Gary Coons

BC Liberals’ HST Could Cost Over 10,000 Tourism Jobs, CoTA Confirms

RURAL TOURISM HIT HARD

VICTORIA – “The B.C. Liberals’ HST betrayal could mean 10,000 tourism jobs lost and up to $545 million in revenue lost,” said New Democrat tourism critic Spencer Herbert.‪

Herbert pointed to a report the Council of Tourism Associations submitted to the B.C. Liberal government that spells out how devastating the HST will be for the industry.‪ The report points out that the HST will have a “disproportionate impact on rural tourism development opportunities.”

“The B.C. Liberals told British Columbians during the election campaign that they were not going to bring in the HST. The Liberals refused to consult with the industry before they broke their word and agreed to this new tax, and they have not conducted a single study on its effect on the tourism industry,” said North Coast MLA Gary Coons.

“The HST is the devastating result of B.C. Liberal lies, and now an entire industry is going to pay for their broken promise. It’s appalling that B.C. Liberal MLAs for tourism-dependent communities around the province are acting as apologists for B.C. Liberal lies instead of standing up for businesses in their communities.‪‪”

The HST is a job killer for the tourism industry especially in rural BC. The industry is going to suffer devastating blows from the HST, and communities such as those on the North Coast will feel the huge impact.

Coons notes that, ” The average increase on tourism businesses will be close to 5% (according to the Council of Tourism Associations report) and that thousands of jobs will be lost. Just when we need support and strategies for struggling North Coast businesses and communities we get hit by the devastating HST. We must rethink this regressive tax and put a stop to its’ implementation!”

Carole James and the New Democrats have been holding the B.C. Liberals accountable for breaking their word on the HST, and for backtracking on their election promises to protect health care, education, and other vital services.‪‪

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Members List

Associations

Aboriginal Tourism British Columbia
Backcountry Lodges of BC
BC Aviation Council
BC Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers Guild
BC Culinary Tourism Society
BC Fishing Resort and Outfitters Association
BC Golf Association
BC Guest Ranchers’ Association
BC Hotel Association
BC Lodging and Campgrounds Association
BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association
BC River Outfitters Association
BC Taxi Association
Canada West Ski Areas Association
Canadian Inbound Tourism Association – Asia Pacific (CITAP)
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association
City of Nanaimo – Economic Development
go2
Helicat Canada Association (formerly BC Helicopter & Snowcat Skiing Operators Association)
Hostelling International
Kermodei Tourism Society
Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association
Link BC Network
Northern BC Tourism Association
Northern Rockies Alaska Highway Tourism Association
Oceanside Tourism Association
Penticton & Wine Country Tourism
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
Tourism Abbotsford Society
Tourism Burnaby
Tourism Chilliwack
Tourism Coquitlam
Tourism Harrison Hot Springs
Tourism Kamloops
Tourism Kelowna
Tourism Langley
Tourism Prince George
Tourism Prince Rupert
Tourism Richmond
Tourism Rossland
Tourism Smithers
Tourism Surrey
Tourism Ucluelet
Tourism Vancouver
Tourism Vancouver Island
Tourism Victoria
Tourism Whistler
Tourism White Rock
Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Tourism Region
West Chilcotin Tourism Association
Wilderness Tourism Association