Editor:
I can see where the HST would benefit some businesses, especially those who are in the manufacturing end of which most are in Ontario; I cannot see it helping to improve our local economy.
We are already seeing a rise in overall prices due to fuel costs and more will be added once another carbon tax starts in about eight or nine weeks.
At that same time the HST begins and we will be paying more for many items.
Purchasing discretionary items starts to slow as people adjust their spending habits making sure that the staple items are purchased and living expenses covered before we start our “fun and enjoyment” spending.
The Osoyoos economy is driven a lot by discretionary spending as we are a tourist-golf-wine area that depends on folks having some extra bucks in their wallets and purses especially in the summer months.
I also feel that our intelligence is being insulted when we are being told that some prices will come down.
I have not met one person who believes this statement.
The other portion that really disturbs me is I am disappointed at the Province giving the right to collect our taxes to Ottawa and that should send up red flags and sound the alarm bells for all of us.
With Ontario saying they are no longer a “have” province, and Quebec seeming to want more federal payments, it opens the door for the Federal Government to make any changes as they are collecting our provincial share.
What happens if governments change and the Bloc becomes the official opposition again?
This is not a good tax, locally nor provincially, and although we in B.C. are all being shown the garden path, close to 85 per cent of us are refusing to be led down it.
Remember folks, the further away government is from the people, the less responsible it is.
The same applies to those who collect our taxes and dispense them.
Tom Shields,
Osoyoos
OSOYOOS TIMES-April 21, 2010
