GST - Should it be raised?

Cannuck

Time Out
Feb 2, 2006
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Almost all deductions are stupid. A consumption tax is the only was to go.

Not really because those with kids at home consume more and they are the ones that should get a tax break, especially if they are at the lower income end.
 

JLM

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Nov 27, 2008
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The average savings, per Canadian, by lowering the GST two points is in the neighbourhood of $0.83 per day. For the poor, the savings are much less as they pay a much larger proportion of their income on non-GST items. The poor are not helped by lowering the GST for more well-to-do Canadians.

That is $25 a month, which would pay for a lot of the prescription drugs that 17% of Canadians are unable to afford. That's one of the problems with money (as I've been trying to tell truck salesman) the nickels and dimes after awhile tend to add up to something we can't handle! :smile:
 

Goober

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Jan 23, 2009
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Not really because those with kids at home consume more and they are the ones that should get a tax break, especially if they are at the lower income end.

And why a gradual increase in GST, with a raise of the base level income is taxed at, GST rebates. That should address most of what you raised.
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
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Hit the wrong thumb. Raising the corporate tax will increase unemployment and elevate the cost of everything because the corps will just pass the cost on to us.

Wrong; lower taxes will mean job creation. It works every time.

 

DurkaDurka

Internet Lawyer
Mar 15, 2006
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Wrong; lower taxes will mean job creation. It works every time.

Every time eh, Walter? Seems that isn't the case in the US currently.

Also, how about the governments bottom line? Oh Ya, you're one of those delusional conservatives who talk the "fiscal" game but play it entirely different.

60% of the time, it works every time.
 

Tonington

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Oct 27, 2006
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No! Lower taxes means more money in my pocket! The Conservatives did the right thing by cutting it from seven to six and then to five. Keep going!

You're confusing popular with correct. If they had of done the right thing, they would have cut spending at the same time as they cut revenues from the tax.
 

Goober

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Jan 23, 2009
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You're confusing popular with correct. If they had of done the right thing, they would have cut spending at the same time as they cut revenues from the tax.

If you were the PM at the time, minority Govt, all the opposition parties screaming for spending, you would have cut spending.
 

Tonington

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Oct 27, 2006
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If you were the PM at the time, minority Govt, all the opposition parties screaming for spending, you would have cut spending.

The government of the day is responsible for the business that Ottawa passes. If my financial position was close to zero, I would not take on a new mortgage when I know I'm about to take a pay cut. That's what happened. The GST should never have been cut, Brian Mulroney get's no credit for the reduction of the deficit. The Liberals could never have cut our debt as much as they did without the GST. And now it looks like we're back into a structural deficit...

I think the prudent thing to do is cut services, and bring the GST back up to 7%. The future isn't so rosy, and I don't want to be in a situation like Greek tax payers, 20 years from now.
 

Goober

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Jan 23, 2009
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The government of the day is responsible for the business that Ottawa passes. If my financial position was close to zero, I would not take on a new mortgage when I know I'm about to take a pay cut. That's what happened. The GST should never have been cut, Brian Mulroney get's no credit for the reduction of the deficit. The Liberals could never have cut our debt as much as they did without the GST. And now it looks like we're back into a structural deficit...

I think the prudent thing to do is cut services, and bring the GST back up to 7%. The future isn't so rosy, and I don't want to be in a situation like Greek tax payers, 20 years from now.

Any Minority would have done the same, except the NDP who would have really rolled the cash out. I think the GST should raise 1 percentage point per year till it is around the 10-12 mark. Also rebates for GST for low income along with raising the basic rates to a higher level would need to be done as well.
Close the small ass tax deductions as well.

A consumption tax is the fairest tax around.
 

taxslave

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Nov 25, 2008
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Because they can still make a profit.
Now there is a statement by someone with no clue about economics. Sounds right out of the dipper handbook.

And you're wrong. Small businesses are probably the best example of how you are mistaken. Business plans do not have to based on zero tax to be successful, they just have to appropriately plan for the level of taxation they will be exposed to. You're somewhat correct in stating they pass on higher costs, because in most business the margin is what they live or die on, but that doesn't mean they don't pay.

Reread my post. Actually the one before this. Business does not pay tax. And small business is the perfect example of why I am right. But then I'm fairly sure I have run a business for at least a decade longer than you have.
 

Kreskin

Doctor of Thinkology
Feb 23, 2006
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The more the consumer tax the less people spend, the less people work.
 

taxslave

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Nov 25, 2008
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Profit is bad if it's stagnant existence causes unnecessary harm to others.

So, for instance, if a company produces a high profit, but does not give salary raises to members who have actually performed well within the organization and deserve additional compensation.

The whole point of being in business is to produce a profit. Also the greater the risk the greater the potential reward must be or there is no point. Not many people are willing to but up with all the risk and hard work of running a business just to break even.
 

Goober

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Jan 23, 2009
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The more the consumer tax the less people spend, the less people work.

Not if lower incomes have taxes lowered. it produces savings, which over the long term are more beneficial to the country. Spending for the sake of having toys is why the average consumer debt ratio is way to high. It is unsafe for the economy.
 

Kreskin

Doctor of Thinkology
Feb 23, 2006
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Not if lower incomes have taxes lowered. it produces savings, which over the long term are more beneficial to the country. Spending for the sake of having toys is why the average consumer debt ratio is way to high. It is unsafe for the economy.
Tell that to restaurant owners. We use to go out often when it was just one tax. With HST? hardly ever.