Weekly News Review - August 27th edition

In Quesnel:

* Country singer George Canyon supports a Multi-Centre in Quesnel - see here
* Local resident questions need for late payment on $100 mininum payment on property taxes - see here
* QCEDC reports on upcoming Job Fair on Thursday, September 8th and Friday, September 9th - see here.  Also they report that QCEDC can assist with grant writing - see here

In Williams Lake:

* Non-Profit Groups appear before Skip Trippett Commission about Community Gaming Grants - see here
* Controlled fire burns on Fox Mountain - see here
* Human remains found on outskirts of Williams Lake - see here
* Federal Environmental Assessment agency accepts 'revised' Prosperity Mine proposal - see here
* TNG Tribal Chair Joe Alphonse (Chilcotin National Gov't) says 'no proposal for a mine near Fish Lake, no matter what, is acceptable to us' - see here
* Tribune columnist Dean Fulton on BC Teachers tactics on their desire for a new collective agreement - see here
* Karen Roberts/Nancy Giesbricht thanks everyone for helping with putting on the 2011 Canada Day celebrations - see here
* Ranching community not happy with HST Defeat - see here
* With HST Defeat - Donna Barnett comments here and Cariboo-Chilcotin BC NDP Candidate Charlie Wyse comments here.  Editor's Note - Hey Charlie, the reason it takes 18 months to go from HST to PST/GST is because tax policy on provincial/federal level is complex and it takes time and care to ensure the switch is done in a thoughtful and fair way to all sectors, but gov't will respect the will of the public on the HST Vote

In 100 Mile House:

* OSB Ainsworth Plant in 100 Mile sustains fire damage - see here
* Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA speculates on possibility of fall election - see here
* South Cariboo Labour Council 'too small to survive' - see here

In Kamloops:

* Former Langley Township Councillor and BC Director for the Canadian Taxpayer Federation reviews why the HST failed to pass muster with the public and what Victoria should do next - see here (see also a column today from Province political columnist Mike Smyth on same here)

* Kamloops City Councillor Nancy Bepple pleads with Kamloops residents to vote in November's civic election - see here (Good advice for Cariboo-Chilcotin residents vis-a-vis civic votes in Wells, Quesnel, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House and Cariboo Regional District elections)

BCLTV - August 26th edition

                                         BC Liberal TV "Rewind" - August 26th edition

Action Plan to return to old PST/GST System

From the Province of BC:

The Province will reinstate the combined 12 per cent PST and GST tax system following the referendum decision by British Columbians to extinguish the HST in B.C., Finance Minister Kevin Falcon announced today.

An action plan has been established to guide the transition process and help ensure an effective and orderly transition from the HST to the PST plus GST system in B.C.

The PST will be reinstated at seven per cent with all permanent PST exemptions. The Province may make some common sense administrative improvements to streamline the PST.

The transition period is expected to take a minimum of 18 months, consistent with the report of the independent panel on the HST. During this period, the provincial portion of the HST will remain in place at seven per cent. Eligible lower-income British Columbians will continue to receive the B.C. HST Credit until the PST is re-implemented. The B.C. HST credit will then be replaced by the re-implemented PST credit.

During the transition period, the Province will provide quarterly updates on the progress of returning to the PST.

Quote:

Minister of Finance Kevin Falcon—

“British Columbians have made their choice and we will honour that decision. Now more than ever, government must provide British Columbians economic stability and focus our attention toward growing our economy to create jobs and balancing our budget in a time of global economic uncertainty.

“We will work as quickly as we responsibly can to return to the PST. We have always been clear that, as the independent panel found, dismantling the B.C. HST and returning to the PST will take time to do properly.

“I can assure British Columbians PST will not be applied to such items as restaurant meals, haircuts, bikes and gym memberships – just as it was before the HST was introduced in B.C.”

Learn More:

For more information about the return to the PST, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/fin

BACKGROUNDER

Action Plan to Re-implement PST

An action plan has been established to ensure an effective and orderly transition to the PST. Key phases in the transition process are described here.

Federal Transitional Rules and Systems:

· A letter from the provincial finance minister to the federal finance minister is conveying the referendum results and advising the federal government that B.C. will re-implement the PST.

· The Province will work with the federal government to develop HST transition rules and to make any necessary changes to systems and processes.

· The provincial government will begin discussions with the federal government about exiting the Comprehensive Integrated Tax Coordination Agreement (CITCA) including the return of the funding received for adopting the HST.

Provincial Legislation and Transitional Rules:

· The provincial government will develop legislation and regulations necessary to re-implement the PST in B.C. and may make some administrative changes to streamline and improve the PST.

· Provincial PST transition rules to mirror federal HST transition rules will be developed.

· The provincial government will develop other legislation and administrative programs necessary to support the full reimplementation of the PST (e.g. hotel room tax, etc).

Provincial Systems Development:

· The Province will develop and establish appropriate reporting, data gathering, billing, remittance/collection, audit, assessment and appeal processes, and supporting computer systems to properly administer the PST and other related taxes (e.g. hotel room tax, etc.) in B.C.

Provincial Administration:

· The Province will re-establish its capacity to administer the tax in the areas of registration and close of business, field and desk audit, appeals, rulings, provincial tax information phone lines, billings and remittances, collections and refunds. This will include staffing, facilities and equipment, and staff training to administer the PST and related taxes. This also includes developing appropriate administrative reporting forms and other information and communications material required to support the transition.

Provincial Business Registration and Outreach:

· The provincial government will register approximately 100,000 businesses as tax collectors before the PST is re-implemented and provide information and training on the tax application, collection, compliance and reporting rules related to the PST. By the time the PST is re-implemented, there will be an estimated 30,000 new businesses in B.C. with no PST experience. These businesses will need to be registered and provided with detailed information and training to enable them to comply with the tax law.

Business Transition:

· Businesses will need to change their own electronic and manual systems and processes to assess, collect, report and remit the PST and other related taxes to the provincial government.

Other Key Stakeholders:

· The provincial government will consult with key administration stakeholders once provincial transition rules are completed. The Province relies on partner agencies to help ensure efficient tax collection, reporting and compliance. These agencies will need to make a number of systems and process changes, as well as receive information and training to help complete the PST transition.

Breaking News: HST is dead!

Just out of Victoria...

HST is now officially dead by a vote count of 55% to 45%.  Awaiting a press conference from Finance Minister Kevin Falcon and BC Premier Christy Clark...

Closer to home...

Residents in Cariboo-North voted to kill the HST by a vote count of 59% - 41%
Residents in Cariboo-Chilcotin voted to kill the HST by a vote count of 57% - 43%

Kevin Falcon: HST is the right tax for BC

From the Deputy Premier of BC and for the record - I wholeheartedly agree with Kevin Falcon on the HST being the right tax for BC:

With just a few days left for British Columbians to vote and return their ballots I’d like to discuss the importance of the decision in front of you, and encourage you to vote if you haven’t already.

One of the concerns we’ve heard quite frequently is the confusion over the ballot question itself. This question was developed by Elections BC, an organization independent from government. To be clear, a ‘NO’ vote is a vote to keep the HST and a ‘YES’ vote is a vote to go back to the PST plus GST.

I have said since day one that I intend to vote ‘NO’ to higher taxes, and to keep the HST. It is important to understand what this means. If you are in favour of lower taxes and a 10 per cent HST, you should vote ‘NO’ on your ballot.

Nine of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world all use an HST-type consumption tax. So do 140 countries around the world. No jurisdiction anywhere has introduced a retail sales tax in decades. Voting ‘YES’ is a vote for a 12 per cent GST plus PST tax with a bureaucratic and expensive dual-tax system.

Also, if voters choose to keep the HST and vote ‘NO’, the Province will provide a $175 per-child HST transition payment for families and $175 for seniors with annual incomes of up to $40,000, to help with the transition until the rate drops – one per cent in 2012 and a further one per cent in 2014.

These proposed changes are responsive and fair, and allow us to keep our commitment to balancing our budget. Importantly, the proposed changes to the HST, including transition payments, will only take effect should British Columbians vote ‘NO’ to the referendum question and retain the HST.

Overwhelmingly, businesses, small and large alike, are in support of the HST and are encouraging people to vote ‘NO’ to keep it. This is an important consideration because these companies are the backbone of our economy and ensure you and your family have well-paying jobs throughout all our communities. For almost every sector – whether it’s the film industry, tourism, forestry, mining or agriculture – the HST is a better tax because it is simpler and more progressive, which means these companies save money and can add jobs.

The anti-HST forces are trying to make this an emotional vote instead of focusing on the facts. I have acknowledged we did a poor job introducing the tax, but we all need to move on and focus on what is right for the province. They are trying to convince you that the HST is a tax break for big business and hurts everyone else. They completely ignore the fact we are taking a balanced approach by lessening the burden on families and shifting some of the burden onto business. I know British Columbians will see past their games and focus on the decision at hand.

Over the last 10 years, we’ve worked hard to keep British Columbia competitive by developing a business climate that encourages companies to invest here and create jobs for families across every region of this province. The HST is one more reason B.C. is a good place for business to invest and grow. Voting ‘NO’ in the referendum will mean a 10 per cent HST for British Columbia by July 1, 2014. It will also help us remain a top investment choice for businesses and mean more high-paying jobs for our families.

Your opportunity to vote ends soon. All ballots must be received by Elections BC or any Service BC office no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, 2011. I will be voting ‘NO’ in the referendum because I believe the HST is the right choice for our families, our businesses and our communities. I encourage all British Columbians to ensure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision and vote. It’s your choice.

For more information about the HST, visit: www.HSTinBC.ca
You can also follow us on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/hstinbc

Interesting Take on the HST Referendum

This past weekend - I received an interesting email on the HST Referendum from Gill Picard of Abbotsford.  See the email in its' entirety below:

Editor's Note - There was a CTV (BC) story on people getting more than one HST Ballot from Elections BC.  This is really unfortunate and may very well call the entire referendum process and final result into dispute.  I think the only way, in this respect, to really deal with the HST, is a provincial general election, which may occur as early as this September.  See the CTV-BC story here

I am calling a MISDEAL on the HST Referendum!

I want a new dealer!

The current dealer (Elections BC) has proven to be incompetent to conduct such a referendum.

Too many people have received other people’s ballots. Some have received ballots addressed to deceased people and some for long gone previous occupants while many have not received a ballot at all.

The heretofore highly efficient Elections BC has proven itself incompetent in conducting a referendum.

They could not have used the last registered voters’ list, so who else were they going to allow to vote on this?

Could it all be a plan to allow the government to call the results invalid?

The only reason for this level of incompetence has to be to deceive the public and obfuscate the whole operation so that it may later be declared invalid.

The only possible solution to this dilemma now, is to start all over again but have the referendum conducted and supervised by two independent parties.

The Liberal government, once again proves itself incompetent!

Gill Picard
Abbotsford

http://gillpicard.com