As they were in the BC Liberal party’s leadership race, business issues will be key in a successful run for leadership of the BC New Democratic Party. NDP members are scheduled to cast their votes in the party’s leadership race on April 17. In this final instalment of Business in Vancouver’s NDP leadership series, the newspaper surveys the five candidates on the harmonized sales tax (HST). In the first instalment (issue 1117; March 22-28), they outlined plans for health care, balancing budgets and government spending. In instalment 2 (issue 1118; March 29-April 4), they discussed their vision for the province, policies that distinguish them from the current government and infrastructure spending. Instalment 3 (issue 1119; April 5-11) included their plans for attracting investment to B.C., instituting a statutory vacation in February and controlling red tape.
I collected signatures for the HST referendum because I oppose the significant shift in tax burden onto individuals that the HST represents. I also believe that the way the BC Liberals introduced the HST, with no consultation, was completely inappropriate.
The people of British Columbia have earned their right to have a say on the HST by referendum, and the sooner that referendum takes place, the better. We will be bound by the results of that vote, and if the HST is defeated, we will begin immediate negotiations with the federal government to return to a provincial sales tax.
I am opposed to the HST. I would establish a Fair Tax Commission responsible for examining and reporting on the total impact of the HST and the range of other government-imposed costs on citizens and businesses. We need an open and honest conversation about where government gets its revenue. Revenue sources must put fairness up front.
The commission would produce a comprehensive report on how government raises the revenue it needs to pay for vital public services. The commission will report out with recommendations on suggested changes to all government revenue sources: sales taxes, services taxes, resources rents and royalties and income taxes.
The BC Liberals introduced the HST in order to transfer taxation from big corporations to small business and individuals: a regressive and unfair policy. That being said, this issue is now up to the people of British Columbia to decide, and, as premier, I would respect the result of that referendum. Further, I would roll back all of the BC Liberals’ corporate tax cuts since 2001 and use the resulting revenue to ensure that, whatever the people decide on the HST, it does not put our province’s financial stability at risk.
Yes, and I have stated that I support a return to the PST.