Alberta MLA wants public discussion on PST
Posted Oct 27, 2010 11:57 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Public debate is being encouraged by an Alberta MLA on the possibility of a provincial sales tax.
Doug Griffiths is the parliamentary assistant to Finance Minister Ted Morton. He feels if we are discussing the future of this province for the next 20 years, why are we exempting things we decided on 20 or 30 years ago, when realities may have changed.
Griffith is not necessarily supporting a sales tax, he just wants to hear what Albertans have to say on the issue.
Economist Dr. Frank Atkins says a sales tax is actually a better way for the government to collect revenue, but it needs to be done properly.
He says government spending is out of control, and talk of a PST is simply people looking for more revenue.
Atkins adds the government must first control their spending and get the books in order. Otherwise spending will continue to run wild, since they have a means to finance it.
He also feels it’s not right to put in a PST as a net new tax on its own, it needs to be in conjunction with lower income taxes acting like a substitute.
