BC’s government is cutting the HST by two percentage points over the next three years as well as providing rebates to seniors and families with children under 18. The cheques will be $175 for each child and are designed to offset the estimated $350 a year the HST is costing families.
Additionally, the government has said it will increase taxes by two per cent for corporations and hold off on a planned tax cut for small businesses, to compensate for the lost revenue.
But there’s a catch. The government will implement the changes only if the public votes to keep the HST in a referendum this summer.
The government has been widely criticized for trying to buy votes, promising people their own money back. The proposed fix has only served to inflame opposition yet again.
Voters will decide this summer whether the tax should be kept or scrapped. Ballots go out this month and must be returned in July. There will be an increasing amount of information available to help voters make an informed decision.
