Join the Fight!

Remember back in the summer how we were all upset about the HST? Well today the shit is hitting the fan more than ever. Former Premier and anti-HST activist Bill Vander Zalm has been approved to launch a petition against the incoming tax. Starting on April 6th, organizers will have 90 days to collect 10% of registered voters signatures in all 85 ridings to have the referendum be held at a later date.

I'm not going to get into whether or not this is a good idea for British Columbia, but this is an opportunity to tell Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals that we are opposed to the HST and for them to listen to us, and stop building their budgets on shaky ground. If the signatures were approved, a referendum would be held on the issue. For the referendum to pass 50%+1 vote would be required in over two thirds of all electoral districts. The hardest part of all this seems to be getting signatures, something I might sign up to volunteer for.

After all this, the government doesn't have to do a lot to work their way around this, they could simply introduce a new tax at a later date, and the $1.6 billion incentive from the federal government would have to be returned. They could also just as easily let the bill die, but that would most likely cause Liberals numbers to drop even further below rock bottom.

Regardless of whether or not this passes, this is a huge opportunity for us to let our voices be heard on this issue. British Columbians from all political stripes are joining the anti-HST team: New Democrats, Conservatives, Greens, and even some Liberals are ready to fight this harmful tax. Together we can, and together we will.