LETTERS TO THE EDITOR — GST article was too biased

I believe that The Northern Miner tries to present both sides of any issue, but the Opinion article “Living with the GST” (T.N.M., Jan. 25/93) is too biased.

The writer scandalizes the integrity of Canadians everywhere. Canadians do not like to pay taxes any more than anyone else, but they do not encourage people to break the law, either. According to the writer, Vera Eden feels good about breaking the law. Vera thinks that she is thwarting the prime minister, but actually she is thwarting the many benefits, such as health services, for which federal taxes pay.

The writer thinks that the GST is the “most despised tax in Canadian history,” but in fact it is one of the few taxes which is collecting less than was intended, and a lot less than the manufacturers sales tax which it replaced. This is one of the few taxes where Canadians know how much they are paying.

Actually, the GST is the most misunderstood but most visible tax in Canadian history. However, the writer doesn’t want to hear such statements. He would rather justify a black market economy by accusing most Canadian plumbers, painters and other tradespeople of illegally not charging GST. He seems to believe that they are unwilling to help their fellow Canadians by paying their share of the social services system.

I don’t like paying tax any more than anyone else, but the writer has missed the point. Tories believe that Canadians want to see and understand what they are paying, whereas Liberals and the NDP want to hide it and jack up the rates, so that Canadians cannot see what is going on.

I have more faith in Canadians than the writer has. I believe that they would rather see that they are paying less with a disclosed tax, than suspect that they are paying more with a hidden tax. I believe that most Canadians are honest, and along with me they do not admire “tax cheaters.” Lionel Kilburn

Oakville, Ont.