B.C. Premier Christy Clark says public has spoken on HST

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      B.C. Premier Christy Clark confirmed following the results of the HST referendum today (August 26) that the province will move back to the PST by March 2013.

      “While I am disappointed with the results, the public has very clearly spoken, and now is the time to turn the page,” she told reporters in Victoria following the release of the referendum results.

      Clark said the province will return to the PST with the exemptions that existed prior to the HST.

      “That’s what people voted for, and that’s what’s going to happen,” she said.

      “I have directed the minister of finance to act without delay to move back to the PST and to begin negotiations with the federal government to wind down the HST.”

      Clark said that while she was “disappointed in the final tally”, she argued there are “real reasons for optimism".

      “Throughout this process, government undertook the biggest listening process in British Columbia’s history," she said. "We went out and talked to people, we found out what they thought, and then we took their ideas and we implemented it into a real change in government policy,” she said.

      “That also translated to I think a huge voter turnout, and it translated into government proving that it can do things differently, she added.

      Clark conceded that if the HST had been introduced in a different way, “it may have ultimately met with a different reception for British Columbians.”

      “They wanted to know that government understood the way this was brought in well over a year ago wasn’t good enough,” she said.

      When the premier was asked by a reporter whether she is willing to rule out an election until the PST is brought back, Clark noted that the legislature is scheduled to sit in October.

      “We will be launching our job plan that I’ve been working on for many month now this fall as well,” she said. “That’s what I’m going to focus on in the fall.”

      Comments

      18 Comments

      Tax Me I am Canadian

      Aug 26, 2011 at 3:05pm

      Quick Christy, call an election. Voters are on a roll.

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      cherylb

      Aug 26, 2011 at 3:33pm

      "there are “real reasons for optimism".

      “Throughout this process, government undertook the biggest listening process in British Columbia’s history," she said. "We went out and talked to people, we found out what they thought, and then we took their ideas and we implemented it into a real change in government policy,” she said."

      Well, that's certainly an optimistic way of looking at things. Funny, that's not how I see it at all. But go ahead Christy, just keep on looking through those rose-coloured glasses and call an election!

      Brenda H

      Aug 26, 2011 at 3:53pm

      How about now Christy! Not 2013. We won!

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      Brenda H

      Aug 26, 2011 at 3:56pm

      Rose coloured glasses, too funny. More lies from Christy if what it really is. It should NOT take until 2013 to move back to the pst/gst. Time for an election NOW

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      Dan Clay

      Aug 26, 2011 at 4:04pm

      NOW CHRISTY not 2 years from here..are you listening?

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      James Duncan

      Aug 26, 2011 at 4:17pm

      The sheeple have spoken...if only people weren't brainwashed with Anti Hst propaganda, thanks to billy Vanderscam! As two taxes are no better then one at 12%. Now the gov't is set to spend millions more on erasing a simpler form of taxation, for a more complicated two tax version. This is indeed a sad day for B.C and the misinformed masses. Blame lands squarely on Vanderscam for not fading away when I wished he had already milked this province of enough attention/corruption back in the day. Take your dirt nap already bill.

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      Susan Jones

      Aug 26, 2011 at 4:56pm

      Christy Clark is now spouting off about new jobs from Asia-Pacific trade. This proves that the new Premier, like Gordon Campbell, is listening to the wrong advisors and Kevin Falcon. While Asia-Pacific container trade is growing in Prince Rupert, it remains flat since 2007 in the lower mainland. In spite of this, Christy Clark is supporting Gateway projects in the lower mainland that are costing taxpayers billion of dollars while the projects eat up precious farmland, destroy internationally-significant habitat and create polluting traffic gridlock. Far from being free enterprise, the Liberal Government is funding Gateway projects for Liberal supporters who profit from land rezoning, building contracts and the industrialization of farmland and precious habitat. This is mismanagement of tax dollars which future generations will have to pay. It's time, Madame Premier, to help B.C. build a truly sustainable economy. B.C. should train local skilled workers and invest in processing our rich natural resources into product. Exploitation of cheap labour and deals with countries that do not honour human rights is unethical.

      RonS

      Aug 26, 2011 at 5:17pm

      The gateway projects won't help anything. The Panama Canal is being widened to accept wider ships that before, had to sail around the horn to get to the east coast. This is no reason to build the gateway roads. What a waste of taxpayers money all going to P3 Contractors. We will be paying for this wasteland of roads long after most of us are dead and gone.

      ErnieB

      Aug 26, 2011 at 5:37pm

      The proposed South Fraser Perimeter Road will cost over $1.5 Billion and paves the best farmland in Canada. There are some savings for you, Madame Premier.

      Barney Fife

      Aug 26, 2011 at 5:53pm

      You had to hear it TWICE, hope you've got it this time.