While the B. C. Liberals have attempted to consider the drive to sales tax harmonization as a one-way task, there is one instance of a Canadian province taking down that particular road, and then taking a u-turn.

Just weeks after the GST took effect nationally on Jan. 1, 1991, the then Saskatchewan Government of Premier Grant Devine revealed to harmonize the province's seven-per-cent sales tax with the seven-percent federal rate imposed.

The makeover initiated April 1 of that year with the province opting for the same base as the goods portion of the federal tax.

The phase-in was slated to be concluded on Jan. 1, 1992, with harmonization of the provincial and federal tax bases on services as well.

On grabbing the power on Oct. 21, 1991, the New Democratic Party under new premier Roy Romanow missed a bit of the time consigning the harmonization, accompanied with Devine and his Conservatives.

NDP finance minister Ed Tchorzewski anticipated the savings to provincial taxpayers from repeal at $72 million for the rest of the budget year and $140 million over a complete 365 day period.