I have been researching the pros and cons of the HST for weeks and even challenged Surrey Board of Trade CEO Anita Huberman to present some examples of companies and/or individuals benefitting from the HST.
No response.
I now have two examples of small companies who are actually doing what the HST is purporting to be used for.
Credit should go to the small companies of Bill and Denise Downs, co-owners of Downs Construction, who used the HST credits to give raises to their 38 employees, and to Delta’s Lawrence Alder of International Marine Floatation Systems Inc., who used their HST credits to reinvest in their business and add new staff.
I still would like to hear from low-income families (less than $40,000 per year) who have children under 18 years of age living at home who have received their $170 rebate cheque; or even single low-income pensioners who were to receive their $170. rebate cheque.
To date, I haven’t heard or read about any. I have now heard about the 12-per-cent HST being added to condo strata fees, which make condo maintenance costs more expensive, which was not the case before.
Are there consumers out there paying more now before the harmonizing of the GST and PST?
Dave Hammer
Surrey