British Columbia residents voted to repeal the Harmonized Sales Tax and return to its old taxing system, according to the Province newspaper in Vancouver, B.C. Here’s a (link) to the story. The vote to ax the HST received a 54 percent majority.
The defeat of the HST shouldn’t have much of an impact on Whatcom County retailers who have seen more Canadian shoppers this year, said Ken Oplinger, president of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
In the short-term, it’s going to take some time for the B.C. government to switch tax systems. While the implementation of the HST may have prompted some Canadian shoppers to visit Whatcom County, Oplinger believes many now shop in Whatcom County because of the strong Canadian dollar and the lower costs on products.
Whatcom County restaurants, particularly in the border communities of Blaine and Sumas, may see a small impact because the HST led to increases in prices at B.C. restaurants, Oplinger said.
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