The General Manager of the Vernon Chamber of Commerce says it was a democratic process, but the Harmonized Sales Tax results are in and it was very close across the province. However, the end result is that people have voted against the tax. George Duffy says the business community will want to have a say in how the next phase happens and that it gives the province an opportunity to look at the whole tax structure. While stating the HST had ``unequal benefits,'' Duffy insists BC should not go back to the old PST-GST tax structure. ``To put a positive look on it, it's an opportunity to give input into restructuring the whole consumption tax, so that it is fair,'' he says.Restaurant owners have been complaining about the HST since its inception. KT Restaurant owner Klaus Tribes is happy to see an end to it. ``It added a 7 percent tax to restaurant meals which immediately affected sales,'' says Tribes. He believes that if the added tax disappears from restaurant bills there will be an upturn in his sector. ``Absolutely,'' emphasizes Tribes. Downtown Vernon Association President Ruth Hoyte says businesses will be waiting to see how the province will balance its budget. ``it's going to cost about three-billion dollars to revert back (to the PST-GST) and we're looking to see how the budget is going to be handled to lessen the impact on the business affected,'' says Hoyte. She also has some concern for the film industry which has benefitted from the HST. ``I'll be looking to see if they remain in BC or if they choose to move out of province where there is a favorable tax regime for their industry.''
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