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The Surrey Board of Trade has written a letter of concern to the office of the Premier and the Minister of Finance over the imposition of the 12% HST on top of the 21% parking fee levy for TransLink, when the HST comes into effect on July 1.

We understand the need to generate additional funds for TransLink, and although we feel the 21% levy is excessive, what we find much more objectionable is the plan to charge the 12% HST on both the parking fee and the 21% levy.  This is charging tax on tax, and it’s wrong. 

Similarly, we feel it is wrong to impose GST on the price of fuels as well as the levies (taxes), and it is an even greater abuse of taxpayers to expand that practice as in this instance.  If the government is prepared to charge taxes on taxes, where will it stop?  

The combined effect of the levy along with the additional HST will push the tax hit to 35.52%.

The major impact has been felt in downtown Vancouver and other cities where parking, mostly in commercial lots, is in demand and expensive at the outset. In Surrey, there is little paid parking, however where businesses are impacted in our city, they find themselves at a considerable competitive disadvantage to their competitors who have free parking.  Let’s not exacerbate that further by the additional HST 12%.

James Stewart, President
Surrey Board of Trade
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Surrey Board of Trade