Former Social Credit premier Bill Vander Zalm will speak in Vernon today at 6:30 p.m. at the Schubert Centre.
A former premier is urging rank-and-file British Columbians to rile up in protest over the HST.
Bill Vander Zalm has hit the highways of the province to fight against the harmonized sales tax being implemented by the Liberal government July 1, 2010.
“When 90 per cent of people are against something, how can the government proceed?” said Vander Zalm who will speak at a dinner meeting at Vernon’s Schubert Centre today at 6:30 p.m.
A combined provincial sales tax and federal goods and services tax will result in an additional seven per cent levy on a number of items currently exempt from the PST. The total tax will be 12 per cent.
“I’m against it because it’s been poorly presented. People had been told there wouldn’t be such a tax,” said Vander Zalm of the Liberals’ former policy.
A number of industries, including tourism and restaurants, have expressed concern that the tax will drive customers away and affect their bottom line.
Vander Zalm also suggests that a recession is the wrong time to be increasing taxes.
“People are being asked to cut back and there will be a terrific imposition on people,” he said, adding that the HST transfers money to big business.
“To tax the guy with the lunch box and direct it to business doesn’t make sense.”
And the former Social Credit premier doesn’t believe the argument that the HST only became an issue after the May provincial election.
“To do anything with the federal government takes months,” he said.
“It would have cost them the election so I understand why they didn’t bring it up.”
That is a theory dismissed by Eric Foster, Liberal MLA for Vernon-Monashee.
“It wasn’t on the radar for the minister of finance,” said Foster of the Liberals’ previous opposition to the HST.
But Foster says the situation changed when the federal government eased up on its rules.
“When we learned there was a made-in-B.C. formula, it became more palatable,” said Foster.
Vander Zalm believes there is only one force behind the new levy.
“They need money and they see money coming from the federal government,” he said of the $1.6 billion Ottawa will transfer to B.C. for accepting the HST.
“The Olympics will make the need even greater. There will be a big debt with the Olympics. I’m not against taxes but they need to manage better.”
To purchase tickets for today’s dinner meeting, call 545-4350.
A former premier is urging rank-and-file British Columbians to rile up in protest over the HST.
Bill Vander Zalm has hit the highways of the province to fight against the harmonized sales tax being implemented by the Liberal government July 1, 2010.
“When 90 per cent of people are against something, how can the government proceed?” said Vander Zalm who will speak at a dinner meeting at Vernon’s Schubert Centre today at 6:30 p.m.
A combined provincial sales tax and federal goods and services tax will result in an additional seven per cent levy on a number of items currently exempt from the PST. The total tax will be 12 per cent.
“I’m against it because it’s been poorly presented. People had been told there wouldn’t be such a tax,” said Vander Zalm of the Liberals’ former policy.
A number of industries, including tourism and restaurants, have expressed concern that the tax will drive customers away and affect their bottom line.
Vander Zalm also suggests that a recession is the wrong time to be increasing taxes.
“People are being asked to cut back and there will be a terrific imposition on people,” he said, adding that the HST transfers money to big business.
“To tax the guy with the lunch box and direct it to business doesn’t make sense.”
And the former Social Credit premier doesn’t believe the argument that the HST only became an issue after the May provincial election.
“To do anything with the federal government takes months,” he said.
“It would have cost them the election so I understand why they didn’t bring it up.”
That is a theory dismissed by Eric Foster, Liberal MLA for Vernon-Monashee.
“It wasn’t on the radar for the minister of finance,” said Foster of the Liberals’ previous opposition to the HST.
But Foster says the situation changed when the federal government eased up on its rules.
“When we learned there was a made-in-B.C. formula, it became more palatable,” said Foster.
Vander Zalm believes there is only one force behind the new levy.
“They need money and they see money coming from the federal government,” he said of the $1.6 billion Ottawa will transfer to B.C. for accepting the HST.
“The Olympics will make the need even greater. There will be a big debt with the Olympics. I’m not against taxes but they need to manage better.”
To purchase tickets for today’s dinner meeting, call 545-4350.
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Tonight come meet and join
Bill Vanderzalm
in the fight to stop the H.S.T.
Supper at 6:30pm at the
Schubert Center with Bill to speak and
answer questions afterward.
Tickets $20.00 each.
Please call 250-545-4350.
Everyone welcome at no charge after 7:30pm.
Vernon and District Taxpayers
Bill Vanderzalm
in the fight to stop the H.S.T.
Supper at 6:30pm at the
Schubert Center with Bill to speak and
answer questions afterward.
Tickets $20.00 each.
Please call 250-545-4350.
Everyone welcome at no charge after 7:30pm.
Vernon and District Taxpayers
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