Editor:
I would like to respond to a letter you received by a B.C. Federation of Labour member published on July 28 regarding “MLA Donna Barnett’s response to the B.C. Federation of Labour’s efforts” to ensure your readers are clear on the facts about the HST.
The letter is yet another demonstration that the NDP and their Labour friends are either grossly misinformed or are deliberately misrepresenting the facts on the HST. Summer McFadyn is completely wrong to suggest that we haven’t sourced our numbers for a 10 per cent HST.
Hard-working public servants within the Ministry of Finance were the ones who crunched the numbers and calculated that, on average, British Columbian families will be $120 better off should they vote no and keep the HST.
As the deadline for voting draws nears, the Fight HST forces are clearly growing increasingly desperate for publicity, but we intend to rise above their nonsense and let British Columbians decide for themselves.
Since becoming finance minister I have worked hard to ensure British Columbians get the facts they need to make an informed decision about whether to keep the HST or go back to the PST plus GST system.
If you haven’t already voted I encourage you to visit HSTinBC.ca and get the information you need to make an informed decision
I will be voting no to higher taxes. I will be voting to keep the HST. I encourage readers to get as much information as possible about the referendum and to read the ballot question and instructions very carefully.
Ultimately it’s your choice.
Kevin Falcon
Minister of Finance