Don't get me started on the taxes. *sigh* I've lived here all my life and I still hate it. I love travelling to the UK and Europe, where the price they give you already includes VAT and you don't have to do fast math in your head whenever you buy something.
To make it even more complicated, there are two taxes -- GST (5% federal tax) and provincial. Every province has a different rate; Alberta has none. And some things are subject to only the GST, other things you only pay provincial tax on, and some things are charged BOTH taxes. It's nuts.
Here in British Columbia, we just had both taxes amalgamated into one (HST -- Harmonized Sales Tax). We're still paying the same combined rate, but now everything is suject to the full 12% whereas with the old system, many things such as restaurants and services were only subject to the GST... so now we're paying more tax on more things. It really sucks. But at least the calculations are a little easier. :-)
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To make it even more complicated, there are two taxes -- GST (5% federal tax) and provincial. Every province has a different rate; Alberta has none. And some things are subject to only the GST, other things you only pay provincial tax on, and some things are charged BOTH taxes. It's nuts.
Here in British Columbia, we just had both taxes amalgamated into one (HST -- Harmonized Sales Tax). We're still paying the same combined rate, but now everything is suject to the full 12% whereas with the old system, many things such as restaurants and services were only subject to the GST... so now we're paying more tax on more things. It really sucks. But at least the calculations are a little easier. :-)