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BC FORUM News Release Campbell government has “undermined social contract” BURNABY, September 18, 2009 – The Harmonized Sales Tax proposed by the provincial government will dramatically increase inequality, increase poverty, and reduce the middle class, says Adrian Dix, NDP Health Critic. It’s part of a continuing shift in taxation that undermines our ability to support social programs, Dix told about 100 retired workers at the Annual General Meeting of BC FORUM in Burnaby Sept. 17. “They shifted the burden. They increased the inequality. We have the highest seniors poverty rate in the country, and the highest child poverty rate. “The HST – which they lied about during the election – is a dramatic extension of that, a dramatic shift in taxation from principally large corporations to working people,” he said. “It’s a dramatic social change that we need to resist.” Because the province has increasingly privatized long term care and home care, the HST will add 7 percent to the cost. “It’s going to cost seniors more. And it’s going to mean that agencies with contracts with government will be able to provide fewer hours of care.” As another example of the tax shift, Dix said the 2008 B.C. budget cut taxes on banks by $120 million, and now the government is closing seniors centres, closing care home spaces, and cancelling surgeries. “This government has undermined the social contract between working people and their government. We have to oppose it. We have to stop it,” said Dix. Jim Sinclair, President of the B.C. Federation of Labour, called for a return to “fair, progressive taxes” to pay for needed public services. “The HST will be hardest on working people, poor people and seniors,” said Sinclair. And instead of helping to pay for things we need, like health care, education and environmental protection, the HST will provide another huge tax giveaway to corporations, he said. “This is absurd,” said Sinclair. Members at the BC FORUM AGM adopted a resolution to oppose introduction of the HST in British Columbia. They also called on the provincial government to stop health care cuts, to restore funding for seniors’ outreach and support services, and to recognize the urgent need to improve ambulance and paramedical services. | ||
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