MLA Foster Says People Will Be Pleased With HST

Written by Peter McIntyre Tuesday, 30 March 2010 15:18107.5 KISSFM

The MLA for Vernon Monashee has made up his mind how he'll be voting on the HST. The legislation for the new 12 percent blended tax was tabled in Victoria today and Liberal Eric Foster says he's 100 percent in support. The rookie MLA from Lumby calls it the single biggest thing the government can do to boost BC economy. "We've been told that by business, by the economists, small business, large business. People are behind this and it's a good thing to do. It will work out well, and at the end of the day, people are going to be pleased with it."

N-D-P leader Carole James has vowed to fight the tax every step of the way, hinting her party may try to filibuster the bill. Former premier Bill Vander Zalm is also heading a group collecting names on a petition to try and block it. James blasted the government today in Victoria for dropping a provincial tax tax exemption on energy-saving appliances and subjecting those goods to the higher H-S-T. Finance Minister Colin Hansen says low income people will get rebates on the H-S-T, and the legislation also includes a seven per cent rebate on motor fuels, books, children's clothing and footwear, car seats and diapers. The HST will blend the five per cent GST with the seven per cent provincial levy, creating a single 12-per-cent tax that will apply to a much wider array of goods and services. The new tax would take effect July 1.