We the undersigned, the non-partisan citizens of British Columbia, call on the Government of British Columbia to stop their plans to harmonize the federal GST and the BC PST. This harmonization will see lower- and middle-class families shoulder an estimated $2 000 000 000 tax cut for business. Keeping businesses competitive and giving them incentive to expand is fantastic, and necessary, but to do that on the backs of those who can barely make ends meet, and struggle to afford the basics to begin with is just plain wrong. In a time where the Government should be giving incentives to ALL British Columbians to get out there and stimulate our local economies, tacking on an extra 7% to services once out of the Provinces taxing jurisdiction is a blatant tax grab, and it is deplorable.
This harmonization will add an additional 7% tax to:

GOODS
• Residential fuels (electricity, natural gas) and heating.
• Basic cable TV and residential phones.
• All food products (only basic groceries will remain exempt under new tax).
• Non-prescription medication.
• Vitamins and dietary supplements.
• Bicycles.
• School supplies (books will continue to be exempt).
• Magazines and newspapers.
• Work-related safety equipment.
• Safety helmets, life jackets, first-aid kits.
• Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
• Energy conservation equipment (e.g., insulation, solar power equipment).

SERVICES
• Personal services such as hair care. 

• Dry cleaning.
• Repair services for household appliances.
• Household maintenance such as renovations and painting.
• Real estate fees.
• Membership fees for health clubs.
• Movie and theatre tickets.
• Funeral services.
• Professional services such as accounting and home care.
• Airline fares within Canada.
• Self-Storage facilities. 

Taxes are a gift allowed to be collected by the citizens, not something to be imposed upon us without consent! We call on Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen and his Department to do the right thing and rethink the HST. Do not sell BC out to Ottawa! Keep currently PST exempt goods and services exempt, and to appeal the issue directly to British Columbians to seek our consent to this tax hike!

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