Category Archives: Media

Consider, Life, Media

How many more?

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Watching another report about a memorial or ceremony for/about Amanda Todd, the teen ‘bullied to death’, raises the question of how many other teenagers will suicide as a result of the media coverage of all the accolades and fame Amanda Todd’s suicide garnered her?

Not that many months ago the media was focused on one community’s efforts to prevent a recent teen suicide triggering future teen suicides in the community; suicides as in more than one. The community’s concern arose from the knowledge that the suicide of one teenager will set in motion thoughts in surviving teens that lead to a cluster of teen suicides in the future.

The media’s report focused on this knowledge, and the evidence linking the suicide of one teen with future suicides among the surviving teens.

If a simple teen suicide serves to trigger future teen suicides, how many suicide deaths will the message, intentional or not, we are sending via media coverage of Amanda Todd’s suicide cause in the future? Deaths that will occur not only in Vancouver, but around the world as Amanda Todd’s death became a cause celebre for media worldwide.

Want worldwide fame? Want your name all over the local media for days, weeks, months? Want people to speak of what a wonderful person you were and what a tragedy your loss is? Want your father to get a tattoo to memorialize you? Want a memorial held at the Red Robinson Theatre in memory of you? Want to make a video and have it go viral on the internet? Want not only 15 minutes of fame, but for the 15 minutes to be extended?

No problem!

Simply, make a video, post it on line, off your self – and let the wailing and gnashing of teeth begin.

There exists ample knowledge about the psycho/socio/bio (psychological sociological biological) nature of the realities, interactions and thought processes of teenagers vis-à-vis suicide. We know that the behaviours of the media, society and individuals with respect to Amanda Todd’s suicide will inspire other teens around the world to seek fame and immortality through suicide.

Now this may not be a pleasant reality, but it is reality none the less, one of the profuse dark realities and unpleasant truths that people and societies work hard to ignore by refusing to see or burying their heads in the sand.

But: Reality does not care what you want to be fact, reality does not care what you believe to be fact, Reality simply is what IS.

The question is not whether teen suicides will result from media coverage of Amanda Todd’s suicide and the ongoing circus that resulted as people strove to get aboard the 15 minutes of fame parade float.

That there would be future suicides triggered was an unavoidable reality, the when and how many were dependent on whether behaviour in reaction the Amanda Todd’s suicide was deliberate and considered – or our usual thoughtless reactionary denial of reality knee-jerk rote response.

Unpalatable perhaps – but Reality none the less.

 

Hmmm, Media

NOW I Understand!!

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I had used Rogers as my wireless provider for over 6 years and while Rogers may not have wowed me with their customer service they did nothing that would explain why the mention of Rogers to ex-Rogers customers evokes a response like that of waving the proverbial red cape in front of a bull.

It has taken Rogers less than a week to provide me a clear understanding of how it is that Rogers evokes a passionate distaste that borders on hate.

Rogers has definitely put me solidly in the ‘anyone but Rogers camp’. To the point that although I would like to keep the phone number I have had for the last 6+ years I will be quite willing to get a new phone number if that is what is required to ensure I do not have to deal with Rogers past the point of making the payments necessary to reduce my account balance to zero and sever me from the Albatross this is Rogers.

The Path that finds me sitting at my computer setting down this cautionary tale began at the end of November 2011 when the Cavalier I was driving was in need of expensive repairs such that it proved a wiser financial move to sell the Cavalier to the crusher and purchase the 1989 Cougar I currently drive for $1,000.00.

One of the most insidious aspects of poverty is the constant grinding away of the spirit and hope. One of the ways poverty grinds at you is the fact that you never have an opportunity to set any money aside for the little financial emergencies that are part of living. You are constantly one little mishap from homelessness.

A major financial disaster such as my car will, 99.99999999999999% of the time, result in homelessness. Immediately if you replace the car, several months down the road if you do not replace the car.

Having enough friends to contribute to the formation a pool of cash to lend to keep you housed and buy you the time to get your finances back up to poverty from bankrupt is the only way for the poor to survive.

In the scramble to get transportation and secure housing bills such as internet and wireless get bumped down the priority pay list. Putting you in arrears and struggling to slowly bring accounts current.

I did not try to hide the stretched state of my finances from service providers and have, through strict budget discipline, managed to go from three months in arrears to one month (plus/minus).

Other than Rogers my service providers have been patient and helpful as I work on bringing all accounts into current – even if it is a slow, slow process.

In order to avoid a service interruption I had arranged for payment to be made Friday; a few days late because it is Friday I get paid.

Wednesday my phone service was suspended and my calls were redirected and I found myself dumped into a computer voice options land where none of options offered was appropriate and none of the options offered gets you a live human being to talk to.

Leaving you on the phone with a computer system that is demanding payment, telling me I have a payment agreement on record and that Rogers had not processed the payment I made on the Friday 12 days.

I manage to use a……shortcut……to get connected to a actual person in credit services.

Who proceeded to tell me I needed to make a payment now in order to get service restored. I explained that until I am paid on Friday I have no money; that I had spoken with a Rogers representative and made arrangements for the Friday payment because I had no money until I got paid Friday and wanted to avoid a service disruption.

When I enquired why, with a payment agreement having been made service had still been interrupted I was told I needed to make a payment immediately to get service restored.

I explained that the unexpected and large expense of replacing my car had blow a large hole in my budget, that it was taking time to catch up on bills I was forced to defer and that the reason there was a payment agreement on file was because I got paid on Friday at which point I would have money to make the agreed upon payment – and why, with a payment agreement in place had my service been interrupted.

I was told that it would take at least 5 days to process my payment and – perhaps – restore services and that if I waited to Friday to pay it could take longer because of the weekend. I once again stated that I had no money to make a payment until Friday – when I was paid. That was why i had a payment agreement in place for a payment to be made on Friday.

He then suggested that I needed to increase the size of the payment set for Friday. I reminded him about how tight my budget was and that that was why that amount had been set for the payment and why I had no money to make a payment until I was paid on Friday.

He started in about how it was necessary to increase the size of the payment to bring the account current right away.

I reminded him – again – about the tightness of my budget etc.etc. etc.

When he returned to the need to make a larger payment to bring the account current I reminded him that, as stated previously, my finances were to tight to do this. He then suggested I use a credit card to pay the outstanding balance. I thanked him for making it clear that I needed to reduce my wireless costs in order to pay what I owed Rogers in as timely a manner as possible, thanked him and got off the phone.

Whereupon I promptly headed off to find another provider. And although the cost of services is about the same, I save close to $30 a month because my new provider does not nickel and dime me to death to the tune of $30, as did Rogers.

That weekend I phoned to inform Rogers I was accepting their termination of our relationship. Credit services told me I had to talk to customer services. Customer services said no I needed to talk to credit services. Someone at credit services finally told me I had to call back during the and talk the retention team. Retention team? Now there is a rather amusing concept. And would it not be simpler to treat customers with courtesy rather than trying to retain them after infuriating them?

I did make the payment as I had agreed to.

I phoned during the following week to make sure that the account was no longer in service and to say that I would be paying the balance owing, but with my tight financial state and the fact I would be giving priority to those service providers who chose to be understanding and work with me it would likely be close to the end of 2012 before the full balance was paid.

Subsequent to the final call I was able to make another payment.

This week (July 10, 2012) I received a call from Rogers about payment of the outstanding balance of $185. The statement that I did not owe $185 evoked the immediate threat of having the account assigned to a collection agency. At which point I hung up and composed the letter below, sending it to Customer Service and appropriate Rogers executives.

Ironically, as I sitting at the computer composing the letter to Rogers, I used online banking to pay my wireless bill from my new provider.

 

……stay tooned – we are talking Rogers after all……

On June 6, 2012 Rogers terminated our six year service provider/service consumer relationship by suspending phone service, unilaterally abrogating the payment agreement agreed to by Rogers and myself.

Attempts to speak to someone at Rogers dumped me into the computer automated disservice were I was consistently informed there was a payment agreement on record for my account, followed by demands for payment.

I escaped and spoke to an actual person.

My inquiry as to why Rogers abrogated the payment plan was met with a request for immediate payment. When I explained that the reason there was a payment agreement on the account, with payment to be made on Friday, was that Friday was payday, the Rogers representative responded requesting immediate payment. When it became clear that no matter what approach I took I was unable to get the Rogers representative to understand that it was not possible to make a payment Wednesday when I was paid Friday. I thanked him and said I would make the payment as per agreement on Friday.

This elicited the threat that if I waited to Friday, rather than make an immediate payment, it could well be late the next week before my phone service could be restored. The statement I would have to take that chance was met with the statement that making the payment larger or paying the entire balance would also prove beneficial in the restoration of phone services.

So it was that I found myself explaining to yet another Rogers employee that the need to fund an unexpected $1,000 expense in order to keep a car on the road coupled with being on disability, thus having a fixed and limited income, meant it was only through strict budgeting and disciplined spending that I would be able – over time – to bring my accounts current. That the payment agreed to was the maximum available in my budget.

It was suggested that in order to ensure phone service was restored and to avoid future service interruptions I should pay the entire amount. When reminded that I did not have that amount, it was suggested I put it on a credit card.

I chose not to comment on what that suggestion said about Rogers business ethics, saying simply that I could not do that, thank you and hanging up.

Whereupon I promptly went in search of another service provider.

I phoned on the weekend to inform Rogers I was accepting their termination of me as a customer. After being bounced between credit services and customer relations, before I was cut off, I was told I had to call back on a weekday and talk to the client retention team. A rather amusing concept.

I did make the payment as I had agreed to.

I phoned during the following week to make sure that the account was no longer in service and to say that I would be paying the balance owing, but with my tight financial state and the fact I would be giving priority to those service providers who chose to be understanding and work with me it would likely be close to the end of 2012 before the full $140.10 was paid.

Subsequent to the final call I was able to make a $20 payment, reducing the outstanding balance to $120.10.

This week I received a call from Rogers about payment of the outstanding balance of $185. The statement that I did not owe $185 evoked the immediate threat of having the account assigned to a collection agency.

Given healthy boundaries, I hung up once the threat was uttered.

This letter is to 1) set out what has transpired to date, 2) provide copies of my account statement at the point in time Rogers terminated our relationship, 3) record payments made and not reflected on the statement and 4) once again state to Rogers that the $120.10 will be paid as financial circumstances permit, albeit with preference given to the service providers being supportive of the struggle to recover from the car repair. Despite the anger I feel vis-a-vis Rogers’ threatening phone calls.

Rest assured the $120.10 will be paid. Regretfully, deeply so as it requires a longer relationship with Rogers, financial reality is that, whether to Rogers or a collection agency, finding the funds to pay the remaining $120.10 will require financial discipline and time.

 

 

James W. Breckenridge

 

************************************************

Caveat emptor, Consider, Federal, Media, Municipal, Provincial

Unpalatable perhaps – but REALITY none the less.

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Reality does not care what you want to be fact, reality does not care what you believe to be fact, Reality simply is what IS fact. Tao of James

I wanted to speak of a reality I have no doubt many will Howl about, deny or want to argue about. Which is fine with me – as long as you read the entire comment and think about why I made the statement of Reality IS in fact – as defined by our actions – not our words but our actions.

It is a source of pride for many of Abbotsford’s citizens that Abbotsford has a reputation as the Bible Belt, a very Christian city. False pride as a recent event and the reaction and behaviour of Abbotsford citizens to that event have compellingly proven.

Despite its diverse multicultural and multi-faith nature British Columbia also considers itself a predominantly Christian province. Here also the reaction and behaviour of the citizens of BC to that recent event prove compellingly that British Columbians are clearly deluding themselves as to any relationship between BC and Christianity.

Many Canadians think of Canada as being a Christian nation, a nation of Christian values. Again the reaction and behaviour of Canadians to that recent event have compellingly proven that Canada is demonstrably neither Christian nor does it honour Christian values.

Mr Harper and his Conservatives like to wrap themselves in their moral superiority as Christians. However the depravity of Mr Harper and his Conservatives recent spiritually corrupt behaviour makes clear that the ‘christianity’ of Mr Harper and his Conservatives is merely “sheep’s clothing’ to make them more electable and has nothing to do with Christ’s teachings.

What was this singular event?

It was Mr Harper stating he and his Conservatives are comfortable exporting death because it is profitable (and undoubtedly helpful in gaining seats in the House in the region of Quebec mining and exporting the asbestos).

Remember you cannot use asbestos in any form in Canada; should you disturb asbestos in a building you must call in specialists to remove the asbestos – wearing full environmental suits, using airlocks and special air filtration units to remove the asbestos from the air, showering off the suits and washing all surfaces down to prevent any asbestos from spreading or being left; and asbestos must be properly packaged up and disposed of in an approved disposal site.

All of this because asbestos is a highly hazardous and toxic material that causes asbestosis, cancer and death.

Yet Canada is exporting asbestos, along with its travelling companions – asbestosis, cancer and death because it is profitable – and opens a political opportunity for Mr Harper and his Conservatives.

What makes Mr Harper and his Conservative’s demonstrated distain for human life even more abhorrent, is the fact that Chrysotile asbestos will not be listed as a hazardous industrial chemical that can be banned from import after Canada helped block consensus, despite the fact that the scientific review body of the Rotterdam Convention recommended the inclusion of “white” asbestos on health grounds..

For Christians the question is what Christ would do and say about this export of death for profit and political advantage?

Christ would undoubtedly speak of the need to forgive and love those who engage or allow this trade in death; to pray that those dealing in death or permitting this trading in death find their way out of the darkness and into the light – putting an end to the exporting of death.

But would a Being who preached and lived not just loving your neighbour as yourself, but to love your enemies; to do unto others as you would have them do unto you; spoke not of vengeance, harming or killing others but of forgiveness and love find exporting death for money tolerable?

No.

This export of death is behaviour that is abhorrent to anyone, any being or Being, with honour, integrity and ethics – and to any true Christian.

The actions of Mr Harper and his Conservatives since they first formed the Government of Canada have demonstrated that while Mr Harper and his Conservatives may speak of morals or integrity or ethics, they will not let anything stand in the way of political power for them. Thus it is no real surprise that with a political advantage to be had Mr Harper and his Conservatives will not only support the export of the suffering and death that goes with asbestos, but bloc international attempts to protect people around the world from this export of death that may interfere with their political power and goals.

Mr Harper’s statements were made on the day the riot in Vancouver occurred. The airwaves were filled with hours of broadcasting on what was and had occurred on the streets of Vancouver; with righteous indignation, condemnation, outrage……..

For what was, when all is said and done, damage to property, ego and a black eye for Vancouver’s self-image, image and reputation.

And about Canada exporting asbestosis, cancer and death – Silence.

The people of Abbotsford were not lined up outside Ed Fast’s office to demand an end to this trading in death; they were not jamming his phone lines nor stuffing his email to demand an end to this trading in death; they were not demanding that city council pass a motion condemning the export of death and demanding an end to this trading in death.

The so called ‘christian’ leadership in Abbotsford (BC and across Canada) were silent, apparently undisturbed by the blood of innocents that stains the hands of all Canadians with this exporting of death.

Neither the people of BC nor Canadians were demanding their municipal or provincial governments condemn and demand an end to the export of death; there were NO demonstrations demanding an end to the export of death.

On the question of Christianity in Abbotsford, British Columbia and Canada we have arrived at a syllogism:

To those who practice the teachings and behaviours of Christ, Canada’s export of death is abhorrent, corrupt and depraved and must be strongly, loudly, continually opposed until Canada’s export of death is ended.

Outside of a very few, the reaction in Abbotsford, British Columbia and Canada was/is quiet acceptance of the continued trade in death.

Outside of a very few, the silence in Abbotsford, British Columbia and Canada evidences the lack of those who practice the teachings and behaviours of Christ and are Christian in deeds, not hollow words.

behaviour, Consider, Federal, Issues, Media, Municipal, Provincial

Canada’s Trade in Death

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Concordat:

I hereby attest and aver that as a Canadian of honour, integrity and ethics it is depraved, and therefore categorically unacceptable, for Canada to be exporting death (slow, painful death) and industrial disease – in any form and for reasons as perverted as jobs, profits and electoral advantage. I demand that the federal government make this trading in death illegal – immediately.

I call upon all Canadians of integrity and ethics to join in condemning this depraved export of death and industrial disease and demand the federal government make this trading in death illegal – immediately.

I call upon all Provincial, Territorial and Municipal politicians and governments of integrity and ethics to pass motions condemning this depraved export of death and industrial disease and demand the federal government make this trading in death illegal – immediately.

I call upon all Members of Parliament of integrity and ethics to come together, regardless of political affiliation, and make it a priority to immediately introduce and adopt legislation making the export of death and industrial disease illegal – immediately.

In stating that he won’t allow cancer causing asbestos to be reintroduced in Canadian homes or schools but he’s firmly behind allowing Quebec’s asbestos industry to export the death and disease that its product causes to willing buyers abroad, hoping that it will enable the Tories to win a seat in the area; in ignoring the fact Conservative MP Chuck Strahl did not seek re-election because he has been diagnosed with incurable lung cancer – mesothelioma – believed to be triggered by breathing asbestos when he was younger; Mr Harper has demonstrated a level of ethical and spiritual corruption and turpitude such that he is unfit to be involved in any manner with the governing of Canada and such that his presence in Ottawa defiles Parliament, the Government of Canada and the Citizens of Canada.

Mr Harper and any members of his caucus, indeed any Members of Parliament, Provincial, Territorial or Municipal politicians supporting this trade in death on the grounds of profit, jobs and/or political advantage are unfit to be associated in any manner with the Government of Canada, any Province, Territory or Municipality and must resign.

Should Mr Harper refuse to resign, a high probability outcome given the level of depravity his statements, actions and non-actions on the prostitution of Canada by trading in death, it is the moral duty of the Conservative caucus to remove Mr Harper from the caucus and any association with the Conservative Party.

Should the Conservative caucus choose to join Mr Harper and descend to his level of ethical and spiritual corruption and turpitude, any members of the Conservative caucus with integrity and ethics must resign the caucus and serve Canadian citizens by sitting as independents and working with other Members of Parliament possessing integrity and ethics to stop Canada and Canadian business from exporting death.

All Members of Parliament with integrity and ethics must not only wrest control of Parliament from those so depraved as to see nothing wrong with trading in death and put an end to this trading in death, but must also do all within their power to end any connection between Parliament and any members of parliament with a level of ethical and spiritual corruption and turpitude as to refuse to ban the export of a cancer causing death material.

Failure to act on ending this trade in cancer death and disease by Parliament and Provincial, Territorial or Municipal governments demonstrates they are unfit to govern and any government or level of government that demonstrates its’ unfitness to govern should be treated as non-existent.

Unfit governments should be shunned until they demonstrate they are at least minimally fit to be a government.

Whatever government Canadians deserve or are, for the most part willing to accept, no Canadian of any integrity or ethics can accept a government or governments so depraved as to be willing to export asbestos materials that cause cancer and death.

The only course for Canadians of integrity and ethics is to call for the resignation of all those who support or refuse to end the Death Trade and to focus on civil disobedience until at least minimal ethical behaviour is restored to governments in Canada.

We can starve the monstrous beast by refusing to feed it what it must have to exist – citizens financial support.

Forcing the federal or other levels of government to cease to sully all Canadians with their corruption and turpitude will not be easy, but it can be done.

The question every Canadian must ask themselves is what value they place upon their own integrity, ethics, spirit and souls?

Media, Provincial

Media and the HST Report

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You know, at one time the News media actually (I know I am showing my age) had a certain amount of factual information and balance in their reporting.

As the coverage of the release of the report the BC government asked an the independent panel to prepare to provide BC voters with the information needed to make a wise decision when casting their vote – yea or nay – on the HST referendum demonstrates neither the broadcast nor print media can be trusted to provide factual and balanced coverage of important issues.

Watching the coverage or reading the papers left one thinking the report had salvaged the BC Liberals and the HST.

Since this was not what I had expected from an independent panel I went to the internet to read the report and found that nothing could have been further from the reality of the report than the media coverage.

Indeed, the coverage provided by the media was so misleading the coverage, with its total disregard for reality, accuracy or the consequences of the coverage, borders on malfeasance.

The report was a thoughtful examination of the HST setting out the facts and realities of the HST and placing the HST in context vis-à-vis the budget realities of the BC government – a must read for those who will be voting in the HST referendum.

Indeed the report does such a fine job of setting out the budget realities faced by the province and government of BC, the report needs to form part of budget deliberations and discussions to ensure politicians and public have a solid understanding of the budget [revenues and spending] realities of the provinces finances.

You can read the report HST or PST/GST? – IT’S YOUR DECISION in its entirety or the excerpts (italicized) below which includes over 90% of the report itself, reformatted to this format.

We’ll admit — It’s been a struggle. Some of the facts about the HST and PST/GST are crystal clear. Other facts will take time to emerge. Tax policy is complex and it’s not always easy to arrive at black and white conclusions.

The process of preparing this report has shown us much of the debate over the HST and PST/GST remains filled with factually incorrect information. We believe that better information, including the good and the bad about each tax system, is critical for there to be a successful referendum – no matter the result.

Revenue from the sales tax equals the total income taxes paid by individuals. If B.C. eliminated the sales tax — whether it’s the HST or PST/GST — there would be a $5-billion to $6-billion hole in the $41-billion budget. To compensate the government would need to increase the deficit, raise other revenue or cut spending on services. Or do a combination of all three.

Spending on health care [currently 42% of the budget] in B.C. is growing more than twice as fast as the government’s revenue growth.

If governments are to adequately fund public services and avoid cutbacks, tax hikes or deficits that add to provincial debt [interest on debt is 6% of budget expenditures; increasing debt and/or increasing interest rates means more of the budget must be used to pay interest, decreasing the monies available to provide services], they must have reliable and robust sources of revenue.

Under the PST, much of the service economy went untaxed. Under the HST, most services are taxed. That means a broader tax base and a more stable source of revenue for government. One thing is clear— sales taxes are essential to the B.C. government’s revenue base.

“As a consumption tax the HST is efficient. There are no loopholes, exemptions for special interest groups or deductions.” Paul Mockler, A & A Trading Ltd.

British Columbian families pay an average of $350 more every year on routine expenditures under the HST. The more you spend, the more HST you, pay. The more you earn, the more you’re likely to spend. If your family is one of the 15 per cent of B.C. families that report income of less than $10,000 a year, you’re actually better off under the HST. All B.C. taxpayers’ HST costs are partially offset through income tax relief. 17% of your spending has an extra seven per cent sales tax; 29% of your spending is subject to the same total sales taxes as before, it has not gone up or down; 54% of your spending is not taxable under the HST or the PST/GST – nothing has changed.

To make a product or service, businesses pay for items like power, heat, rent and computers. Under the PST, businesses paid the seven per cent sales tax on those purchases. While you never saw it on your bill most of that PST was added onto the final price you paid at the cash register. Call it the invisible PST paid by you, the consumer.

Under the HST system that’s changed. Most businesses receive a full rebate on sales tax paid on items they buy to make a product or service. That means they no longer add the invisible PST to the final price they charge you. Businesses can pass on their HST rebates to you in the form of lower prices or use their savings to invest in new equipment and productivity.

“For B.C.’s businesses to remain competitive, a value-added sales tax, like the HST, is a necessity.” Institute of Chartered Accountants

Virtually all economic analysis finds the HST increases economic growth, productivity, wages and the quality of jobs. A move back to the PST/GST will likely have a negative impact on business and investor confidence because of uncertainty over tax policy. The panel’s commissioned analysis concludes the economy will get a bigger boost under the HST than it would under PST/GST. Under the HST, the size of the economy will be $2.5 billion larger in 2020 than it would have been with the PST/GST. That’s about a 1.1 per cent higher growth. Small and large businesses save at least $150 million in administrative costs because they now comply with one tax, not two.

“A reality that has seldom been mentioned in the HST debate is that the provincial government actually has relatively few policy levers available to attract investment, foster the growth of high-paying private sector jobs, and enhance B.C.’s competitiveness. The design of the consumption tax regime is one area where the province has the capacity to shape the economic environment in a positive way.” Business Council of British Columbia

The HST puts exporters on the same footing with the more than 140 other countries that have gone to value added sales taxes, such as the HST, to make their exports competitive in the global marketplace.

For the important small business sector the HST is a benefit as the HST removes the PST from the cost of production. That makes it cheaper to produce goods and services, helping overall sales and exports. The HST also makes bookkeeping simpler and cheaper for small business. Compliance with only one sales tax (HST) vs. two (PST and GST) is particularly important for small firms, which often don’t have the same administrative resources as larger companies.

Our consensus is the HST will be a net benefit to the economy. But don’t expect dramatic results overnight – it’s a tax that offers incremental benefits over time by: Making most businesses more competitive; Reducing administrative costs to businesses; Reducing the cost of producing goods and services; Creating more jobs.

Going back.

Going back to the PST will take 18-24months. The time is needed for rewriting federal-provincial tax laws and regulations, hiring back 300 tax collectors, rebuilding a provincial PST office and helping businesses readjust their accounting systems.

The first year of going back to the PST/ GST will result in the province losing the

$820 million in the first year, increasing to $893 million in the second year and would widen each year. Factoring in the saving the provincial budget would see a net revenue loss of $531 million in the first year and $645 million in the second. That trend would continue each year, meaning other revenues would need to be found or public services cut to avoid increasing future deficits.

Going back will be expensive. The province will probably have to repay Ottawa the $1.6 billion it received to transition to the HST. If the government borrowed $1.6 billion to repay Ottawa, it would cost $85 million a year in interest based on today’s interest rates. {Assuming that repealing the HST and the need to borrow $1.6 billion does not result in a change to BC’s credit rating and raise the interest rate BC can borrow at}

Note: one point I feel the report was not strong enough on is the negative effect repealing the HST will have on the province’s cost to borrow money. Lenders are repaid out of government revenues raised through taxes. I feel that a refusal to pay higher taxes while at the same time demanding more and more services – and thus rapid increases in debt, is going to have a significant effect on the cost to borrow money and the negative consequences flowing from increasing costs of debt servicing. Indeed, under those circumstances the province could begin to have trouble borrowing the money it needs as lenders become cautious about BC’s debt escalation.

And while it may not seem large compared to other costs the government will spend $35 million each year to run the PST office.