The government is refusing to disclose how much money has been spent on a partially abandoned province wide ad campaign to promote the Harmonized Sales Tax.
The campaign, launched with radio ads a few weeks ago, was also set to include a pro-HST pamphlet intended to be mailed to all 1.6 million households in the province.
Finance Minister Colin Hansen claims he doesn’t know how much the campaign has cost taxpayers, and has admitted that some of the brochures had already been printed when the campaign was axed.
Residents and small business owners in every corner of the province have clearly said no to the HST, and no amount of glossy pamphlets or advertisements will change that position. Using taxpayer money to convince them otherwise, especially at a time when schools are closing, waitlists are growing, and we’re trying to create jobs as the economy struggles to recover, only adds insult to injury.
Email Minster Hansen with your thoughts and concerns about the cost of his pro-HSTcampaign at colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca.
HST Timeline
April 23, 2009: Campbell tells voters during the provincial election leaders’ radio debate the deficit will be $495 million “maximum.”
Late April/Early May, 2009: Finance Minister Colin Hansen is told by his deputy minister that provincial government revenues are down by about $200 - $300 million.
May, 2009: The government states in two separate election surveys that they “have no plans to formally engage the federal government in discussions about potential harmonization”, noting that doing so “would extend the PST tax base to a broader range of goods and services that are presently exempt from provincial sales tax” which would be “a major concern.”
May 15, 2009: Three days after the election, Ministry of Finance officials contact the federal government inquiring about the harmonization of the sales tax.
May 24, 2009: Hansen has “water cooler chat” with federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty inquiring about an HST for B.C.
June 10, 2009: Hansen repeats claim that the provincial deficit will be “$495 million or less.”
July 9, 2009: Hansen admits for the first time that he is not optimistic “that a $495 million number is anywhere near possible.”
July 23, 2009: Campbell and Hansen catch consumers and industry by surprise by suddenly announcing the HST.
Sept. 1, 2009: Hansen introduces a budget with a $2.8 billion deficit, nearly six times larger than the promise made during the election.
March 2, 2010: In a desperate attempt to make the HST more popular, during the B.C. Liberals’ budget speech, Finance Minister Colin Hansen makes the ludicrous claim that government will “allocate every dollar of revenue from [the HST] to health care.” No one takes the claim seriously, and this talking point quickly disappears.
March 30, 2010: The government introduces HST legislation. In an attempt to obscure what the legislation is about, they name it the Consumption Tax Rebate and Transition Act. Over the coming weeks, all 35 New Democrat MLAs stand up in the legislature and speak out in opposition to the HST-enabling legislation.
April 6, 2010: Citizens’ initiative petition officially launched.
April 29, 2010: Not wanting to hear any more opposition to the HST, the B.C. Liberal government shuts down debate on the HST-enabling legislation, and forces it through. New Democrat MLAs vote against the HST, while all B.C. Liberals present vote in favour of the legislation. Premier Gordon Campbell is absent.
June 11, 2010: After voting in favour of the HST a few weeks earlier, B.C. Liberal Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Blair Lekstrom resigns from cabinet and the B.C. Liberal caucus saying, “I believe it would be prudent to bring the move toward the HST to a halt.”
June 26, 2010: An Ipsos Reid poll shows 78 per cent of B.C. residents still oppose the HST.
June 30, 2010: Citizens’ initiative petition delivered to Elections BC.
July 1, 2010: The HST slated to be implemented. According to Statistics Canada, the average B.C. household will now pay $521 more each year.
Aug. 11, 2010: Deadline for Elections B.C. to determine whether citizens’ initiative is successful.
Also in this issue
- B.C. child labour website launched
- Resources and references for you
- Great local events and resources
