On June 11, The Citizen printed a letter from Finance Minister Colin Hansen claiming that it had made an error by saying that B.C. isn't following Ontario's lead in giving HST rebates to its citizens. In fact, unless something has changed, we are not giving out the rebates that Ontario is. Ontario is giving out an HST rebate out of the bribe money Ottawa gave the province for adopting the tax.
Mr. Hansen says we're doing the same in B.C. with the HST tax credit, but the GST/HST credit is a federal program that both provinces had before the switchover, and presumably both will have afterwards, as well.
Now, unless Mr. Hansen is surprisingly incompetent, as finance minister he must be aware of this.
In fact, his own boss, Gordon Campbell, just said a few days ago that there would be no HST rebate cheques in B.C. One must assume this is a pathetic and cynical attempt by Mr. Hansen to pull the wool over our eyes on this issue, yet again, this time through the Citizen's letters page.
David Vogt
Prince George
