Why I am against the HST (By Bill Vander Zalm)
Aug 25, 2009 Details
Every well practiced politician can make a case for or against whatever it is being proposed. With the HST, let’s just deal with a few simple facts and forget all the rhetoric.
The B.C. Liberal government has told us that the new HST will be revenue neutral. Revenue neutral, they explain, is that it’s a tax paid by the consumer, not to go to Healthcare, Social Services, Education or some other government program but, to provide tax relief to business by way of tax refunds.
They further state that the HST will bring in $2 Billion (that’s – $ 2,000,000,000) per year. In our province of 4 million people that works out to $ 500 per year for every man, woman and child and that it will probably be about $ 2000 + per family or about $ 1250 for the average senior couple.
For most people that is a heavy extra burden and means cutting back on eating out, going to the theatre, going to a hockey game, getting a haircut and even the much more important things. Economics 101 tells us that less consumer spending means a loss of jobs.
The government tells us that Industry will cut their prices and we will gain by that. The B.C. government fails to tell us that 90% of the B.C. Economy is the resource industry. The only difference to the likes of Alcan, Cominco, Endako, Fording Coal, Shell Oil and the likes is that the tax refunds, from you the B.C. consumer, will help those poor Canadians, Americans, Europeans and Asians that have shares in these companies. It is world wide commodity prices that decide the price of oil, natural gas, coal, lumber or minerals not a tax refund. It’s world commodity prices that decide whether these companies create more jobs and hire more people, not a tax refund.
The Premier and Minister of Finance tell us that in a few years manufactured goods will get cheaper. The best example of what is likely to happen, came from the Ministers themselves. When it was discovered that a bottle of wine would be a little cheaper under HST than PST they annouced that the Liquor Control Board would increase its profit to make up the difference.
What made me especially angry was the way in which the HST was foisted upon us. After saying no HST and no more new taxes, during the election only a few months ago, when they must have been in negotiations with the federal government on it, premier Campbell then foisted it upon us all in a take it or leave it manner. Well, I choose to leave it.
In short it’s a deceitful tax grab, during a time of economic downturn, taken from those least able to pay with most of it going to help out the shareholders in those big companies.
Bill Vander Zalm
Tags: bill vander zalm, federal government, finance minister, groceries, haircut, heavy burden, hockey game, HST, liberal government, logging company, man woman and child, negotiations, noticeable difference, politician, rhetoric, woman and child
Why I am speaking out against Gordon Campbell’s HST
Aug 23, 2009 Details
There is an unwritten rule that former premiers don’t speak out against sitting premiers regarding policy decisions. The reason for this is that being the leader of the government is a distinct and rare privilege. Once you’ve been there, you’ve had your chance to implement the changes you wanted to see, and the people who follow you are entitled to do the same.
But the problem here is that we have a premier who is operating more and more by stealth. The consequences of his actions are extremely damaging to our province, and in many cases, can never be reversed. The HST is just the latest betrayal—but for most British Columbians, it is the straw that broke the camel’s back.
It is one thing for a party or a candidate to promise something, and then, after being elected to government, find that the promise was unrealistic, or that new information makes implementing it impossible. In such cases, even though the public is rightly disappointed and angered, they will often forgive such a “broken promise”. It is quite another thing to promise “not” to do something, and then to turn around and do exactly the opposite.
Such a maneuver is incompetent at best, downright deceitful at worst. Take B.C. Rail for example. Gordon Campbell, having lost the 1996 election after revealing plans to sell the people’s railway, promised on a stack of Bibles never to sell it, or to even contemplate selling it. The ink had barely dried on the new premier’s letterhead when he arranged for a 999-year lease of the railway and the right of way. That is not a broken promise—that is a total fraud.
Tags: bc ferries, betrayal, british columbians, broken promise, gordon campbell, highway 1, HST, hydro rates, policy decisions, political maneuver, port mann bridge, rare privilege, unwritten rule
Recent News
Aug 23, 2009 Details
Opposition to this tax truly transcends party politics.
The first kick off rally will be hosted by former premier Vander Zalm on Saturday, September 19 at 12:00 noon at Canada Place.
Confirmed guest speakers:
Bill Vander Zalm – Former BC Premier, Social Credit Party
Carole James – Leader of BC’s Opposition, New Democratic Party
Vicki Huntington – Independent MLA, Delta South
Chris Delaney – Deputy Leader of the BC Conservative Party
Green Party Leader Jane Sterk has declined to participate
Mr. Vander Zalm believes all British Columbians opposed to this tax must work together to defeat it in a united effort to hold the government to account. More guest speakers will be announced in the days/weeks ahead.
Global TV – Ipsos Reid poll shows 85% oppose HST
A Global TV poll conducted by Ipsos Reid found that 85% of British Columbians surveyed opposed the Harmonized Sales Tax.
And 71% said they “strongly oppose” the HST, while just 12% are in favour of the HST.
87% expect the HST to hurt them financially, including 51% who believe it will have a “very negative impact”.
Tags: bc premier, british columbian, carole james, chris delaney, conservative party, deputy leader, global tv, green party, guest speakers, harmonized sales tax, ipsos reid, negative impact, new democratic party, party leader, politics, tv poll, vancouver art gallery, vander zalm
FightHST.com with Bill Vander Zalm
Aug 20, 2009 Details
This is a venue for British Columbians who wish to assist in the collection of signatures for the Citizens’ Initiative to “Fight the HST”.
Signature collection must start as quickly as possible after the Citizen Initiative petition is requested from Elections BC (sometime after Sept. 19). While we cannot begin signature collection yet, we can pre-organize the Petition Teams for each riding.
For the ‘Citizen Initiative’ against the HST to succeed, signatures of 10% of registered voters must be collected from each electoral district within 90 days.
There are 85 electoral districts in the province – therefore we need a minimum of 85 teams. The more signature collectors we sign up, the easier it will be for everyone, and the greater the chance of success.
Please advise if you are willing to be a ‘Captain’ for your riding to help organize the teams to collect signatures, or just wish to assist as a signature canvasser.
An organizer will be in touch shortly.
Contact: info@fighthst.com
Welcome to British Columbia, home of the BC Liberals
Tags: british columbians, citizen initiative, citizens, elections, electoral districts, HST, initiative, petition, registered, signature collection, signatures, venue, voters
