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I'm no longer a Vancouver resident, but I know people who are voting no not because they think transit doesn't need the money (it definitely does), but because:
by patmcc 12y ago
I'm no longer a Vancouver resident, but I know people who are voting no not because they think transit doesn't need the money (it definitely does), but because:
1) Sales tax is a regressive way to tax people.
2) Translink, the company in charge of transit in Vancouver, is widely seen as somewhere between incompetent and corrupt. (Corrupt by Canadian standards, which is a pretty low bar).
If this was done as an increase in property and gas taxes, I suspect it'd be a different story.
- refurb 12y agoSales tax is a regressive way to tax people. Aren't there numerous sales tax exemptions that make it less regressive? No sales tax on groceries, school supplies, etc?
- titanomachy 12y agoThe PST in British Columbia (which would be raised half a percent) exempts children's clothes, books, bicycles, medications, and most food. Source: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=78521DE3BD5D46C9A3B17631207A0AD7 http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=78521DE3BD5D46C9A3B1...
- itsybitsycoder 12y agoThere are still a lot of necessities that are taxed, like adult clothing, hygiene supplies, etc., and a lot of non-necessities that are exempted. Last I checked, a baggie of corner store candy is not exempt but a $5k wedding cake would be. A wardrobe of designer children's clothing is exempt, but work boots for an adult are not. So they have tried to make it less regressive, but that's hard to do with a sales tax.