Dear Editor:
Re: Tell gov't to scrap HST, Letters to the Editor, Burnaby NOW, July 13.
Frank Di Cesare's response to Harry Bloy's, "'No' is the way to go" piece is fair in the sense that every British Columbia has the democratic right to voice their opinion - especially with a heated debate such as the HST.
However, what Mr. Di Cesare neglected to mention was the fact that government DID listen to the taxpayers. People asked for a lower tax rate, if the HST was to stay, and that is exactly what Premier Christy Clark did. Enacted into federal law, the tax rate will be lowered over the next three years by two per cent. The question is, would you rather be paying 12 per cent GST/PST or 10 per cent HST on your goods by 2014?
The GST/PST system has always been an accounting nightmare for many business owners, and it's the same challenge whether they're small, medium or large companies. I'm talking about the mom and pop owners who run the small clothing shop, or the grocery store just down the street.
Many of these small business owners have come out to say they are now saving money with the HST because they don't have to deal with a time-consuming and money-pilfering archaic system. What is happening now in the communities is that employment is rising and investment in new equipment is possible. In other cases consumer goods have been lowered, realized in lower services costs by the business owner.
My future is not based around a one-time purchase. I voted to keep the HST system because of all the various types of taxes, a value added tax like the HST has been proven to work the best around the world. It should do the same in B.C.
David Field, Burnaby
