News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By LeRae Haynes

Shoppers at Boitanio Mall today had the opportunity to pick up more than great getting-ready-for spring bargains, they could stop and pick up some information about the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) due to be imposed on BC this summer.

(Photo: Anti-HST supporter John Visentin volunteered at the information table in Boitanio Mall today, along with Dave Ligertwood.) 

Local President of the NDP constituency, Dave Ligertwood said that 85% of British Columbians are against the tax, and that the current campaign has two phases.

 “The HST legislation hasn’t been introduced to the House yet, and right now we’re trying to force Cariboo Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett to vote ‘no.’ The Liberals’ plan is to pass this legislation by the end of March so we have about a month,” he explained. “What we want to do is inundate Donna’s office by emailing her, writing her a letter or phoning her, urging her to vote no.”

 He said that this is the NDP’s push, and is the last chance that the Official Opposition has to do anything about the tax. “We want to remind people that the Liberals promised during the election that they would never bring in this tax, but as soon as the election was over, they turned around and introduced it,” he continued. 

 “The next phase, if the vote in the legislation is passed, is where the citizen’s initiative kicks in. That’s where we need volunteers, beginning in April, to go around and get names on the petition to force a referendum.

 “What will be required is 10% of the registered voters in every riding in the province to sign a new petition that will be coming out. This will force the government to repeal the tax---the next step would be to recall our MLAs,” he said. “Now is our chance to prevent this tax—before it’s law. The timing here is crucial.”

 He said that Boitanio Mall has told them that they can have the information table for as long as they need it. “The BC Chamber of Commerce is supporting this initiative, and so are most of the members of the local Chamber---most local businesses are against this tax,” he explained. “It takes money right out of the pockets of people who spend money here. The numbers that I’ve heard is that $2,000 per year will be taken out of the pockets of the average household.”

(Photo: Residents stopped today at the anti-HST information table in Boitanio Mall to find out details about the tax and what we can do to stop it.)

He explained that the HST will represent the largest taxation shift in BC history and that the following are on the HST ‘hit list’:

• restaurant meals
• cable TV
• non-prescription medications, vitamins and dietary supplements
• telephone
• internet
• propane and natural gas
• hockey tickets
• some groceries
• hair cuts
• admission and membership fees
• movies and theatre
• bus fares
• magazines and newspapers
• rents and strata fees
• taxi fares
• golf fees
• music lessons
• skiing
• spa services
• massage therapy
• parking
• coffee shops
• car repair and maintenance
• school supplies
• home maintenance and renovations
• health equipment
• campgrounds
• animal feed
• heating fuel
• veterinarian services
• bicycles
• accounting
• legal fees
• funeral services
• safety equipment, including helmets and life jackets
• smoke detectors
• insulation

 Dave said that the HST information table will be in the mall again from 11am-1pm next Saturday, March 6. Following that, there will be a ‘Stop the HST’ Rally at 1pm in Herb Gardner Park below City Hall.

 “If you live, raise a family or do business in BC, come and join the rally and sign the petition,” he said. “Let your voice be heard.”

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