XPost: ont.politics   
   From: doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca   
      
   In article ,   
   Ken   wrote:   
   >Harper's HST revisionism   
   >   
   >Robert Silver   
   >   
   >From Stephen Harper's 2008 budget:   
   >   
   >"Replacing remaining provincial retail sales taxes (RSTs) with value-added   
   >taxes harmonized with the GST is another area where provinces can contribute   
   >to strengthening Canada's Tax Advantage. Provincial RSTs impair   
   >competitiveness because they apply to business inputs, increasing production   
   >costs and deterring investment. By comparison, a value-added tax system   
   >provides most businesses with full tax relief through the input tax credit   
   >mechanism. Provincial sales tax harmonization is the single most important   
   >step provinces with RSTs could take to improve the competitiveness of   
   >Canadian businesses."   
   >   
   >The single most important step we can take to strengthen Canada's "Tax   
   >Advantage". Single most. Not one of the five biggest. Not something we should   
   >strive for by 2017. In Stephen Harper's words, the single most important step   
   >we could take to improve the competitiveness of Canadian business is   
   >harmonizing the GST and provincial sales taxes.   
   >   
   >And he said so not in a random scrum. Not in an off-the-record discussion   
   >with some reporters. Harper said this is the most important step we could   
   >take to improve our competitiveness in his budget.   
   >   
   >(I'm concerned I haven't quite made the point that Harper was pleading with   
   >the provinces to do this yet but I will move on now)   
   >   
   >From today's Star:   
   >   
   >"Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and fellow Conservatives are distancing   
   >themselves from the harmonized sales tax...federal Conservative sources have   
   >told the Star that earlier in the summer, officials in Prime Minister Stephen   
   >Harper's office ordered Flaherty to tone it down.'They asked Jim to stop   
   >talking about (the tax) so much because it's not helpful,' said one insider."   
   >   
   >It baffles me that Harper is fleeing from the only policy he has taken in   
   >this second mandate that he can possibly argue is based on principle and will   
   >lead to a more prosperous long-term country. But hey, he has home renovation   
   >tax credits to wrap himself in so who needs principles.   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   >http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/silver-powers/harpers-hst-   
   >revisionism/article1289702/   
      
   Harpercrit is an irrationalist.   
   --   
   Member - Liberal International	This is doctor@nl2k.ab.ca Ici doctor@nl2k.ab.ca   
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