B.C. Liberals apparently learned nothing from the angry public reaction to their pre-election deceit and, some would say, outright lies. They fed the voters another big deception in Tuesday’s budget.
Wasn’t it bad enough that they repeatedly said before the May election they would not bring in the HST … and then announced they would after all, as soon as the votes were counted? And didn’t they explain the HST would be “revenue neutral” … shifting the tax from business to end-users (that’s us) … but would really not result in a tax windfall?
Well were they lying again?
In Tuesday’s Budget, Finance Minister Colin Hansen announced the government will introduce legislation requiring all HST revenue to be used on health care spending.
What a farce! Is there extra revenue coming from the HST after all? Or is it all just sleight of hands? Doesn’t all tax revenue just go into the huge provincial pot … to be pulled out if and as needed for ANY government spending.
I believe it is just another attempt to deceive the public and to soften the hatred of the HST by pretending it’s all going to pay ONLY for health care.
After all, if they said the money would be just going into the provincial pot and could be used for anything (AS IS THE REALITY) we might actually THINK some of it was going to, say, ministerial spending on trips, on pet projects aiding favored groups or party supporters, or spending on … horrors of horrors … the Public Affairs Bureau, to propagandize the pe0ple even further.
They think voters are too dumb to really understand what they are doing. I wonder if they laugh out loud behind closed doors when they come up with these farcical deceptions ?
But who knows, judging by past electoral experiences, they just could be right!
Harv Oberfeld
28 responses so far ↓
1 Lynn // Mar 4, 2010 at 12:29 am
I am no dummy.
Shifting the burden from business onto the taxpayer. Employers or business owners should also keep in mind this, employees are also consumers. Failing to pay employees a livable wage and tax the crap out of them means they will just cease spending.
(Response: Maybe we should all start wearing buttons saying “Hansen: I’m no dummy!” ? h.o.)
2 Dale // Mar 4, 2010 at 1:12 am
At the rate they are cutting government services all taxes will only go for health care.
(Response: But will be anyone left ..apart from administrators and bean counters … to actually provide the service? h.o)
3 Rocker Rich // Mar 4, 2010 at 1:31 am
I don’t know what sickens me more: That a provincial government creates an Orwellian media-spin factory (Public Affairs Bureau) or that well over 200 trained journalists see such grim prospects in their chosen profession that they succumb to the lure of a steady paycheque in the propaganda shop.
Saddest of all is Brigitte Anderson who, in her tv news reporter days, so rattled then opposition leader Gordon Campbell that he–in my view–used a sexist comment to deflect her probing questions.
These days, Ms. Anderson works for Premier Gordon and is often seen walking a step behind the Great Man, dutifully tape recording his every response to those dwindling numbers of quality reporters who remain.
As John Lennon once sang: “How can you sleep at night?”
(Response; i don;t think you can blame the media in any way on this one. They’ve all writtien about the decit, asked questions about …exposed it etc. I just hope they keep it up …go after the premier and the finance minister and finance officials over and over to expose the misleading statements and rip the bill apart when it’s introduced. h.o.)
4 Bill Tieleman // Mar 4, 2010 at 2:20 am
Hey Harvey – you are right about the BC Liberals thinking people are dumb but wrong that it will possibly work.
Vaughn Palmer of the Sun started off the media questions in the lockup with “you don’t possibly think this stunt will work do you?” to great laughter from the media and Les Leyne of the T-C followed up with “why don’t you put all revenue streams into Health?”
People don’t get fooled on taxes – ask Brian Mulroney or George H. Bush!
(Response: Bill, I hope you are right! You know, to me, it’s not a partisan thing ..I have voted, in various elections, for all our major parties. As anyone could tell when I was working, I just hate to see politicians lying, deceiving … and getting away with it. After the election the public says “they’re all liars” and fewer and fewer bother to vote … and the best liars get elected. Very depressing ..but I’m not as convinced as you are that MOST people are now aware and will be unforgiving. Check back in 2014. h.o)
5 Lynn2 // Mar 4, 2010 at 3:02 am
I don’t believe the public will accept the deceit.
The gross lying and twisting of the truth became very apparent after the election even to the most naive.
It must be apparent to most that the “revenue neutral” HST has nothing to do with health care.
Businesses will get rebates and consumers will pay more.
(Response: Let’s chat AFTER the next election! h.o.)
6 Crankypants // Mar 4, 2010 at 4:24 am
Of course this is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. A while ago, Vaughn Palmer stated in his column that the BC government has given so many exemptions to the HST that it will actually bring in less revenue to government than the current PST would. As for tying HST revenue to healthcare, that is nothing but an outright fabrication. Even MSP premiums go into general revenue.
However they did see fit to boost the budget for the PAB so that we can continue to be misled whenever possible.
In my view too many of our politicians in Victoria have passed their best-before date and should be turned out to pasture. Their obfuscations are becoming much too apparent to many of us.
7 DGB // Mar 4, 2010 at 5:07 am
When the HST gets in, who are we going to be “competitive” with? China?, Montana?, Alberta?
Added fees, higher taxes, maybe – likely yet higher hydro rates, ferry fares – on and on will mean higher inflation – not to mention the interest rates that will “have” to rise – a fact that the central bank is pretending shouldn’t – WHO are we going to compete with? If there were any “forward looking” Liberals left in the back – they would know that the next election they will all be nobodies – sent to the wilderness – they should speak out with what their constituents want – NOT what Gordon Campbell wants – heck, he’ll be stepping down soon to join Iggy in Ottawa. Colin Hansen says the deficit should be cleared for 2013-14 – in time for the election! How cliche.
(Response: “You people” who are still working should not be so greedy … wanting annual increases, vacation time and health and pension benefits. Be happy you have a job …and help your companies be more competitive… how about a buck a day pay? (That’s my immitation of my non-favorite radio business commentator. No names please. LOL!) h.o.
8 Crankypants // Mar 4, 2010 at 10:00 am
To those posters that think that the general populace will see through the scam emanating from Hansen, beware. Last election we were warned by many economists that the BC Liberal party was feeding us a bogus budget, and still they got a majority on the basis that they were the better party to lead us through economic hell. The old saying that BS baffles brains seems to be very relevant, and the BC Liberal party will continue to use the tactics that brought them to power until such time as they do not work anymore. It seems that most people associate themselves with a particular party and no matter how outlandish their chosen party is on a subject, they will defend their stance whether logical or not.
Political polarization blinds so many people that they cannot see the forest from the trees. Until we can mature enough to realize that nothing is either all black or all white, we will always be in the state of flux we find ourselves in today.
(Response: Amen! h.o.)
9 DMJ // Mar 4, 2010 at 3:50 pm
50% of the eligible voters did not vote in the last election, this is the stuff of dictatorships. Gordo and his band of ne’er do well know they are hated, but they have the proverbial “village idiot” leading Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and can rest easy that she will stumble and fumble during the debate.
Gordo knows he has ‘Bill Boring’ in his pocket and with his brother on CORUS, no serious reporting will be done.
Have you noticed that News 1130 is now far better reporting the news than the once mighty ’98!
The CanWest Media Empire is shaky but still the Campbellites are in charge and there is no serious threat to Gordo and his gang from the mainstream media.
So now we have a Premier, which many blogs use the term liar, to such an extent that the term is meaningless.
Just a few years ago, calling a Premier a liar would be a libelous or slanderous event and the lawyers would come a knocking. Not now, for a defamation lawsuit may be more damaging than the original libel or slander.
The BC Railgate case is a good example.
Also, who in the media reported this little gem. During Susan Heyes lawsuit against Trans Link, Judge Pitfield alluded to the fact that the “RAVExpress/Bombardier bidding as a charade”
No one? That would never happen in the Clark NDP era.
What we have in BC, is an out of control tax and spend government, whose collective business acumen is on par with timeshare salespeople.
The government is pure flim-flam, where the elites have elected a shill to pander to their pocketbooks and to hell with everyone else.
I rate anyone who votes Liberal provincially in the same class as those who voted for that little Austrian gent, with the funny mustache in Germany in the late 20′s.
BC is hell bent on the road to a financial fiasco, with a con-man at the help with the village idiot bumbling into walls and tripping over herself.
It is a damn Greek tragedy!
(Response; Every voter should read your submission! h..o)
10 kootcoot // Mar 4, 2010 at 5:36 pm
Harvey, your holiday must have done you well – your blog is rockiing – your posts and the level of discourse on the threads are both of a high caliber. I especially find the following from your reply to Bill T. to be superb.
“After the election the public says “they’re all liars” and fewer and fewer bother to vote … and the best liars get elected. Very depressing ”
So true, yet as you say at the end “Very depressing!”
(Response: Thanks. Hope I don’t disappoint but going away next week again (I’m retired
but promise it’s only for three weeks ..then we’ll get the discussion going again. And I’m sure there WILL be plenty to talk about. h..o)
11 Henri Paul // Mar 4, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Harv said (Response; Every voter should read your submission! h..o)
———————————————————-
Let me correct that just a tad if you wouldn’t mind.
Everyone who “didn’t vote” should read your submission!
12 DGB // Mar 4, 2010 at 8:51 pm
This is one of many reasons WHY people should’ve made a point to understand the STV (Single Transferable Vote) system of electing our representitives – a system where YOUR vote will not be necessarily be a PARTY vote, but will give you a say on having a representitive work for you and your area, and make each representitive accountable for their actions – instead of the “First Past The Post” system. Under STV, your representitive would have no choice BUT to vote down unpopular bills, budget or idiocy.
http://www.stv.ca/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_transferable_vote
We are writers of our own lack of knowlege, our apathy when it comes time to vote, and our lack of research. We don’t hold our office holders accountable for their actions. Let’s end party politics and strive for co-operative common sense governance.
13 Henri Paul // Mar 5, 2010 at 12:40 am
Well DGB, you would have had the Single Transferable Vote system if the bloody referendum qualification hadn’t been skewed so bad by Carole Harcourt.
Only a person who lacked guts and self confidence would have set the bench mark so high, anywhere else in the civilized world the passing grade or mark for referendum is 50% plus 1 not 60%.
I can picture those no minds scratching their arse with hand, while at the same time scratching their head with the other hand , and all they can say is huh.
14 Grant G // Mar 5, 2010 at 2:41 am
Harvey, you do a pretty good Michael Levy imatation.
By the way,recall will work,strike while the iron is hot, signatures galore,Chiliwak can keep John Les,Cloverdale can keep Kevin Falcon..
7 ridings…Point grey…Kamloops,north Burnaby,Caribou Chicotin.Oak Bay, Comox Valley,and say good-bye to Margret Mcdiarmid…She is too weak to fight.
Cheers
15 RS // Mar 5, 2010 at 2:44 am
DGB,
I’m wondering what Dr. No or would that be Dr. Know (Bill Tieleman) would have to say about your March 4,8:51 comment regarding the STV system.
Bill?
16 Dan R // Mar 5, 2010 at 6:18 am
The libs will win the next election with or without Gordo at the helm with the few people that actually bother to vote.
There is no alternative in BC. I used to be NDP Provincially but cancelled my membership last summer and come next election I will just vote for an independent. I am not voting NDP or Liberal in BC but I will still vote NDP Federally though.
17 Leah // Mar 5, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Grant, don’t be too quick to think Kamloops is going to turn it’s back on Terry Lake or Kruger…this place is a Liberal haven. Has been for years – will be for years.
After all – this is place where the details for the sale of BC Rail were hatched. And God only knows what else.
18 Gary E // Mar 5, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Well I guess we’re going to find out just how pissed the voters are in Cariboo Chilcotin. There is a Anti HST rally in Williams Lake tomorrow Sat Mar 6. More at 5pm at http://howbadtherecord.blogspot.com
19 Wilson // Mar 6, 2010 at 1:57 am
I know people Stateside who had to get a mortgage just to pay off a hospital bill. We are pretty lucky here in Canada if the worse we get is the HST. Helathcare has to be paid people and there are no free rides in life. Just be thankful we live in this great country where we can still barely afford our healthcare. It sickens me when I see the tax welchers try and weasel out of paying their fair share. Where I come from you pay your taxes fair and square.
20 DGB // Mar 6, 2010 at 5:15 am
WILSON – it’s not about healthcare’s tax – that’s just the spin. It’s about a commitment to hold the Olympics at a certain cost and allowing that cost to balloon to something unimaginable – the overruns, causing a huge deficit. It’s about mis-leading us before the election and lying about the imposition of the HST – an inflationary tax that will pull in money to help pay for the cost overruns – it’s about the federal bribe of 1. something billion $$ to make the HST law here – it’s about draconian service and social safety net cuts to those who can least afford to lose them – it’s about “finding” $50 million to put a new canvass roof on a sports stadium while cutting a proven therapy for autistic kids, and not finding enough money ($86,000)to keep a voluteer-based group social centre that serves 600 seniors for a year. It’s about many things Wilson – not just healthcare.
21 kootcoot // Mar 6, 2010 at 7:11 pm
“it’s about “finding” $50 million to put a new canvass roof on a sports stadium ”
I’m not sure what the roof on the dome will be made of (other than money) but if you are p.o.ed about spending fifty mil, perhaps you would be more p.o.d when you realize the proposed cost is actually $365mil and who’s to say that figure has any relation to what it will really cost – especially if the cohorts of Gordo can pocket any over runs!
22 Lynn // Mar 6, 2010 at 9:18 pm
Wilson,
We should be lucky, perhaps. That should never stop a society from striving to be better and kinder. Although I sympathise with Americans and their lack of universal health coverage it is afterall it is their fight to change it, and they haven’t. Here, in Canada we have been fighting to keep our health system since the day Tommy Douglas created it. Why? Why do we have to keep fighting to keep it? Why is it MLA’s and MP’s are hell bent on keeping health care costs so high? Why does it cost a taxpayer 10 dollars to pay for a bandage when I can buy one at a pharmacy for 2? Lucky? Who is lucky? Why should I feel lucky when family members have to wait for months and months for scan, but for the low low price they can go to “private” centre? Is that luck, Wilson? No, we have to keep fighting.
HST for health? El Gordo will be lucky if British Columbians believe that.
23 Leah // Mar 6, 2010 at 11:44 pm
What everyone seems to be forgetting about the HST is that it is according to Campbell himself, a REVENUE NEUTRAL tax…it’s not a new tax per se…it’s a tax SHIFT. The corporations have been set free from paying their share – because their share has been downloaded to the backs of EVERY British Columbian…whether you make $40.00 per hour, or $8.00!
And the government has had to admit there will be a $113 Million shortfall, even at that! How the H**l can they say it’s going to go toward health care? There is NO new money here. People…please…wake up!!
(Response: Exactly. The government says it’s revenue neutral to fend off complaints of an additional tax grab … but then makes it sound like “extra” dollars to be spent on health dollars when it tries to convince voters it’s good for them. h.o.)
24 DGB // Mar 7, 2010 at 4:42 am
KOOTCOOT: “you would be more p.o.d when you realize the proposed cost is actually $365mil ..”
Thanks for the refresher … I forgot to add a zero – and yes, I am P.O.ed with it all.
It’s amazing that only 7 MLA’s (Liberal) can do the right thing and sit as ‘Independants” and vote against this madness – to defeat the rest of the drunken sailors only wanting to party.
25 Bill Tieleman // Mar 7, 2010 at 6:19 pm
RS asks what I think regarding the STV comment – I suggest you take a long look at Irish politics my friend – if you think the Irish all get along and everyone has their own friendly representative under their STV electoral system you are dreaming.
In fact, for a great demonstration of the decorum and substantive cooperative discussion in Ireland’s Dail under STV go to my blog for the link to this short TV clip:
http://billtieleman.blogspot.com/2009/12/cooperation-and-harmony-under.html
26 DGB // Mar 7, 2010 at 10:19 pm
BILL T: “RS asks what I think regarding the STV comment – I suggest you take a long look at Irish politics my friend ”
That’s Irish politics. STV can be implemented in different ways – the citizen advisory group here had it right.
We would have fewer but larger ridings with 2-4 MLA’s per riding based on the choices picked by all participating voters. One, maybe 2 of the ruling party might get in along with one or two opposition/independent members – if one was with the governing party wanting to indroduce the HST, the other 2 would vote against it, but that (STV) situation would likely force the one member to also vote against it because he/she would know their chances next election would not be very good with the constituents who expressed their wish to not have the HST
27 MikeBoileau // Mar 11, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Harvey:
Sadly, you are correct about the lack of intelligence the people have when it comes to politicians and their lies. I wish I had the resources to take a video camera down to the streets of Vancouver, ( or any major city in BC), and ask people some elementary questions. That would be a Reality Show that would knock your socks off. We get what we deserve, except me, I don’t deserve this government but how can I stop them?
28 D.B. // Apr 7, 2010 at 1:20 am
I will not vote liberal again if this harmony tax goes through
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