B.C. suspends 15% income tax cut
Hyack @ Wed Nov 17, 2010 7:17 pm
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/11/17/bc-tax-cut-cancelled.html
$1:
The British Columbia government says it will suspend a planned 15-per-cent reduction in personal income tax rates for the first $72,000 of personal income.
Premier Gordon Campbell said in a release Wednesday that cabinet made the decision to provide the government with more economic options.
"In order to ensure the executive council has maximum flexibility to set government's economic and fiscal agenda, cabinet has decided to suspend the planned tax reduction," Campbell said.
The 15-per-cent cut, announced in an Oct. 27 address by Campbell, was quickly criticized as a desperate measure by the embattled premier to gain public favour following the unpopular reception of the harmonized sales tax.
The tax reduction was scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.
Campbell also said Wednesday that a provincial budget would be delivered Feb. 15.
The budget would be tabled "in accordance with statutory requirements," and would contain no new initiatives beyond what was statutorily required, Campbell's statement said.
The premier announced Nov. 3 he would resign because public debate had become too focused on him and not on which policies were best for the province. The party is set to choose a new leader Feb. 26.
The cut would have amounted to a maximum saving of $616 in taxes for someone earning $72,293 or more. Someone earning $50,000 a year would have saved $354.
The tax cut was expected to cost $568 million in the first year, rising to $638 million per year by 2013-14, Campbell said.
Opposition New Democrat Leader Carole James said following Campbell's October address that the tax cut appeared to be a "desperate attempt to buy back public support."
"He failed miserably," said James. "He talked down to taxpayers … The public's not going to buy it."
James's prediction was borne out by opinion polls following the televised tax cut announcement, which showed that Campbell's single-digit popularity had barely budged as a result.
The suspension of the tax cut came on a day when Campbell fired B.C. Energy Minister Bill Bennett for openly calling for Campbell's immediate resignation.
After the firing, Bennett called Campbell "intimidating" and "abusive," and said that issues like the advisability of the tax cut could never be discussed around the cabinet table as long as Campbell remained premier.
Premier Gordon Campbell said in a release Wednesday that cabinet made the decision to provide the government with more economic options.
"In order to ensure the executive council has maximum flexibility to set government's economic and fiscal agenda, cabinet has decided to suspend the planned tax reduction," Campbell said.
The 15-per-cent cut, announced in an Oct. 27 address by Campbell, was quickly criticized as a desperate measure by the embattled premier to gain public favour following the unpopular reception of the harmonized sales tax.
The tax reduction was scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.
Campbell also said Wednesday that a provincial budget would be delivered Feb. 15.
The budget would be tabled "in accordance with statutory requirements," and would contain no new initiatives beyond what was statutorily required, Campbell's statement said.
The premier announced Nov. 3 he would resign because public debate had become too focused on him and not on which policies were best for the province. The party is set to choose a new leader Feb. 26.
The cut would have amounted to a maximum saving of $616 in taxes for someone earning $72,293 or more. Someone earning $50,000 a year would have saved $354.
The tax cut was expected to cost $568 million in the first year, rising to $638 million per year by 2013-14, Campbell said.
Opposition New Democrat Leader Carole James said following Campbell's October address that the tax cut appeared to be a "desperate attempt to buy back public support."
"He failed miserably," said James. "He talked down to taxpayers … The public's not going to buy it."
James's prediction was borne out by opinion polls following the televised tax cut announcement, which showed that Campbell's single-digit popularity had barely budged as a result.
The suspension of the tax cut came on a day when Campbell fired B.C. Energy Minister Bill Bennett for openly calling for Campbell's immediate resignation.
After the firing, Bennett called Campbell "intimidating" and "abusive," and said that issues like the advisability of the tax cut could never be discussed around the cabinet table as long as Campbell remained premier.
Once again the government giveth, then the government taketh away.
ASLplease @ Wed Nov 17, 2010 7:22 pm
as if we didnt see this coming
Cambell is a scumbag, he never does anything likeable.
Gunnair @ Wed Nov 17, 2010 7:27 pm
What a petulant fuck. Gives out a 15% cut, then because the public won`t back down, he and his Libtards say, well fuck you then Joe Public and kiss your tax cut goodbye.
There ain`t enough fucking recall campaigns planned!
wildrosegirl @ Wed Nov 17, 2010 7:28 pm
Reason #473 moving back to Alberta was a GREAT idea. 
KorbenDeck @ Wed Nov 17, 2010 7:30 pm
Never should of offered the cut in the first place.
Gunnair @ Wed Nov 17, 2010 7:33 pm
wildrosegirl wildrosegirl:
Reason #473 moving back to Alberta was a GREAT idea.
wildrosegirl @ Wed Nov 17, 2010 7:42 pm
Gunnair Gunnair:
wildrosegirl wildrosegirl:
Reason #473 moving back to Alberta was a GREAT idea.
This is home.
sandorski @ Wed Nov 17, 2010 7:48 pm
KorbenDeck KorbenDeck:
Never should of offered the cut in the first place.
Probably. The referendum to put the kibosh on the HST + this Tax Cut would have been a double whammy. I suppose they should have thought about that before knee jerking the Tax Cut. Campbell may have just destroyed the BC Liberal Party. Hopefully some Center/Business friendly Party gets up and running soon and not some far Right Wing BS party.
herbie @ Wed Nov 17, 2010 8:08 pm
Mommy said if you can't say anything nice....
Freakinoldguy @ Wed Nov 17, 2010 8:13 pm
herbie herbie:
Mommy said if you can't say anything nice....
Hmmm could you be talking about Bill Bennet who let fly at that piece of crap gordo on the News today?
![[B-o]](./images/smilies/drinkup.gif "Drink up")
His rant was worthy of a Roman Senator.
Hyack @ Wed Nov 17, 2010 8:37 pm
First they shoot themselves in the foot with their HST boondoggle, then they try to cover their asses with the 15% tax cut. Now that they finally figure out their collective asses are probably grass in this province they heap what I hope is the final obscenity on the residents of BC and tell them once again....fuck you...we need it more than you.
wildrosegirl @ Wed Nov 17, 2010 9:28 pm
Hyack Hyack:
I hope is the final obscenity on the residents of BC and tell them once again....fuck you...we need it more than you.
And once again, the BC government will give it to you.... You'll just have to bend over to get it.
It's frustrating as hell.
Freakinoldguy @ Wed Nov 17, 2010 10:04 pm
These hypocritical assclowns had better sit back and enjoy the ride because stupid moves like this are gonna make the recall process all the more enjoyable for the citizens of BC.
Gunnair @ Wed Nov 17, 2010 10:11 pm
Freakinoldguy Freakinoldguy:
These hypocritical assclowns had better sit back and enjoy the ride because stupid moves like this are gonna make the recall process all the more enjoyable for the citizens of BC.
Those lucky enough to be in the ridings that have them.
Brenda @ Wed Nov 17, 2010 10:19 pm
Just a question... Why isn't anyone going on strike? Where are the unions?