The House of Commons last week passed the first in a series of votes on implementing a harmonized sales tax in B.C. and Ontario.

While the latest Ipsos Reid poll found 82 percent of British Columbians oppose the tax, one expert says the impact on consumers might not be as bad as people think.

"It's easy to sit in opposition and boil up public furor, but when it comes to facts, the facts are ask any economist and they'll tell you this is good for the economy and much better than the way it was," financial analyst Michael Levy told CTV News Saturday.

Levy said taxes that manufacturers, producers and retailers have been required to pay will be cut out, and that will translate into prices coming down in a lot of areas for consumers.

But won't the companies just keep the savings for themselves?

No, Levy said.

"That doesn't work anymore," he said.

"Any savings that a retailer ... gets on the stuff they buy -- because they're not paying sales tax at every level -- they're going to pass that on to try and get the advantage to bring customers into their store."

Once the HST has been in place for a few months, average working families are "not going to even begin to notice the difference because it's just another cost of living," he said.

The B.C. government has said that come July 2010, the PST will be eliminated and that a 7 percent provincial rate will be added to the 5 percent GST, forming the 12 percent HST.

Certain goods will be exempt from the seven percent portion of the HST, including fuel, books, children's clothing and diapers.

But other items that previously had one tax will now cost more, including restaurant meals, haircuts, gym memberships, and new homes.

B.C. NDP leader Carole James, who is opposed to the new tax, is taking her fight to Ottawa on Monday, as MPs gather for more HST votes.

"I think it's critical that all of the MPs in Ottawa who will be voting on this bill next week hear the voice of British Columbians," she said. "Right now they're not hearing it."

Opponents have also started a campaign to hold a referendum on the matter.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Maria Weisgarber