On second looks

Public Eye Online picked up on the removal of the CCPA's pro-HST report. But whatever additional "modifications" are expected, it's worth noting that the report has already been altered then deleted before - and a reader has passed along the two versions posted publicly so far.

Here's the original version:
Not a Tax Grab After All 1

And here's the second:
Not a Tax Grab After All 2
So what's the difference between the two? Well, one can most obviously point to Table 1 at page 13 - where effectively every single calculation as to the effect of the HST on families changes from one draft to the next. But perhaps the most striking change in the second version is the new footnote 14 which seeks to paper over the difference:

In the course of reviews, some technical adjustments were made that have no bearing on the conclusion of this report. This is an updated version (18/12/2009) of the report first released 14/12/09.

Now, the updated version didn't actually fix the assumption which seems to have generated the most concern (being 100% flowthrough of business tax savings to consumers). And it's hard to see what "technical adjustments" one could make if that assumption were corrected which wouldn't completely undermine the conclusions which have already been released twice.

Just in case there's any doubt, this looks to be a rare whiff for the CCPA. But whether or not there's a third draft coming, the sequence of alterations and deletions leaves no reason at all to put any stock in the Lightman report - and every reason to doubt anybody still trying to wave it around to pretend the HST won't be harmful for individuals.