TAX NEWS - JUNE 2010

Canada Tax: What are alternatives to HST?

Since Mr. Vander Zalm has come out of his well-earned retirement to oppose the B.C. government's proposal for an HST, I will come out from retirement to support the government in this tax initiative.

My question is: "What is the alternative?"

We live in an aging population, with ever increasing demands for better and expanded medical services. While the student population is decreasing, the cost per student is dramatically increasing.

The requirement for more and better post-secondary training is exponential to the advances in technology today. Our roads and infrastructure are in huge need of budgetary spending.

Where is the money to come from in a time of general economic stress?

Our government is not able to print money, so it must come from the citizenry.

Oh yes, you could increase taxes on business and industry, but that is just passed on to the citizenry too.

So ultimately, we must pay for what we receive, and may we be truly grateful for the wonderful life that we have here in this fabulous province of Canada.

The alternatives to the HST are most probably to be found in the areas of increased personal income tax, or increases in the costs of services (user pay).

The only other alternative, and perhaps the one that many like Mr. Vander Zalm favour, is a reduction in services: less medical coverage; less road paving; less upgrading of infrastructure; less education for our children and adults; or worst of all, less provision of service to the needy (welfare).

I am very opposed to any of those solutions. I believe that the HST is probably the fairest and least onerous solution.

My income is fixed, as I am on pension, so I accept that in this time of greater need by government to provide me services, I will have to pay more, and be in somewhat reduced circumstances.

Like the citizens of Greece, we must accept that true freedom means that there can be nothing free.