Whats is GST used for exactly?

Question

I know what GST stands for Goods and Services Taxes... but what kind of goods and services?
IE) Sewage etc.?
And is there anyway I can find out if you guys cant provide me with a good answer? >,<

Answer 1

GST is the Goods and Services Tax, but that's not what it goes towards, that's what the tax is on; the goods you buy and the services you receive. It is a federal tax, not a local or provincial tax so it goes towards funding federal programs and accounts for roughly 15% of all of the federal governments income from taxation. Keeping that 15% figure in mind, here's a brief description of this year's budget outlining expenditures and taxes:

http://www.fin.gc.ca/budget06/brief/briefe.htm

More in depth budget documents available here:

http://www.fin.gc.ca/budtoce/2006/budliste.htm

Answer 2

a-ha the GST.
The GST was (and unfortunately still is) a huge Canadian Government scam !!!!
It was a 7% tax (6% now as of July 1, 2006) on just about every taxable good or service -- exceptions are basic groceries, bottled water, and human medical services--not veterinary. Everything else basically felt victim to the GST.

The GST was instituted in the late 80s when Canada's national debt was deemed to be getting too large. The government set up this new 7% tax as a way of raising extra tax revenue and using this GST revenue solely for the purpose of paying down our national debt. It was expected to bring in 17-18 BILLION per year, at a time when our national debt was around $80B

But, in true Canadian government fashion, guess how much GST revenue went to pay the national debt that first year.....ZERO
ZERO DAMN DOLLARS went towards the national debt -- the sole reason for this new, unfavourable and unwanted tax.
The money went into the 'general coffers' -- gotta love that darn 'fund accounting'.
And guess what is worse. After years of the GST, the Liberal party with Fascist dictator Jean Cretin promised to get rid of the GEE-HESS-TEE. We voted him in for 5 years and still had the GST. They promised again to get rid of it-- so we vote them in for 4 more years -- still had the GST -- a third election came around and guess what -- YEP -- in for 4 more years. I guess the stupid voters deserve to have the stupid GST.

ANYWAY, IN CASE YOU FORGOT, THE GST WAS SUPPOSED TO PAY THE DEBT -- IT DID NOT.