HST interview on CBC News Now
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009Keith speaking with Carole MacNeil on CBC News Now about how he will vote on the HST.
Archive for the ‘Jobs and the Economy’ Category
Victoria’s Billion Dollar Boondoggle
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
Government is refusing to look at the facts and the science
By Dr. Keith Martin, MP
The rush to choose a sewage treatment site for Victoria before all the facts are available belies a much larger problem. This initiative to spend $1.2 billion to build one or more sewage treatment plants in Victoria is based on myths, fear, perception, and an appalling lack of due diligence on the part of both the federal and provincial governments. It entails the deliberate refusal to listen to the science. Indeed, the facts are being ignored…
Keith talks HST on CBCs The House
Monday, December 7th, 2009Keith spoke with Kathleen Petty about the HST on CBC Radio’s “The House” this past weekend.
Keith’s HST Article in the Sooke News Mirror
Friday, December 4th, 2009
Keith’s HST Article in the Sooke News Mirror
The following editorial appeared in the Sooke News Mirror this week.
A way forward to fix the HST
By Dr. Keith Martin, MP
As the provincial and federal governments introduce their legislation to implement the HST, it would be wise to look at a number of measures that would help mitigate the impact this tax will have on small businesses and consumers.
To be fair, there are a few benefits. Some goods made in BC will be less costly to produce, which could lower their price for consumers. There should also be a reduction in the administrative burden on businesses. However, these benefits will be overshadowed by an increased tax burden on seniors, the poor and major sectors of BC’s economy, especially tourism, restaurants, homebuilding, and the service sector. For example, many people don’t know that the HST will add a 12% tax every year on the management fees charged on mutual funds. Since we know that most people will not have enough money to retire on, why would we introduce a hefty tax that penalizes people who are trying to save for retirement? In fact, the more you save, the more you will be taxed.
So what can be done to reduce the harm the HST will have that both the feds and the province could embrace: (more…)
Keith’s HST Article in the Sooke News MirrorKeith on CBC Power and Politics
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009Yesterday, Dr. Keith Martin spoke about his opposition to the HST in British Columbia while on Power and Politics on CBC.
Keith speaking about the HST on CFAX
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009Dr. Keith Martin speaking with CFAX’s Murray Langdon about the effects of the HST on British Columbians.
Keith on Powerplay talking about the HST
Monday, November 30th, 2009Excerpts from Keith speaking with Tom Clark on CTV’s Powerplay on how the HST will affect British Columbia.
Saving our Salmon
Friday, November 20th, 2009
Urgent action is needed to prevent the collapse of the pacific salmon
By Dr. Keith Martin, MP
The collapse of cod stocks off the East Coast should have been the proverbial canary in a coalmine for us here in British Columbia, but apparently it hasn’t been. Declining salmon stocks are extremely worrisome. There are a number of specific challenges that have occurred off our island and these issues must be dealt with quickly by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
How B.C. can reduce pain from HST
Thursday, September 17th, 2009
How B.C. can reduce pain from HST
As published in the Times Colonist
September 8, 2009
By: Keith Martin
The announcement that on July 1, 2010, B.C.’s provincial sales tax will be merged with the federal goods and services tax was a bolt out of the blue.
This seven per cent tax increase on everything that was previously exempt from PST was anticipated by no one.
(more…)
Can the HST’s Negative Effects be Mitigated?
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009The announcement that on July 1, 2010, BC’s provincial sales tax (PST) will be merged with the federal goods and services tax (GST), was a bolt out of the blue. This 7% tax increase on everything that was previously exempt from PST was anticipated by no one. (more…)
