REALITY CHECK: B.C. Liberals Dismiss Small Businesses’ HST Concerns

Posted in:

As more and more small businesses speak out about how the HST will hit their bottom line, the B.C. Liberal government seems ready to sacrifice the industry in order to protect the premier for betraying British Columbians after the election.

Yesterday, Finance Minister Colin Hansen brushed off the mounting anger amongst small businesses about the HST, saying they were not central to the B.C. economy:

  • “No, actually, what drives the economy of this province is our export industries.”
    (Colin Hansen, A News Vancouver Island, Aug. 19, 2009)

Which is a complete reversal from the B.C. Liberals' election promises, when Gordon Campbell said:

  • “(Small businesses) create a million jobs in British Columbia. Small businesses, they are the core of our economy in all of the sectors and all of the regions.”
    (Gordon Campbell, B.C. Liberal 2009 election ad)

Many small business owners across the province are speaking up about how the HST will be a serious blow:

  • “There will be no PST input savings for the little guys. As a small business owner, let me say this in answer to the (Sun) editorial's question — HST is not good for small business in B.C.”
    (former Liberal supporter Philip H. Nyren, owner of Philip Nyren Menswear & Womenswear Ltd., Times Colonist, Aug. 20, 2009)

With public anger mounting over the HST betrayal, it seems that Gordon Campbell is resorting to shooting the messenger:

  • “Well, the people that are opposed to the HST are opposed to new jobs in the forest industry. They’re opposed to new jobs in the mining industry. They’re opposed to new jobs in energy.”
    (Gordon Campbell, A News Vancouver Island, Aug. 19, 2009)

And the premier has been all too quick to blame others for public backlash to his own broken promises:

  • “Well, frankly I'm not too surprised (at the public backlash) when I look at the fact that in fact most of the outlets have not put in front of the public all of the benefits.”
    (Gordon Campbell, Global TV, Aug. 18, 2009)

Carole James and the New Democrats have launched a petition to stop the HST, which is at www.StopTheHST.ca

Under the Liberal government, B.C. has had the worst rate of full-time job losses, the second-worst performing economy, and the highest level of child poverty in the country.