To the editor:
You may have heard about the committee that is studying the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) of British Columbia.
This committee was appointed by the B.C. Liberal coalition government of B.C. The findings of this committee will, in the near future, be released to the general public.
Various news releases and/or editorials have led us to believe that if the HST is defeated via the forthcoming referendum, then B.C. must return to the old Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Provincial Sales Tax (PST) system. This is not necessarily the case.
The approach the BC First Party has developed is that when elected as the government of B.C., the HST, Carbon and various other taxes will be eliminated.
Then while the province negotiates the cancellation of the HST with the federal government, a province-wide overhaul of our entire provincial tax system would take place.
This would involve industry, small business, labour, consumers and citizens to create a more competitive and equitable tax structure for all.
The new, reformed "tax system" proposal would be voted on by all British Columbians and then incorporated into a brand new B.C. Constitution.
For a better understanding of this process, go to www.bcfirst.ca and click on policies.
Never again will taxes be increased or decreased by one individual making tax policy on the fly by an executive order. Changes to any portion of the constitution would require the approval of the people of B.C., in a province-wide vote.
This is one of the many policies developed by the BC First Party to democratize the system.
Jack Hackett
Horse Lake
