Federal Support for HST

The House of Commons has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a harmonized sales tax for Ontario and British Columbia.

Even though the bill was controversial -- and has angered many --the three biggest federal parties supported it.

Only the NDP voted against it.

The Ontario legislature passed its own legislation yesterday and B.C. is expected to follow suit early in the new year.

Next July 1st, the two provinces will combine their retails sales tax with the G-S-T to form the HST.

It will be 12 per cent in B-C, and 13 per cent in Ontario.

Critics denounce the combined tax as a cash grab.