Anti-HST meeting attracts support from Peace residents

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Photo: Bill Vander Zalm, who was Premier of B.C. in the late 1980's, spoke at an Anti-HST rally in Fort St. John on Sunday - Christine Rumleskie/Energeticcity.ca

By Christine Rumleskie

Former B.C. Premier Bill Vander Zalm says Fort St. John residents will help nip the controversial Harmonized Sales Tax in the bud.

An Anti-HST meeting attracted around 140 concerned Peace Region residents to the Lido Theatre on Sunday afternoon.

Vander Zalm has registered a Citizens Initiative Petition with Elections B.C., hoping to stop the HST from coming into effect on July 1st.

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The petition requires the signatures of 10% of registered voters in every riding. If successful, the petition would be submitted to a Legislative Standing Committee.

Earlier this year, North Peace MLA Pat Pimm has said the HST will benefit the Peace Region, by establishing the Northeast as a competitive jurisdiction for business. Pimm has also claimed the HST will help pull B.C. out of the ailing economy.

Arthur Hadland was at the Anti-HST meeting, as a concerned landowner. Hadland has strong ties to the agricultural industry, and he says he still doesn't know how the HST will impact local farmers.

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Vander Zalm says the petition is the only 'official' document that could help stop the HST. Other petitions, he says, aren't taken seriously by the Provincial Government.

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its sad to see mr pimm

Submitted by wellcoboy on Sun, 2010/03/14 - 18:15.

its sad to see mr pimm speaking the party rhetoric,how can taxing us residents of bc any further ,get us of trouble in this economy.it means we will cut back our spending or find other ways to get away from this tax.i hope all residents no matter what political beliefs can come together to send that little carpet bagger in victoria a strong message.its good to see a person like vander zalm take this message to the people of british columbia.and i hope we can send a message back to cambell on this ...stop reaching in our pockets any further..

flip flop

Submitted by cfvua on Mon, 2010/03/15 - 08:42.

The proposed HST will only serve to raise costs for every business in BC due to the increased wages folks who work fr them will need to purchase the same goods as they do now. Campbell is the main culprit in this, but don't forget that after this the Harperites will have the tax collector hat on, so they shouldn't get a holiday on this. The petition needs to go to the federal government as well. It's a good deal for Harper if people take their frustrations out on the BC liberals. Gotta go. ON my way to GP to pick up some stuff!!!!!

Confused....

Submitted by itsjustme on Mon, 2010/03/15 - 09:13.

I am definitely going to have to get someone more informed than I am about how the HST will help BC businesses, as I have heard soooo many times from those who wish to impose it upon us. I own a small business, and so far all I can see my rent going up, the cost of my inventory going up, and the price my customers will have to pay going up (and that is *before* I do any price adjusting to compensate for my increased overhead). There must be some magic formula the government is using to come to the conclusion that it will *save* BC businesses money. Cfvue, I'm right behind ya!

More trips to GP.

Submitted by Mary Sehn on Mon, 2010/03/15 - 11:26.

Yes, there will be more of going to GP as well. HST will cost every person more for every item. Watch the costs of groceries, pharmaceuticals, etc. Even AllMart can't compete. I'll be off to GP as of now!