BC Government HST List a Bogus Con Job
May 17, 2010 Press Release
Over 30 items missing that will have additional HST applied
Delta – Former BC premier, Bill Vander Zalm, says his Fight HST team has completed a thorough analysis of the BC Government’s newly provided HST “list” that supposedly shows which items will be affected by HST, and says over 30 items are “missing in action”.
“We spent some time reviewing the list and have determined it is totally bogus. The government has, once again, deliberately tried to mislead the public when it comes to the HST. They just can’t seem to ever tell the truth,’ said Vander Zalm.
Vander Zalm says the list excludes almost all “services” that will now have HST applied to them.
“They left out items such as; catering; computer repair services; consulting services; commercial leases; fishing charters; home appraisals; investment counseling; limousine rentals; skiing; and even parking fees!” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: bc government, bc premier, bill vander zalm, commercial leases, computer repair services, consulting services, excuse, fishing charters, footnote, GST, hit list, home appraisals, limousine rentals, missing in action, new home construction, new homes, playing games, rebates, shenanigans, skiing
PRESS RELEASE: BC Finance Minister attacks People’s Petition
Apr 29, 2010 Press Release
Campbell Government trying to smear and intimidate volunteers
Delta – Former BC Premier Bill Vander Zalm calls an official complaint filed by BC Finance Minister Colin Hansen with Elections BC over the Fight HST citizens Initiative petition an example of a government “totally out of control”.
Hansen says he filed the complaint over what he is calling “misinformation” by the all-volunteer Fight HST group in a pamphlet titled the “HST Hit List”.
But Vander Zalm, Fight HST Leader, says it is clear from the government’s actions that they are angry at his group for thwarting the government’s plan to do a mass mail-out to try to sway voters from signing the petition.
Elections BC today ruled that the government cannot send out the pro-HST mailer until after the Initiative signup period ends July 5.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: bc finance, bc premier, bill vander zalm, closure, delta, finance minister, hansen, hit list, initiative petition, intention, Liberals, mass mail, misinformation, pamphlet, period ends, public requests, rallies, rough guide, volunteer, volunteers
Revised HST HIT LIST 2010
Apr 24, 2010 Details
The HST will cost everyone more: students, workers, pensioners, young, old and YOU.
Check off everything that affects you and write beside it your weekly / monthly / yearly cost for those items – then multiply by 7% MORE to see your total HST tax hit!
HAVE WE MISSED ANYTHING? Please advise us of any missed HIT’s by posting a comment on this post.
This HIT List is a guide only, and is subject to change, Corrections have been made to conform with Mr. Hansen’s complaints to Elections BC about accuracy.
Fight HST Hit List
Accounting
Admission Fees
Airline tickets
Appliance repair & maintenance
Architects
Art Galleries Admission
Attractions / Events
Ballet Lessons
Basic Cable TV
Bicycles
Campgrounds
Catering
Chinese medicine
Cigarettes / Cigars
Clothing – used adult (less than $100)
Clothing –adult sized children
Coffee shops
Commercial Leases
Compost
Computer servicing
Concert Tickets
Condo management fees
Consulting services
Conveyance fees
Dietary supplements
Driving Range fees
Dry cleaning
Electronics repair
Energy equipment
Esthetician Services
Fast food – Beverages
Fire extinguishers
First aid kits
Fishing charters
Fitness Club memberships
Fitness Trainers
Food producing trees and plants
Funeral services
Golf fees
Grass Cutting
Hair cuts
Hall rental
Health equipment
Helmets
Hockey rink rentals
Hockey tickets
Home appraisals
Home inspections
Home maintenance
Home renovations (Labour)
House Cleaning services
Insulation
Interior design services
Investment Counseling fees
Landscaping
Life jackets
Limousine rentals
Magazines/ newspapers
Marketing services
Massage therapy
Membership fees
Moorage
Movies / Theatre
Moving Costs
Museum admissions
Music / Video MP3 downloads
Naturopathy
New Homes (some rebates applicable)
Nicotine replacements
Non-prescription meds
Painting
Parking
Photography
Private Bus fares
Rail travel (originating in BC)
Real estate fees
Reflexology
Rentals for Weddings, Canopy, Tuxedo etc.
Reroofing House
Restaurant meals
RV parks
Safety equipment (Not all safety and Energy Equipment is affected)
School supplies
Shoe repairs
Skiing
Smoke detectors
Snow removal
Solar power
Some groceries
Spa services
Sports Training / Lessons
Storage lockers
Tailoring
Taxi fares
Telephone (Basic Charge for landlines will be affected)
Theatre admissions
Veterinarian
Vitamins
Wedding Planner
Windows (energy star)
Rentals / Strata fees (Though they are HST exempt, most people will notice increases brought on by an increase in maintenance costs and other costs associated with owning Rental and Strata properties)
Used cars / trucks / boats / non-turbine aircraft (Private Sale will have an additional 5% tax, it is not called HST)
Tags: airline tickets, appliance repair, bus fares, coffee shops, computer servicing, dry cleaning, fares airline, food beverages, golf fees, hit list, hst tax, massage therapy, membership fees, music lessons, prescription meds, propane, restaurant meals, spa services, strata fees, taxi fares, tobacco
PRESS RELEASE: VANDER ZALM POLLS BC LIBERAL MLA’S ON HST SUPPORT
Nov 23, 2009 Press Release
Says MLA’s not listening to constituents on new tax
Delta BC – Fight HST leader and former BC Premier, Bill Vander Zalm, says his group has just completed a survey of all BC Liberal MLAs asking them to state their position on the HST. Vander Zalm says he had members of the Fight HST team ask each Liberal MLA if they would vote for or against implementation of the new tax.
“A lot of MLAs did not answer the questionnaire. However, we received a number of replies, all of them convoluted and totally avoiding answering the simple question of “Do you support implementation of the HST in BC, yes or no?” said Vander Zalm.
“The NDP has come out against the HST. So has the lone Independent MLA, Vicky Huntington. We feel that constituents should know how the rest of their MLAs plan to vote, so they can tell them whether they agree or disagree with them. Unfortunately, all of the Liberals chickened out and wouldn’t answer,” explained Vander Zalm.
“We were also hoping to create a hit list for the potential ‘Recall’ campaigns that we will launch immediately following the Citizen Initiative petition in the spring of 2010. Knowing in advance whether an MLA will vote according to their constituents wishes, or according to the dictates of the premier, will help everyone decide which MLAs should or should not be Recalled.”
Vander Zalm pointed out that a “Recall” cannot be launched until 18 months after an election. The recent provincial election was just held in May of 2009, meaning a Recall cannot be initiated until November 2010 at the earliest.
“November will be a perfect time to mobilize our forces for Recall campaigns in specifically targeted areas. Even some of the newspaper columnists are suggesting Recall is a good idea. We agree, and will watch carefully to see how each MLA votes in order for Fight HST to make the right choices regarding Recalls,” explained Vander Zalm.
Vander Zalm also asked every Liberal MLA if they would hold an “HST Town Hall” meeting to allow constituents to make their views known on the tax. He says most refused to answer that question as well.
“They probably saw what happened to the Democrats this past summer during the Town Halls on health care reform in the U.S., and decided a real democratic debate might be too much for many of them to handle,” concluded Vander Zalm.
Vander Zalm is launching a media tour to raise awareness for the HST that will include speeches, debates and interviews throughout the province, beginning as follows:
1. Thursday, November 18th, 8 AM, City TV – HST debate with Mr. Jonathan Winters, President of the BC Chamber of Commerce.
2. Friday, November 19th, Interview with CFUN Radio in the morning.
3. Wednesday, November 25, Debate with a pro HST Liberal, hosted by the Tsawwassen Business Association.
4. Thursday, November 26, 12:00 noon, Speech to the Fraser Valley Business Association in Surrey.
Tags: bc premier, bill vander zalm, campaigns, citizen initiative, constituents, delta, hit list, huntington, independent mla, initiative petition, liberal mlas, Liberals, newspaper columnists, perfect time, provincial election ndp, questionnaire, right choices, vicky
