HST Saves Harmac $1.5 Million

HST Good For Harmac - R. Cantelon

In an article in the News Bulletin local MLA Ron Cantelon (former Nanaimo Councillor, Millennium Hotel deal era) says that business is beginning to see the HST as a 'good thing'. He is quoted as saying the changes will result in a tax saving for Harmac mill of $1,500,000.00 a year.

He acknowledges his office still gets people coming in who are upset about the HST but he does think that business owners are starting to get it.

I am all for Harmac mill and the good paying jobs it provides it's employees. However, I wonder if all the support from taxpayers is really necessary. Just recently it was announced the Feds gave the mill $4,000,000+ to help upgrade equipment and in total they will receive $27,000,000 to help modernize the plant.

So, if you consider how much money the public has put into the auto industry, the forest industry and now all business (with the HST tax shift), I can't help but wonder if we really are in a free market, free enterprise system at all. It is beginning to look like governments, using public tax dollars are forever proping up businesses which are either poorly managed or simply can't compete on the world stage.

On the other hand it could simply boil down to the fact that government at all levels has simply grown far too big, and are demanding more and more cash to sustain itself and are simply playing a juggling act trying to see who will squawk the least at having their pocket picked.