Minister Krueger Has come out and admitted The "HST Betrayal" hurtd Tourism.
For Immediate Release
Oct. 12, 2010
B.C. LIBERALS ADMIT HST DOUBLECROSS IS A BIG BLOW TO TOURISM SECTOR
VANCOUVER – The B.C. Liberal Tourism Minister, Kevin Krueger, appears to now be admitting that his government’s HST betrayal is hurting the tourism industry, say New Democrats.
“After toeing the B.C. Liberal line on the HST, Minister Kevin Krueger is now admitting not only that the HST is bad for tourism, but also that the HST will not be making life cheaper in British Columbia. This is a clear back-track from everything we’ve ever heard from this government,” said Spencer Chandra Herbert, New Democrat critic for tourism.
Krueger told the media this morning that he would like to see an HST rebate for international tourists, saying that “it just seems a very unnecessary barrier to be charging our visitors sales tax when we’re trying so hard to attract them here”.
“This is a dramatic about-face from this Minister,” said Bruce Ralston, New Democrat finance critic. “The B.C. Liberal government has been saying that the HST will be good for British Columbia and good for tourism. Now he’s saying an exemption is required, which just goes to show that the B.C. Liberals should have consulted with business and consumers before flip-flopping and pushing through a significant tax change like the HST.”
In budget estimates debate last spring, Krueger stubbornly defended the tax, saying that “there’ll be tremendous savings with regard to the harmonization of the sales tax” and saying the HST will “help lead to a more robust tourism industry.”
“Clearly, if a rebate is needed, then HST savings are not being passed on to consumers, as the B.C. Liberals have repeatedly claimed,” said Chandra Herbert. “Where is the rebate for British Columbians?”
“I’ve talked to many stakeholders in the tourism industry, from all across the province, and they are clear that the best thing the B.C. Liberals can do for tourism is to scrap the HST as soon as possible,” said Chandra Herbert.
“The HST is clearly having an impact on British Columbians – this adds to the urgency of settling the HST matter. The best way to do that is for the B.C. Liberals to hold the HST referendum as soon as possible,” said Ralston. ..... end
So now let's see. We already know that the tax is bad for the people. They hand out a rebate that doesn't nearly cover what the individual taxpayer will pay out in this new tax grab.
We know that big business is getting a windfall that the government says the savings will be passed on to the consumers. And to date there are NO savings being passed on. In fact some business people are saying that any windfall they get will UNLIKELY be passed on.
We also note that big business is helping finance the propaganda campaign by the Liberals.
We know that restaurants are hurting badly and I know of one that has gone out of business. Others are cutting staff and the remaining staff are getting reduced hours.
So they are looking at basically subsidizing tourists. Why is this happening?? The taxpayer in BC are the ones building the province and it appears that everyone but the taxpayer gets the breaks.
Now Kreuger has as much as admitted that the double cross is hurting tourism. We happen to know here in the Cariboo that Tourism has been cut to the bone.
So now I am wondering just how long it will take the PAB to put a spin on this so that Kreuger looks like he isn't now double crossing Campbell
This is just more fuel for the fire.
Donna Barnett will be recalled. Only the date remains open.
2 comments:
BC people, are going to get another kick in the face. On TV, it was said, we are now in a food crisis. We are expected to pay, a hell of a lot more for food. Food crops have failed, all around the globe. Countries are, hoarding their crops, for their own countries. So, with the, provincial budget hikes and the HST, pretty much on everything else, there are going to be many more children living in poverty. This winter, with the terrible utility taxes, going sky high. There are going to be, many evictions and utility cut offs. The $6.00 per hour minimum wage, just won't cut it, that is far less, than a governing official and, the CEO's booze bills. Chong, chomped her way through, $6.000, worth of eating out, on the tax payers dollars. That is more than, a family of four, have to spend on a years groceries. All the HST has done is, drive up the cost of living. Where are these, good paying jobs, the HST was going to generate? I haven't saved a penny from the HST, my cost of living, has gone way up. Tourism, was dead this summer. Real Estate, has plummeted. Small businesses are still closing their doors. Restaurants and bakery's are also closing. Our video store, has closed. There are, rumors of two furniture stores closing, also paint shops. Please, enlighten me, what the HST was for again. BC is a province of natural resources, the HST will not benefit, BC people, what-so-ever. That insane tax, was designed, for big business, and big business only.
Kevie Kroooooger, never the most handsome or bright, looks especially scruffy these days. Maybe he can't afford a razor and shaving cream with the HST.
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