B.C. LIBERALS’ BETRAYAL ON PST COMMISSION WILL COST BUSINESSES THOUSANDS
VICTORIA – Businesses will lose thousands of dollars a year when the commission they receive for collecting sales tax on behalf of the provincial government is cancelled under the B.C. Liberals’ new HST, the New Democrats said today. Finance Minister Colin Hansen confirmed yesterday afternoon that the commission will be eliminated next year. “The elimination of the PST commission will hit small businesses by up to $2,400 a year. Coming on top of the lost sales many small businesses are expecting when the B.C. Liberals’ new tax takes effect next year, this will be a big blow to many small business owners who are working hard to make it through the economic downturn,” said New Democrat finance critic Bruce Ralston. Ralston noted that last October Gordon Campbell announced as part of his “10-point plan” that the government would be doubling the commission paid to businesses for collecting the PST. At the time, the premier claimed this would “lower costs for B.C.’s businesses and add to their cash flow almost immediately. These measures will help small businesses and their families through these tough times.” “Only nine months later, Gordon Campbell has already tossed one of the points of his 10-point economic plan out the window. The premier clearly can’t be trusted to follow through on his promises to small businesses and average families,” said Ralston. After saying during the election campaign that they were not going to bring in a new sales tax, the B.C. Liberals turned around and did just the opposite. “The B.C. Liberals’ new sales tax has caught consumers and many small businesses by surprise. With small businesses and families across the province struggling to make ends meet, now is not the time to bring in a new tax, particularly without any consultation,” said Ralston.
Carole James and the New Democrats have launched a petition to stop the HST, which is at http://www.bcndp.ca/stophst
Under the Campbell government, B.C. has had the worst rate of full-time job losses, the second-worst performing economy, and the highest level of child poverty in the country.
|
