Ignatieff agrees to HST

[madmax]

Should make riverman happy.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090915/...x_harmonization

1 hour, 10 minutes ago

By Maria Babbage, The Canadian Press

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TORONTO - Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff won't block tax harmonization in Ontario if his party forms the next government, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday.

"We have secured Mr. Ignatieff's commitment to moving ahead with the single sales tax should he earn the privilege of serving Canadians in government," McGuinty said.

He also hinted that the federal Liberals wouldn't stop British Columbia from merging its provincial sales tax with the federal GST, either.

me not so much..

Edited September 15, 2009 by madmax

[M.Dancer]

If the HST is the way, I much prefer Alberta's HST.

[capricorn]

Well. One more issue that the Liberals need to withdraw from their attack bag against the Conservatives. BTW, is this not a reversal of position for the federal Liberals?

While leader Michael Ignatieff has said little about the HST for national consumption, it's clear from the party material that Liberals are opposing introduction of an HST in B.C. -- which could be embarrassing given that their provincial cousins are behind it.

Their federal candidates have been instructed to refer to the tax as the "Harper Sales Tax" and to assert an HST won't work for B.C.'s economy, instead hurting growing sectors, specifically the service industry and tourism.

Further, the candidates have been advised to state that Harper failed to properly consult with industries to be impacted, and that "this is a perfect example of the Conservatives doing what they want from Ottawa and not understanding B.C."

Should voters ask what federal Liberals themselves would do, candidates have been asked to tell voters that an Ignatieff government would not use a cookie-cutter approach to the HST. "We would be far more flexible in applying harmonization."

Candidates also have been told not to comment on comparisons with Ontario -- which announced its intention to harmonize its sales taxes last March -- because "they have different industries."

http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/s...f9-f112746446bb

[punked]

This however is a reversal. It was only took a few hours for them to back peddle this one.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/200...#socialcomments

Iggy the Flippy Floppy Flip Flop. For it No Against it, no wait for it.

He just can't make any commitments ever. "I am for the Harper sales tax. No wait I am not Harper I am against it. No wait I want to do everything Harper wants to do I am for it."- Iggy.

Frig I don't know why anyone who would vote for Iggy would be scared to vote Harper they are the same guy accept Harper can make a decision.

Edited September 15, 2009 by punked

[Goat Boy©]

I live in BC, and I have to say....

What's the big F'ing deal? You're paying an additional 2% on a minuscule list of items, after all the taxes they pile on until we can't breath anymore, and we choose to construct an organized complaint against this?

I mean seriously, surely their are bigger fish to fry? It's nice to see Canadians standing up against the government, but come on, you couldn't have picked a better subject to protest?

[M.Dancer]

2% here, 2% there....in ontario this is the single biggest blow to renters since the end of rent controls.

[Topaz]

This however is a reversal. It was only took a few hours for them to back peddle this one.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/200...#socialcomments

Iggy the Flippy Floppy Flip Flop. For it No Against it, no wait for it.

He just can't make any commitments ever. "I am for the Harper sales tax. No wait I am not Harper I am against it. No wait I want to do everything Harper wants to do I am for it."- Iggy.

Frig I don't know why anyone who would vote for Iggy would be scared to vote Harper they are the same guy accept Harper can make a decision.

Just wait until u are paying double EI premiums in 2010 or 2011.

[punked]

Just wait until u are paying double EI premiums in 2010 or 2011.

Someone has to fill the fund up after the Liberals robbed it. I mean honestly when you steal from Peter to pay Paul no one is really paid which sucks. I don't actually blame them for this one it is clearly the Liberals fault for emptying the fund in the first place, they should have never done that and seen this coming.

Edited September 15, 2009 by punked

[jdobbin]

Well. One more issue that the Liberals need to withdraw from their attack bag against the Conservatives. BTW, is this not a reversal of position for the federal Liberals?

The Liberals are the ones who started harmonization in first place.

It is Tories who seemed to be against it in the past.

[Smallc]

The Liberals are the ones who started harmonization in first place.

Exactly. When JC said that he was going to get rid of the GST, creating the HST is exactly what he was thinking about.

[Topaz]

ALL governments need money so no matter whose in, they will raise taxes. I think its worse to cut taxes when the country can't afford it and then we have to pay MORE in INTEREST because of the high debt. The Quebec Libs may have taken 40 MIL but the Tories has us in debt 56Billion!!

[Keepitsimple]

Exactly. When JC said that he was going to get rid of the GST, creating the HST is exactly what he was thinking about.

So what's the big deal...and why is Mr. Ignatieff waffling back and forth?

[capricorn]

So what's the big deal...and why is Mr. Ignatieff waffling back and forth?

Speaking with both the premier’s office and Michael Ignatieff’s office it appears that Team Ignatieff did offer verbal assurance to the Premier that they would not pull out the $4 billion in transition funding but now, for reasons of possible electoral gain in Ontario and B.C. where the HST is also being implemented, the Liberals are being wishy-washy on this.

Dalton may be surprised to hear this but I believe “my premier” as John Baird would say it.

Back in March John McCallum stood in the same House of Commons Foyer and told reporters that the HST is “absolutely what the doctor ordered for the economy.” He went on the say that bringing in the HST would help create the “jobs of tomorrow” the very thing Ignatieff says Canada needs to create and that a Liberal government will focus on.

As for Ignatieff's personal position on the HST, the premier's office sends along this clipping from the Globe and Mail as evidence "Federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said yesterday he also supports tax harmonization, but said the Harper government should not have cut a deal with just Ontario." Interesting, interesting indeed.

http://www.examiner.com/x-22884-Canada-Pol...e-HST-an-update

Obviously, the Liberals hope to attract Ontario votes from those displeased with the application of the HST on items previously exempt.

[Keepitsimple]

http://www.examiner.com/x-22884-Canada-Pol...e-HST-an-update

Obviously, the Liberals hope to attract Ontario votes from those displeased with the application of the HST on items previously exempt.

Wow....doesn't that all make for a confusing position. So....is Mr. Ignatieff actually for it....or against it? I guess we'll have to wait until he eloquently explains his nuanced position (as Bob Rae would say).

[Smallc]

So what's the big deal...and why is Mr. Ignatieff waffling back and forth?

Don't ask me, I'm not him. I have mixed feelings about it myself, but I know that politicians are expected to jump to conclusions and stick to them as if it's their faith.

[Shakeyhands]

So what's the big deal...and why is Mr. Ignatieff waffling back and forth?

Seperatists and le bloc anglais? who is waffeling? who is flip flopping for their own survival?

[msj]

2% here, 2% there....in ontario this is the single biggest blow to renters since the end of rent controls.

Huh?

Renters don't pay GST/HST on residential rent.

I suppose it is a blow to renters who are going to buy new residential property after July 1, 2010 - then they will be paying the HST on the purchase of the new home.

Of course, used residential homes will be GST/HST exempt.

[Chuck U. Farlie]

Huh?

Renters don't pay GST/HST on residential rent.

I suppose it is a blow to renters who are going to buy new residential property after July 1, 2010 - then they will be paying the HST on the purchase of the new home.

Of course, used residential homes will be GST/HST exempt.

I own a condo in Ontario. My maintenance fees are not directly taxed, however, many of the services that previously were not charged PST (like snow removal, lawyer fees, heating fuel, etc) will be. These costs, no doubt will be passed on to me as higher maintenance fees. I am expecting an increase of 7% to 8% next year.

In the same way, if the owner of a rental unit has higher costs for services, who do you think is going to end up paying for it?

[madmax]

Flaherty Clams Upon on HST FLIP FLOP FLIP OVER... don't blame me say Flaherty.

http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/696388

Jim Flaherty clams up on new harmonized sales tax

RICK EGLINTON/TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO (left), CHRIS WATTIE/REUTERS FILE PHOTO

PRAISE IN MARCH: "This is jobs. This is investment. This is good economic policy, which we've been encouraging the non-harmonized provinces to do since 2006." DISTANCING YESTERDAY: "Whether or not to harmonize is a decision for that provincial government to take. It is not a decision made by the federal government."

Sep 16, 2009 04:30 AM

Bruce Campion-Smith

in Ottawa

Robert Benzie

in Toronto

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and fellow Conservatives are distancing themselves from the harmonized sales tax as public angst grows over the price hikes it will mean on everything from fast food to funerals.

Proving death and taxes is inevitable

[jdobbin]

Wow....doesn't that all make for a confusing position.

How about Flaherty's confusing position?

[msj]

I own a condo in Ontario. My maintenance fees are not directly taxed, however, many of the services that previously were not charged PST (like snow removal, lawyer fees, heating fuel, etc) will be. These costs, no doubt will be passed on to me as higher maintenance fees. I am expecting an increase of 7% to 8% next year.

In the same way, if the owner of a rental unit has higher costs for services, who do you think is going to end up paying for it?

Sure, strata fees will get hit.

Those renting homes/apartments, however, are not likely to see much change.

How many landlords go to Home Depot to buy this or that and pay GST and PST on it anyway? Most do.

It appeared implied in M. Dancer's post that residential rent is GST/HST taxable and it is not.

The direct effect on the implied "poor" who rent is negligible.

Especially when one considers the HST tax rebate the "poor" will receive as an offset.

[Topaz]

So we all here don't like flip-floppers? I'm disappointed in Iggy and would like to hear what he has to say but I think all you Tory supporters better start saving because in the House today it was reported that the payroll taxes the Tories are bringing in are of 19 BILLION!! I'm sure a lot of baby boomers will find a way to retire and then the generation of this government can take the hit of paying the increase. In a couple years when the recession is over, you'll see these same politicans vote themselves an increase in pay to cover the increase in taxes, too bad we all could do it as fast as they do. I really got it handed to all the Tories on here, that you don't mind paying increases taxes if Harper says you need to.

[M.Dancer]

It appeared implied in M. Dancer's post that residential rent is GST/HST taxable and it is not.

No it is not the rent that is taxed, but the costs of maintaining the building, services that will now have the extra PST added on and those will be passed on to renters. So if the landlord accrues an extra 3% in costs, and the legal rise is 3% ...you will see a 6% jump in your rent.

[Chuck U. Farlie]

How about Flaherty's confusing position?

I don't find Flaherty's position confusing.

It seems to me that he is offering a carrot to two Liberal provincial governments knowing full well that the voting public will blame the Liberal governments who took the carrot, not the Federal Government which offered it. Doing so will only serve to help his provincial conservative counterparts come next election, like his wife, for example.

msj... yeah, I am not sure how the typical renter will get hit (other than heating costs) unless they are renting within a condo type building which would also have maintenance fees (directly or indirectly).

I know the biggest hit I will take will likely be my maintenance fees which will likely increase by $30 a month. Next will be the extra 8% on gasoline, which at current prices would cost me another $16 a month or so. Finally, the added 5% GST on currently exempted privately owned used cars will effect me somewhere down the road... unless I buy a decent car before that change happens. Is automobile insurance HST taxable? If so, that will be another hit. Overall, the rebate and reduction in provincial income taxes should cover my increased costs for the first year, after that it will be an expenditure.

My biggest personal concern is how much value my condo might lose when/if a significant increase in maintenance fees happens - in which case I might just try to sell beforehand.

Edited September 16, 2009 by Chuck U. Farlie

[Topaz]

Don't forget, you be taxed through the harmonizing and then you'll be taxed from the Feds who have given the provinces money to do this, and another tax from the deficit, because Canada is in the red and then interest.