Ontarians: how do you feel about your HST rebate cheque?
If you’re an Ontario resident and don’t earn Lionel Messi-like money, chances are you’ve opened up the mailbox to an HST rebate cheque sometime over the past week.
What you’ve done with it, though, is another matter.
To most Ontarians – and, especially, B.C. residents – the HST is a thorn in your side. It’s a tax grab of the highest order, something that’ll make your gas, heat and tobacco costs soar.
But a rebate cheque at a time when money is tight is, well, a rebate cheque at a time when money is tight. In the long run, this may be your own money that’s being awarded to you, but in the short-term, it’s still money.
So while we contemplate what to do with our HST rebates, it’s worth sorting out just how Ontarians feel about the cheques in the first place.
As has been well documented, Ontario residents are kind of passive over the HST compared to British Columbians. B.C. taxpayers have such a fury over the July 1 move to the Harmonized Sales Tax they’ve almost landed a referendum to reverse the plan.
Though that’s not to say Ontarians are totally lying down. Many are opposed to the HST and, most recently, the rebate cheques sent out by Dalton McGuinty.
“I have just received my HST rebate cheque for $100 which I will return … uncashed and voided,” writes Nepean, Ont., resident Birte Ertmann to the Ottawa Citizen.
“No thank you, I am afraid I cannot afford to accept this attempt to bribe me with my own tax dollars. I encourage all Ontarians to take the same measures.”
McGuinty himself must take offense to such a philosophy. The Premier has been adamant in enforcing his “but the move to HST will create almost 600,000 jobs and decrease your personal income taxes” stance.
But is anyone buying it?
Ontarians: what do you make of the HST rebate cheques, and what will you do with yours?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Andy T | Jun 15, 2021 10:30:42 AM
The government keep saying the HST is a netural tax, but they can have more revenue (tax) at the end. I understand government run out of money, so they keep look for money (tax)! The problem is not how much money they can have, is the efficiency of the money spend. TTC $100,000 for a ticket collector. I understand that he took a lot of odd hours of work (late night, early morning, holiday). I apperciated. Ticket collector can be replaced by a smart card system (digital small change currency), such as Hong Kong Octopus card (digital small change currency smart card). It was invented by a Canadian company. In Hong Kong, all the transit use the Octopus card to collect fare. You can also use it to buy newspaper, snacks in convenient store. The card can be brough or upcharge at convenient stores. It cut out ticket collector but creat more sales for convenient store. Time is changd, job types and positions should be change. This is just an example.
I look at government tax as common expense of a condo. The service man hired for the job should be resonable at quality and price. Not doing the job properly should be change. The management fee (management firm - government) should be resonable. Ask for more money is the easiest (tax). But we cannot increase the tax without limit.
Posted by: glen | Jun 15, 2021 1:09:04 PM
yes I agree, the government should not keep thinking of ways to 'smart' tax people to replace the dollars they foolishly spend. Lets start living 'smart' by using our technology to save money. There are many ways we can cut back on 'government' expenses.
Posted by: elena | Jun 15, 2021 1:20:25 PM
I will use mine to shop in the States after July 1st.
Posted by: Velda | Jun 15, 2021 1:24:09 PM
If the government STOPPED WASTING OUR hard earned tax dollars we wouldn't be in this mess. I'd like to tell our members to stick this bribe where the sun don't shine.
Posted by: Bob | Jun 15, 2021 1:24:40 PM
This will never happen because of the short sighted member of all unions. Getting rid of a unionized job? When was the last time you saw something like that happens, especially in the Public Transit System.
Posted by: Jay | Jun 15, 2021 1:47:55 PM
Think we are mad now....wait a year or two when they are still broke and must increase the rate !!!!!!! No....they would never do that....would they !!!!!!!!
Posted by: Charles LeBlanc | Jun 15, 2021 1:48:45 PM
Just another tax grab. I believe McGuinty will be looking for a new job as soon as the next election is here. I have been a liberal all my life but niether the proviinal or federal liberals will get my vote again.
Posted by: Bryan | Jun 15, 2021 1:52:29 PM
Maybe the politicians should cut their own wages to that of an average canadian and freeze them for two years. Also if they need to travel in Canada they should have to drive instead of using tax dollars to pay for flights. And when they do fly, they shouldn't be aloud private jets, they should have to fly commercial. I don't agree that using technology to replace a persons job to save on spending will fix the problem, it will actually contribute to the problem because then thats one less job out there and one less person paying into the system to keep it a float. Yes they do need to reduce taxes and also remove some of the ridiculous taxes we have to pay, but the main problem here is that these f***-face politicians need to stop spending money they don't have, and spending it on s**t that no one needs.
Posted by: Wendi | Jun 15, 2021 2:06:26 PM
I live in Mississauga, On and Mcguinty has done nothing to help our fellow citizens, oh except for the fact every time we turn around we are get taxed to death. I have voiced my opinion to many papers like the government have choosen to ignore us and print what the government wants them to print. God for bid we disagree with our government. They think that raising the minumum wage to $10.00 is good enough, just try living on that. Has our cost of living gone up?? And now HST, gee to replace the GST for the same purpose. Frankly, I think its to line their pockets and nothing else. Because now they will have the money for raising their salaries. YEH!!!!
Posted by: Loren | Jun 15, 2021 2:09:11 PM
If this Ontario government does not pull back on their deficit spending, and start to look at the wages it gives to gov't employees, the problems that Greece and Spain are currently having are sure to happen in Ont within 2-3 years. They are trying to make us feel good(rebate check) with our own money. We are not fools, or are we?? Get a little angry Ontarions...much too passive. Everyone wants the freebies and others to pay for them.
We all hear that the majority of us do not want this tax, but typically we roll over and take it. Very sad!!
Posted by: Bryan | Jun 15, 2021 2:18:47 PM
I always thought a democracy was that "we" the people vote someone into office to do what "we" want, not what they want. Obviously that is is an ancient myth, and it'll remain that way untill we all stand together in the name of what is right for us.
Posted by: mags | Jun 15, 2021 2:44:05 PM
Canadians (Ontarians in this case) need to stop being so passive and afraid to take a stand against the government - why can't we be more like France - the people tell the government what they want -not the government telling the people. If the people don't like something - they protest and march in the streets! They stand up to their government - its time we started to do the same thing and not sit back and continue to get whacked with new taxes every time we turn around!
Posted by: Gary | Jun 15, 2021 3:06:17 PM
Rather than a rebate, if an HST is a done deal - why not simply lower the HST from 12% to say
11% or 10% (in the case of BC). Some more of taxpayers money will be empty spending in administering the the payout of the "REBATE" . Talk about good fiscal management - how about the billion dollars-plus spent for the G7 / G20 meeting on security and peripheral nonsense, when Canada is in a current yearly deficit to the tune of over 50 billion dollars. This is echoes
of Marie Antoinette's "Let them eat cake", statement. The ever increasing gap between the
rich and the poor will one day reach a breaking point - hope I'm dead or have moved out of
the country before that takes place..
Posted by: ray leatherdale | Jun 15, 2021 3:14:39 PM
Again rape of the poor by the privledged class.Only 17% of the goods will be taxed more But it is what we need to survive ...gas ,fuel, water and hydro.It,s nice that those who can raise their own wages and constantly have can force everyone else to pay!!!!!to bad that they have lost touch with reality.Maybe when we have no money they will be happy....Economic slavery indeed..........
Posted by: Steve | Jun 15, 2021 3:20:08 PM
The HST is a pathetic tax grab on every low and middle class person. The rich get richer and the poor are getting poorer.
How pathetic that the little man named McGuinty is allowed to get away with ripping off the hard working everyday people of this Province. They are greed mongers unwilling and not capable of running this country - except into the ground. We are on a down-hill spiral while the leaches lead a most satisfying and protected lifestyle that they feel they are entitled to at our expense.
We are being fed B.S. that the tax is good for anything- it is only a tax grab - PERIOD.
Disgusting how we sit here like sheep and do not revolt against McGuinty - at least people of British Columbia have some guts.
Posted by: armchairview | Jun 15, 2021 3:26:21 PM
HST stands for how to screw the public. It is not revenue neutral. It will add 8% to the cost of living with an increase in heat, hydro, gas prices to name a few. It will reduce spending in Ontario as the public will flock to the US to shop given the value of the dollar. Need to save money, eliminate catholic funding of education and reduce transportation costs by capping the cost of transportation. Eliminate elective surgery by doctors that occur after hours costing Ontarians 2 times the cost of day surgery. Eliminate bureaucats retention pay and bonuses, especially those employed by crown and/or provincial governments and/or at arms length from the government. Need More! Fire Dalton.
Posted by: Derrick Tully | Jun 15, 2021 3:26:37 PM
I think the rebates are a great idea. It's helped fix my old car and do some maintenance overdue on it.
I'm opposed to it, since I'm too poor to be able to afford many everyday things like gas to be more expensive.
They want to save money- roll back the pay raises MPs and MPPs gave themselves a few years back during the tail end of good times. I want them to show some real leadership and freeze all MP and MPP salaries for 20 years, along with their expense accounts.
This is why I cannot vote for Liberals or Conservatives- bad leadership, failure to lead by example and they love stomping on the most disadvantaged in our society. The poor will be the true victims of this latest tax grab and businesses (who donate to these parties) will be the only ones to benefit.
Posted by: DAVID MCKIE | Jun 15, 2021 4:10:32 PM
I despise being bribed with my own money. How stupid does McGuinty think we are? Were do the 600,000 jobs come from, better yet where do they go? Certainly not in Northern Ontario.
I can see the oil companies lining up to drop the price of fuel due to HST. NOT!!
Dalton has lied ever since he first campaigned for his first term. Maybe next election we should fire him, oh but then he can collect his pension!!
Posted by: Neil | Jun 15, 2021 4:17:26 PM
It is the poorest citizens who will benefit most by this rebate and tax. The rebate is supplied by the federal Government(Rona Ambrose) as an incentive(bribe?) for the Ontario Government to move to the HST. Some of you Tories and NDP whiners should be a bit better informed.
Posted by: Maryanne | Jun 15, 2021 4:18:08 PM
What is the big deal. Newfounland has had the HST for years they don't know any different. It is easier to figure out then calculating if you have to pay PST and GST together or just one. Things will all be HST. Ontario and BC should just suck it up the Government is going to as they please no matter what!!!