[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Canada has a VAT tax (the GST). Some provinces (including BC) are “harmonizing” their sales tax with the GST. This is a major political issue. The main opponents? The (socialist) NDP. The hypocracy behind this populist pandering is astounding. (The NDP is a pure tax and spend party.)

In favour of a VAT, everyone would pay some taxes, when they spend money. That might make the entitlement class rethink their demands for “free” government goodies. (Although, income tax “rebates” to low income people offset the cost of the GST, here in Canada — ie, some pay negative income tax.)

[Ouderkirk]

I ride snowmobiles every year in Quebec. The woman who runs the motel we stay at, charges us 40% less if we pay her in cash. Pretty much everywhere in rural Quebec is like that. There is the posted price paid by using a credit card, and then there is the “cash price” which is significantly less.