Organizers of the fight the harmonized sales tax (HST) initiative are claiming victory and calling on the premier for a free vote after reaching the 10 per cent signature requirement in all 85 provincial electoral ridings.
Fight HST lead organizer Chris Delaney said Monday the petition to repeal the HST broke 600,000 signatures province wide last weekend, and crossed the 10 per cent minimum signature threshold.
He said 71 ridings have hit 15 per cent or better, and added organizers are on track to achieve 15 per cent or more signatures in the remaining 14 ridings by the end of next week.
"This report represents only 70 of 85 ridings, with a number of ridings not reporting this week, and others still tabulating results from the weekend," said Delaney in a news release. "We should make our internal 15 per cent target in all ridings by the first or second week of June."
Fight HST leader, and former premier Bill Vander Zalm, is urging current Premier Gordon Campbell to conduct a free and open vote to repeal the HST when the petition bill is presented to the legislature later this fall.
"We are calling on Premier Campbell to allow his MLAs to vote according to their constituents' wishes to repeal the HST," added Vander Zalm. "With so many Liberals in weak ridings where they are certain to be recalled if they vote against the petition, it is only fair to allow them the chance to save their political careers."
Vander Zalm said the Initiative Act was designed to reflect public opinion on issues of major importance to British Columbians. Not allowing MLAs to vote in support of their constituents' wishes would be completely contrary to the spirit of the legislation.
"When Premier Campbell was first elected in 2001, he put out a paper stating he would overhaul the Recall and Initiative Act to make it more workable," said Vander Zalm. "He also committed himself to the concepts of direct democracy, transparency, and greater accountability to voters. Many people do not believe him anymore.
"The Fight HST petition is Premier Campbell's chance to show the people he wasn't lying. It's his chance to show he really does believe in democratic accountability and listening to voters. He can do that by cancelling the HST now, or at least allowing his MLAs a free vote."
