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First Lady · 02-25-2013, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

Penny tax is a great non threatening name for a sales tax isn't it

Yes, it sounds much better than a 20% increase on GST.

Muta · 02-25-2013, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

Penny tax is a great non threatening name for a sales tax isn't it

Theortically, if a sales tax is introduced, our income tax would go down. I might be one of the few people out there that actually believes a sales tax is a good thing. It's commonplace everywhere else in the world.

puckluck2 · 02-25-2013, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by First Lady

Yes, it sounds much better than a 20% increase on GST.

Wrong. Nobody who doesn't have an agenda would say "20% gst increase"

It's a lot easier and clearer to understand to say "one penny sales tax".

bizaro86 · 02-25-2013, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muta

Theortically, if a sales tax is introduced, our income tax would go down. I might be one of the few people out there that actually believes a sales tax is a good thing. It's commonplace everywhere else in the world.

Not if it's introduced at the municipal level they won't. The money would be spent on extra infrastructure. That may or may not be a trade worth making, but a municipal sales tax won't change our income taxes at all.

Alberta could choose to implement an HST and dramatically reduce or even fully replace income taxes, but that's unlikely for political reasons. It would also have to be significantly greater than 1% to accomplish that.

woob · 02-25-2013, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

cross thread much.

Clearly the humour and sarcasm was lost on you, though not surprising.

bizaro86 · 02-25-2013, 02:45 PM

[QUOTE=puckluck2;4095814]

Quote:

Originally Posted by First Lady

Yes, it sounds much better than a 20% increase on GST.[/qupte]

Wrong. Nobody who doesn't have an agenda would say "20% gst increase"

It's a lot easier and clearer to understand to say "one penny sales tax".

The clearest way would be calling it a 1% sales tax.

First Lady · 02-25-2013, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muta

Theortically, if a sales tax is introduced, our income tax would go down. I might be one of the few people out there that actually believes a sales tax is a good thing. It's commonplace everywhere else in the world.

That's the problem, it's "theortically". If it were actual - you and I could agree.

You Need a Thneed · 02-25-2013, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by First Lady

Yes, it sounds much better than a 20% increase on GST.

It wouldn't be an increase of GST really, since, the GST pays to the federal government, and the new tax would fund the city. Maybe you'd call it a HST, as most other provinces have harmonized sales taxes.

I don't have problems with such taxes if it's paying for stuff we need (LRT lines, other infrastructure, etc)

First Lady · 02-25-2013, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

It wouldn't be an increase of GST really, since, the GST pays to the federal government, and the new tax would fund the city. Maybe you'd call it a HST, as most other provinces have harmonized sales taxes.

I don't have problems with such taxes if it's paying for stuff we need (LRT lines, other infrastructure, etc)

It's still equates to an increase in taxes. And there was a very recent poll that showed clearly (72%) Albertans don't support the notion.

Muta · 02-25-2013, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Not if it's introduced at the municipal level they won't. The money would be spent on extra infrastructure. That may or may not be a trade worth making, but a municipal sales tax won't change our income taxes at all.

That's true; I meant to clarify that that would happen on the provincial level.

crazy_eoj · 02-25-2013, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

It wouldn't be an increase of GST really, since, the GST pays to the federal government, and the new tax would fund the city. Maybe you'd call it a HST, as most other provinces have harmonized sales taxes.

I don't have problems with such taxes if it's paying for stuff we need (LRT lines, other infrastructure, etc)

I don't think anyone would argue against paying taxes for things we need.

But do we 'need' 10X more managers vs employees at public offices?

Do we 'need' AHC executives spending millions upon millions for expenses?

There's very little to suggest we 'need' to raise more revenues in this province.

You Need a Thneed · 02-25-2013, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by First Lady

It's still equates to an increase in taxes. And there was a very recent poll that showed clearly (72%) Albertans don't support the notion.

72% not supporting the provincial government introducing a sales tax so that they can continue and increase their incompetence is hardly the same as saying that 72% wouldn't support a tax to fund specific projects.

Without knowing what we are supposed to be getting out of a new tax, of course a high percentage of people are going to oppose it.

Ozy_Flame · 02-25-2013, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by First Lady

It's still equates to an increase in taxes. And there was a very recent poll that showed clearly (72%) Albertans don't support the notion.

Anything above 0% equates to a tax increase.

Whether it's adding tax or cutting costs (don't get me started on this -I'll keep harping back to urban sprawl), we need something creative to satisfy everyone.

I would gladly pay a penny / 1% tax to help fund infrastructure in this city. Outside of a proposed PST / HST on the province, this would essentially just be putting our sales tax back up to 6% anyways. Who cares?

You Need a Thneed · 02-25-2013, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy_eoj

I don't think anyone would argue against paying taxes for things we need.

But do we 'need' 10X more managers vs employees at public offices?

Do we 'need' AHC executives spending millions upon millions for expenses?

There's very little to suggest we 'need' to raise more revenues in this province.

No one was talking about a provincial sales tax.

Kavvy · 02-25-2013, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by First Lady

It's still equates to an increase in taxes. And there was a very recent poll that showed clearly (72%) Albertans don't support the notion.

Albertan's need to smarten up

Senator Clay Davis · 02-25-2013, 03:01 PM

This thread just cannot choose what direction it's going in. Now its a tax discussion?

peter12 · 02-25-2013, 03:01 PM

As far as taxes go, it's widely agreed that increasing sales tax is preferable to income tax. Governments are revenue vacuums though, and do not inversely increase one at the expense of the other.

crazy_eoj · 02-25-2013, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

No one was talking about a provincial sales tax.

Uh what? You suggested an HST like in other provinces?

Tinordi · 02-25-2013, 03:02 PM

This thread needs an enema!

First Lady · 02-25-2013, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

72% not supporting the provincial government introducing a sales tax so that they can continue and increase their incompetence is hardly the same as saying that 72% wouldn't support a tax to fund specific projects.

Without knowing what we are supposed to be getting out of a new tax, of course a high percentage of people are going to oppose it.

Well that's the thing; they don't seem to go to a "specific project". Regardless of level of government, they go into an abyss.

I think the reluctance has more to do with lack of trust that the money would be spent wisely. (again regardless of level of government)