Sunday, June 15, 2025

Why a $533 GST Credit Doesn't Make Up for What We Lost in BC

 📉 Why a $533 GST Credit Doesn't Make Up for What We Lost in BC

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita
Vancouver, BC

I just read an article that said the federal GST credit is going up to $533 for single adults. Sounds good, right?

Not so fast.

That’s the total amount for the whole year — not a monthly or even quarterly boost. It's a tiny increase of about $14 compared to what people got last year. That’s right — $14 more, spread across the whole year.

Meanwhile, here in British Columbia, we’ve quietly lost something much bigger:
👉 The Climate Action Tax Credit is gone.
👉 The last payment was in April 2025.
👉 For a single person, that was up to $126 every 3 months.

Let me put that in plain terms: I just lost up to $504 a year, and I’m supposed to be thankful for a $14 “increase”? No thanks.


A Net Loss for the Most Vulnerable

The BC government scrapped the carbon tax rebate — supposedly to offset the elimination of the consumer carbon tax itself. But here’s the thing:

Many of us received more in carbon rebates than we ever paid in carbon tax. That rebate helped with groceries, transit, or bills. Now it’s gone.

I don't drive much. I live on a tight budget. That carbon credit helped me survive — and now it's vanished while my rent, food, and hydro keep rising.

This isn’t just about a line item in a budget. It’s about real people, like me, being told by policy-makers that we should be grateful for crumbs while they take away whole loaves of bread.


An Open Letter to Mark Carney and Policy-Makers

Dear Mr. Carney,

You speak often of inclusive growth, clean transitions, and helping people through the cost-of-living crisis. But do you know what it feels like to lose vital credits while being told “You’re getting more help”?

That $533 GST credit sounds generous until you break it down: it’s barely $133 every 3 months, and that’s only if you qualify for the full amount.

Meanwhile, I’ve lost at least $504 a year with the climate credit being scrapped.

This is not progress. This is austerity in disguise.

If you want to lead a country where no one is left behind, please start by listening to the people you rarely hear from — those of us living close to the line, trying to make it work in a broken system.

Sincerely,
Tina Winterlik (Zipolita)
Vancouver, BC


What Can We Do?

If you’re feeling the same — shocked, upset, or confused — share your story. Talk to your MP. Post online. Write to your local newspaper. Let’s make it impossible to ignore how these “adjustments” are affecting real people.

We deserve policies that support us, not just headlines that pretend to.

Let’s demand better — together.
✊🌍❤️
#RaiseTheRates #BasicIncomeNow #GSTcredit #CarbonCredit #BCBudget #MarkCarney #ZipolitaSpeaks



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