Yay, the HST is defeated! Boo, the HST is defeated! Which is it? I guess that depends on which way you voted, although I have a feeling that many on the "yay" side may end up having some regrets.
Pro-HST folks have frequently pointed out the HST defeat will cost the B.C. economy many millions of dollars annually, and they're correct. That's not what I think will cause the regrets, though. The government would have just squandered that money on crack pipes and magic beans, anyway. As well, I think there's an upside to the $1.6-billion reduction in federal transfer payments the Liberal government is now facing, in that it may force a serious examination of program spending.
No, the regret will come from having to listen to Premier Christy Clark (I gagged a little when I typed that) use the HST defeat as an excuse for every budgetary issue that arises over the remainder of her time in office.
Are you a teacher who toed the union line against the HST and are now looking for a salary increase? Good luck. Or, maybe you're an NDPer who wants to see an expansion of social programs? Good luck to you, too.
Of course, the teachers' union has an answer for the HST excuse, and has trotted it out about a million times this summer - BC Place. If the government weren't spending $500 million on a new roof for BC Place there'd be plenty of money for salary increases, it says. It's a claim that will have traction with many voters and media people, despite the fact onetime expenditures can't legitimately be compared to reoccurring ones.
If the teachers want a spending issue to complain about, they should point to the $4.4 million B.C. school districts pay annually in carbon credits to the Pacific Carbon Trust. This is the zenith of environmental stupidity, and apparently conceived one night when Gordon Campbell sat back and asked himself, "How can I use the global-warming hysteria to put even more fiscal pressure on the school boards and health authorities?"
OK, I've digressed enough, back to the HST. In case it isn't yet clear, I'm one of the people cheering the defeat of the HST. As I've said before, I know and accept all the economic reasons why the HST is a better tax system than the old, and soon to be new, PST/GST system. However, it pleases me to see voters rise up and throw the restraints on government.
That being said, I voted to keep the HST. Why? Well, my wife asked me to. She's an accountant, and was facing a whole lot of extra work if the HST was defeated. So, I tossed principle to the wind and voted "No."
If you're thinking I'm a hypocrite, just wait, it gets even worse - I actually rode a bike to the post box to deposit my ballot! I feel so dirty.
