Anti-HST petition marks major milestone
Anti-HST organizers celebrate a milestone today. Photo © by alancleaver_2000 on Flickr.com.
The campaign against the Harmonized Sales Tax in British Columbia marked a major milestone today as organizers reported collecting 500,000 petition signatures, representing 15% of eligible voters in the province.
In order for the HST Initiative Petition to succeed, 10% of eligible voters in every riding must stand in opposition. So far 72 of 85 ridings have reached the 10% threshold and 51 have reached the Fight HST goal of 15%.
A press release issued by Fight HST, the organization responsible for the HST Initiative Petition, noted that organizers were excited to see such strong results only six weeks into the 13 week campaign.
“This is monumental,” said Fight HST Lead Organizer, Chris Delaney, “We are not even half way through the campaign, and we are on track to complete our 10% threshold in all 85 ridings by next week, with everyone reaching their 15% target by the first or second week of June.”
To stay up to date on the latest news and announcements regarding the HST petition, refer to this thread in the VibrantVictoria.ca discussion forum.
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Responses to this Headline or Article
The five most recent replies to VibrantVictoria.ca's discussion forum's Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) discussion thread, the most relevant thread to the above headline or article:
Bingo
Dec 06, 2011 at 4:14 pmQuote: Why did I think it won't be until 2013? It was supposed to be 12-18 months, but I suspect 18 months is more like it.
It will become a provincial election issue in 2013.
rjag
Dec 06, 2011 at 5:02 pmYup and if the NDP win they will reap what they sowed when theres no more HST!
God help us all
Nparker
Feb 17, 2012 at 11:11 amQuote: The impact on new housing of the HST has been to lower the costs, the return of the PST will increase the costs...
Please explain as I have not seen any significant reduction in the costs of new housing (that can't be explained by a softened real estate market), especially considering that contractors have to charge 7% more for labour than under the PST/GST program. I simply don't believe any cost savings of the HST have been passed on to the consumer at the purchasing level.
Bernard
Feb 17, 2012 at 12:53 pmQuote: Please explain as I have not seen any significant reduction in the costs of new housing (that can't be explained by a softened real estate market), especially considering that contractors have to charge 7% more for labour than under the PST/GST program. I simply don't believe any cost savings of the HST have been passed on to the consumer at the purchasing level.
The cost of materials is lower and BC has on top of that offered a rebate of $26,500 on houses costing less than $525,000
With the return of the PST, costs for contractors will rise.
Nparker
Feb 17, 2012 at 2:07 pmQuote: With the return of the PST, costs for contractors will rise.
More than the 7% reduction in the cost of labour?
