Alberta PST discussion

[nik-]

Originally Posted by chemgear

http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/poll-shows...-pst-1.2194924

The results of a new poll, asking Albertans whether or not they want to see a sales tax implemented in the province, show that residents have no taste for the proposal.

The poll, conducted on January 18 from a test group of 3,184 Albertans, found that 73 percent were not in favour of a provincial sales tax.

The firm found that the idea of a PST came dead last against other revenue streams. The preferred method in the poll was an increase of user fees and sin taxes on alcohol and cigarettes.

well no ####. People are pretty unlikely to respond favourably to any new tax.

[mrkajz44]

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

The National Post had a great proposal out today to ax a bunch of the targeted tax breaks. It would generate an additional $23 billion in tax revenue that could be used to bring the 22% and 26% tax brackets down to 15% leaving only two tax brackets in Canada.
http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/01...ment-billions/

It is federal, but how many tax credits do we have in Alberta that could be eliminated?

That report is from the Fraser Institute. Here's a link to the full study if anyone is interested:

http://www.fraserinstitute.org/resea....aspx?id=22098

Personally, I think it's a good idea - so many tax credits and deductions are dumb and drive no behaviour change (child fitness / arts credit is the worst offender).

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

So you have homegrown Albertans who don't know what a PST feels like (an doesn't want it), and migrated Albertans who moved to escape a PST.

Of course we know what a PST "feels like". It is the exact same thing as the GST, after all. We just don't know what it is like to be taxed up to 15% like Nova Scotia and Quebec are.

[Ozy_Flame]

No kididng. You get a tax credit for buying monthly bus passes, but only a fraction of that is actually "credited" and it is so negligible on your tax return it's almost not worth it.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Of course we know what a PST "feels like". It is the exact same thing as the GST, after all. We just don't know what it is like to be taxed up to 15% like Nova Scotia and Quebec are.

When was the last time we had a PST? How old are you? Where are we again?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

When was the last time we had a PST? How old are you? Where are we again?

If you can't be bothered to read my post, don't waste my time by responding to it.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

If you can't be bothered to read my post, don't waste my time by responding to it.

When was the last time we had a PST?

[darklord700]

Don't we need a plebiscite to bring in the PST in AB?

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

If you can't be bothered to read my post, don't waste my time by responding to it.

Well, we never had a PST. GST isn't comparable, since we've always had GST like everybody else in this country. We've never had tax to pay above GST.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Muta

we've always had GST like everybody else in this country.

No we didn't. GST started in 1991 which replaced the FST which was a hidden tax.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Of course we know what a PST "feels like". It is the exact same thing as the GST, after all. We just don't know what it is like to be taxed up to 15% like Nova Scotia and Quebec are.

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

When was the last time we had a PST? How old are you? Where are we again?

Originally Posted by Muta

Well, we never had a PST. GST isn't comparable, since we've always had GST like everybody else in this country. We've never had tax to pay above GST.

We haven't always had GST. I remember not having the GST and remember when it came in. I'm not that old!

I get what you're saying, but really you're just being obtuse. I don't always agree with Resolute, but come on; you know what he means here and he's right. We understand perfectly well what the PST would look like because we have a VAT in place right now and have for years.

[Muta]

We do, but not at the level that a PST would put our prices at. That's the point. Instead of 5%, we now go to 10% (or something like that), and makes a massive difference in people's purchasing power.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Muta

Well, we never had a PST. GST isn't comparable, since we've always had GST like everybody else in this country. We've never had tax to pay above GST.

I was wondering how long it would be before you showed up to support your brother.

I hate to break it to you two, but the GST is comparable because it is literally the exact same thing. The only difference is that the GST goes to the feds, while a PST would go to the province.

I really should not have had to explain this to you two.

[Tinordi]

PST's are usually different actually. The GST is a value added tax, the PST in a place like BC is not. It's a sales tax.

Value added taxes are more efficient and less distorting. Alberta could implement a sales tax although it would most-likely use an HST which would mean that the feds would collect the tax and then disburse to the province.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I was wondering how long it would be before you showed up to support your brother.

Huh?

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I hate to break it to you two, but the GST is comparable because it is literally the exact same thing. The only difference is that the GST goes to the feds, while a PST would go to the province.

I really should not have had to explain this to you two.

Are you obtuse? everyone knows what a tax is, that's not the issue - it's the amount of tax that the PST is, which could likely double our current tax rate.

No one is debating what a PST or a GST is, but you seem to have a weird hard-on for trying to explain what a tax is, which everyone already knows.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I was wondering how long it would be before you showed up to support your brother.

I hate to break it to you two, but the GST is comparable because it is literally the exact same thing. The only difference is that the GST goes to the feds, while a PST would go to the province.

I really should not have had to explain this to you two.

When was the last time we had a PST in Alberta?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Muta

Are you obtuse? everyone knows what a tax is, that's not the issue - it's the amount of tax that the PST is, which could likely double our current tax rate.

Actually, as I pointed out in my comment that you and your brother didn't read, the highest such point in Canada is actually triple what we are taxed at now.

No one is debating what a PST or a GST is, but you seem to have a weird hard-on for trying to explain what a tax is, which everyone already knows.

Your brother seems to be, so talk to him. Right now you're just arguing the exact same things I said because of the stick up your butt.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Actually, as I pointed out in my comment that you and your brother didn't read, the highest such point in Canada is actually triple what we are taxed at now.

That's great, that proves my point. We've never had a PST, and if we do, it'll make a serious dent in the final sale price on goods and services.

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Your brother seems to be, so talk to him. Right now you're just arguing the exact same things I said because of the stick up your butt.

Seriously, why are you always so hostile? Why do you resort to comments like this? When you say stuff like this, you really don't add anything of value to a conversation, and everyone sees it.

[Ozy_Flame]

Resolute - there is a difference between PST and GST. One is the "Provincial Sales Tax" and the other is the "Government Sales Tax", where money goes to different levels of government.

Do not confuse the definition of tax with the definitions of PST and GST, which are two different arguments.

I also happen to think you're a smart, interesting chap.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

PST's are usually different actually. The GST is a value added tax, the PST in a place like BC is not. It's a sales tax.

Value added taxes are more efficient and less distorting. Alberta could implement a sales tax although it would most-likely use an HST which would mean that the feds would collect the tax and then disburse to the province.

Do I really care what kind of tax it is when I'm digging in my wallet to pay the $15 GST tax on a $300 item and perhaps another $15 to pay the PST?

Nope. The GST pisses me off now and a PST would most likely piss me off in the future.