The reviews are in

As is so often the case, the Leader-Post is too quick to give Brad Wall credit. (Hey, CanWest's influence has to count for something, right?) But it's on target with its conclusion about tax harmonization:

The Ontario and B.C. governments say harmonization will simplify the tax system and create thousands of jobs by removing the burden of sales taxes currently paid by businesses on their inputs. Prices should actually fall under harmonization, the conventional wisdom goes.

Consumers aren't buying it. Ipsos Reid surveys in both provinces found more than 70% oppose the new taxes. In B.C., consumer anger has resulted in a 700,000-name petition that was to be delivered to the province's government today by former premier Bill Vander Zalm. Under B.C. law, it could result in debate on an HST-repeal bill or trigger a non-binding referendum.
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Unless harmonization resulted in no extra cost for taxpayers there is no way the public would support a business tax break at their expense.

In any case, businesses in our hot economy seem to be doing very nicely without an HST.

(Edit: fixed typo; added link.)