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"Fight HST" - Campaign & Petition = fighthst.com
| Message Board > General Chitchat > "Fight HST" - Campaign & Petition = fighthst.com |
| NotGonnaTakeIt User Info... | http://fighthst.com By Andrew A. Duffy and Rob Shaw, Times Colonist April 6, 2010 10:02 PM *Vander Zalm's army takes battle against HST across B.C.* VICTORIA - A small army of canvassers amassed by former premier Bill Vander Zalm hit the streets across the province Tuesday, armed with a petition aimed at killing B.C.’s controversial 12 per cent harmonized sales tax. Under the province’s Recall and Initiative Act, the group has just 90 days to gather the signatures of 10 per cent of the registered voters in each of the province’s 85 electoral districts — about 300,000 signatures in total. “It’s been a little wild today,” Fight HST’s lead organizer Chris Delaney said, as the group — estimated by some within the movement to be nearly 5,000-volunteers strong — busily photocopied and distributed petition forms provided by Elections B.C. The group’s website, fighthst.com, was so busy it crashed Tuesday morning — which Delaney took as a good sign. “I’m actually very confident in terms of being able to gather signatures — one of the big e-mails I’m getting today is, ‘Where do I sign?’ ” he said. The B.C. Liberals introduced a bill in the legislature for the HST on March 30. It’s supposed to come into effect on July 1. The new tax eliminates the seven per cent provincial sales tax and creates a new seven per cent tax that will be combined, or “harmonized,” with the five per cent federal GST. Opposition to the tax centres around the fact the HST will be applied to everything the GST covered, which includes many items previously exempt from the PST. With about three million registered voters in B.C., Fight HST needs about 300,000 signatures. But key is signing up 10 per cent of registered voters in all 85 ridings. Even if the group does succeed, the petition would face an uncertain future in B.C.’s Liberal-controlled legislature, experts say. “There’s been six previous attempts and even the most well organized one … has fallen short,” said Norman Ruff, political science professor emeritus at the University of Victoria. UVic political science professor Dennis Pilon said the petition’s success is a long shot because of the onerous rules associated with the process. Under the recall act, if the petition gets enough signatures, the province’s chief electoral officer would send a copy of it, and its draft bill to repeal the HST, to the legislature’s select standing committee on legislative initiatives. That committee, which is dominated by Liberal MLAs, would have to do one of two things: Recommend that the government introduce the anti-HST bill into the house, or return the issue to Elections B.C. for a provincewide referendum. To satisfy the law, all the government would have to do is introduce the anti-HST bill in the house — it wouldn’t have to debate it, give it second reading, or pass it. In fact, the Liberal majority could call a vote and squash the bill immediately. But if the HST petition actually gets to that point, politicians will probably be scared enough to tread lightly, said Pilon and Ruff. If a referendum went ahead, the majority of registered voters would have to vote in favour of the anti-HST bill, and more than half of registered voters in at least two-thirds of the electoral districts in the province would have to support it. Of the previous six initiative-petition applications approved since the legislation came into force in 1995, three failed to collect enough signatures, one was withdrawn and two were never submitted. But the Fight HST organizers think theirs will work, citing polls that show nearly 80 per cent of B.C. residents oppose the tax. [email protected] [email protected] http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/Vander+Zalm+army+takes+battle+against+across/2770825/story.html - Tue, 6 Apr 2010 2:10pm Edited: Tue, 6 Apr 2010 11:26pm | ||
| glen Santics User Info... | We have to stand up against this tax for a number of reasons: -They way it was introduced was deceitful at the very least! We were lied to during the election and a message has to be sent to polititians that we will not be lied to! -B.C. will be paying 12% tax to the Federal Government while Alberta pays only 5%...this isn't fair or legal-why should we pay more as a Province? The Feds plan is to return back some of the tax...but if you think we will be getting back an apportionate amount you have been brainwashed! -We are slowly being cooked by a gradual turning up the heat on taxes...it doesn't end here! Pretty soon 12% will not be enough and it will increase again - We don't need more Government - We need less - We don't need more taxes - We need more money in OUR pockets to spend as WE wish and that is what keeps the wheels of commerce rolling! -Peoples debt load as a ratio to earnings is at an all time high! Our basics for living (housing/food/utilities/transportation/etc) has consumed more and more of our earnings and people have leveraged themselves to enjoy some rewards for all their hard work...we are in a dangerous spot right now! Adding extra taxes does nothing but secure the pensions for the polititians...not us! Sign the petition and send a message to Government that we will not stand for lies and want a democracy in Canada! - Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:25pm | ||
| trevor corey User Info... | Sometime this year, we the taxpayers will receive an 'HST Compensation' payment. This is indeed a very exciting program, and I'll explain it by using a Q & A format: Q. What is an 'HST Compensation' payment ? A. It is money that the provincial government will send to taxpayers. Q. Where will the government get this money ? A. From taxpayers. Q. So the government is giving me back my own money ? A. Only a smidgen of it. Q. What is the purpose of this payment ? A. The plan is for you to use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy. Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China ? A. Shut up. Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the economy by spending your compensation cheque wisely: * If you spend the stimulus money at Wal-Mart, the money will go to China or Sri Lanka . * If you spend it on gasoline, your money will go to the Arabs. * If you purchase a computer, it will go to India , Taiwan or China . * If you purchase fruit and vegetables, it will go to Mexico , Honduras and Guatemala .. * If you buy an efficient car, it will go to Japan or Korea . * If you purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan . * If you pay your credit cards off or go buy stock, it will go to fat management fees and bonuses and they will hide the money in offshore bank accounts. Instead, keep the money in Canada by: 1) Spending it at yard sales, or 2) Going to hockey games, or 3) Spending it on prostitutes, or 4) Beer or 5) Tattoos. (These are the only Canadian businesses still operating in Canada. ) Conclusion: Go to a hockey game with a tattooed prostitute you met at a yard sale and drink beer all day. No need to thank me. Just glad I could be of help. - Fri, 14 May 2010 9:32pm | ||
| Aidan Logins User Info... | You forgot marijuana. Which is really the best way to keep the rebate money supporting the local economy. It's also what you'd probably spend it on anyways if they didn't take it in the first place. It also combines good with any of the other spending options you mentioned, both foreign and domestic (except maybe the car... that one's debatable). - Sat, 15 May 2010 7:04pm | ||
| Ottoman User Info... | Yeah..............Campbell and all his buddies can poke this HST bullshit up their liberal assholes. - Tue, 18 May 2010 4:10pm | ||
| Mike S User Info... | And to all you fools who brag about how you dont vote or cry 'whats the point they are all crooks' etc etc. (you know who you are and I know some of you read this board ) well maybe if some of them had taken some initiative in the last election and gotten off their lazy uneducated asses and voted AGAINST the Liberals they wouldnt have been returned to power. All the so called 'anarchists' or 'anti-society bullshitters' or even all the pot smoking video game nuts that dont leave the house in BC could have made a difference had they voted against Campbell and his cronies. If the fact that those in power actively prey off your indifference and use it to STAY in power will now cost YOU more money directly isnt a wake up call to PAY ATTENTION and VOTE then I dont know what is. X - Tue, 25 May 2010 1:55pm | ||
| Ottoman User Info... | Yeah, that and being a registered voter is a requirement to sign the anti-HST petition. - Tue, 25 May 2010 6:47pm | ||
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