A Canadian author criticizes the temporary federal GST/HST freeze, calling it a costly political gimmick with little economic benefit. They highlight the absurdity of offering tax breaks on unhealthy items like alcohol and snacks.
A customer stands at a check out counter displaying a sign noting the temporary HST / GST freeze at the Adonis grocery store in Mississauga, Ont., on Dec. 16.holiday, I mean. Because one person’s costly political gimmick is another’s windfall, amirite? A big boost to the economy – and our wallets! What a special gift, at this special time of year.In baseball parlance, it’s looking like an 0-for-3 for Justin Trudeau. Economically, a $1.6-billion line item in a budget that’s alreadyis not a plus.
Politically, instead of possibly attracting votes for the Liberals, this ploy blew up, with the bombshell cabinet resignation of Chrystia Freeland who, as finance minister, was said to have opposed the move. As for meaningful household savings – well, that’s a big strike three. Let’s take a look at one Canadian household (okay, mine). Here, the indignation over the ill-conceived scheme reached a boiling point last weekend at a local dollar store – a visit necessitated by a search for shot glasses in which to serve soup with mini grilled cheese triangles (thanks, Internet!) for a holiday party. The irony was right there on the bill. GST for the glasses: 60 cents. Had I been buying actual alcohol (beer, wine, those gateway-drug coolers, etc.), the GST would have been zero. The inclusion of booze in this already silly program is nonsensical. Why make it easier to buy a substance we know is bad for us? Not that we’re judging, but there’s a reason they call it a sin tax; the World Health Organization states there is no safe amount to consume. Yet the federal government is effectively encouraging this risky behaviour,Over at the grocery store, there were blaring signs in the snacks aisle among the Cheetos and Lays: “NO GST.” For a glorious couple of months, we will save pennies in tax on more stuff that is bad for us – as if that alone would make us buy more chips, or help us balance household budget
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