MLA HAYER DISMISSES CONSTITUENTS’ CONCERNS, MOUNTS WEAK DEFENCE OF HST
Liberal MLA Dave Hayer dismissed the concerns of Surrey families and small businesses about the HST and instead attempted to defend the B.C. Liberals’ betrayal of British Columbians during his speech in the legislature last week. “I think this [HST] is the right thing to do,” said Hayer, despite growing opposition from the residents of Surrey-Tynehead. During his second reading speech on Thursday, Hayer claimed that members of the public do not understand the proposed transition to the HST. Hayer then went on, at best, to reveal his own lack of understanding or, at worst, to spread misinformation about the new tax. Hayer tried to defend the HST by claiming that the PST must be paid now at the sawmill level and that cost is built into the final cost of a two-by-four piece of wood. Hayer also claims that the HST would provide an exemption from the tax. Ralston said that Hayer is incorrect, noting that sawmill machinery and equipment used on the production line such as “lathes, drills, saws and blades, digesters, paper dryers, sawdust cookers and lumber kilns, including kiln strips” are already PST exempt, meaning that no PST is paid on the purchase price of any of these items right now. “Mr. Hayer and the B.C. Liberals need to get their facts straight,” said Ralston. “Why do they expect members of the public to support the HST when their own MLAs don’t understand the current tax system?” “I hope the B.C. Liberals provide British Columbians with a comprehensive list of everything that will cost more as a result of the HST,” said Ralston. Carole James and the New Democrats will use every tool available to them to stop the HST-enabling bill currently being debated in the legislature, and are calling on at least seven B.C. Liberal MLAs to join with the Opposition and vote against the bill.
