I think the Ontario projections are about the same. The only difference is that we
got financial assistance, in advance, to help us deal with a "revenue neutral" tax.
Interesting that the Premier is now appearing on a TV ad "selling" the HST as being
necessary to create jobs and improve Ontario's future. This is the same guy
that has misled ("lied to" is such a harsh phrase
) the people of our province for
over 7 years now, has ignored or distanced himself from just about every government
related scandal, and has had to retract several policy proposals when the backlash
appeared to be insurmountable. And we're supposed to believe him now?
Apples to apples, it is about not wasting it like you've said. On the OLG, or E-Health Ontario, etc.....
As for increased scrutiny, not sure how it works in BC, but in Ontario, when the government
appointed Ombudsman exposes your administration for what it is, you simply replace him
with someone more sympathetic, or make his remaining tenure as uncomfortable as
possible. He survived an apparent smear campaign and was retained recently for
6 more months, as a way of appeasing those who saw his treatment as somewhat
inappropriate. More recently it was recommended he be retained for another 5 year term.
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/art ... udsman-job
I hope that whoever the next guy/gal is to run the show here, has the integrity to
fine tune the scope of the HST tax a bit, to help reduce the impact to those groups like
senior citizens, and others who are no longer primarily concerned about job creation,
but more intereted in not having their retirement incomes reduced even further by
withering taxation. It's highly unlikely that it could be reversed or completely removed
with any sort of ease by anyone, assuming a change of government.