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Bill Vander Zalm calls HST referendum results “historic”
Fight HST leader Bill Vander Zalm addressed reporters outside the court house in Vancouver.
Yolande Cole
Fight HST leaderBill Vander Zalm called the results of today’s referendum on the harmonized sales tax “historic” as he celebrated his group's successful battle against the policy.
“This is a historic day, not only in our province, but in the country,” Vander Zalm told reporters shortly after the referendum results were released today (August 26).
“It’s the first time in the British commonwealth that the people actually had a say in how it is they’re taxed.”
The former premier said the referendum results also “sent a message” to politicians that they must consult with the people on issues as big as the HST.
Vander Zalm then challenged B.C. Premier Christy Clark on developing the government’s next steps.
“If plan b goes the way of plan a, they’re in trouble again, so I would tell the premier and the government right now that if you have a plan b, involve the people in your plan b—they need to have a say,” he said.
“It’s they that pay not only the taxes, but your wages, your benefits and your pension.”
Fight HST organizer Chris Delaney also called the vote “history making”.
“The people of British Columbia stood the line against the biggest powers and won,” he said. “The little guy today won. This is one for the little guy.”
“We were told we’d lose the referendum with $10, 15, 20 million being spent against us,” he added.
“People didn’t listen to that. This is a victory for democracy because big money did not win the day in this referendum.”
Fight HST organizers say they plan to continue calling for an independent inquiry into the referendum process for future ballots.
The group launched an anti-HST petition in April 2010 calling for a referendum on the tax.
More than 1.6 million British Columbians cast ballots in the mail-in referendum.
But if your such a supporter of the HST u can send in + pay your share of the HST going forward on Hair Cuts & Restaurants.
Send your Cash to the Ministry every two weeks :)
You're clearly not an economist, nor an expert in government finance, nor, it would seem, are you a business owner. If you were, you'd understand this is not a win for the province. But, like everyone, you're entitled to an opinion. I appreciate you probably feel like you just stuck it to the government. Were you better versed in economics, you'd understand you stuck it to yourself. Enjoy paying a higher, grossly inefficent tax. What a glorious victory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZXu3LXNwEg
Only Sheep + Corporate Welfare dependent Industry welcome the HST.
Furthermore if this incompetent Government had not turned a $2 Billion Surplus on getting into Office to Billions in Deficits in unnecessary expenditures like the Owe-lympics and the overpriced Dead Spider $600 Million Tarp Roof, they would not need the $1.6 Bill as a bailout for their Budget from the Feds.
Furthermore the next 2 Years of collecting the HST will more than pay for the $1.6 Billion even $3 Billion since the HST is supposed to collect more than that over two years.
So at worst a Revenue Neutral situation after paying back the Feds.
BC did well under the old PST and so BC will not disappear or go down in flames economically if the PST comes back.
The Government can always stream line the PST if they are competent to make it more efficient theres nothing stopping the idiots from doing that.
Also the Government should raise and certainly it can get more Revenues from Natural Resources like Australia, Norway, NewFoundLand & the UK does, look it up :)
The HST or Bust argument is pure F.U.D from right wing Neo-Cons, simple Propaganda.
Congratulations. All of your 'furthermores' clearly indicate you have this issue completely figured out. Well done, sir. Well done. And your characterization of all of this as some sort of neocon agenda clearly indicate you're coming at this from a neutral, impartial and well thought out place.
Meanwhile, back in the land where economists, finance and public policy experts have actually studied this issue and understand it, there’s an appreciation this is an unfortunate day for the province. And good luck finding a public servant at the Ministry of Finance who agrees with you. But I’m sure they’re all neocons. Every last one of ‘em. :o)
Contrast the situation in BC with the collective yawns in Ontario where it was introduced coincidentally. An entire province of neocons, no doubt.
Enjoy your ‘victory.’
I don't blame the NeoCons nor would I blame their leftie counterparts if the shoe was on the other foot...... some people just don't have the ability and/or the inclination to get to the bottom of any given story..... they just eat what they are fed.
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