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Common Ground Magazine Cover

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As we get closer to our 3 month long Signature Collection Campaign, I thought I would share this Great magazine cover by Common Ground Magazine (with permission of course). I love the caption: OVERTAXAR from the director of “TITANIC DEBT”

Great Magazine Cover

PRESS RELEASE: BC CITIZENS’ INITIATIVE APPLICATION BY FORMER PREMIER BILL VANDER ZALM TO KILL THE HST APPROVED BY ELECTIONS BC FOR APRIL

PRESS RELEASE: BC CITIZENS’ INITIATIVE APPLICATION BY FORMER PREMIER BILL VANDER ZALM
TO KILL THE HST APPROVED BY ELECTIONS BC FOR APRIL

Vancouver, BC – A British Columbia Initiative petition to kill the proposed 12% Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on virtually all goods and services in BC, has been approved by Elections BC, former Premier, Fight HST leader and petition applicant Bill Vander Zalm announced Thursday.

Fight HST, the group started by Vander Zalm, said the Elections BC approved Citizens’ Initiative can begin signature collection on April 6, 2010.

If implemented on July 1, 2010, the HST announced last year by Premier Gordon Campbell would add an additional 7% tax on everything from restaurant meals, haircuts, bicycles, and gym memberships to golf fees, airline tickets, funeral services, new homes over $525,000 to professional fees like accounting and much more.

Vander Zalm is currently travelling on business in California but issued a statement:

“The citizen’s Initiative petition is our first move and it is the people’s opportunity to tell the governments that we are still a democracy and not totally an elected dictatorship,” Vander Zalm said. “The Initiative is also the people’s opportunity to kill the HST.”

Fight HST spokesman Bill Tieleman said that: “The citizens’ Initiative petition is a legally-binding petition, which if successful will require the government to either conduct a province-wide referendum on the HST or to present an Act to repeal the HST in the legislature.”

Tieleman explained that the Fight HST group must collect the signatures of 10% of registered voters in all 85 BC electoral districts in 90 days to be successful.

“We will have to collect all those signatures between April 6 and July 5. We have over 1,500 volunteers from across the province who have already agreed to canvass for signatures, and we expect that number to increase dramatically as we approach the start date and people see that the HST can indeed be stopped,” he said.

Chris Delaney, Lead Organizer for Fight HST, said that the proposed legislation for the citizens’ Initiative would nullify the HST agreement between the federal government and the province, thereby extinguishing the HST in BC.

“We would return to the Provincial Sales Tax as it was applied before the surprise HST announcement,” said Delaney. “Our legislation would be effective retroactively from June 30, 2010, the day before the proposed implementation of the HST. This means the government will have to refund all extra HST revenues they collect over and above what they would have received under the PST, to British Columbia taxpayers. It’s their money after all,” said Delaney.

Delaney said Fight HST is calling on Premier Campbell to tell British Columbians whether he will abide by the voters wishes and repeal the HST if the petition is successful.

“British Columbians deserve to know if their Premier, the same man who has repeatedly expressed support for grass roots democracy and effective Citizen Initiative legislation, will abide by it when it is applied to his government.”

PRESS RELEASE: ATTORNEY GENERAL ADMITS TO MANIPULATION OF CONSTITUTION ON #HST

LIBERAL “END RUN” AROUND CONSTITUTION A FRAUD
Attorney General Admits to Manipulation of Constitution on HST

Delta BC – Fight HST Leader, Bill Vander Zalm, says one of his group’s supporters has received a “sneaky” reply from Liberal MLA John Rustad of Nechako Lakes, outlining how the Liberals are manipulating the Constitution in order to create the HST in BC.

Jack Kortmeyer, a businessman from Burns Lake, wrote to Rustad asking for an explanation on how the Provincial Government could create an HST in BC when the Constitution stipulates that “the Raising of a Revenue for Provincial Purposes” can only be done by the Legislature of BC.

Rustad forwarded a deceitful explanation from the Ministry of Finance that was first vetted by the BC Attorney General, stating that the HST is a federal tax only, and that, “Under harmonization, British Columbia is not delegating its legislative authority for direct taxation to the federal government but agreeing not to exercise that authority in exchange for a share of the federal tax.”

Vander Zalm explained, “That is like the Feds agreeing to let BC legalize capital punishment by saying they are not delegating their legislative authority for criminal law to the Provincial Government, but agreeing not to exercise that authority in exchange for a share of the revenues saved from executing criminals instead of jailing them.”

“If you can simply subvert the intended meaning of the Constitution with legal gobbledy gook and fraudulent “side agreements”, then it isn’t worth the paper it is written on,” said Vander Zalm.

Vander Zalm says the repercussions of the HST are even worse than he feared. “Not only will British Columbians be asked to foot the bill, they will be losing total control of their own provincial taxation authority to the federal government. The entire HST will be determined, set and collected by a dictatorial federal government, turning BC into nothing more than a giant municipality begging for transfers.”

“We know how difficult it is to influence our own Provincial Government when it comes to lowering or getting rid of taxes. Imagine having to convince a bunch of sneaky, deceitful Liberals in Ontario or a gang of opportunistic separatists in Quebec?”

Vander Zalm says already tourism groups, restaurateurs and construction people are being told the Province cannot grant any more exemptions on HST because of federal limits imposed in the Comprehensive Integrated Tax Coordination Agreement (CITCA) BC signed to create the HST.

“Bernie Madoff tried to pull the wool over the eyes of thousands of investors. These manipulators who claim to be our governors are trying to pull the wool over an entire country,” Vander Zalm charged.

“We are looking at ways to challenge the Constitutionality of this scurrilous process in court. It seems democracy and the Constitution have not only been subverted, but are effectively being destroyed with the creation of the HST. It is unbelievable!” Vander Zalm concluded.

The full text of MLA Rustad and Kortmeyer’s’s email exchange is below:

From: Rustad.MLA, John
Subject: RE: Harmonized Sales Tax
To: “jack kortmeyer” <**********@yahoo.ca>
Received: Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 2:08 PM
Hi Jack,
This is the response from the Attorney General’s office:
This is from the Ministry of Finance:
The concerns which have been raised that the harmonized sales tax is an unconstitutional delegation of provincial legislative authority reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the tax.
The harmonized sales tax is a federal tax. It is imposed by the federal government under the Excise Tax Act. The constitutional authority for the Excise Tax Act is found in section 91(3) of the Constitution Act, 1867 which provides exclusive legislative authority to the Parliament of Canada for “the raising of money by any mode or system of taxation.”
Under section 92 of the Constitution Act, 1967, the province of British Columbia has exclusive legislative authority for “direct taxation within the province in order to the raising of a revenue for provincial purposes.” This is the constitutional authority for the provincial sales tax imposed under the Social Service Tax Act.
Under harmonization, British Columbia is not delegating its legislative authority for direct taxation to the federal government but agreeing not to exercise that authority in exchange for a share of the federal tax. If British Columbia no longer receives that share of the federal tax there is nothing to prevent British Columbia from again exercising its legislative authority and imposing a provincial sales tax.
Sincerely,
John Rustad, MLA, Nechako-Lakes
________________________________________
From: jack kortmeyer [mailto:***********@yahoo.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 2009 12:02 PM
To: Rustad.MLA, John
Subject: Harmonized Sales Tax
John
On Oct 14 2009 I attended a meeting with local merchants and yourself at the Chamber of Commerce meeting room in Burns Lake . During this meeting I made a brief presentation on my position as to why I felt the Harmonized Sales Tax in its present form is unconstitutional. With my presentation I also provided you with excerpts from the Lord Nelson Hotel Supreme Court Case, the Statute of Westminster 1931, the British North America Act 1867-1982 and even a comment on taxation by W.A.C. Bennett. You mentioned to me at this meeting that you did not know much about this Constitutional topic, however you assured me you would pass my information onto the Attorney General for his opinion, I have not to date received a reply. When may I expect an answer from the Attorney General on this very important Constitutional question?
As a Citizen of Canada and British Columbia I ask you our Member of the Legislative Assembly, the Attorney General and the Premier of British Columbia as elected officials to be absolutely certain my Constitutional Rights are protected on this subject of taxation.
Regards,
Jack Kortmeyer
Decker Lake
-30 -
For Further Information:

Bill Vander Zalm Chris Delaney
Leader, Fight HST Lead Organizer
Ph: (604) 946-1774 Fight HST
Ph: (604) 942-6265
Cel: (604) 880-4956

PRESS RELEASE: VANDER ZALM ASKS SENATE TO CHECK CONSTITUTIONALITY OF #HST BILL

December 14, 2009

VANDER ZALM ASKS SENATE TO CHECK CONSTITUTIONALITY OF HST BILL

Delta BC – Former BC Premier, Bill Vander Zalm, is asking the Canadian Senate to “take a sober second look” at Bill C-62 passed by Parliament on December 9th enabling the harmonization of BC’s sales taxes with the federal GST to create an HST in BC.

Vander Zalm, who is leader of an ad hoc group in BC called Fight HST, says he believes the federal Bill, which will amend the Excise Tax Act to enable the federal government to collect an HST in BC, contravenes Section 91 of the Canadian Constitution Act 1867 which prohibits the federal government from legislating in areas reserved exclusively for the provinces.

Vander Zalm says that harmonization of BC’s sales tax with the federal GST is off limits for both the federal government and the provincial governments without a Constitutional amendment.

“Section 91 of the Constitution Act 1867 clearly limits the federal government from intruding into the exclusive areas of provincial taxation. Section 92 restricts the provincial governments from giving up that power as well. We would like the Senate, as the ‘chamber of sober second thought’, to examine Bill C-62 carefully to ensure that it adheres to the clear limits set out in the Constitution,” said Vander Zalm.

Section 91 of the Constitution Act 1867 enumerates the powers of the federal government. It reads:

91. It shall be lawful for the Queen, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate and House of Commons, to make laws for the Peace, Order, and good Government of Canada, in relation to all Matters not coming within the Classes of Subjects by this Act assigned exclusively to the Legislatures of the Provinces; and for greater Certainty, but not so as to restrict the Generality of the foregoing Terms of this Section, it is hereby declared that (notwithstanding anything in this Act) the exclusive Legislative Authority of the Parliament of Canada extends to all Matters coming within the Classes of Subjects next hereinafter enumerated; that is to say,- 3. The raising of Money by any Mode or System of Taxation.

Section 92 stipulates the powers of the provinces. It reads:

92. In each Province the Legislature may exclusively make Laws in relation to Matters coming within the Classes of Subjects next hereinafter enumerated; that is to say – 2. Direct Taxation within the Province in order to the raising of a Revenue for Provincial Purposes.

Vander Zalm says the Senate has a major role to play in the issue of the HST.

“The Senate has traditionally acted as a ‘check’ on Parliament to ensure that Bills being proposed are done so correctly and lawfully. While they don’t hold elected power, they do have Constitutional authority to review legislation, propose amendments, and/or render a judgment. We are asking them in the interests of the majority of British Columbians to tell us whether the federal HST legislation is Constitutional.”

Vander Zalm says the HST is a non-partisan issue that has united British Columbians of all backgrounds and political persuasions.

“Polls have consistently shown over 85% of British Columbians oppose the HST. I suspect if it were clearly determined that the HST was illegal, that number would rise to 100% against.”

Vander Zalm points out that the Senate is also designed as a “regional check” on the powers of Parliament. He says that since MP’s from Quebec and Ontario voted to saddle BC with a tax that has nothing to do with them, it is critical that the Senate act to protect the regional interests of British Columbians, especially if the Bill is determined to be outside the authority of Parliament in the first place.

“We urge every Senator in Canada to carefully review the HST legislation put to them by Parliament. We have requested that the Speaker of the Senate, the Honourable Noel Kinsella, delay the Senate vote on the HST Bill until he is able to provide British Columbians with a determination on whether that Bill is Constitutionally valid or not,” said Vander Zalm

“We have sent letters to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Marjory LeBreton, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Jim Cowan, asking them to put the question of the HST’s Constitutionality to their caucuses. We are asking them to reply and let us know if they are willing to undertake this review.”

Vander Zalm says that outside of an expensive court challenge, the Canadian Senate is British Columbia’s last chance to determine if the HST is a legitimate tax before Gordon Campbell tries to ram it through.

“Never before in the history of our country have the Senators been as needed. We sincerely hope they will look into this critical matter of Constitutionality on behalf of British Columbians and all Canadians,” concluded Vander Zalm.

HST Extinguishment Act for the Citizen’s Initiative against the #HST in BC

Title:
HST Extinguishment Act
Preamble:
Whereas a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) combining the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) with the federal
Goods and Services Tax (GST) as contemplated by the Governments of British Columbia and Canada
contravenes Section 92, Article 2, of the Constitution Act 1867, which states:
92. In each Province the Legislature may exclusively make Laws in relation to Matters coming within the
Classes of Subjects next hereinafter enumerated; that is to say,
2. Direct Taxation within the Province in order to the raising of a Revenue for Provincial Purposes.
And whereas the people of British Columbia, as expressed in the Citizen Initiative Petition against the
Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in British Columbia, wish to extinguish the tax, therefore;
Part I
(1) The HST is extinguished in British Columbia.
(2) Any Agreement(s) between The Government of British Columbia and The Government of
Canada establishing an HST in British Columbia are hereby extinguished and of no force or effect
whatsoever.
(3) Any Legislation by The Government of British Columbia establishing an HST is hereby
extinguished and of no force or effect whatsoever.
(4) Any Legislation by The Government of Canada establishing an HST in British Columbia is of
no force or affect in British Columbia whatsoever.
Part II
(1) A Provincial Sales Tax (PST) of 7% with the same applications and exemptions as at June
30th 2010 shall be the only sales tax in British Columbia for the raising of a Revenue for Provincial
Purposes.
Part III
(1) This Act shall be effective as of June 30th 2010.

PRESS RELEASE: VANDER ZALM DRAFTS BILL TO ELIMINATE #HST IN BC

Delta, BC – Former BC premier and Fight HST Leader, Bill Vander Zalm, has released a draft Bill to eliminate the HST in BC.

Titled the “HST Extinguishment Act”, the bill would nullify any Agreements between the Governments of BC and Canada that attempt to establish a Harmonized Sales Tax in BC. As well, Vander Zalm’s Bill would repeal any Provincial Legislation that tries to create an HST.

Vander Zalm says the Bill is required by Elections BC as part of his submission for the “Citizen Initiative Petition” he will file in January of 2010, which will require the signatures of 10% of British Columbians from every riding in BC to be successful.

“We’ve made the HST Extinguishment Act effective as of June 30, 2010. That way, if Premier Campbell tries to shove this hated tax down the throats of British Columbians on July 1 as planned, he will have to refund every citizen the extra money collected from the HST when the HST Extinguishment Act becomes law,” Vander Zalm explained.

“We have staged peaceful protest rallies to let the government know they are off-side with the people. We have written to every MLA and MP asking them to vote against this tax. We have even appealed to the Governor General to clarify for Parliament and the BC Legislature the un-Constitutionality of the HST,” said Vander Zalm, “But none of them will listen.”

“Now we’ll proceed with our Bill as part of the Citizen Initiative Petition to stop this blatant tax and power grab by the provincial and federal governments, in direct violation of the Constitution.”

Vander Zalm says his proposed Bill is only a first draft, and that he is open to suggestions or ideas from British Columbians to help improve the Bill and/or to make changes.

Vander Zalm says legislators in BC and Canada have gone from being law-makers to law-breakers with the HST. He says only the people can stop them now by putting an end to an un-lawful tax and taking back their democracy.

“It’s time British Columbians reminded the politicians that they are the servants of the people, and not their masters in BC and Canada,” Vander Zalm concluded.

MP

Twitter
CLICK HERE to email the Prime Minister of Canada
CLICK HERE to email the Governor General of Canada
FEDERAL MP EMAIL ADDRESS LIST
AbbotsfordFast, Ed (Mr.)
BC Southern InteriorAtamanenko, Alex (Mr.)
Burnaby - DouglasSiksay, Bill (Mr.)
Burnaby - New WestminsterJulian, Peter (Mr.)
Cariboo - Prince GeorgeHarris, Richard M. (Mr.)
Chilliwack - Fraser CanyonStrahl, Chuck (Hon.)
Delta - Richmond EastCummins, John (Mr.)
Esquimalt - Juan de FucaMartin, Keith (Hon.)
Fleetwood - Port KellsGrewal, Nina (Mrs.)
Kamloops - Thompson - CaribooMcLeod, Cathy (Mrs.)
Kelowna - Lake CountryCannan, Ron (Mr.)
Kootenay - ColumbiaAbbott, Jim (Hon.)
LangleyWarawa, Mark (Mr.)
Nanaimo - AlberniLunney, James (Mr.)
Nanaimo - CowichanCrowder, Jean (Ms.)
Newton - North DeltaDhaliwal, Sukh (Mr.)
North VancouverSaxton, Andrew (Mr.)
Okanagan - CoquihallaDay, Stockwell (Hon.)
Okanagan - ShuswapMayes, Colin (Mr.)
Pitt Meadows - Maple Ridge - MissionKamp, Randy (Mr.)
Port Moody - Westwood - Port CoquitlamMoore, James (Hon.)
Prince George - Peace RiverHill, Jay (Hon.)
RichmondWong, Alice (Mrs.)
Saanich - Gulf IslandsLunn, Gary (Hon.)
Skeena - Bulkley ValleyCullen, Nathan (Mr.)
South Surrey - White Rock - CloverdaleHiebert, Russ (Mr.)
Surrey NorthCadman, Dona (Ms.)
Vancouver CentreFry, Hedy (Hon.)
Vancouver EastDavies, Libby (Ms.)
Vancouver Island NorthDuncan, John (Mr.)
Vancouver KingswayDavies, Don (Mr.)
Vancouver QuadraMurray, Joyce (Ms.)
Vancouver SouthDosanjh, Ujjal (Hon.)
VictoriaSavoie, Denise (Ms.)
West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast - Sea to Sky CountryWeston, John (Mr.)

MLA

Twitter
CLICK HERE to email the Prime Minister of Canada
CLICK HERE to email the Governor General of Canada
PROVINCIAL MLA EMAIL ADDRESS LIST
Abbotsford South John van Dongen
Abbotsford West Mike De Jong
Abbotsford-Mission Randy Hawes
Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Fraser
Boundary-Similkameen John Slater
Burnaby North Richard Lee
Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan
Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan
Burnaby-Lougheed Harry Bloy
Cariboo North Bob Simpson
Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett
Chilliwack John Les
Chilliwack-Hope Barry Penner
Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm MacDonald
Comox Valley Don McRae
Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne
Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne
Cowichan Valley Bill Routley
Delta North Guy Gentner
Delta South Vicki Huntington
Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurine Karagianis
Fort Langley-Aldergrove Rich Coleman
Fraser-Nicola Harry Lali
Juan de Fuca John Horgan
Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake
Kamloops-South Thompson Kevin Kreuger
Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick
Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson
Kootenay EastBill Bennett
Kootenay West Katrine Conroy
Langley Mary Polak
Maple Ridge-Mission Marc Dalton
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather
Nanaimo Leonard Krog
Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley
Nechako Lakes John Rustad
Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall
New Westminster Dawn Black
North Coast Gary Coons
North Island Claire Trevena
North Vancouver-Lonsdale Naomi Yamamoto
North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Ann Thornwaite
Oak Bay-Gordon Head Ida Chong
Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon
Peace River North Pat Pimm
Peace River South Blair Lekstrom
Penticton Bill Barisoff
Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth
Port Moody-Coquitlam Ian Black
Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons
Prince George-Mackenzie Pat Bell
Prince George-Valemount Shirley Bond
Richmond Centre Rob Howard
Richmond East Linda Reid
Richmond-Steveston John Yap
Saanich North and the Islands Murray Coell
Saanich South Lana Popham
Shuswap George Abbott
Skeena Robin Austin
Stikine Doug Donaldson
Surrey-Cloverdale Kevin Falcon
Surrey-FleetwoodJagrup Brar
Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell
Surrey-Newton Harry Bains
Surrey-Panorama Stephanie Cadieux
Surrey-Tynehead Dave Hayer
Surrey-WhalleyBruce Ralston
Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg
Vancouver-Fairview Margaret MacDiarmid
Vancouver-False Creek Mary McNeil
Vancouver-Fraserview Kash Heed
Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson
Vancouver-Kensington Mabel Elmore
Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix
Vancouver-Langara Moira Stilwell
Vancouver-Mount PleasantJenny Kwan
Vancouver-Point Grey Gordon Campbell
Vancouver-Quilchena Colin Hansen
Vancouver-West End Spencer Herbert
Vernon-Monashee Eric Foster
Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James
Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming
West Vancouver-Capilano Ralph Sultan
West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Joan McIntyre
Westside-Kelowna Ben Stewart

ABOUT

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    Bill Vander Zalm

    Former Premier Bill Vander Zalm
    We can't let this happen. Join me in saying no to the HST

    TOGETHER WE CAN SAVE BC.
    BILL VANDER ZALM Has often been called the "Gardener Politician." A family man with his wife Lillian of 53 years, 4 children, all married and in the nursery garden center business operating Art Knapp Plantland Stores, and 9 wonderful grandchildren.

    Bill Vander Zalm started the Art Knapp stores in 1953 after running a wholesale bulb and plant business for several years since age 18 when his father had suffered a heart attack.

    Bill Vander Zalm entered politics, as a Surrey Councilor in 1965 and in 1969 became the youngest Mayor in Canadas history of the largest Municipality in the British Commonwealth.

    In 1975 he entered Provincial politics and became Minister of Human Resources. After eliminating the debt and re-directing that ministry, he became the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Transit and brought to our Province the rapid transit Skytrain system.

    In 1981, the Government was forced to introduce a program of restraint and Mr. Vander Zalm was given the most difficult portfolio of Education and effectively brought spending in line with available revenues.

    In 1983 Mr. Vander Zalm took a sabbatical from politics when he and Lillian started the Fantasy Garden World, a combination "show Garden", "Children's Play Park" and "Biblical Garden" complete with catering facilities for weddings and other functions.

    In 1986 Bill Vander Zalm was chosen the leader of Social Credit, became Premier on July 31st. and was confirmed with a majority government in a general election during October of that year.

    There was considerable progress during the years of 1986 1991 and the Province went from successive deficits to successive balanced budgets, all income tax surcharges were removed and the sales tax was reduced. But most remarkably, his Government was the first in the history of the Province to actually reduce the Provincial debt, and the British Columbia economy was rated #1 in North America.

    In late 1990, after suffering from a number of internal political maneuverings and with great and well organized fanfare, was falsely charged with Conflict of Interest and Breach of Trust for participating with Lillian in the sale of the Fantasy Gardens. He resigned, but was later acquitted of all charges in the BC Supreme Court and found not guilty.

    Bill still keeps very busy doing auctions at numerous charity fund-raisers. He is also involved in numerous challenging business enterprises, but after Lillian and family, his big love is tending to his big crop of fragrant Lilac bushes.

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    DONATIONS For the Fight HST cause can be sent to:
    Fight HST - 370 East Broadway,
    P. O. Box 95023, Vancouver BC. V5T 4T8


    Elections BC has advised us that all volunteers and petition signers MUST be registered voters, so it is important to ensure that you are.
    You can register or confirm your registration by going on-line to http://elections.bc.ca or calling (250) 387-5305 or toll free 1-800-661-8683