The initiative to end the harmonized sales tax in British Columbia was declared successful today, which makes it the first initiative petition in Canada to be successful. Those against the HST breathed a sigh of relief knowing that the ball was once again the government's court forcing them to either have a vote in the legislature or a referendum on the issue. What no one saw coming was the decision of the Chief Electoral Officer not to proceed further because of the court battle over the initiative.
This decision will stop the HST Extinguishment Act from going to a legislative committee to determine how it will be treated until mid to late August. Bill Vander Zalm clearly irritated remarked "We will recall every Liberal MLA in the province if that's what it takes." Those are beautiful words from the former Premier, and his supporters behind him were quick to begin chants of "Recall, recall, recall!"
It is another stall tactic in this already incredibly drawn out issue of a sales tax from hell. The Government is failing to acknowledge the people of British Columbia screaming in its ears to stop their actions. Regardless of the court battles over the initiatives legality, or determination of where to send the bill, recall is now a new horizon for FightHST. People were angry enough, but this is throwing gasoline on top of the burning tire fire, there's no putting it out. If the Liberals are smart, they will look to retirement to end their political fortunes, and not being removed from office by a group of anti-tax crusaders making up all political stripes.
There are over 700,000 signatures on the initiative, and yet it took only one sympathetic Liberal to stop us; unbelievable.
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