Flat taxes can work, if implemented properly across the entire country. Flat taxes should have been implemented when Mulroney brought the GST out. But he was too busy pulling a hit and run to implement that properly.
Items that are exempt from PST now, should also (not sure if they actually will) be exempt from the GST. Items that are exempt out east, should also be exempt here. So when the flat tax is applied, the poor are not hurt.
Reading the news site comments today, McGuinty's implementation of the HST really shows how many people are ill-informed on the subject and have no idea about business and the economy. The flat-tax will save billions in the long run for business, and will also make us more attractive to foreign business. This simple fact alone should pass on enough savings to the consumer. Unless the coorperate greed factor kicks in... but I still think it is for the best.