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
Response Letter from a BC Citizen to the Governor General of Canada re: #HST
Dec 5, 2009 Letters
4 December, 2009
Rt. Hon. Michaelle Jean
Governor-General of Canada
Rideau Hall
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A1
Madam:
As a citizen of Canada, with all of the rights – and responsibilities – attached thereto, I am writing to express my consternation at the reply provided, on your behalf, to former premier of British Columbia, William Vander Zalm.
As I hope you have been made aware, although they have not been allowed the courtesy of a referendum, a resounding majority of British Columbians are opposed to imposition of a harmonized sales tax in the province - the HST.
This is not a simple opposition to any tax reaction; thousands of small businesses and poor to middle-class citizens will suffer under seven percent increase in costs of products and services not previously subjected to a provincial sales tax.
Accordingly, Mr. Vander Zalm wrote to you in the hope – and in our expectation – that you would take steps to determine whether the lock-step plans of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia, are legal and appropriate under the Constitution of Canada.
As I read a copy of his letter to you, Mr. Vander Zalm was not asking that you take a position on the tax per se.
Rather, you were asked to determine whether the appropriate constitutional divisions of power are being respected. If they are not, then in my opinion, and in the opinion of many others the tax would be illegal.
With respect for the position you hold, nothing in your reply indicates any concern on your part as to the serious implications underlying the Vander Zalm question.
That leads me to ask with reluctance: If you do not reside at Rideau Hall for the purpose of ensuring that the Constitution of Canada is upheld, what other justification is there to continue with a figurehead tradition?
In closing, I ask that you reconsider your off-hand response to a most serious petition, and provide Mr. Vander Zalm with an in-depth opinion on the questions he asked on behalf of many, many thousands of British Columbians.
It would also be much appreciated if you would confirm that you, personally, have seen and read both Mr. Vander Zalm’s petition and this emailed letter.
Yours truly,
Elizabeth James
North Vancouver
Tags: british columbians, class citizens, consternation, constitution of canada, gordon campbell, governor general of canada, harmonized sales tax, HST, michaelle jean governor general, ottawa ontario, premier of british columbia, prime minister stephen harper, provincial sales tax, resounding majority, rideau hall, rights and responsibilities, stephen harper, sussex drive
PRESS RELEASE: FEDS TRYING TO BRIBE BC ON HST SAYS FORMER PREMIER VANDER ZALM
Nov 16, 2009 Press Release
FORMER BC PREMIER VANDER ZALM SAYS FEDS TRYING TO BRIBE BC ON HST
Calls on Prime Minister to allow free vote on new tax.
Delta, BC – Former Premier of BC, Bill Vander Zalm, is taking the federal government to task for trying to bribe British Columbian’s to accept the HST.
“It is unbelievable that both the federal Conservatives and their Liberal counterparts are supporting this massive tax grab of BC dollars. We are in a recession, and like a vulture waiting to pounce, they swoop down and try to bribe us using our own money. Every dime they are giving us up front will be taken back with this new tax, and then some,” fumed the former premier.
Vander Zalm is calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to hold a free vote on the HST.
“The Prime Minister is trying to dodge the HST bullet by saying it is up to the provinces to decide whether they want it or not. If that’s true, then we say let your own MP’s have a free vote. Then the citizens of British Columbian can tell their representatives whether they want the HST, instead of Gordon Campbell and Stephen Harper deciding for everyone.”
In order for the HST to come into effect, it must pass a vote in both Ottawa and Victoria. Members of Parliament from all political stripes have publicly indicated their dislike for the Harmonized Sales Tax.
Vander Zalm, who is leading the fight in BC against the HST with his grass roots organization, Fight HST, is calling on supporters to pressure their local MP to vote against federal implementation of the HST.
“Many BC MPs have spoken against this unfair tax and the manner in which it has been implemented. I call on the Prime Minister to allow his caucus to vote their conscience and represent their constituent’s wishes regarding the HST,” stated Vander Zalm.
Vander Zalm says his group has grown to over 1,200 volunteers who have registered to canvass for signatures to defeat the hated sales tax in BC using the Citizen Initiative legislation. Vander Zalm’s petition drive will be launched in the New Year, with signature collection taking place in March, April and May of 2010.
Vander Zalm is advising concerned citizens to write or phone their Member of Parliament to express their opposition to what he refers to as a “cruel tax”. A template letter, as well as a list of every MP in BC is available at his web site, and includes addresses and telephone numbers.
“If every British Columbian that says they are against the HST wrote a letter to their MP, it would have an enormous impact on the outcome of the vote in Ottawa.”
“The federal government must go to the polls first on this issue. If they are seen to be ramming the HST down the throats of the people of BC, they will have to account for that at election time,” Vander Zalm concluded.
Tags: bill vander zalm, british columbian, caucus, citizen initiative, constituent, free vote, gordon campbell, grass roots organization, harmonized sales tax, HST, massive tax, members of parliament, petition drive, political stripes, prime minister stephen harper, recession, stephen harper, swoop, unfair tax, vulture
