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House of Commons approves HST for Ontario, B.C.

The House of Commons has voted in favour of a harmonized sales tax for Ontario and British Columbia.
Randy Hillier, Bill Murdoch
With the house lights turned off

OTTAWA — The House of Commons has voted in favour of a harmonized sales tax for Ontario and British Columbia.

MPs passed a ways-and-means motion today amending the Excise Tax Act to implement the controversial tax, which combines the GST and provincial sales tax.

The Conservatives, Liberals and Bloc Quebecois supported the motion, which passed 192-32, while the NDP opposed it.

Quite a few MPs were absent for the vote.

Many fear a backlash from voters, who are becoming increasingly angry about the prospect of paying more for a host of goods and services.

The Ontario and Quebec governments support the tax.

Several other provinces have already moved to an HST.