Login / RegisterHST referendum dates extended by two weeks
Elections B.C. says voters will have two extra weeks to request and mail in ballots for the harmonized sales tax referendum.
Acting chief electoral officer Craig James said he ordered the extensions because of the impact of the Canada Post labour dispute, according to a statement released today (June 30).
The deadline to request an HST referendum package has been extended to July 22 at midnight from July 8, and the date of the close of voting has been extended to August 5 at 4:30 p.m. from July 22.
The Elections B.C. announcement follows a call earlier this week from NDP Leader Adrian Dix to extend the two referendum dates by 14 days each.
Dix expressed worry that the disruption to postal service might threaten the right of voters to take part in the mail-in referendum.
Elections B.C. also says voters in 71 of the province’s electoral districts—covering Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and other areas—can expect to receive referendum voting packages by July 7.
Packages were delivered to voters in the other 14 electoral districts on June 13 and 14, according to Elections B.C.
In the referendum, voters must decide whether to keep the HST or scrap it and revive the PST and GST.
I am voting YES to extinguish the HST.
It is my position that an inquiry into Gordon Campbell's decision must be brought - and I suspect that breach of trust criminal charges would likely follow that - or alternatively that a breach of trust investigation take place by police now ----------- we are at a crossroads where everyone else is expected to be accountable - but not elected officials particularly the head of the executive - Campbell.
I wonder if British Columbians agree with this?