Putting More Money in the Hands of Families

May 30, 2011

Raising a family is expensive. It seems like every day the cost of something is increasing, whether it is a tank of gas, a head of lettuce or soccer fees. As a result, making ends meet is getting more difficult. As your government our job is to take as little out of your pocket as possible, while providing you with high quality public services such as health care, education and public transportation.

Over the past few months we have announced a variety of family friendly policies to make things easier on your family such as removing parking meters from BC Parks and raising the minimum wage. In keeping, with the family friendly policies of Premier Christy Clark we undertook the largest listening process ever in the Province to understand your concerns about the Harmonized Sales Tax.

Thanks to your feedback, the Province has announced changes to the HST which will save the average B.C. family $120 per year compared to the old 12 per cent PST and GST system. The proposed changes will reduce the HST from 12 to 10 per cent in two stages - dropping to 11 per cent on July 1, 2012, and then to 10 per cent in July 2014.

To help offset the cost of the HST to B.C. families and seniors before the rate cut, the Province will provide additional relief in the form of one-time transition cheques. Families in B.C. will receive $175 for each child under 18 and senior citizens with a family income of $40,000 or less will also receive $175. We are committed to putting money back into the pockets of families to help make ends meet.

To pay for these changes we are temporarily increasing the corporate tax rate by 2 per cent and postponing the small business tax cut. Essentially business will pay a little bit more and families will get a big benefit.

Your concerns about the HST did not fall on deaf ears and I appreciate your feedback to help make it better for B.C., thank you!
However, the changes proposed will not go forward if the public chooses to extinguish the HST and replace it with the 12 per cent PST and GST in the public referendum this summer. I encourage you to learn more by visiting www.HSTinBC.ca and vote for what you believe is best for B.C.