VICTORIA - After taking a severe beating over plans to introduce the harmonized sales tax, the B.C. government will defend its tax stand in next Tuesday's provincial budget.
Finance Minister Colin Hansen says the budget will contain examples of how the HST impacts seniors, low-income earners and others in the province.
The minister says the budget charts and graphs may surprise some people because they will show how some will end up saving money because of the HST.
He concedes that there will be higher cost for some purchases, pointing out that if a person bought a hamburger the cost would rise, but a beer with the burger will cost less because alcohol taxes will drop.
The Opposition New Democrats accuse the Liberals of hiding their plans to introduce the HST during the May election.
NDP Leader Carole James says the government should scrap its plans to introduce the HST next July.
