Actually the new tax (HST) will eliminate the provincial sales tax but add 7% to the Gst tax so there's absolutely no difference from before. It'll still be at 12%. 5 provinces have already joined in and BC is about to do the same on July 1st. It is hoped that this new way of taxing will get rid of some other taxes that were compounded throughout manufacture of most goods thereby allowing businesses to save money and pay higher wages. (we'll see about that). Somebody has to lose somewhere here, and I suspect it'll be the little guy as usual.