The gst replaced a manufacturers sales tax which was added unseen at the wholesale level. When replaced with a broader more fair gst at 7% the manufacturers sales tax was 13%.

I agree that the selling off of gold bullion stocks was a boondoggle. The gold can be easily replaced when hyperinflation hits the rest of the world.

The gst which was the main reason for the conservative defeat when the liberals promised to eliminate, became the ultimate reason for the elimination of the deficit and is what ultimately has made our economy more stable in relation to the USA and Europe.