Northern Paul
1 post
Jul 02, 2010
6:12 AM
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I can understand taxing luxury activities such as golf fees, but taxing helmuts and energy efficient windows.
Does anyone know if the Chamber of Commerce supported this like the BC Chamber of Commerce supports this?
KJ: They did.
Last Edited on 2-Jul-2010 7:14 AM
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SA
52 posts
Jul 02, 2010
7:19 AM
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As for the carbon tax, the Sightline Institute, a Seattle non-profit research group, found a 10 per cent increase in per capita gasoline sales in the province in 2009, the single largest increase in B.C. in at least 30 years.
This $0.01 increase on fuel will not be the last. The plan is to increase carbon tax to more than six cents on a litre of gasoline in July 2011 and to more than seven cents a litre in July 2012.
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Kim Eglinski
47 posts
Jul 02, 2010
9:42 AM
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There are at least 30 business and industry associations that support the HST including the BC Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Taxpayers Association, and the Retail Council of Canada.
I do not support HST, and am 1 of over 700,000 people who signed the petition. I am however willing to keep a bit of an open mind over the next few months and see how it all plays out once I have had the opportunity to remit a few times.
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SA
53 posts
Jul 02, 2010
10:28 AM
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I think it will be interesting to watch and see how the HST plays out.
Prices will increase for consumers to the tune of $253 more to families in the $40,000 to $50,000 income bracket and $1,128 for families in the $80,000 to $90,000 income bracket annually, while big business will have a tax cut. The government projects manufactors and big business will begin to pass their savings onto the consumer within a years time.
HST also allows for big breaks for foreign corporations. Which means you and I will each be paying hundreds to thousands of dollars in extra HST costs -- for a total of $1.9 billion every year -- simply to subsidize Alcan selling aluminum to China. In my opinion, Canada already has sold it's soul to other countries and again we are making it more easy for Non Canadian companies to make a profit with Canadian resources.
This coming year will be an eventful one to watch as the impact of HST unfolds.
Last Edited on 2-Jul-2010 10:31 AM
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Kim Eglinski
48 posts
Jul 02, 2010
10:41 AM
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I totally agree with you SA. I think big business will certainly benefit but the little guys might be the ones paying the price, as well as the consumers. I would not be surprised if BC sees many small business' fold.
This is one time that I hope that I am wrong.
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Northern Paul
2 posts
Jul 02, 2010
12:47 PM
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So, did our local chamber of commerce support this judicial review and the HST?
Kim, do you know if the Council sent any letters of support of opposition for this?
As for the cost only being $254 per family, I am not sure where this got this from. We got a call from a renovation company saying that if we paid before July 1, 2010, then we would save $75. If a couple ate out once per week @ 30/week (a pizza for example), that's about another $80.
Does anyone know if there is going to be a recall effort for the North Peace?
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Kim Eglinski
49 posts
Jul 02, 2010
1:02 PM
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Not to my recollection
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Kim Eglinski
50 posts
Jul 02, 2010
1:10 PM
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Further to the above post when I called CRA I was told that it did not matter when I paid for product, the HST was applicable based on the date in which goods or services were received. Basically if I paid in advance in "May" for product that I would not receive until "August" I would have to "self assess" and remit the HST because the date I took possession of the goods was after July 1, 2010.
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SA
54 posts
Jul 02, 2010
1:12 PM
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Northern Paul, I read the cost average in an article on the Tyee website. Here is the link
http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/BCPolitics/2010/06/22/HSTStatsCanada/
Another website also uses the above mentioned stat as well as "The average B.C. household could take a hit of $521 to its bottom line next year as a result of the harmonized sales tax, according to a model prepared for the Victoria Times Colonist by Statistics Canada"
You can read the full article on http://www.canada.com/news/households+hard+analysis+shows/3183378/story.html
How it impacts a family depends on how much the family purchases that is on the HST list. For example, soy milk drinkers will be charged HST but dairy milk drinkers will not and if a family seldom eats out they will be affected little by the HST on restraunt meals.
This is why I think it will be an interesting year watching the real affect the HST is having not just the projected affect from both the supporters and the non supporters.
I too Kim hope small businesses do not have to close due to HST.
Last Edited on 2-Jul-2010 1:14 PM
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icetitanV1.2
2953 posts
Jul 02, 2010
2:31 PM
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I'm going with Leona Helmsley on this new tax.
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Northern Paul
3 posts
Jul 02, 2010
3:46 PM
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So.... does anyone know about whether our local Chamber of Commerce supported or opposed the HST either in its entirety or partially? First aid kits are also being taxed which sucks for us local guys cause the Albertas can bring their first aid trucks in and get work, but we get nailed with yet another tax.
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Kim Eglinski
51 posts
Jul 02, 2010
4:04 PM
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Sorry Paul, I am still trying to get confirmation one way or the other regarding this. Will post shortly
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SA
56 posts
Jul 03, 2010
7:30 AM
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Northern Paul, I would suggest you write a letter/email to Patt Pimm, our MLA, expressing your concerns about the HST on First Aid kits.
I have been emailing him monthly regarding the HST. More letters from different people may help.
Here is his contact information
Constituency Office
10104, 100th St.
Fort St. John, BC V1J 3Y7
Phone: 250-263-0101
Fax: 250-263-0104
Toll Free: 1-877-332-0101
Email: pat.pimm.mla@leg.bc.ca
Yesterday, I did contact the local Chamber of Commerce to try to find an answer to your question did they support or opposed the HST either in its entirety or partially, and hung up with no answer. Hopefully Kim will have better luck.
Last Edited on 3-Jul-2010 7:31 AM
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SA
57 posts
Jul 03, 2010
7:32 AM
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On the first post, Ken did comment that the Chamber did support the HST. The answer has been here the whole time.
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Northern Paul
4 posts
Jul 03, 2010
7:47 AM
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SA: my question is not for Patt Pimm. My question is whether the local Chamber of Commerce has supported or not supported this HST partially or in its entirety.
Thank you to Kim for commenting on whether our Council has supported it.
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SA
58 posts
Jul 03, 2010
8:20 AM
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I understand your question and even tried to find you an answer. I was giving you an avenue to bring your concerns to someone who is suspose to be the voice of the people in this area.
Your point on how HST will affect people with businesses and compete with Alberta already, is a good one. As I concurred with Kim, it would be horrible to have businesses shut down because they cannot compete.
If you don't want to write a letter, then you don't write a letter. It was just an idea.
Ken did give you the answer ... Does anyone know if the Chamber of Commerce supported this like the BC Chamber of Commerce supports this?
KJ: They did.
Last Edited on 2-Jul-2010 7:14 AM
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Northern Paul
5 posts
Jul 03, 2010
8:30 AM
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I won't argue with you SA. I am keeping my question focused locally.
As for the local chamber of commerce supporting this - this will drive the nail in the coffin further for those who can go to AB and make purchases. short sighted. what province is doing well that already has the HST - NONE!
Along the same lines, however, did our local real estate folks support this as well as their commissions will now have an additional 5% tax?
A $250,000 sale, for example would see an additional tax of $875 on a commission of $17,500.
No wonder we are seeing an increase of private sales in Ft. Nelson....
I am just curious to see who is willing to publicly state that they supported this. So far, Kim is the only one who has the guts to post on here and state her view.
Last Edited on 3-Jul-2010 8:33 AM
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SA
59 posts
Jul 03, 2010
8:35 AM
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And I had no intention of arguing with you Northern Paul. I believe we share the same concerns. I didn't realize I had offended you.
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Northern Paul
6 posts
Jul 03, 2010
8:41 AM
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Meh - no harm, no foul. I was impressed that you tried to contact our Chamber and not impressed that they have nothing on their website about this other than propaganda about how it will benefit.
We've got some good salt of the earth folks here and a lot who are small business owners. I been doing some calc on previous spending from last year and while we aren't rich by any means, we are gonna be paying more than $250 more in extra taxes.
It just burns me that safety stuff and environmental stuff is being taxed. We got cops and doctors telling us to put helmets on our kids and then we got politicians taxing them. We have all this #@$#@ about saving the environment yet we gotta pay extra taxes for windows and renos? It's not like folks here are doing renos for renos sake. most are trying to plug those holes before the next winter wind. Anyways, that is my rant. Thanks for listenin.
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Tire Tracks
29 posts
Jul 03, 2010
4:28 PM
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Alberta Bound.....Alberta bound....oh its good to be Alberta Bound.
Just wondering if anyone realizes that there is a rumour that the SYD will not be paved this year.
Tax the hell out of everyone and pull the funding all at once.
And if anyone thinks that Businesses will pass on savings in a year or so, your sadly mistaken.
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trapper
196 posts
Jul 03, 2010
4:37 PM
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Can anyone answer this question? We pay a $5.00 enviromental tax for each battery or tire. Is there anywhere in B.C. that recycles batteries or tires? Or does the govmt just put that money in their pocket?
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Trapper
Last Edited on 3-Jul-2010 4:38 PM
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Northern Paul
13 posts
Jul 04, 2010
7:41 AM
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maybe they should EXTRA tax the $#$#@ out of the ATV
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Kim Eglinski
52 posts
Jul 05, 2010
12:49 PM
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Northern Paul - still don't have a definitive answer for you as yet. Here lies the problem, the BC Chamber has been advocating for HST for 8 years. The Board of Directors and the Executive have of course changed (more than once), in that time. I have spoken with a former Executive Director, and a past president, as well I have tried to jog my own memory (I have been involved in the Chamber for a number of years). Between the 3 of us, we don't recall taking a position one way or the other, but because of the time span that we are dealing with I am still trying to confirm this information.
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icetitanV1.2
2967 posts
Jul 05, 2010
1:08 PM
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So if the hst was never decided on the provincial level and the finance minister just signed it in then would that break a few laws? Taxation without Representation being the biggest one?
I think thats the crux of old Vanderscams new lawsuit that he filed earlier today.
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Kim Eglinski
53 posts
Jul 05, 2010
2:56 PM
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Supreme Court of Canada will have to answer that one.
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Kona
9 posts
Jul 05, 2010
10:32 PM
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Good Day Northern Paul,
With respect to your question as to whether or not the Fort Nelson Chamber of Commerce supported the advent of the HST> I know that it was supported at the provincial level by the BC Chambers as a whole but locally I will ask the Exec Director to review the minutes of the last years meetings to see if it ever came to the board and then to the general membership.
Procedure would dictate that any support given to an issue would first have to be passed at the board level then would have to be sent to the general membership for ratification.
As such there would be a record of the 2 votes taken. If not then the only question would be as to whether local reps voted in favour at the provincial AGM. Unfortunetly this vote specifically would not be recorded unless it was the Fort Nelson Rep who made the motion which is unlikely given the issue.
As a sitting member of the current board I will make this inquiry for you and return back here with an answer as soon as possible.
Secondly, with respect to "Alberta" first aid company's coming into the local market: just a couple of points. In one such case a company that has opened operations in FN has registered with the provincial tax department and is subject to the taxation laws as any BC legally operating company would be. Thereby they are subject to the HST.
Company's that have not registered are being checked out by Energy Services BC and are reported to the provincial tax authority accordingly by agreement. \such compny's are then subject to tax based on revenue as well as fines and / or penalties.
A legit company that is playing by the rules should have no isue in providing you with thier taxation "PST" number to verify that they are in accordance with the law.
My only caution would be not to assume that because a vehicle may have an Alberta plate does not automatically constitute an Alberta Invasion.
In fact due to Federal Transport Regs it is often required that the vehicles are plated with thier head office as the home terminal due to National Safety Code requirements.
In the meantime permits are purchased to allow the vehicle to operate in BC such as Fuel Tax Permits etc.
As someone involved with such a company, I can say that outside of the plate, we are very happy to be in Fort Nelson and have worked hard to be involved in the community in various forms whether through charitable donations and the provision of services at no cast to worthwhile not for profit efforts.
It is our desire to be a member of the community to make it better all the way around.
My child goes to school with your child and we ave the same desires for the quality of life as anyone would reasonably expect.
Hope this helps....take care.
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Northern Paul
18 posts
Jul 06, 2010
5:20 AM
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Hey Kona,
Appreciate you following up. I wanna know what businesses here voted for that tax. Yesterday, I had to pay an EXTRA $7.82 in HST on stuff I didn't have to before. (refrains from continuing rant of previous post....)
Vehicles do not have to be plated with their home terminal due to NSC.
First Aid companies that are Alberta plated LIKELY outfitted their trucks out of province. As a business owner, it would only make sense to purchase something cheaper. They also likely did this even before they decided to come to BC. I get the point about PST, but that is after the fact.
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Northern Paul
71 posts
Aug 03, 2010
6:48 PM
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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/08/03/bc-hst-hurting-restaurants.html
so, how are ya'all doing with the HST? We have boycotted eating out. When the cost of the tax is more than what I can get the steak for at o/w it just ain't work it.
Councillor Kim, how goes your research about our Chamber supporting this thing?
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boogaloo
123 posts
Aug 03, 2010
8:01 PM
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The HST has been a challange for some businesses, such as myself, others not so much... Since the new chamber board has come on board nothing has been brought up about the HST.. so maybe in the past minutes there may be something. But I will bring it up at the next board meeting. But I would like to see some more feedback from consumers and business owners on here.. about HST and other issues that you have for the local chamber... As for the website they are trying to get it updated as soon as possible.
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Northern Paul
72 posts
Aug 03, 2010
8:28 PM
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hey - are landlords renting to corporations or directly to businesses suppose to charge HST?
if and when we sell our house, we are going private. there is now HST on realtor commissions adding an extra $875 for a house sale of $250,000. Did our local realtors support this?
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SuperW
36 posts
Aug 03, 2010
8:36 PM
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I went to Alberta last month. Shopped my face off. Going again this week - Christmas gifts, school clothes, birthday gifts for the next 6 months...anything I will likely need in the next few months...all at 5% tax. Woo hoo!!
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icetitanV1.2
3121 posts
Aug 03, 2010
8:45 PM
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After this HST thing, Alberta is now officially Canada's Mexico. Also like I was saying if the hst was never decided on the provincial level doesnt that break a law or two? Pretty sure it does.
Kind of like making a zero alcohol tolerance policy for new drivers under 21. Completely illegal under Canadian law as its discriminating purely on age alone.
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icetitanV1.2
3122 posts
Aug 03, 2010
8:47 PM
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Not saying its not a good idea but discrimination is just that. If you're 22 and you get your license you can have a beer and drive. 21 not so much.
Im just thinking about future laws that could be passed that limit our freedoms more. The less government can interfere with our private lives the better we are off for it.
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Kim Eglinski
64 posts
Aug 04, 2010
11:32 AM
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Landlords are suppose to charging HST. My rent went up almost $150.00 per month, almost another $1750.00 per year. Naturally I am thrilled.
As for the Chamber - I have looked back - there is nothing to suggest that our local Chamber supported the HST. The Chamber does not meet during the summer but you can rest assured it will be brought up at the next meeting.
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daddy81
13 posts
Aug 04, 2010
2:23 PM
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someone in ontario is challening the new 21 age law in ontario based on the constitution.
SYD will not be paved as apparently the company cant get the job done for it's original bid.
anyone heard of the world freeman society dot org?
call it what you want but they have alot of decent ideas like...
96 is your fix (youtube video)
which relates to a code on your birth certificate that corresponds to an account for the country. All your bills can be payed that have a 96 at the bottom right corner. hydro, phone, etc...
story has it that the country can be loaned money based on the number of citizens (birth certificates) it has. Apparently the magical number is close to 400,000 a year.
I haven't tried it yet but others are having success in the country. Someone in BC apparently had their telus bill payed off... just follow the youtube story's.
Last Edited on 4-Aug-2010 2:26 PM
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trapper
201 posts
Aug 04, 2010
5:17 PM
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Thanks kim eglinski, I look forward to your report.
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Trapper
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Northern Paul
73 posts
Aug 04, 2010
6:36 PM
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Apathy is just as bad or actually it is worse than "not supporting" the HST. Did our local chamber of commerce send a protest letter? Have they since sent one?
I have committed to buying all of my supplies and equipment in Alberta. We get this buy local crap speil all the time and then the local businesses let us down by not giving a crap about the HST.
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icetitanV1.2
3132 posts
Aug 04, 2010
7:38 PM
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It was done at the federal level. There was nothing local businesses or private citizens could do about it. This is the crux of the lawsuit being dealt with in courts now. We were handed "taxation without representation".
I dont understand what you want out of this? For the chamber and every local business owner to say "yes we opposed this and here are the documents to prove it?"
That would make you buy local? A large number of people opposed it but since we got screwed, we had to do the signature in every riding instead of having the people of BC vote on it properly.
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icetitanV1.2
3133 posts
Aug 04, 2010
7:52 PM
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This is a good place to start about learning how to oppose the HST properly and not asking the Fort Nelson government why they didnt oppose a tax that they were incapable of opposing in the first place.
http://www.commonground.ca/iss/224/cg224_StopHST.shtml
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Northern Paul
74 posts
Aug 04, 2010
8:03 PM
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local government is the foundation of our society - it's called grassroots. Dismissing the power of our local government is akin to dismissing the foundations of democracy.
Ice - your attack on my post is so old - I have every right AND a responsibility to hold my local government accountable. But you err - I am holding the business owners accountable for their lack of action. I'm taking my bucks and walking. If they can't stand up for their own customers than their own customers have no obligation to be loyal to our local businesses.
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icetitanV1.2
3134 posts
Aug 04, 2010
8:10 PM
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I can see your point, IF the local government had let you down or dropped the ball or by action or omission of action had let this tax pass.
We in this province had NO say in this tax coming to pass. How can you hold the local council responsible for not opposing something no one could have done?
It would be like trying to sue the ocean for making the glacier that sunk the Titanic. The ocean had no say. It was decided by the weather.
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icetitanV1.2
3135 posts
Aug 04, 2010
8:12 PM
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If our council stood up and made a stink about it the all it would be is a hollow gesture. I didnt think you were the kind of guy placated by that kind of posturing?
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Northern Paul
75 posts
Aug 04, 2010
9:34 PM
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change is made possible by those who stand up and say "nothing". your ocean analogy is rather a sad and pathetic attempt at philosophy - stick to what you do best - cheap humour and shallow thought.
Last Edited on 5-Aug-2010 1:52 AM
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boogaloo
124 posts
Aug 05, 2010
4:21 AM
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never argue with an idiot.. they drag you down to thier level and beat you up with experience..
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Northern Paul
76 posts
Aug 05, 2010
4:55 AM
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LOL Booglaoo - I'm pretty sure you're calling me an idiot, but funny! Still funny! Later all.
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Kim Eglinski
65 posts
Aug 05, 2010
10:16 AM
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Northern Paul - I will start off with saying I am not speaking as a Council Member, nor am I speaking as a member of the Chamber of Commerce. I am speaking right now as a local business owner, who did everything I possibly could to voice my opposition to the HST.
I sent a scathing emails, to several organizations that I was a member of who were in support of the HST (2 of which I no longer hold memberships). I had a 2 hour personal discussion with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business last summer in which I was very vocal in regards to my opposition. I also filled out survey after survey regarding the HST from different organizations. I spoke to CRA on several occassions, and on top of all of that I also signed the petition. My goodness - I spoke to anyone that would listen to me. Reiterating over and over again my strong opposition to the HST, specifically towards smaller independent business' like myself.
Perhaps I should not have taken your comments personally, but I did. Please, don't think for 1 minute that I sat around and did nothing because nothing could be further from the truth.
As a local business owner what more would you have liked me to have done?
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Kim Eglinski
66 posts
Aug 05, 2010
10:26 AM
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I seem to be on role. Another personal statement. It is my opinion that the HST was a done deal as soon as it was orginally announced.
Did not matter how much I ranted and raved, did not matter about cancelled memberships, and it did not matter that I signed the petition.
Ice is right (never thought I would admit that). This is the reason it is now before the courts, where I think it should be, and I for one can hardly wait for the decision.
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daddy81
14 posts
Aug 05, 2010
2:19 PM
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kim you are very right about the done deal on the HST. I'm a frequent fox (99.3fm) listener from the lower mainland when I was living down there and a few times we had mr. campbell on the air doign some interviews for the morning show. I wont be quoted but the statement when something like this...
The HST is comming in regardless of anyone elses opinion on the matter or petitions being signed.
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icetitanV1.2
3137 posts
Aug 05, 2010
5:22 PM
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If I was still a mod Id ban your ass to the stone ages lehua.
EDIT
Didnt take long for Ken to pull the trigger on that one.
Last Edited on 5-Aug-2010 5:35 PM
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K Johnson
Moderator
1810 posts
Aug 05, 2010
5:37 PM
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It's extremely rare but about once a year, a spammer gets through. The Mike notified me via text.
The post and poster have been permanently deleted.
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