News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By  Joe Cousins

A funny expression to be sure, but one that is applicable in two very specific ways. 

First because the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is the main focus of this article and second because  the people of this province are feeling like that dead horse.

 What I mean by this is that the citizens of this province have been beaten down and down by the conditions of this economy until most of us now feel like that dead horse.

 After almost a year of recession, coupled with a forest industry that the government has seen fit to sell down the river, they decided to force this HST upon us. 

Perhaps I am naive and this will save millions for big business, that they will surely pass on down to their employees and small business will be able to breathe a little easier with their huge savings on ... WHAT? 

Of course, what I have realized is that it will cost the consumer a fair amount extra, that most of us JUST DO NOT HAVE. We will find I think, that some things will simply go un-purchased, un-repaired, and un-dealt  with, because they will have to rob Peter to pay Paul. 

The sad fact is people will offset the extra costs per purchase by lowering their total number of purchases, which will affect ALL businesses large and small. Instead of corporate savings that employees should see being passed along to them, I fear more layoffs and wage cuts will be in our future and our slightly recovering economy will stall. 

Housing sales seem to have levelled off from their decline, unemployment is down a tad, our own local forest industry has seen mills start back up,  the mines have brought back laid off workers, people seemed somewhat  optimistic. To add insult to injury, those who voted raises for themselves not too long ago, saw fit to cut tourism (a HUGE industry in our area), slap us with HST, cut medical services and announce they will have five times their pre-election campaign deficit estimates. 

A quick synopsis:

Then:

the economy was improving
our region was in a definite upswing
people were optimistic
businesses were breathing a little easier 

Now:

we will be TWO BILLION dollars further in debt as a province
we will get less medical services
we will enjoy higher taxes
we will experience a stymied recovery of our economy
our tourism indutry has taken an enormous hit
our politicians DO NOT lead by example with pay-cuts

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