It's rather interesting watching this video, because Reformer Patrick Brown is laying out the neo-Conservative agenda for all to see. These are things that Stephen Harper has tried to hide, because he finds that he does better when he pretends to be governing from the centre.
Interesting.
First off, Brown applauds the Northern Foundation's and National Citizens Coalition's battle cry: More freedom through less government, then admits that they are reducing taxes to reduce the size of government and their interference in our lives. (Oops. Patty my boy. That was supposed to be hush, hush.)
Of course, that pesky interference means things like providing public heath care, education, a national child care plan, food inspection, money for 'left-wing fringe groups', etc. All of those things that made Canada strong, we must eliminate.
He then goes into a bit of slapstick for our enjoyment, discussing things like our debt, which is now the highest on record, and the $ 100.00 per month for working families ... ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
And his option for public health care? For all those families who can afford $ 500.00 to enrol their children in a sports program, they will get a tax credit with a net benefit of $ 75.00. Yeah! I feel healthier already.
But for families who can't afford to feed their children. Sorry. Better luck next time.
Can't wait to hear the rest of their 'ten year plan'? Maybe a cake with a file in it for all the ex-Reformers behind bars. That's my ten month plan.
But he out does himself on the HST merry-go-around. Poor lad missed his boss's interview in BC promoting the tax and is hoping his constituents did as well. But if you thought Tim Hudak was a neanderthal on the HST, he's only the second place idiot on the subject.
Little Patty wrote an editorial for his local paper, that was far more fiction than fact and one response summed it up nicely.
Still time for province to change its course on HST
Posted By PATRICK BROWN
Barrie Examiner
In recent weeks, I have received numerous inquiries regarding the Ontario government's pending harmonized sales tax.
It has not gone unnoticed that members of the Ontario government and others are attempting to confuse the public by saying the federal government supports this tax grab. ...
RESPONSE:
Patrick Brown's recent editorial "Still time for province to change its course on HST" caught the attention of national political columnist and host of CTV's Question Period, Jane Taber, who described Brown as "a clever contortionist with his pen". I suppose Brown and his government think they were clever to deflect responsibility for their HST-enabling legislation, Bill C-62, by calling it the "Provincial Choice Tax Framework Act". Bill C-62 was not "Adopted earlier this year" as Brown claims. It was introduced two weeks ago and passed the House of Commons five days later. Ottawa insiders may consider this clever, but I suspect ordinary people will see it as deceiptful.
Brown goes on to point out that the provincial portion of HST in the Atlantic provinces is 8% and then calls for Ontario to reduce it's portion of the HST by 4 percentage points, from 8% to 4%. In 2008-2009 PST was responsible for more than 25% of the Ontario government's tax revenue. How does Mr. Brown expect the provincial government to fund the lion's share of important projects like the RVH expansion and the Simcoe Muskoka Cancer Care Centre if it slashes it's revenues? Incidentally, the federal Conservatives are the only level of government not contributing to the $400-million cost of that project. Don't bother telling us how your government has increased transfer payments to the provinces for healthcare, Mr. Brown, because those increases were set in law that was passed before your government took office.
The reason many people don't like the HST is the provincial portion of sales tax will soon apply to many things that previously were only subject to the federal sales tax, the GST. Mr. Brown calls for the province to exempt "gasoline, home heating, condo fees, new home sales, funeral costs" and "registration fees for minor hockey". Mr. Brown, why is it OK for your government to tax all those things (GST), if you don't think it's OK for the provincial government to do the same?
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