The bottom line is. Every piece of material or equipment is now 8% cheaper for the company to buy.
...which leads to the official buy line which is being waved at consumers, which is one of "retail prices will drop due to a decrease in manufacturing costs."
While in theory this could happen (and did, according to an article I read about the separate-to-harmonized transition in the Maritimes), I ain't holding my breath. I just don't have that kind of faith in business.
There's way too much support by those who pull the strings to stop it however. We might come close if the
entire province would start a tax revolt, but the majority of Canadians don't have the balls to do it IMO.