While the current HST Referendum may not attain the level of ineptitude reached by the Native Land Claims Referendum of 2002, it is a further example of BC Liberals’ topsy-turvy, Alice in Wonderland, political world.
Firstly, because of how the government has manipulated the wording of the referendum, we have to Vote Yes to Say No.
Secondly EK MLA Bennett’s arguments in favour of the HST defy economic logic, claiming as he does, that the HST has been introduced in order to save B.C. taxpayers money
Thirdly, in paragraph 2 (Free Press column, June 9) he states, ‘If the referendum fails…we will reduce the HST from 12 per cent to 10 per cent.’ That is, by one sixth.
According to Mr. Bennett, and the government-appointed panel’s report, the HST will cost the ‘average family’ $350 per year.
Leaving aside the fact that it will cost the ‘average family’ $1,208 annually rather than $350, one sixth of $350 is $58.03. Thus the average family, according to Mr. Bennett’s own figures, which are dubious at best, would save approximately $60 and not $120, as he claims.
(This assumes, once again, that the novel concept of saving British Columbians money by taxing them more heavily is not a figment of Mr. Bennett’s imagination.)
More significantly, it’s Grade 5 math and Mr. Bennett got it wrong.
Fourthly, no matter how hard he twists and turns, Mr. Bennett cannot deny that the imposition of the HST sees a massive shift of $1.9 – $2.3 billion in taxation from the corporate sector onto the rest of us.
And lastly, having slavishly followed Gordon Campbell’s political lead for years, Mr Bennett (Free Press letter, June 23) now badmouths him for introducing a tax increase which Bennett himself supports!
Not even the Mad Hatter could make this up.
JC Vallance
Fernie