Official Letter to the Rt. Honourable Stephen Harper asking that he honour his word by allowing onlyBC MPs to vote on the #HST when it comes before parliament
Dec 2, 2009 Letters
Rt. Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
80 Wellington Street Ottawa K1A 0A2
Monday, November 30, 2009
Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to you in my capacity 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.
Prime Minister, you have stated that adoption of the HST is a decision for the provinces only, and that the federal government would not force implementation on BC. You are known as a man of your word, and so I ask you – will you honour your word by allowing only your BC MPs to vote on the HST when it comes before parliament?
We are asking that Conservative MPs in BC be given a free vote, and be allowed to represent their constituent’s wishes on the HST. This would be a sign that your government is democratic and open to the will of the people. It would be viewed by most British Columbians as a show of strength by you and your government. It would also be commensurate with your own values as a politician dedicated to democratic reform throughout your entire career.
A free vote by your government on the HST would also show leadership to the other federal political parties, who would be compelled by such an action to do the same with their MPs.
A free vote would allow the governments of Canada and BC to proceed according to the democratic will of the people they serve. Anything else would be seen to be carried out against the will of the people, and would bear economic, cultural, democratic and political consequences for all involved.
We urgently request that you consider our proposal for a “free vote” on this most profound issue – the HST in British Columbia.
Respectfully,
Bill Vander Zalm
Former Premier of BC
Leader, Fight HST
Tags: bc government, british columbians, conservative mps, dear prime minister, democratic reform, federal political parties, free vote, grassroots organization, HST, overwhelming majority, premier of bc, prime minister of canada, show of strength, stephen harper, Tax Burden, tax reforms, undue hardship
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
Official letter to the Honourable Michael Ignatieff from Bill Vander Zalm requesting free vote by MP’s in BC
Dec 2, 2009 Letters
Honourable Michael Ignatieff
Leader of the Opposition
House of Commons Ottawa K1A 0A6
Monday, November 30, 2009
Dear Mr. Ignatieff,
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. Ignatieff, as Leader of the Opposition, you have a pivotal role to play in whether the interests of voters in BC will be heard and heeded. While the Bloc and the government of Prime Minister Harper have thus far stated their support for the implementation of the HST in BC, you have said your party will give careful and thoughtful debate to this issue, and then decide.
We are asking you to consider allowing your MPs in BC to have a free vote on implementation of the HST in our province. We respectfully request that you ask all other Liberal MP’s outside BC to abstain from voting on the measure to implement the HST here.
We believe that the decision on whether to have an HST or not is strictly a British Columbia matter, and that it would not be fair or democratic to use the votes of MPs from other parts of Canada not affected by such a monumental decision as this is to BC.
We have asked the Prime Minister to agree to the same conditions for his party.
A free vote of MPs only from BC would allow the governments of Canada and BC to proceed according to the democratic will of the people they serve here. Anything else would be seen to be carried out against the will of the people, and would bear economic, cultural, democratic and political consequences for all involved.
We urgently request that you consider our proposal for a “free vote” on this most profound issue – the HST in British Columbia.
I thank you in advance for considering our request Mr. Ignatieff. I 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, British Columbia, free vote, grassroots organization, house of commons, HST, leader of the opposition, liberal mp, michael ignatieff, monumental decision, overwhelming majority, pivotal role, premier of bc, Tax Burden, tax reform, tax reforms, thoughtful debate, undue hardship
