General

HST referendum coming to B.C. next September

Premier says he’ll scrap tax if majority votes against it

British Columbians will be called to the polls September 24, 2011, to vote in a referendum over the province’s controversial harmonized sales tax. And while the referendum isn’t legally binding, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell has already said he’ll scrap the tax if a majority votes against it. Campbell made the announcement shortly after a legislative committee voted to go ahead with the referendum after receiving a well-publicized anti-HST petition. Campbell says he’s confident B.C. voters will endorse the tax, the handling of which has led to calls for his resignation. But he’s open to shelving it if that’s what voters want. “If people decide they want to get rid of the HST next September, then I guess we’re going to get rid of the HST next September,” he said. “There’s no point in going to the people if you’re not going to listen to them.”

Vancouver Sun

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