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Your B.C. Government

Your Voice

SEPTEMBER BUDGET UPDATE 2009

September 1, 2009
“The increase to the personal income tax exemption level, the firm commitment to drop the small business tax rate to zero per cent in 2012, as well as the increase to the small business tax threshold to $500,000, go a long way to restoring confidence in our province’s economic backbone – small businesses.”
Brian Bonney, B.C. Director of Provincial Affairs, Canadian Federation of Independent Business

September 1, 2009
“We believe the provincial government and this budget are on the right track – these times call for tough and realistic measures. With members in the commodity sector we know, perhaps more than most, how volatile the economy has been this past year. No one could have predicted some of the price changes in commodities we have seen in the past 12 months.”
Byng Giraud, Senior Director, Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia

HARMONIZED SALES TAX

September 1, 2009
“The new Harmonized Sales Tax announced by the B.C. government is a significant step in ensuring British Columbia’s competitive position both within Canada and in the global market place.  As governments around the world increase spending to try to stimulate activity and spark an economic recovery, B.C. has taken  the necessary step of lowering the cost of production and making our province and more attractive location for investment.”
Pierre Gratton, Mining Association of British Columbia

 July 24, 2009
“We think harmonization’s going to be very good for the provincial economy over the long term.”
Jock Finlayson, BC Business Council, Vancouver Sun

July 24, 2009
“The existing provincial sales tax (PST) is an outdated, inefficient fiscal levy that inhibits investment and imposes heavy compliance burdens on BC businesses. Shifting to a harmonized sales tax (HST) will deliver significant economic benefits to British Columbians.”
Virginia Greene, President and CEO, Business Council of British Columbia, News Release

July 23, 2009
“This is a terrific move by the BC government to improve the economy and great news for British Columbians. For business, it means having to manage the administration of just one tax system rather than two. That saves time and money, and these days that’s very good news for every business, including ours.”
Blair Qualey, President and CEO, New Car Dealers Association of British Columbia, News Release

July 23, 2009
“I got to say still a good thing for British Columbia. The savings of $1.9 billion (for harmonization) is nothing to sneeze at, that’s extremely significant. The paper work burden that’s going to be lifted off the backs of small businesses is huge.”
Brian Bonney, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, CHNL

July 24, 2009
“The point of sale rebate is substantial, minimizing paperwork for both business and customers will reduce processing, which is costly to administer for both the business and the government.”
Adele Yakemchuk, President, Prince George Chamber of Commerce, Prince George Citizen

July 24, 2009
“Harmonization will have a significant and positive impact on agriculture overall, and is consistent with what our members have been calling for.”
Garnet Etsell, Chair, BC Agriculture Council, News Release

July 23, 2009
“Ultimately, this announcement will help make BC exports more competitive in global markets. We are pleased that the government is working with our sector and look forward to achieving full harmonization as it will improve cash flow and reduce the paper burden on businesses. It's critically important that the manufacturing and exporting industries remain vibrant, thereby ensuring BC's ongoing economic prosperity.”
Craig Williams, Vice president, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters British Columbia, News release,

July 24, 2009
“Harmonization does allow the province to eliminate all the administration and bureaucracy in having to administer the PST and GST, which is a big deal.”
Starr Carson, Accountant, KPMG LLP Kamloops, Kamloops Daily News 

Jul 24, 2009
“A consumer tax - a value-added tax - is indeed the most efficient form of taxation.”
Helmut Pastrick, Chief Economist, Central 1 Credit Union, CKNW 

Spring 2009
“Businesses will benefit from reduced compliance costs... under a simplified tax administration system, which could ultimately be passed on to consumers in the form of lower prices.”
Source: Conference Board of Canada, 2009

April 2, 2009
“Eliminating the provincial sales tax burden on business would make B.C. products more competitive both within Canada and to export markets. It would also provide a major impetus for increased investment, with associated job creation. Sales tax harmonization has been estimated to provide as much incentive for investment in B.C. as would the complete abolition of provincial corporate income tax.”
Jon Kesselman, Simon Fraser University

CARBON TAX

June 8, 2009
"A tax creates opportunities. So there are sectors that are evolving to take advantage of B.C. moving into a lower carbon economy: the whole renewable electricity sector, renewable energy, distributed generation of electricity. We've got some world-class organizations here and expertise that British Columbia can use not only internally but can share with the rest of the world and can lead the continent."
- Nancy Olewiler, Simon Fraser University, CBC B.C. Almanac 

September 18, 2008
"Right now in British Columbia you’ve got an amazingly honest government. Gordon Campbell cannot have been doing this because he wanted to be popular. He did it because he must have listened to people like me who said if you care about the economy and you care about the climate, this is the best policy."
- Dr. Mark Jaccard, CHNL Jim Harrison Show 

February 15, 2008
“In 2001, after a decade of dismal economic performance, the newly elected government enacted a series of bold, incentive-based tax cuts. The results have been nothing short of remarkable.”
- Jason Clemens and Niel Veldhuis. The Vancouver Sun 

April 28, 2008
"When it comes to action on climate change, B.C.’s decision to put a price on carbon emissions makes it a leader, and provides an exciting direction for the federal government and other provinces to follow."
- Ian Bruce, climate change specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation

July, 2008
“Without question the single most important part of the B.C. plan is the carbon tax.”
- Dr. Andrew Weaver, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, UVic