BC Colleges Pleased with News of HST Rebate

BC’s public colleges won’t pay more tax after harmonization.

(VICTORIA) January 15, 2010 – BC Colleges welcomes the news that the BC government will provide Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) rebates for schools, universities, public colleges and hospital authorities. The Province made the announcement Thursday, January 14 that BC’s 11 public colleges will receive a 75 per cent rebate of the provincial portion of the HST. The announcement means that BC’s public colleges will, on average, pay no more tax under HST than they would under PST.

“This rebate will help ensure that BC Colleges can continue to fulfill our mandate to provide a diverse array of programs that are accessible, affordable and responsive to the evolving needs of BC communities and industry,” says the Chair of BC Colleges, Jim Hamilton. “We recognize the economic challenges before government. Colleges have experienced their own challenges balancing the significant increase in demand for education and training with limited financial capacity. This is welcome news that college operating and capital budgets will not be adversely impacted with the implementation of the HST.”  

“BC’s 11 public colleges are the primary supplier of a well-educated, highly skilled, job-ready workforce. This rebate helps colleges continue to train and educate graduates who will in turn power the economic recovery in our Province,” adds Jim Reed, President of BC Colleges. “Colleges are poised to partner with government and the rest of the post secondary system to ensure that BC has the best educated and most job-ready workforce in Canada.”

To learn more about the role of BC Colleges and how colleges are integral to the provincial economic recovery, visit BCColleges.ca
 

With 11 colleges and close to 70 campuses throughout British Columbia, BC Colleges offer access and choice to affordable, quality education close to home. BC Colleges help support and strengthen communities throughout BC by providing well-educated, highly skilled, job-ready graduates.

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