Introduction to the Citizen Initiative Petition to repeal the HST

What is the HST? The HST is a new federal sales tax created by merging the GST with the PST, to be collected by the federal government and shared with BC.

Why is the HST bad for BC? It will add 7% more to the cost of many goods and services that were previously exempt under the PST. It will transfer the entire sales tax burden from businesses to consumers. It will cost the average household in BC an extra $2,100 per year.

The HST removes BC’s exclusive Constitutional right to set and collect provincial sales tax in BC. The BC Liberals’ promised NOT to implement the HST in the last election. BC’s economy is struggling, and an extra tax will hurt citizens and economic recovery. Why is the HST bad for BC?

How can we stop the HST? BC is unique in Canada to have a Citizen’s Initiative law that provides for a legally binding petition to be conducted. Fight HST has been approved by Elections BC to conduct a Citizen’s Initiative petition to repeal the HST.

How can we stop the HST? The Citizen’s Initiative petition requires the signatures of 10% of registered voters in every one of BC’s 85 Electoral Districts to be successful.

How can we stop the HST? If the Initiative petition is successful, the BC Government must submit a draft Bill to the Legislature for a vote, or conduct a province wide referendum (Initiative Vote) on the question.

What is the petition called? The Fight HST Citizen Initiative is titled: An initiative to end the harmonized sales tax (HST)

What does the petition mean? The purpose of the initiative draft Bill is to declare that the agreement between the federal government and BC to establish a harmonized sales tax (HST) is not in effect. The draft Bill would reinstate the 7% provincial sales tax (PST) with the same exemptions as were in effect as of June 30, The draft Bill is retroactive to June 30, The Bill proposes that the provincial share of HST revenues received between June 30, 2010 and the date of Royal Assent of the Bill that exceed what would be collected under the PST rules as of June 30, 2010, would be reimbursed to British Columbians on a per capita basis.

When does the petition start? The Fight HST petition will start on April 6, 2010 Signatures must be collected within 90 days, ending on July 5, 2010.

How can I get involved? We have 1,750 volunteers registered to date, but we need 4,500 to guarantee success…. Signature Canvassers Riding Captains Regional Organizers

How can I get involved? You can volunteer on-line at: To canvass, you must be a BC registered voter. To register or to confirm your registration, go to: online-voter-registration/ online-voter-registration/

Who is Fight HST? Fight HST is a grass roots group led by former BC Premier, Bill Vander Zalm. Fight HST is made up of British Columbians from all walks of life and all political persuasions, including NDP Leader Carole James; newspaper columnist Bill Tieleman; BC Conservative Chris Delaney, BC Refederation Leader Mike Summers, Independent MLA Vicki Huntington and thousands of others committed to stopping the HST.

For more information: Please register to volunteer, and pass this on to all your contacts Authorized by: Bill Vander Zalm, Financial Agent (604)