U of C study touts revenue-neutral HST to make Alberta more competitive

CALGARY – A Calgary tax policy expert thinks a harmonized sales tax would help Alberta become more competitive.

Jack Mintz from the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary says a provincial H-S-T of eight per cent,combined with the current five per cent GST, would be revenue neutral and would make Alberta a more attractive place for business and investment.

Mintz says Alberta’s view of having no provincial sales tax is outdated and the financial impact on Albertans of an HST could be offset by raising personal tax exemptions by nearly $40,000 per year.

He says although Albertans would have to pay the sales tax up front, they could end up paying no provincial income tax.

Mintz said the Alberta government could recoup about $800 million a year from tourists and non-residents working in the province.

He said it would also allow the province to reduce corporate taxes making Alberta a more attractive place to invest.