands out for more. Plus, they hide their earnings away in pension and retirement plans. This must surely be an indication that they are receiving more wages than they need. $50,000.00 a year to collect my taxes on $12,000.00 a year. BOOOO. Greedy pigs!
Campbell attended Bilderberg 2010 in spain it is pretty clear who this guy is taking orders from.
Is this a coincidence!!! The surname Campbell means “Crooked Mouth”
Born,raised and schooled in this province,I was always taught that we were in a domocracy were we elect people to represent us or at least the majority of us,what has gone wrong in these peoples heads were they think they have the right to do what ever they feel without our approval we need to stop this tax and set these people straight,like nothing wev”e done before.
HST applied to Weight Watchers fees! Good grief – people trying to lose weight and get healthy get stung!
And, the Liberal Party should pay their own advertising fees for spreading pro HST propaganda in the Media.
I am TRULY amazed. From what I was told, provinces were given the opportunity to accept this, based on over 51% of a vote. A vote for WHAT! To increase the tax that shouldn’t really have been place to begin with? Where are we taking ourselves? Could someone PLEASE tell me what the benefit of this tax (better yet, the GST!!!!) is for ALL Canadians? We are basically forced to close our doors to potential business now BECAUSE we have to ADD more tax on…
Can someone PLEASE tell me where this ends?
OH! I’M SOORRY!!!
This is benefit the ‘suits’ that impement these reDICulous taxes to give THEM the nice “sit on their asses and do SFA while the uneducated person has to bust his ass to make a decent living”…
…do I hear the sounds of a civil war coming?
I went to the A&W on July 2nd and the senior’s small coffee that I used to pay $1.24 for became $1.57. The reason given was HST(12%). I wonder if these retailers realize that people over 70 belong to that group who learned how to do math without calculators?
They aren’t fooling anyone.
Just to let everyone know.
Save all your receipts with the new HST on it.
In other words if the goods previously sold before the HST, only had the PST on it and no GST was not previously charged on the goods etc. and does now, that is the receipts you need to keep, for your rebate.
Eventually we will win and throw out the HST, but if you have not kept all your receipts with the new HST on it – the Government will only pay you back a small percentage but..
If you have all your receipts with the new HST on it .. the Government will have to pay you back, the exact dollars that you paid out for the new HST.
So, keep every receipt by each month, until everything has been resolved.
I have kept all of mine, in a large envelope and they will be stapled, month-by-month.
I just had to pay HST on funeral costs for my mother. What a terrible rip off and the ultimate insult!
Small curling clubs like ours now pay HST instead of Social Services Tax. Changes like this really hurt small volunteer operations that run on a shoestring budget. This tax is so unfair…no matter what the rebates and refunds, it still hits hardest those least able to take the hit…business as usual I guess.
Thank you, Jared. ( Comment by Jared S.
2010-07-21 12:11:14). After 6 years as a member, I am now cancelling my membership in our local Chamber of Commerce.
You guys are good with your feelings and disgust, but we are just making hot air.
We need to start organizing protests in every city once a month, right in the mla’s/ politions faces. use the global/ctv to our advantage
??? can we somehow set up email lists? Where someone e-mails 10 people they each e-mail 10 people etc. We could organize 1000′s very quickly.
Is there enough people in penticton/summerland/ oliver/kleden interested
your thoughts?
The radio ads flying around state that “if you didn’t pay GST on it before you won’t pay HST on it now” are most deceivedly forgetting to mention a whole new tax that changes what we pay for a used vehicle from 7% tax upward to 12%. All this on something they already taxed once.
Time to stop the deceit
Gotta love this quote from “Kidnapped” written by Robert Louis Stevenson, written in 1886. Chapter 12:
…It was I that showed the example, telling him all my misfortune; which he heard with great good-nature. Only, when I came to mention that good friend of mine, Mr. Campbell the minister, Alan fired up and cried out that he hated all that were of that name.
“Why,” said I, “he is a man you should be proud to give your hand to.”
“I know nothing I would help a Campbell to,” says he, “unless it was a leaden bullet. I would hunt all of that name like blackcocks. If I lay dying, I would crawl upon my knees to my chamber window for a shot at one.”
“Why, Alan,” I cried, “what ails ye at the Campbells?”
“Well,” says he, “ye ken very well that I am an Appin Stewart, and the Campbells have long harried and wasted those of my name; ay, and got lands of us by treachery — but never with the sword,” he cried loudly, and with the word brought down his fist upon the table. But I paid the less attention to this, for I knew it was usually said by those who have the underhand. “There’s more than that,” he continued, “and all in the same story: lying words, lying papers, tricks fit for a peddler, and the show of what’s legal over all, to make a man the more angry.”…
Well, as predicted, the money pit Olympics is now coming home to roost. How do you like it, you happy little torch bearers and you Olympic flag waving Campbell conned citizens? Now we will ALL, and not just the blind jackasses who wanted it, pay the price until we bleed to death from the money drain. The lovely HST is just merely the beginning. This out of control disfunctional communist style government with its lying Campbell dictatorship at the wheel is selling our futures and the province’s entire resources and hopes down the river to cover the costs resulting from their incredible bungling and financial disasters. And folks ‘ You ain’t seen ‘nuttin yet’. Maybe it’s time for some good old fashioned American style political reform. BANG!
I got a GST HST cheque in the mail and sent a lot of it to the HST Court Challenge fund. Then I put a letter in our local paper telling people about the fund and saying I’d give them the address if they wanted. But I am pretty leery of the fact it appears to be a drop box at a Vancouver address. That’s the kind of address scams come from.
No HST on real-estate under $520K sounds okay, but buyers using a real-estate agent will have to pay the HST on commission not old residense price,eh, as an apartment seller under $ 200k I have to fork out what use to be just GST as cash on commission there. I just had an energy audit done on my home, good, I know efficiency, put HST on energy audit too, and the service person tells me that new legislation will be coming requiring an energy audit before you can sell house through a Real Estate company.
We do use a mail box, this was done so more than one person could pick up any mail, you can imagine how much mail we get.
Where and when do we gather for a mass protest rally ?
Gordy Hagen
I suggest we plan for a march and GIGANTIC rally at the legislature that fills the lawn from side to side and spills out onto the streets. This could be simultaneous with other locations or rotating among them.
IF Campbell tries to make the HST “legal” by recalling the legislature sooner than a fall session, we need to be there with bells on, in his face.
I’m ready to be part of an email network, as suggested by James Laye – this anger that so many of us are feeling should be displayed for the media, for Campbell and his lackies, and for other parties.
So far in July the HST has cost my business almost $5,000 and the month isn’t over
Thank-you once again to all the people who were too lazy to vote in the last election.
Now we all have to live with.
My phone and Internet, are just the basic, there was $8.32 HST. Shaw $9.02. So far this month, my HST costs were, $78.80. Some HST items were on my grocery bill, so I took them back. I had asked the cashier, not to put through, any HST items. She said, the HST is such a mess, they are confused themselves, even the department managers, are getting it wrong. Where there was anger, there is now fury. However, don’t yell at the staff, they hate the HST as much as we do, and they also have to pay the HST, on what ever they buy. Campbell is selling this province out to China. We know Canadian Intelligence is keeping an eye on BC. Fadden only said, what the BC people knew anyway. Campbell and Harper, went way out to the left. I mean, if the governing official is honest, they have nothing to worry about
That is a stupid statement. Who should people have voted for? Something a lot better than NDP has to come along before I will agree with your statement about this being the fault of the people who chose “None of the above” by not voting. Between Liberals and NDP, I would have to choose “NONE OF THE ABOVE”. I hope everyone here realizes that Recalling too many Liberal MLA’s will put another nail in the BC Coffin. Carole James and her NDP are planning on keeping the HST. We need to be very careful how we use the Recall, We already know that the NDP are preparing to recall most of the Liberal MLA’s and that would be devastating for BC.
The gutless MLA’s are too scared of Dictator Campbells wrath to speak out. The invisible NDP leader – what’s her name (James) is conspicuous by her absence.
Jim Sinclair has been decrying the tax so maybe that is where an immediate answer lies. Lets call a general strike, shut the province down until the HST is gone. I doubt that it would take very long and Dictator Campbell would be forced to resign. He wanted a legacy but I doubt he wants that!!!!
I note that there has been a jump in the numbers for the provincial Conservatives – up to about 8% I think. If they would come out and categorically state that they would rescind this tax PLUS those that are in cahoots with the Campbell coalition (The liberals are not pure liberals but rely on others to stay in power)would also come out against this tax then maybe there would be an alternative to the Liberals and the NonDescript Party in this province.
I sent this letter to Tim Hortons
I went to a Tim Hortons today for a small Ice Cap. The price on the board was $1.79, when I arrived at the window to pay I gave her a toonie, she informed me that the price was $2.13. I said there was no way it was $2.14. She blamed it on the H.S.T..I told her there was no way the tax could be 34 cents on $1.79. She informed me that the price was $1.89 they just had not changed the board yet.
Well I was suprised that Timmies would be one of the many who put the price up and blames it on the H.S.T.. I will never spend my money at your coffee shop again, and I will be placing this letter on the Anti H.S.T. web site. You will be losing alot of money and you deserve it.
Shame on you, a good Canadian company that makes millions screwing us for a dime and blaming it on the H.S.T……GREED!
I keep dwelling on the fact that there must be a reason Gordo is so adament that the HST is the right way to go for BC, though consequently all the facts show otherwise. I also see repeatedly that there are those that call him criminal.
Lets say hypothetically that he did not push the HST through. Would there be any direct consequence to the Liberal party.
Oh! There it is!
The Liberal party passed a law that made it a criminal offence (“Against the LAW!” in his own words) for any ministry to be in a deficet by 2011. Better to be called criminal by the people than to actually be proven one and humiliated as the fool that inflicted it upon himself.
Am also wondering why the news is not reporting on this dilly of a subject. Too hot to touch.
We show find a process to reelect a new government in addition to reverse the stupid HST.
I just read a web store that they are going to charge recycle fee on portable electronic items like camera, dvd player etc. How disgusting this government in hidding all the facts and sucking more and MORE money out of our pocket. It is very outrageous!!
Gordon Campbell’s government lying? Only when they open their mouths.
Because the news is manipulated by the government. We are only told what they want us to to know, the way they want us to know it. Unfortunately, in this day and age of computers and the internet, we learn about things and then want answers and they are caught red faced with their pants down like the liars they are.
Ever see a movie called ‘V for Vendetta’? I recommend that you do. Here is the plain truth. They want us to live in fear because that promotes sales of medicines, vitamins, safety equipment and the list goes on and on and then they can tax us on it all. If we live in fear we tend to stay home more and there we are more controllable and less trouble.
Good plan isn’t it?
Harper said, no to the HST. Iggy said, no HST. Campbell and Hansen said, the HST wasn’t on their radar. All of them were, snakes in the grass. Campbell it is said, he is really a Conservative. Harper and Campbell have a very close relationship. The introduction of the HST, was in Harper’s hands, in far too little a time. Harper and Campbell, are working to, make it easier for China, access into Canada. There is no way, we can trust Harper, because of his association with Campbell. Iggy lied to the citizens, so, the Liberals are out. The NDP, have been really silent. So, we have the Greens or Independents. This is the worst crop of, governing officials, ever known in Canadian history. Canada, needs a leader, who, has the guts to stomp out corruption. That is what is destroying Canada. However, corruption pays very well, and I can’t see any of the politicians, giving up their cash cows. Greed and corruption, is what governs.
I am in the process of opening a homebased service business, I had started my research pre HST and had to change all my figures post HST. Before HST my customers would have paid $0.23 a week in GST for my service. Now it will be $0.56 a week. So in a year it went from $11.96 GSt to $29.12 HST I have had feedback from MANY people that where before they had agreed to my services they now have to back out!! helping small business??? not so much!
I just decided today not to register in any more ice hockey leagues. HST has added $700 a team for 24 games or about $60 a person. Result: $3+ an hour HST charge to play hockey! How is that helping the economy or my health?
They have stolen and sold our BC Rail (profit of $72 million in its last year as ours); Thye’ve underfunded education, schools and teachers, and they don’t treat the mentally ill. We had plenty of time to get rid of Campbell and his corporate-owned thugs, but not enough people voted! How stupid can people be? Do they believe the media? People ought to think about who owns the redio and TV!
HST on personal & home care supplies for seniors many of whom are on a low or fixed income.
Health care items such as massage therapy and vitamins now cost more with the HST added on (previously no PST) – a slap in the face of those trying to keep out of the health care system
Who do we vote for???…. I for one am fed up with everyone being afraid to vote the way they want to. Scared because they think their vote won’t count, So might as well vote for the major parties. Stop it, if we all voted the way we wanted, then we can make a difference.
I voted green, a lot of people did. Why are the rest so afraid??
Every other party has had a chance to screw up, why not let the other guys have a chance.
Thank you to everyone for all your hard work!
Hansen, has decided not to mail out the pamphlet, explaining the HST. He said, the HST turned out better, than he expected. I guess he meant when, he did his HST propaganda tour. He didn’t talk to the public, that I know of. He only spoke to the , Chambers of Commerce, and businesses, in a few towns. There are people, that are boycotting businesses, that are registered with the C.O.C. There was a 35 page manual, sent to businesses, on what goods would have the HST applied. It is one huge mess. Anyone being wrongly charged, send the bill to Hansen, and ask for a reimbursement.
Where there was just anger over the HST, there is now fury. It is a complicated mess, and the managers of the big chains are cussing the 35 page pamphlet, they received from Hansen, on what to charge the HST, on which goods. However, the greedy big businesses, fought for the HST, so it’s just too bad for them, they will just have to put up with customers yelling at their department managers. The big chains, also jacked their prices way up, just before the HST came in. I found the underground. I will pay less than half the price for food, than I would have to spend, in a big chain supermarket.
I have yet to see, any savings from anywhere, regarding the HST. What I have noticed, the supermarkets, have all jacked their prices way up, before the HST day even arrived. I have paid, $18.89 HST on two utility bills. Hydro, is going up to 33%, that is in the budget taxes, so is the 4.45 new carbon tax, in the budget. The HST, is on everything from, an energy efficient stove, to a nail file. Campbell and Hansen, have put this province, in the billions of debt. There is not one BC Minister, to replace Campbell that I would vote for. They are no better than Campbell. The ministers, have supported Campbell in his lunacy. I would like the Liberal party, to be dissolved.
It is a simple thing, BC is in debt, for the O. I didn’t get to chow down, and wear sweaters with a Maple Leaf. But I am as responsible as any other BC citizen for the debt. A successful political party should campaign as follows. No removal of the HST, but drop the provincial expectation, to 4%, and act into law, that, any business that claims input hst credits, factors that into their sales. Those that claim credits, owe the HST on their sales. Even exports. That’s what I am talking about!!
I am going to gather all of my bills, with legal and illegal HST charges. I am then going to print them, and, send them to Hansen, by snail mail. Together, the budget taxes and the HST, are too big a burden. Where are the logistics, to tax people, who have no jobs, and no money? Only lunatics, like Campbell and Hansen, could have written up such asinine taxes. The Liberal governments, across Canada should all be dissolved. Ontario, had their legislature raided, as well. We need a leader, who has the guts, to stomp out all the corruption, in this country. No more giving, banks, large corporations, gas and oil companies millions of out tax dollars. No more giving them, huge tax reductions, and no HST. However, Harper and Campbell have a very close relationship. So, we people in BC know, Harper and Campbell, work together. We also have to work to get rid of Harper as well.
I was surprised today when I mailed a package to see HST applied. Postage is not listed on the government website, nor was on the hit list put out by fighthst.com. The government claimed we will save by way of lower prices on manufactured items in the province, but I cannot think of anything manufactured here that the average consumer will benefit from. Perhaps some building materials but some how I doubt that any savings will ever materialize.
If there is a Federal election this fall. To vote Conservative is out. Campbell works for Harper. They travel together, they have many photo-ops together. Harper, spoke in Campbell’s Legislature. Thousands of citizens, believe, Harper, Campbell and Hansen, worked out the HST even before the election. The Federal Liberal party, I will never vote for. Iggy, lied about the HST, he said, no HST and then, did a turn coat, and now supports the HST to the hilt. Another liar, we don’t need. The NDP, have been so silent, it’s been like they no longer exist. So, that leaves the Greens or an Independent. I think, Canadians, would appreciate any party, that didn’t lie to the people, and appreciate, a leader who, would stomp out corruption. It is corruption, that causes countries to fail. There are not enough citizens working, to support the corruption. The burden of taxes, takes all our money. We no longer have enough to live on, our buying power is totally gone. The HST and the provincial budget. Will be the final nails, in the coffins.
CSIS and the RCMP are playing politics. These federal agencies arent accountable to the people their accountable to agencies within themselves.
Make CSIS and the RCMP accountable just as we need to here the truth in the court about missing emails on campbells rail deal and back room land deals before the olympics.
The cost of the olympics somewhere in the ball park of 7 billion dollars.
The citizens cant pay your tab for the hiway to your businesses partners in whistler, if you ovr tax them and run small business into recievership.
Get rid the idiot all he does is spend on projects that will cost the citizens many years to come.
While selling out higher taxes to Ottawa to balance a budget he said was balanced. Is it not apparent he is a crook with an ego problem. CSIS the RCMP and HST makes us all accountable to OTTAWA and not them accountable to us.
Gordon Campbell isn’t drunk with power. He’s just drunk. We’re experiencing the same crap in Ontario and it’s a mess.
Jeff, organize boycotts of big chain stores, all businesses that supported the HST, and are members, of the Chamber of Commerce, they also support, greedy big business. Buy as few HST goods, as people can get by with. Communities in BC are setting up the underground and barter systems. We have, chickens, eggs, meats, vegetables, and local fruit, through the underground. We have every sort of trade persons. BC, of course has, terrible provincial budget taxes, as well as the HST, to contend with. So we are hit from all sides. We now have big business taking the BC citizens to court. It’s not enough, our government passed a motiom to give, banks, big business, gas and oil companies, billions of our tax dollars. They also get, huge tax reductions, and now are whining, for the HST as well. Are the people of Ontario, not fed up with all of the corruption? BC people sure as the hell are.
Well, the CSIS are keeping a close eye on BC. For that we should be grateful. What Fadden said, fits with what, the BC people already suspected. I hope they get enough, to throw Campbell in prison, where he has belonged, since he fraudulently, sold the BC Rail. He is busy selling BC out to the USA and China. Campbell, had the gall to call, Fadden unprofessional. So, Campbell, thought he was professional, when he lied and sold the BC Rail? How about, tearing up, hospital contracts, resulting, in deaths in dirty hospitals, full of super bugs, is that professional? How professional is, throwing a toony at paramedics, who only earn, $2.00 per hour on standby? How professional, was Campbell, when he lied about the HST, not on his radar?? The only thing, Campbell is professional at is, lies, deceit, broken promises, corruption, crimes, you get the gist. All of that, is what is on his radar.
The Constitution, is no longer valid. Our Civil Rights and Liberties, have been taken away from us, our voices of protest, are just too bad for, we the people. Democracy and Freedom, is null and void. The country of Canada, is corrupt to the core, BC is the most corrupt province in Canada. Harper and Campbell, work in league. The HST, was planned, long before the, not on our radar lie. The BC Rail, wasn’t for sale either. We need a purge, to get rid of, all the corrupt governing officials, and that includes, Harper and Iggy, both of them lied about, the HST. There will not be too many politicians left. However, the corruption, has filtered down, to every government agency and service. The C.R.A. has a class action suit against them. I do believe, the case is open to anyone, who has been cheated by Revenue Canada. Their target, is seniors and low income people, who are too poor and too afraid to fight back. They stand accused of, using Nazi tactics. The cesspool in this country, needs to be cleaned out. One of the main reasons, countries fail is because, of the blatant corruption. People have to go underground, to survive. That is especially happening in BC. Campbell, gave himself a 53% wage hike, and walks away with a $2 million per year pension. He deserves none of that, this is money stolen, from the citizens, by someone, who reminds me, of the pompous little ass, that governs, N. Korea. Perhaps, Campbell could sell more of BC out to him, as he has sold us out to China and the USA. Canadian Intelligence, is watching BC, very closely. Fadden, fired a warning shot, across the bow. I for one, am happy BC is being guarded.
Sorry, I do not feel responsible for this debt. What could I have possibly used to accumulate such an atrocious amount? I have cut way back on my electrical, water, gas, and food consumption. My education was paid for long ago and I hardly ever go to the doctor. Let those who are hogging these resources pay for them not the peons who are doing all the work and getting paid peanuts for their efforts. Maybe they could collect the money owed to us by the USA as reimbursement for the levy on our softwood lumber or maybe California could finally pay us for the hydro they used. Am I forgetting anything? Oh yeah let Campbell and his cronies pay the remaining bills that are owing from the Olympics. It’s true after all the biggest drunks always throw the best parties.
I am getting tired of paying and paying and getting nothing in return. Viva la revolution. Lets storm the ramparts and lop off a few of these fat cats heads as has happened in the past when the balance of power and wealth has gotten out of hand. Let’s regain our resources and control of our province and country. Foreign investment means money leaving and not coming back again and they wonder why we are going broke. Who needs these greedy investors. We can do it ourselves.
Come on citizens of BC -”We are mad as hell and we are not going to take it anymore.”
I’m a Realtor, don’t even get me started. On my way to Blaine, WA to fill up 70c/litre. Go screw yourself gord.
Business is not just as usual. Some of them, especially some big coperations benefit a lot!!! from HST. Before they claim GST rebate only when they paid PST+GST, 5% of 12%; Now they claim HST rebate when they pay HST, that is 12% of 12%, no sale tax to be paid!!!. See what happened? the poorest people are paying for the richest people in this province now. That is why I would never support HST!
We are in the business of electrical service and repair, we now have had to increase prices to our customers an additional 7%!! Wow great we get to keep the PST on our purchases but believe me our business is down on the other end thanks to HST, Great way to fix the economy Gordo, I don’t see any advantage, only damage. I would rather have continued to pay the PST and keep prices down to our customers to keep business rolling along. Customers are complaining about price now more than ever, or simply not going ahead with projects around the home! New House construction has been severely hurt, I know of 1 new home plumbing contractor who normally does $150,000 per month in gross sales now down to $50,000 this means he had to lay off 2 people to survive and the new house builder who normally builds 5-6 homes per month has slowed construction to a trickle due to the additional HST tax imposed on new housing. This is the wrong tax at the wrong time!! The timing of this tax had to do with political motivators, but economically the timing is absolutely deadly!
This Gordon Campbell government is so corrupt, it makes me sick. We have to get rid of the whole bunch of thieves.
What unbelievable behaviour!I can’t believe I live in Canada.
Probably Gordo has to get it shipped in from Hawaii . By the way I have Gordo’s drunk song . I might send it to Gordo so he can go on another drunk and relive his trip
That’s what I do now – save a bundle on gas and got some amazing deals on groceries and school supplies today. Many items were 1/4 the price in Canada and NO HST! Take all my kids so no problems with duty at the border.
Yes, when I first hear “businesses will pass on the savings” I almost laughed. Who on earth would believe that??!! My children’s dance teacher raised her fees admittedly because of the HST.