PRESS RELEASE: Vander Zalm launches legal challenge to HST in BC
Jul 5, 2010 Press Release
Vander Zalm launches legal challenge to HST in BC
VANCOUVER – In what might be described as the second of a one-two punch, former BC premier Bill Vander Zalm today filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the HST in B.C.
The Petition filed in the B.C. Supreme Court seeks an order quashing the OIC that authorized the government to enter the Agreement with the government of Canada that purports to impose the HST in B.C. and a declaration that such Agreement is a nullity and of no force and effect.
The essence of the Petition is that the provincial Cabinet has unlawfully imposed a tax on the citizens of B.C. without legislative authority.
If the lawsuit is successful the HST will not apply in British Columbia.
Tags: basic principle, bc finance, chris delaney, constitutionality, federal finance minister, finance minister jim flaherty, gordon campbell, government of canada, initiative petition, legal challenge, legislative approval, legislative authority, nullity, oic, prime minister stephen harper, provincial cabinet, provincial legislature, stephen harper, taxation without representation, zalm
PRESS RELEASE: VANDER ZALM DRAFTS BILL TO ELIMINATE #HST IN BC
Dec 9, 2009 Press Release
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.
Tags: bc legislature, bc premier, bill vander zalm, british columbians, citizen initiative, constitutionality, delta bc, draft bill, extra money, federal governments, first draft, harmonized sales tax, hated tax, initiative petition, law breakers, open to suggestions, peaceful protest, power grab, protest rallies, provincial legislation
