December 4, 2009 By Rosemary Barton
The NDP really doesn’t want anyone to forget it is firmly and clearly against the harmonized sales tax.
So, in an rare move, Jack Layton will hold a joint press conference with British Columbia NDP leader Carole James and Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath to denounce the tax that is set to be put into place in those two provinces come July of next year.
There are strong anti-HST movements in both those provinces — and the NDP is supporting them.
The HST legislation was tabled by the government in Parliament today, meaning it will be voted on some time next week.
But the NDP is trying to make the most on this issue politically, given the potential trouble that looms for the federal Liberals.
Michael Ignatieff has made it clear to his caucus that the party will be voting for the tax and that it is a whipped vote, meaning everyone has to play ball.
Problem is at least one Liberal MP, Keith Martin, also from B.C., is considering opposing the legislation already. He didn’t show up for yesterday’s ways-and-means motion on the HST, which was really the first step towards next’s weeks vote.
And another B.C. Liberal, Hedy Fry, says she hasn’t made up her on mind on how she’ll vote, either.
So, the NDP is jumping in with both feet, launching ads over the weekend and holding this multi-leader press conference Monday to remind Canadians they don’t support it.
Chances are, they’ll be reminding Canadians as much as possible over the next few weeks.
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As a senior, there is no doubt, that I will lose my home, when the HST is activated. I’m putting my house for sale, but in a mill town, there are no buyers, because, our mills were sent to China, or shut down, and, those jobs will never come back. There is nothing going on, for the expansion of mines, the gas fields, have been capped, forestry, is dead, fishing is dying. Campbell, has slashed and hacked every service, so, all of those people have lost their jobs, and we citizens, are being forced into another unfair tax. The little guy, making $8.00 and hour, has to pay the same percentage, as some-one getting $60.00 an hour. The HST, will be an asset to big business only. Low income people and seniors, will be homeless, some of us don’t have the basics now. They say Campbell, is the worst corrupt Premier, ever, in this country. Canadian’s are already giving the government 7 months of their wages per year, now, with, the HST, we will pay 8 months of wages to the government. There is a problem though, there are not enough poor people left, to, pay for the corruption of , our government, nor, can we pay for the wealthy, and their extravagent life style. Wage earners, also have to pay for officials, outrageous expense accounts. Well, now, wouldn’t it be a joke if we little guys ran out of our wages, to pay the government. That would mean, the government and the wealthy, would have to pay their own taxes. Can you imagine how much they would squeal and fight with each other, over, who would have to pay for what tax.