Mar
2
MLA Report
By Carole James
I have heard from a number of our important social service and not-for-profit agencies who are concerned about the potential impact of the proposed Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on their services. Here in James Bay, our valuable community partner, Child and Family Counselling Association (CAFCA), spoke of the importance of investments in the province's community social service sector. These investments have played a crucial role in ensuring quality social services for the most vulnerable in our community.
CAFCA is worried about the impact of the HST, not only on their cost to operate year to year, but also on their ability to provide services to our most vulnerable, especially during a difficult economic time when the demand for services is even higher.
The BC Liberal government has suggested that a 57 per cent rebate for charities and eligible non-profits is sufficient. But like the non-profit sector, I'm deeply concerned that these organizations will be hit hard by the HST. And it's particularly unfair during a time when non-profits are forced to provide services with fewer and fewer resources. I'm committed to opposing the HST and I believe that we have to continue to fight to stop this tax altogether.
We expect the government to table the legislation to bring the HST in early March. Ahead of that, the Official Opposition MLAs are working hard to convince individual Liberal MLAs to vote to defeat the HST bill. It will only take seven Liberal MLAs to stand with the Official Opposition in the Legislature and stop this regressive and hurtful tax.
I can assure you that I'll continue to hold the BC Liberals accountable for breaking their word on the HST, and for backtracking on their election promises to protect health care, education and other vital services.
And finally, I want to say thanks for all the work organizations like CAFCA do for our community. As a community, we are stronger because of the network of support and services they provide.
Contact me at carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca if you wish to share your concern on the HST.