It's True...

For the past few months I've heard rumours that the NDP secretly supports the introduction of the harmonized sales tax in BC. It's comments like these that cause ex-Liberals to consider voting for the Conservatives. While these voters are simply looking for an escape goat to avoid voting for the social democratic party, it's still quite puzzling how they came to this conclusion.

Back in July 2009 when the HST was first announced by the Liberals, we were the first ones to cry foul and state our opposition to the move. We held press conferences, organized protests and even spread the battle to cyberspace. There with us was former Socred Premier Bill Vander Zalm leading the former Liberal camp against the government. We set aside our differences in the fight for one common goal, to end the harmonized sales tax in our province.

Nearly every day in the Legislature, at least one member of the opposition stood up and questioned the government about its intentions with the tax. All 35 members of the BC NDP voted against Bill 9 which introduced the tax, and during the initiative led by Vander Zalm, the NDP provided the largest amount of volunteers against the tax. Today we are still opposed to the move.

But the main point these conspirators point to is a lack of a point addressing the HST in the official platform. It's true; there is no point about the HST in the platform simply because it hasn't been updated since early 2009 for the election. The next policy review (which I hope to attend) isn't going to be until 2011. Will it be introduced there? It's possible, but with the way things are going the government won't even be standing by the end of the new year.

The evidence is stacked against the Conservatives: the BC NDP has opposed the HST since day one. But if they want to play hard ball, I'll play hard ball. Did you know that the Conservative platform in 2009 indicated their intention to harmonize the provincial sales tax with the federal Goods & Services Tax if elected?

The Conservatives should take a page from the Liberals: the people don't like to be lied to.