PRESS RELEASE: BC’s INDEPENDENT FUNERAL DIRECTORS SUPPORT BILL VANDER ZALM FIGHT #HST INITIATIVE
Mar 11, 2010 Press Release
New Westminster – The Society of Independent Funeral Homes in BC announced today that they have officially thrown their support behind the Bill Vander Zalm Citizen Initiative to repeal the HST. Society representative, Michael Crean, said their group met with former premier Vander Zalm last week to hear his plans for the Citizen Initiative, and decided it was the single most effective way to combat what the Independent Funeral Homes believe is an unfair tax on human tragedy.
“By uniting with Fight HST, we will be able to make our case more effectively that this is an unfair tax. We believe it is wrong to tax people another 7% for funeral services which are a necessity for all families. The HST hurts consumers, and we strongly oppose it,” said Crean.
The Independent Funeral Directors are going beyond simply providing financial support, and are prepared to help raise awareness for the Citizen Initiative campaign to stop the HST by registering as canvassers and allowing people and families to sign the Initiative petition at their local funeral homes.
“Funeral Homes act as a central resource in many communities, and we have a high profile that we can bring to this petition. We plan to make sure all of our clients are aware of the fight to stop the HST, and are able to sign the Fight HST Initiative petition,” Crean explained.
Fight HST Leader, Bill Vander Zalm, who is the official proponent of the Citizen Initiative to repeal the HST, was extremely pleased with the Independent Funeral Homes support. “We have been talking to numerous business groups, and they are now starting to realize that a united front is the only way to stop this tax. By working together, all of British Columbia can put the pressure needed on government to stop this cruel tax.”
“The Independent Funeral Directors of BC have shown courage and vision on behalf of the bereaved in BC, and for all British Columbians. We welcome their participation in the Initiative, and thank them for their generosity and support,’ Vander Zalm concluded.
The Fight HST Citizen Initiative petition to repeal the HST will begin on April 6 and finish on July 5, 2010. It requires the signatures of 10% of registered voters in all 85 of BC’s Electoral Districts to be successful.
Tags: bereaved, british columbians, business groups, canvassers, central resource, citizen initiative, funeral homes, funeral services, human tragedy, independent funeral directors, initiative campaign, initiative petition, new westminster, proponent, representative michael, society representative, unfair tax, united front
PRESS RELEASE: FORMER BC PREMIER BILL VANDER ZALM TAKES FIGHT HST TOUR TO NORTHERN BC
Mar 5, 2010 Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 5, 2010
Prince George – Former BC Premier, Bill Vander Zalm, is bringing his grass roots organization Fight HST to Northern BC to raise awareness for the Citizen Initiative petition he has launched, set to begin on April 6, 2010.
The colorful former premier, who governed BC under the Social Credit banner from 1986 – 1991, has been approved by Elections BC to conduct a legally binding Citizen Initiative petition to repeal the HST. The petition requires the signatures of 10% of registered voters in all 85 electoral districts in BC. Vander Zalm is touring the North from March 12 – 17th to raise awareness and to sign up volunteers to canvass in their districts.
“So many people and businesses have told us they will do anything they can to stop this cruel tax. We have signed up over 2,000 volunteers so far, but we’d like to double that number to assure success,” Vander Zalm explained.
“We are holding public Town Hall meetings to explain the petition and get people mobilized in each community to help stop this tax. The Citizen Initiative petition is a legally binding petition, which, if successful, will require the government to put our Bill to repeal the HST to a vote in the legislature, or to conduct a province wide referendum.”
“By getting all British Columbians to work together, we can stop the government from proceeding with this tax.”
Tags: bc premier, bill vander zalm, british columbians, business associations, citizen initiative, conservatives, credit banner, electoral districts, grass roots organization, HST, independents, initiative petition, liberal voters, northern bc, political stripe, prince george, registered voters, town hall meetings, united front
