Independent Panel Releases Report

Click here to download the report

Click here for the News Release

The Independent Panel on the HST has released its report

“It’s Your Decision” examines the positives and negatives of the HST and the PST/GST sales tax systems based on their impact on families, businesses, the economy, and the Provincial Government.

Since January, the Panel has gathered detailed information about each sales tax to present to British Columbians.

The Panel has:

• Reviewed and analyzed the positives and negatives of the HST and PST/GST
• Commissioned an economic study by Ernie Stokes, Managing Partner with The Centre for Spatial Economics, in Toronto
• Reviewed and considered almost 90 submissions
• Produced the report: It’s Your decision

The Panel’s report has been issued directly to British Columbians to provide useful information to assist voters in making their decision in the mail-in referendum ballot on June 24, 2011.

For more information about the scope, nature and timelines of the Independent Panels work a printable version of their Terms of Reference is available.

The Independent Panel commissioned a report to inform their deliberations. Click to download the Economic and Fiscal Impacts of Rescinding the Harmonized Sales Tax in British Columbia - By Ernie Stokes, Centre for Spatial Economics.

>>Submissions to the Independent Panel

Panel Members

	Chair – Jim Dinning Jim Dinning serves as chair of the Canada West Foundation and Western Financial Group Inc. He is a chair and director of a number of public, private and not for profit companies and organizations. Until 2004, Mr. Dinning was executive vice president of TransAlta Corporation. Prior to mid-1997, he held several key positions during his 11 years as a member of the legislative assembly in Alberta. Of note is his service as provincial treasurer from 1992 to 1997. Mr. Dinning is a graduate of Queen’s University with two degrees: a bachelor of commerce in 1974 and a master’s in public administration in 1977. He received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Calgary in 2002 and today, serves as chancellor of the University of Calgary.
	George Morfitt George Morfitt is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and a chartered accountant. After a 20-year career as chief financial officer in the private sector in Vancouver, he served two terms as auditor general of British Columbia. Mr. Morfitt has held senior executive positions in a number of organizations, including: president, B.C. Institute of Chartered Accountants; chair, Universities Council of BC; and chair, UBC Board of Governors. Mr. Morfitt is a fellow of the B.C. Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Queen’s silver and golden jubilee medalist. He currently serves as chair of WorkSafeBC and is a past director of the Motor Vehicle Sales Authority of B.C., the B.C. Safety Authority and the Health Council of Canada. Mr. Morfitt is an inducted member of the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame and is past chair of Canadian Sport Centre Pacific. He currently holds an appointment as adjunct professor at the University of Victoria.
	Tracy Redies Tracy Redies is the CEO of Coast Capital Savings – Canada’s second-largest credit union outside of Quebec with over 400,000 members. Ms. Redies has over 20 years of experience in the international financial services industry and holds a BA (double major in economics and Asian studies) from the University of Victoria and an MSc in business administration from the University of British Columbia. Her banking expertise spans the industry – from commercial, personal, and private banking to e-business, IT, and investment services. Ms. Redies is a director of the CD Howe Institute, the Vancouver Board of Trade and C.H.I.L.D. – a Canadian foundation dedicated to finding a cure for Crohn’s disease, colitis and other gastric illnesses in children. Ms. Redies has been recognized as one of Canada’s top 100 female business executives.
	John Richards John Richards is a professor in the school of public policy at Simon Fraser University. Trained as an economist, Mr. Richards has written extensively on public policy matters in Canada and is widely recognized for his contributions to public policy dialogue on social policy in Canada. Professor Richards holds the Roger Phillips chair in social policy at the CD Howe Institute and has been widely recognized as one of British Columbia’s leading economists. His current social policy focus is on Aboriginal policy. He co-edits Inroads, a Canadian policy journal, and he has undertaken teaching and research internationally over the last decade. He also heads a policy institute linked to the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology in Bangladesh. Professor Richards also served as an NDP Member of the Saskatchewan legislature from 1973-1975.