We're heading off later today on a mileage run. YVR-MSP (Vancouver to Minneapolis). This is our first time to park at YVR since British Columbia implemented its Harmonized Sales Tax, or HST.
How much do we pay in taxes for our parking spot? Try 35.52%! (While we generally eschew exclamation marks we feel that one is justified in this case - maybe two!!)
Another first for the Wandering Warners: a record enounter in the tax-the-tourist game that governments play so well.
It's another reason that Alaska Airlines will probably attract Canadian customers with its newly-announced non-stop Bellingham-Honolulu flights.
Update from the DEN RCC: While flying from Vancouver to Denver we were reading the Vancouver Sun and spotted a letter to the editor complaining about the very same tax imposed on parking at one of the universities. Apparently it's not just a tax-the-tourist tax but a tax-the-taxpayer tax - time for another couple of exclamation marks!!
Kathy and Brian
Two retired educators alternating joyfully between seeing the world and enjoying our eight grandchildren (in order of birth), Jake, Avery, Taegan, Lily, Peyton, Riley, Blane, and Jace.
Kathy and Brian met in the clarinet section of the University of California (Santa Barbara) Symphony Orchestra several decades ago.
Brian's Western Canadian roots and Kathy's Colorado ties resulted in their making beautiful music together along with producing a cross-border crop of descendants.
Kathy spent a year studying in Vienna at the Institute for European Studies and the University of Vienna.
Brian started the school band program in Hope, British Columbia, and later became the high school's vice-principal for 6 years and subsequently principal for 15 years before retiring in 2001.
Kathy, in between raising our three children, taught kindergarten and first grade, middle school, and high school - mathematics, computer studies, ESL, and her first love, band, before retiring in 2001.
We enjoy sharing our travel experiences and providing the odd travel tip to friends, relatives, and visitors.
