To the editor:
Reducing the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is a joke.
We still pay more so business doesn't have to. I believe they need to keep the HST and that there's a more sinister reason behind it.
The HST aligns the Canadian tax system with the United States system. Research Prime Minister Stephen Harper's and U.S. President Barack Obama's secret Perimeter Security Agreement. That is scary.
It's suggested that this agreement "allow the U.S. to execute control of Canada in the event of a terrorist attack or any other 'perceived' threat to North America."
Canada has already passed Bill C-42, which allows the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to have the final say in who travels into and out of Canada as long as the route is over U.S. air space even though it does not stop on U.S. soil.
Are you going to Europe, South America or Caribbean? You might not be allowed to fly there if your name, or one similar to your name, is on one of their lists.
"Harmonize our imports and exports," so they can send their GMO (genetically modified organism) crops and seeds and BE (bioengineered) trees into Canada, whether we want them or not.
"Harmonize our immigration and refugee policies with theirs," so they can tell us who can or cannot live in Canada. Notice that it is not "harmonize theirs with ours."
There is HST, NAFTA, NORAD, arctic sovereignty, long gun registry, hydro power, softwood lumber, the Great Lakes Water Agreement, and how many other deals that are coming together to sell out Canada.
There's no argument the U.S. needs our water, electricity, gas and oil, and wants our lumber and our other resources. The U.S. is an empire in decline and needs more and cheaper resources.
It should have been an election issue, but I didn't hear a word about this from anyone.
We are kept focused on the small stuff like the HST debate and hockey, while the big picture goes unnoticed.
I believe that Mr. Harper is picking up where former prime minister Brian Mulroney left off.
This should be a major issue to everyone and we should have a say before any more deals are signed in secret.
Art Richards
100 Mile House