Or should I say happy HST day? Why, yes, Canadians, our pleasant PM Mr Stephen Harper would like to celebrate our independence by adding another tax for citizens to pay. Harmonized Sales Tax, the tax that brings...harmony? Hm. Harmony that the majority of citizens are complaining about, as far as I can tell. Certainly there are those who truly understand the benefits the HST and try to sell it to as many haters as possible, but the bare facts dictate that most Canadians disagree with the enforcement of this tax. People see tax returns as bribes to keep citizens happy before the HST was applied today in BC and Ontario, and while some are fooled, many aren't, particularly in Nova Scotia, where the already present HST has risen from 12% to 15%. More people within my area alone have complained about it than praised it and I have seen and heard in the media a general attitude of distaste and impatience for the presumptuousness of the government. How democratic to push the HST on people who don't want it. All day yesterday, and even late into the night, people were in twenty minute-long lines to gas up their cars before the HST increased the price by an estimated 8%, and that is not including any of the natural price fluctuations that are associated with crude oil.It doesn't even matter that people have an obvious inclination away from it, I just can't believe they chose to make it happen on our own nation's birthday. I'm not particularly patriotic, in fact, I'm a little cynical when it comes to patriotism in general for reasons I won't get into, but really, couldn't it have waited until tomorrow? People are trying to celebrate, but oh, alcoholic beverages are at 13% HST too.
Anyway. Just a sort of annoying co-occurrence.
So, happy Canada Day, everyone, with all your true patriot love.
