burden Shifted From Rich To Poor

[maplesyrup]

We Paid Record Sales Taxes This Year

Despite finance minister Gary Collins' recent announcement  of an immediate half-percent cut to the retail sales tax, that tax will generate this year more than $4 billion for the provincial treasury - the highest ever.

Having delivered income tax cuts to wealthier British Columbians, the B.C. Liberals have come to depend heavily on "regressive" taxes. Much more heavily, in fact, that the previous government.

The government's first quarterly report for fiscal 2004-05, released in mid-September, showed sales tax receipts topping $4.2 billion, a $55 million increase over the original budget estimate in February, and up $879 million over the past five years. Collins' half-point reduction will cost the government slightly more than $100 million over the remainder of the fiscal period.

Income tax plummeted

Officially called the "Social Service Tax," the sales tax in recent years has become an increasingly important source of government revenue. While B.C.'s total haul from all tax sources over the past five years has grown by a mere 6.9 percent, and personal income tax revenue plummeted by a surprising 12.7 percent, sales tax receipts have soared by a whopping 26.4 percent. (The calculations are based on the first quarterly report.)

They must think they are cute, these governments with their tax strategists, thier accountants and lawyers.

Fortunately people are waking off to this massive rip-off.

I hope the voters in Surrey Panorama Ridge are listening now and that everyone in the province is listening on May 17, 2005, for the next general election.

[maplesyrup]

Guess which province introduced provincial sales taxes?

The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind.

[Big Blue Machine]

Don't all except Alberta have a PST?

[Cartman]

Don't all except Alberta have a PST?

Thank goodness the PC party here realizes that this is a regressive tax. Campbell should listen up.