The HST is nothing more than a massive tax transfer from corporations to consumers. The incompetence of our Liberal government in implementing the HST is now behind us, however they are now putting forth a so-called HST “fix.”

They propose to lower the HST from 12 per cent to 10 per cent within three years. Why? B.C. taxpayers are not complaining about the 12 per cent figure, they are complaining about the seven per cent levy on a multitude of goods and services that were previously exempt from the PST. By lowering the tax rate to 10 per cent, the government will have deprived itself of about $1.7 billion in tax revenue by 2014.

In their second proposal, the government plans to send out enticement cheques of $175 to all children under 18 and to low-income seniors. Since it’s our own tax money they are so generously giving away, why not send a $175 cheque to all citizens of B.C., not just select groups?

Leave the HST at 12 per cent. Scrap the $175 cheques. Keep the HST with the proviso to reopen, amend or eliminate the added seven per cent tax on some goods and services that are basic living expenses and cause hardships to B.C. families.

Martin L. Battle

Victoria