December 09, 2009
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HST passes despite lack of discussion
Prince Rupert Daily News
Nathan Cullen would like to have had more discussion about the HST with federal MPs.
The HST Bill was passed Tuesday night before the Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP’s questions concerning the bill were answered – even though Cullen believes that most British Columbia MPs do not like the new tax structure.
“The Conservatives are deeply conflicted about this, and we can see the discomfort, time and time again, when we talk about this issue, because they know their base does not like this.
“For this very reason, for the very reason that they have no mandate, for the very reason that it goes against their political mores, apparently, these folks want to sweep this thing under the carpet and get it out just before Christmas,” Cullen had accused in the House.
The NDP is concerned about the fact that the debate over the HST bill before parliament has been pushed though before Christmas.
The Conservative minority government, with the help of the Liberals opposition, choked off debate Monday night on the controversial harmonized sales tax by adopting a closure motion. To get the closure motion, there must be at least 100 MPs to vote in favour of ending a debate on a bill. A total of 189 Conservative and Liberal MPs voted to quiet the debate.
“The government spent $45 million talking about its stimulus package, buying signs and renting press halls all over the place,” said Cullen.
“We know that when the Conservatives have something they think they like, it is $45 million spent on a little prop seen across the country, but this time, when they have something that they know is unpopular, what are they doing? They [slipped] it through and hoping folks do not notice,” Cullen continued.
“They are not going to spend $45 million promoting this anywhere. They are not going to spend 45ยข promoting it, because they know it is toxic. They know that for the Canadian economy and the Canadian people, this is the worst tax at the worst possible time. They sought no mandate from the electorate on this. They are acting in the most reprehensible way.”
Paul Szabo, a Liberal MP representing Mississauga South, responded to accusations that this has been rammed through by stating that the provincial governments in B.C. and Ontario needed some sort of direction from the federal government before they implemented the tax.
The province of Ontario has announced it will pass its legislation before Christmas. The reason for this is that part of the arrangement it is making is to introduce personal income tax cuts effective January 1, 2010, and it wants to have that legislation in place to provide these legislative tax changes to the citizens.
The HST is widely unpopular and has made First Nations leaders angry that they were not consulted before the implementation, citing the federal government has duty to consult on any issue that affects First Nations.
In the Haida Nation decision of 2004, the Supreme Court held that asserted aboriginal rights can trigger government’s obligation to consult. The Court said that the duty to consult arises when government knows about, or ought to know about, the potential existence of an aboriginal right or title and contemplates a decision that might adversely affect it.
Taxation would adversely affect First Nations, according to Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.
“First Nations families on and off-reserve already experience high poverty rates and will no doubt be greatly impacted by the proposed HST. This tax will further marginalize and add hardship to First Nations families and communities while increasing the coffers of industry and government. The UBCIC will work with like-minded organizations here in BC, and will reach out to First Nation organizations such as the Union of Ontario Indians and the Assembly of First Nations.”
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