Official Letter to the Honourable Gilles Duceppe to let BC remain “Masters in their own house” as he wants us to do for Quebec #HST

Dec 2, 2009 Letters

Honourable Gilles Duceppe
Leader, Bloc Quebecois
House of Commons Ottawa K1A 0A6

Monday, November 30, 2009

Dear Mr. Duceppe,

I am writing to you as leader of a grassroots organization in British Columbia called “Fight HST” and the millions of taxpayers we represent who are opposed to implementation of the HST in BC.

As a former premier of BC, I know the difficulty of developing fair and effective tax reforms. While any tax reform is rarely popular, with the HST, it is fair to say it is reviled and opposed by an overwhelming majority here in BC.

There are many reasons for this, not the least of which is the fact that it was introduced by the BC Government immediately following an election where they stated, in writing, that they would not implement such a tax. In addition, the shifting of the tax burden from corporations in BC (many of whom are foreign based) to individual consumers will place an undue hardship on the majority of BC families, seniors, and others least able to afford it.

Mr. Duceppe, you have spent your life advocating for the sovereignty of your people in Quebec to be “masters in their own house” to quote a commonly used phrase in Quebec. Yet, you are now on record as saying that you and your party will act as the deciding vote to force a tax on to the people of British Columbia against their will. I ask you sir, can you imagine if the tables were reversed?

Can you imagine what would be the reaction in Quebec if a group of MPs from British Columbia were to support the imposition of a tax there that your people did not want? If that group were the deciding vote to force such a tax upon your province? Would it be fair to say, based upon your record, that you would oppose such a vote with all your force, influence and strength?

I am asking you to reconsider your decision to support this tax for BC. The truth is, it doesn’t matter to the interests of the Bloc Quebecois, nor even the people of Quebec whether BC adopts this tax or not. But it matters greatly to the people of BC. This is a decision for British Columbians, and British Columbians only.

We ask that you instruct your MP’s to respect the wishes of British Columbians, who are over 85% opposed to this tax, and either vote against it, or at the minimum, abstain from voting at all.

Mr. Duceppe, even though your objectives for Canada and Quebec may be different than many Canadians, you have always been up front and honest about them. You are respected in BC as a man of integrity and courage for your cause and your people. We sincerely hope you can see this issue from the perspective of others who are just as entitled to make decisions about their future, free from outside influences.

I thank you in advance for considering our request, and am available to speak with you in person at any time should you have questions or concerns regarding this request.

Respectfully,
Bill Vander Zalm
Former Premier of BC
Leader, Fight HST

Tags: bc government, bloc quebecois, British Columbia, gilles duceppe, grassroots organization, honourable, house of commons, HST, mps, overwhelming majority, premier of bc, seniors, sovereignty, Tax Burden, tax reform, tax reforms, taxpayers, undue hardship