SAMPLE LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER REGARDING BC HST
Nov 15, 2009 Details
Posted by
admin
Below I have included the text of a letter to your Prime Minister. Simply copy and paste into your word processor and finish the details or make your own modifications, then print and mail it to your Prime Minister at the address provided.
[Date]
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A OA6
RE: BC HST Enabling Legislation.
Dear Prime Minister Harper,
I am writing you to oppose the implementation of a Harmonized Sales Tax in the province of British Columbia.
Poll’s in British Columbia show that over 85% of citizen here are opposed to this tax. The results of the recent by-election in New Westminster-Coquitlam demonstrates that any BC politician that supports the HST will face the wrath of the voters on this issue.
You have stated that it is up to the provinces whether they wish to accept the HST or not. For this reason, I request that you allow your caucus a free vote the HST enabling legislation in BC when it is introduced in Parliament.
On many occasions, you have spoken publicly in support of allowing Members of Parliament greater freedom in representing their constituent’s interests. I hope that you will act in accordance with your stated beliefs and convictions regarding greater democracy and political accountability with regard to the HST.
I strongly oppose this tax on the basis that the BC Liberals have no mandate to create such a tax, it is being unfairly implemented in BC, and will place too great a burden on consumers struggling to cope with a recession.
Once again, I urge you to please allow your MP’s in British Columbia to vote according to their constituent’s wishes on the HST.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
Tags: accountability, bc liberals, caucus, constituent, free vote, harmonized sales tax, house of commons, legislation canada, members of parliament, minister of canada, new westminster, ontario, ottawa, political, prime minister of canada, province of british columbia, recession, right honourable stephen harper
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I am adamantly opposed to the hst. This will make the cost of living higher and our quality of life lower. Here’s why… “the effective tax rate on consumption will increase by 1.5 percentage points in BC, and the overall price level will increase by 0.7 percentage points”. — Don Drummond, TD Bank. This is a higher tax burden on consumers who will pay the flat HST on a broader array of goods and services than before. There will be an overall increase in the consumer price level. But, the HST will create jobs they say. Well, this is where I see a huge problem. What kind of jobs? Now don’t try to generalize this concept of greater number of jobs equals a greater benefit because people do not want to work for peanuts, however which little other option in the province this is exactly what happens. If a company has more financial headroom to pay more wages, they are more inclined to hire more employees rather than increase the wages of the existing employees, or worse, collect the additional headroom as executive bonuses. Gordon Campbell loves to talk about how his has reduced total operating costs, saved millions of dollars, well I am sick of this spiel. In May of 2008, Gorgon Campbell came to Vancouver Island University to grant what was Malaspina University-College full university status. At this time, the Computing Science program which is a bachelor of science with a major in Computing Science was on the chopping block because of a lack of university funding. This is one of the highest paying degrees a student can attain. Luckily the university made some concessions to save a version of the program, however, this lack of funding was a direct result in Gordon Campbell’s cuts to education during the final exam period of the year before. The ill timing of the cuts meant that few if any students would have a chance to protest the cuts. That was a slimy move on Gordon Campbell’s behalf. Then while visiting the campus to grant full university status he then started talking about how additional funding was being put forth for Native studies, a cooking program, hospitality & tourism, etc… only a minute portion of the original funding which was ripped from the Universities just a year before. All of these programs that he talked about graduate students into the bottom of the food chain where they work for less than $15 /hr with little or no benefits. Let me remind readers that the average home price in BC is well over $300,000, in Vancouver, well over $600,000. Either way this is unattainable with these kinds of jobs. These are the jobs that he readily admits to creating. So let me ask, what is the breakdown of the numbers and types of jobs that will be created Mr. Gordon Campbell? Perhaps he’s hoping with less students taking mathematics they won’t ask.
The government of course is all for the HST, how can they not want more money to play with in all of their pet projects. Yet, I do not understand how creating more low end jobs will help anybody. If anything, these are the very people who will need more premium assistance medical, social assistance, GST rebates, and a general higher share of the tax that which the government wants to decide where to allocate. This is going in the wrong direction. The people of BC want higher paying jobs, we want an economy that benefits us all, not just businesses which are given opportunity to exploit the people with a training wage of $6 an hour. I am adamantly opposed to an increase in tax in this province. If the government wants more money, they can revoke the 50% salary increase of the liberal caucus..!! They can cover Translink’s operating budget shortfall by disallowing the $25,000 annual retainer paid out to all Translink executives as well as the $1200 pay for attending regular meetings whether they call in or attend in person..!!! The people in this province need to be made aware of the real cost of this HST which is a future of poorer working class.
Jacob Chappelle, B.Sc.- Computing Science
January 10th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
What is it when a government will not listen to the majority of the people is it not called a government with a ditator running it, is that not what is going on in Irak, Iran and other places in the middle east, are our boys not fighting to establish democracy in those places.
If what I have said is true, then we are being run by the same overbearing government that is over there, you are not listening to the people on a lot of issues, HST and so forth and neither are they, what is the difference between you and them, other than I have freedom of speach, or did you stop that also, I guess I will find out.
Your legacy is going to be stated as a tyrant dictator, who would not listen to the people of your province on a lot of issues, the only thing that will come of this is that you and your government have made it quite clear that you are not fit to govern in my personal opinion, I think you are implementing the HST to try to cover the loss you are generating with the over budget costs in getting the olympic off the ground.
I realize that this will not change your mind, but it makes me feel better to let you know my opinion, and to also let you know that I will be going out whole heartedly in the next election to persuade people to remember the Campbell Government and it’s lies, cuts, and to many more to print. Yes I definately can see a positive legacy for you.
Thank you for your time
Dave Noble