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Budget 2020: B.C. Liberals blast BԪַNetflix tax,BԪַ lack of economic plan

ICBC rates still go up, except in election year, Shirley Bond says
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The B.C. government budget extends seven-per-cent sales tax to BԪַsoftware and telecommunications servicesBԪַ as of July 1, 2020. (Pixabay)

The B.C. Liberals say theyBԪַve counted 23 new and increased taxes in the NDP budget presented Tuesday, including extending the provincial sales tax to streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus.

The BԪַNetflix taxBԪַ is tucked away in the fine print of the budget book, taking effect on July 1.

BԪַCanadian sellers of goods, along with Canadian and foreign sellers of software and telecommunications services, will be required to register as tax collectors if specified B.C. revenues exceed $10,000,BԪַ says a section on page 64 of Finance Minister Carole JamesBԪַ budget.

The budget also requires sellers of vaping products to register for a new PST of 20 per cent, announced last November to discourage use of nicotine and non-nicotine substitutes for smoking. The regular PST remains at seven per cent, on a wide variety of goods and services, soon to include BԪַsweetBԪַ soft drinks, whether sugar-free or not.

In the legislature after James presented the budget, B.C. Liberal finance critic Shirley Bond pointed to BԪַemployment dropping, economic indicators are trending in the wrong directionBԪַ as the province continues to increase spending and taxes.

BԪַWe need to see a robust, thoughtful strategic growth plan in British Columbia, and thatBԪַs completely non-existent in the budget we saw today,BԪַ Bond told reporters after the speech.

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B.C. Liberal MLA Stephanie Cadieux questioned the budgetBԪַs forecasts for the Insurance Corp. of B.C., which forecasts a $91 million deficit for the fiscal year ending in March, then surpluses in the next three years. This follows record deficits totalling $2.5 billion in the previous two years.

BԪַJust a few months ago we were told that there was going to be a $50 million deficit this year,BԪַ Cadieux said. BԪַItBԪַs ballooned to $91 million, and they havenBԪַt accounted yet for the loss in court that was going to cost approximately $400 million. ThereBԪַs no mention [in TuesdayBԪַs budget] of how theyBԪַve managed to absorb that in the last few months.BԪַ

Bond noted that ICBC rates will continue to go up, except for a 20 per cent cut planned for a few months before the scheduled 2021 election. And Cadieux questioned the latest rate overhaul that increases rates for young drivers.

BԪַICBC rates are so unaffordable for our kids that they canBԪַt afford to insure their cars to go to university,BԪַ Cadieux said.



tfletcher@blackpress.ca

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