Harmonized Sales Tax - The Great Uniter?

In less than a month, the HST will be rammed own the throats of Ontario and BC taxpayers. Ontario doesn't much seem to care, but out west the citizens are getting ready to revolt. For the first time in memory, almost everyone in the most polarized province of Canada is in agreement about one thing. We want Gordon Campbell's head on the end of a pointy stick.

During his campaign we were told they had no intention of bringing in an HST and then three days after they win - surprise!

It's not overly surpirsing that there would be protests (it's what we do out here) but what is startling is the broad support and outrage.

We have a former Premier spearheading a Citizen's Initiative to stop the tax under the BC Recall and Initiative Act. Bill Vander Zalm resigned due to conflicts of interest (found not guilty of criminal breach of trust) and is responsible for the lack of a conservative party in BC (except for the Liberals ) for the past 20 years. He has gone from one of the most hated men in the province to our new hero.

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs has joined forces with the Zalm to launch a legal challenge questioning the constitutionality of the tax and are looking into asking for an injunction.

The NDP is loving every minute of this and are happily helping the Zalm try to kill the tax by bringing it up every time they talk to the media and refusing to let it drop for even one second.

The Citizen's Initiative has around 625,000 signatures so far (more than double needed but some signatures are always thrown out because they touch the lines or were signed in the wrong riding) and there's still nearly a month left to collect.

Will they even bother to listen to us? Probably not. That's where our recall legislation comes into play.

In summation (because I ramble and jump all over the place) - we have hundreds of thousands of British Columbians of all political stripe, the NDP, First Nations and the former Conservative premier working together like one big happy family towards the same goal. That's something we've never seen before in this province.


Politics really does make strange bedfellows.

I agree with you, whole heartedly - Aside from some localized grumblings, Ontario residents are going to let this pass with little resistance. Maybe we need to look to BC as an example on initiative. We need this like we need another hole in the head. I used to be liberal, now I don't know where I stand. McGuinty's always been a non favourite, but now he just pisses me off to the point I'd rather vote some independent..... which doesn't help one person in the big picture.

Good post, but judging by the non responses, we will take this Horse S**t Tax, and live with it. Just like all the others we take.

Honestly, I didn't expect many responses so yours is greatly appreciated.

I hear Ontario is getting rebate cheques aka being bribed with their own money. We don't even get that out here. The BC government position is 'too bad, so sad'. I've never seen a government so unwilling to pander to the public will.

reply to post by Duzey


LOL, bribed with our own money.... That slipped my mind, so yeah, the short sighters are ready for an extra case of beer. It's only later they realize they're paying for it for the rest of their lives.

Good luck to you, and I hope the signatures actually mean something for once......

Bribed with our own money. Seems familiar. Carbon tax. I got my cheque for one hundred dollars, that was probably gone in three months of higher gasoline and natural gas costs. And guess what else goes up July first? Carbon tax goes up 3.5%. Recall Now!

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4x post. I am really sorry my browser went crazy. Mods please remove these posts.

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Originally posted by oneinthesame
Recall Now!

We can't. You can't start a recall until 18 months after a MLA is elected and that's October I think. I think Campbell is counting on people getting over this by then.

It turns out we do have one elected representative in BC who is either ethical or very worried about his chances of reelection. It's kind of refreshing to see.

B.C.'s Liberal government was rocked yesterday by the surprise resignation of energy minister Blair Lekstrom, who left both his cabinet post and the Liberal caucus to protest the unpopular harmonized sales tax.

Lekstrom said he supports the HST in principle, but it's clear constituents in his riding of Peace River South were upset with the lack of consultation when it was abruptly implemented by the Liberals two months after the May 2009 provincial election.

"My decision to resign from cabinet and the B.C. Liberal caucus was very difficult, but I fundamentally disagree with the direction our government is headed on the HST," Lekstrom said in a statement.

"When I was elected, I promised myself, my family and my constituents that I would not change who I am to do this job, and I have reached a point where my beliefs and values no longer align with my government."

B.C. cabinet minister resigns over HST