Harmonized Sales Tax is good for business but...

On a show held on June 15, 2009 the panel and the vast majority of the audience composed of small, medium and large businesses were in favour of implementing the 'Harmonized Sales Tax' ("HST"). They all cited that it would streamline operations making them more efficient and in turn increase their organizations competitiveness in doing business domestically and internationally (See video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoQ7GMbRDg4 ) Rick Spence, a small business commentator, also agreed the essence of the reform the HST was to bring about was positive. His reservation though was that it would put tax on new items or increase the tax of some items that would effectively impede consumer consumption and thus inadvertently impact the sales of small businesses in particular. I too agree with the HST for the operational efficiencies it will impose on companies. That being noted considering the harsh economic realities presently besetting our market economy the present HST consideration should be modified. The government should grant a reprieve on taxing items that are not taxed under the existing system. This would benefit the struggling consumer and small businesses that would bear an inordinate financial burden under the HSTs implementation. If the government is simply seeking new revenues lost during these lean times it should then simply state it and let the people decide the eventual course to be taken.