HST = Hated Sales Tax/Historical Sales Tax in B.C.: What Does It Stand For in Ontario?
Now that the British Columbia referendum results are in, Ontario voters will have their opportunity to brand the HST in the October 6, 2011 election.
The BC voters have demonstrated that the "Hated Sales Tax" will become a "Historical Sales Tax". They have clearly told the B.C. Liberals that it is a "Half-Baked Sales Tax" and they should have thought longer and been more open about it.
The McGuinty Liberals in Ontario will paint the BC referendum results as the "Hiccup Sales Tax" trying to distance themselves from the results. They may even go so far as to say it is the "Humanity Sales Tax" that Ontario must have it in the name of societal welfare.
The McGuinty Liberals will label it the "Happy Sales Tax" stating that Ontarians are happy to pay the HST (I do not believe this for a second). Or, the "Harmonious Sales Tax" because Ontarians live in harmony and peace with the HST (yah right!). In an attempt to appeal to young voters, it may be called the "Hip Sales Tax". It will definitely be a "Hyped Sales Tax" by the time the election is over.
The Progressive Conservatives in the Ontario election campaign period have a platform to highlight the worst of the HST in Ontario, such as the added costs of living for real people in Ontario. Tim Hudak has promised to implement a point of sale rebate on heat and hydro so that it is not longer the "Hydro Sales Tax" and "Heat Sales Tax". When people cannot afford the necessities of life, it will be the "Hungry Sales Tax" as their prepared food order exceeds the $4.00 threshold. Retail sales tax was not payable on real property and the HST is a "Homeownership Sales Tax". Retail sales tax was not payable on most services and HST is a "Haircut Sales Tax". Retail sales tax was not payable on hockey lessons and rentals of arenas and HST is a "Hockey Sales Tax". The HST causes provincial health care budgets to balloon and is a "Hospital Sales Tax" and "Health Sales Tax".
The Ontario voters may turn it into the "Heckle Sales Tax" and cat lovers the "Hairball Sales Tax" (whating to spit it back at the liberals). Many will say it is a "Hypocritical Sales Tax" as the McGuinty Government should have considered and implemented significant spending cuts before promoting and implementing HST. Those who believe that McGuinty did not listen to the people who voted for him in the last election may call it the "Hearing-loss Sales Tax".
Prime Minister Harper will take some hits in Ontario with the brand "Harper Sales Tax", but he has a majority and will shrug it all off.
Are there other examples of what HST stands for?
Cyndee Todgham Cherniak is counsel to and in affiliation with the International Trade Law and the Tax Law (Commodity Tax
