Editor: As we approach the HST referendum, I see the B.C. government has rationalized an advertising budget, using our taxes, of course, to sway our vote to approve it.
I have also noticed that more people are talking about the pro’s of the tax. Sadly, the government is once again succeeding in pulling the wool over our eyes.
Prior to introducing the HST last year, the Gordon Campbell government saw something in our collective behaviour that enabled them to deny consideration of the HST, and then miraculously within only a few weeks of an election came up with a complex plan to implement it.
A flagrant lie, we said at the time, and we demanded they rescind it. OK, we’ll consider it, but let’s put it to a referendum the government said.
Almost a year later, the government again sees something in our collective behaviour to believe it can convince us, after the fact, that the HST is a good thing. We have short memories, they believe.
The issue is not whether the HST is a good thing or not. The issue is the arrogance of this government, actually any government, in unceasingly springing tax increases on us without public consultation, while they continue practicing fiscal irresponsibility.
Vote against it. In doing so, we’ll tell our municipal, provincial, and federal governments collectively that we recognize their collective bad behaviour when it comes to spending our taxes and to smarten up.
We’ll tell this Liberal government to back off and start treating taxpayers with respect. We’ll tell them that they have to consult with us before increasing taxes, and to start practising what we taxpayers must do to stave off homelessness — wise budgeting.
If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you always got. We’ve always not done enough to deter government mis-spending. We’ve never done enough to limit tax increases. Isn’t it about time we did something different for a change?
Brian G. Wood,
Langley