*POOF* There goes the HST.

[Acco]

it wasn't snuck in, everyone knew it was coming and tried their darndest to prevent it (something like an 80% opposition rate if I recall) it was forced upon us.

By snuck, I meant that the liberals said one thing for the longest time, then poof, complete reversal to hst. You can't deny that. Then 1 year in the making for the HST change to take effect. Is this what you're referring to about it not being snuck in?

[Keever]

I just moved here from Ontario (*NORTHERN* Ontario -- nowhere near either Ottawa or Toronto), where we got the HST dumped on us the same day you did here in BC.  The government promised us we wouldn't see any change in prices, except for food and our utilities ('cause paying an extra 8% on the heating bill in Ontario isn't an inconvenience at all).

What we saw in actuality, was the price of almost everything go up between 5 and 13% overnight.  And I do mean everything.  Gasoline hit me hardest, which is funny, 'cause it already had PST and GST added in, but it went up 14c/L.  I need a cheaper vehicle.  lol

So the government out here said they wouldn't, then did.  And the government in Ontario essentially said it wouldn't affect anyone except those who can barely afford their bills (see map of Northern Ontario... I'm sure it's similar out here).

At least in BC, you have the option to hold a referendum... in Ontario, once something's a law, the public has no voice against it (which we only found out when we tried to oppose the HST).

Personally, I wasn't happy with the price gouging that seemed to go along with it, and I was far more opposed to the govt saying "No, f*ck you, we don't have to listen to you" than with paying a bit more for stuff.

And imho (ok... imo), as for the government trying to guilt everyone here about the $1.6B?  If they'd listened to the public before making it a law, they wouldn't owe the money now... so... yeah.

There... that's my 2.24 cents' worth.

[Katsuke]

So umm..when's the HST gonna be removed..?
I thought it was kinda coincidental then I arrive in Vancouver and a few days later, it was announced that HST got scrapped but I still see it when I buy fewds. :(

[Choco]

yup it appears to be going to soon be replaced by some other dumb un-needed tax

like the soft drink tax that was just introduced which I disagree with I don't think taxing soft drinks will stop people from buying them

[Sevrin]

soft drinks cost 50 cents per litre so...

[Katsuke]

Deal with it for another 18 more months sadly. From what I heard that is :/

Wow. :I
My studies would be over by then and I would have graduated and will most probably be back home in Malaysia. xD
Bah.

[Haemish]

I'll just leave this here.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/09/08/bc-hst-budget-cuts.html