CLARK, FALCON, SET TO BETRAY VOTERS ON HST REFERENDUM

May 16, 2011 Press Release

Finance Minister Kevin Falcon won’t rule out adding PST to previously untaxed items like restaurant meals if HST is extinguished

Vancouver – (Monday, May 16, 2011) – In a stunning revelation, Finance Minister Kevin Falcon has admitted he may break faith with BC voters in the HST Referendum if they vote “Yes” against his wishes and extinguish the tax, says Fight HST Leader Bill Vander Zalm.

Vander Zalm says Falcon admitted last week in the BC Legislature he may expand the PST to a number of goods and services that were previously exempted, such as restaurant meals, if British Columbians vote to repeal the HST in the Referendum.

“That is a total betrayal of what the whole HST citizens Initiative petition and Referendum are about and he knows it. More than 700,000 people signed our Initiative because they wanted to return to the PST and GST exactly as they were before the HST. The proposed legislation attached to our Initiative petition specifically laid this out as what we intended.”

“Furthermore, when the question for the Referendum was drafted by Acting Chief Electoral Officer Craig James, he clarified to us that it means to restore the PST and GST to their previous status with the same exemptions,” said Vander Zalm.

Following is the email response from CEO James in answer to our concerns about the Referendum question meaning to include the previous exemptions for PST:

—– Original Message —–

From: “James, Craig EBC:EX” <Craig.James@elections.bc.ca>

To: “Chris Delaney” <chris@chrisdelaney.com>; “Boegman, Anton EBC:EX” <Anton.Boegman@elections.bc.ca>

Cc: “Bill Vander Zalm” <billvanderzalm@dccnet.com>

Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 11:11 AM

Subject: RE: Draft HST Referendum Question – Changes Need to Be Made

Chris -

The dictionary meaning of “reinstate” is to restore to a former position. I therefore don’t see anything “implicit” in the question and thus no reason for the concern you have raised.

Sincerely,

Craig James

“The Referendum is a legally binding process. The Finance Minister cannot change the meaning of it at his own discretion. If Mr. Falcon does not heed the result of the Referendum he will be breaking the law,” Vander Zalm charged.

Vander Zalm says the HST mistakes that cost both Gordon Campbell and Colin Hansen their jobs as premier and finance minister are now being repeated by Premier Christy Clark and Falcon. “The names and the faces have changed, but the lying hasn’t. These people are pathological. Every time I think I have never seen anything like it before, they top themselves. It is the height of arrogance and lawlessness for Kevin Falcon to tell people he will decide what the Referendum means. It’s unbelievable!”

Vander Zalm says his group will consider a legal challenge if the government breaks the law by not following the Referendum results.

Vander Zalm said an editorial in Friday’s Victoria Times-Colonist newspaper should serve as a warning to the government:

“Falcon won’t say whether the government would impose the PST on restaurants if the HST is rejected by voters,” the editorial read. “The HST initiative petition certainly called for the restoration of the tax and exemptions. The government claimed [it was] willing to accept the referendum results as binding. If that commitment is not to be honoured, then voters -and the affected businesses -have every right to know.”

Vander Zalm called on the pro-HST business lobby group the Smart Tax Alliance to tell voters if it supports Falcon’s position that even a “Yes” vote to extinguish the HST will not bind him from removing the tax on restaurant food and other items previously PST exempt.

“If the Smart Tax Alliance is actually smart they will immediately tell Minister Falcon he is wrong and they profoundly disagree with his statements,” Vander Zalm said.

“What is the point of having a referendum if you won’t regard the result if it doesn’t go your way? How can anyone align themselves with people like this?” Vander Zalm asked.

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Letter to recall supporters

Jan 4, 2011 Letters

Dear Fight HST Supporter, Let me begin by wishing you and your loved ones a Happy New Year filled with joy and success.

2010 was a tremendously successful year for our movement to end the HST and create accountability in government here in British Columbia. We had the first ever successful citizen Initiative in the British Common Wealth. The premier was forced to promise that the resulting “Initiative Vote” be binding, and that a simple majority would suffice. The big business lobby tried to quash the petition in court and we beat them. Then the premier was forced to resign, the Liberal caucus imploded, and even the opposition party was affected by events related to the HST.

It is by your hard work and support that you have helped to achieve that. But as we all know, the HST is still here and the battle is not over yet.

The government, with the help of some Big Corporate Media, is doing all it can do to postpone and delay on the HST with the belief that people will eventually give in and give up. The big corporations and their associations know they stand to gain almost $ 200,000,000 for every month the HST stays in place. They have again joined in with the government to try to discourage people from keeping the issue alive with the Recall Petitions. It’s all about politics and money.

The first Recall in Oak-Bay Gordon Head is going well. But if we give up now, the HST will probably be with us forever and the MLA’s would again forget that we elect them to represent their constituents and not a premier or a political party. The delay by Elections BC slowed but did not dampen our efforts, and we are on track to collect the required 15,300 signatures there. Kamloops and Comox Valley are set to begin the first week of January, with more to follow.

We know from experience that the big business lobby is waiting in the wings to use the courts to thwart the “Initiative Vote” (referendum) once it succeeds in killing the HST. They know if they can tie it up for another two or three years in court, it means a tonne of money for them from you the consumer. It means the chances of getting rid of it will be reduced dramatically. And it means corruption in government will be allowed to continue.

The government knows that if they can slow us down, it gives them more time to spend mega millions of your tax dollars to convince everyone the tax is good for them.

None of the candidates for the Liberal leadership have said they would cancel the HST if elected. Not one of them has even said they would honour the outgoing premier’s promise to abide by a binding, simple majority vote. They have talked about moving the referendum date up, or even having a free vote in the legislature. But it’s just that – talk. Even the opposition has not made clear their plans to get rid of the HST.

It’s all a game to bide time, and they are hoping British Columbians are dumb enough to buy it.

Letting up now will only encourage them. Being distracted by more false promises from a group of candidates that ALL supported this government’s lies and misinformation will only encourage more lying, misinformation, deceit and maintaining the status quo on the HST.

Now is the time to apply maximum pressure.

By pressuring your MLA to stand up for what their constituents want through Recalls, we will end the HST and begin the process for democratic renewal in BC.

We are leading the way for a citizen led democracy right here in BC. The whole country is watching us. Indeed, people all over the world are following our progress to see if democracy can truly re-assert itself in British Columbia.

Get out and remind your friends, neighbours and contacts what is at stake. Remind them that dictators have always relied on techniques like fear, intimidation, and exhaustion to get their way. Remind them that we have shown what kind of success can come when we unite and fight together.

2011 will be the year the HST was rescinded in BC, but only if we keep fighting. Let’s stand together as British Columbians, united in our determination to prevail, and to take back our province and our democracy.

Together, we will end the HST! Thank you for your support and hard work.

Bill Vander Zalm Leader, Fight HST

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