I must admit: I have certain rules in handling responses from readers to postings on this blog. No libel, no swearing, no racist remarks, no name-calling.
But I do NOT try to kill off comments from people who disagree with me (although I wonder how could they! 
. I don’t disqualify them because their submissions have spelling mistakes; I don’t invalidate them because of grammatical mistakes; and, I don’t throw them out because their writing style fails to meet some esoteric standard.
I believe the most important thing is allowing people to express their opinions, give their point of view, provide their information … and if we can understand what they mean to say, it get’s accepted, it gets published, it gets circulated to readers of this blog around the world!
Which brings me to the lawsuit by BC’s “business community” trying to kill off the anti-HST petition.
More than 700,000 British Columbia voters expressed their opposition to the HST: they did so democratically; they did not use violence or intimidation; they exercised their right, as allowed under the law; and they met the numbers required to achieve success.
To try to have the anti-HST petition dismissed on some technicality about wording or form etc. shows a clear discrespect for democracy, a refusal to listen to what the public have said, and an attempt to silence the wishes of 700,000 of their own “customers” just because an “i” was not dotted or a “t” was not crossed.
No wonder their friends in the mainstream media usually just describe the lawsuit financiers as “six business groups” but seldom identify them by name: … probably don’t want to bite too hard on the hands that feed them.
HERE they are: the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, the Council of Forest Industries, Coast Forest Products Association, The Independent Contractors and Builders Association, the Mining Association of B.C. and Western Convenience Stores (owners of Mac’s Stores and 7-Eleven).
This attempt to set aside the public’s democratic expression of opinion is so significant they should ALL be identified in each and every story done on this court case. The public has a right to know!!! Not just “six business groups”.
This lawsuit by these businesses goes far beyond taking a stand for or against the HST: THIS is trying to cast aside the expressed will of 700,000 British Columbians who signed a petition in good faith.
I believe by trying deliberately to set aside this petition these groups have disgraced themselves completely as corporate “citizens”.
It doesn’t even matter if they win or lose their lawsuit: the fact that they refuse to accept and have tried to destroy the clearly expressed desire of more than 700,000 British Columbians shows, in my opinion, their disdain for democracy and the clearly expressed point of view of enough people under the legislation to have the matter referred to our elected representatives.
Shame on them.
Harv Oberfeld
37 responses so far ↓
1 A Dave // Aug 18, 2010 at 7:44 pm
“Frugality: The quality of being frugal; prudent economy; that careful management of anything valuable which expends nothing unnecessarily…”
I was walking downtown with my son yesterday in the sweltering heat and we saw a 7-11 and decided a slurpy would hit the spot.
Well, a small slurpy last summer — and for many years before that — cost 99 cents + GST of 5 cents = $1.04.
But just before the Olympics, 7-11 bumped the price a nickel, to $1.04 + GST of 5 cents = $1.09. (Olympics are good for the economy, eh?)
Then, as my son and I learned yesterday, less than a month ago, and just like Colin Hansen predicted (because he’s soooo good with economic predictions), 7-11 passed on the savings of the new HST to consumers by bumping up the price of a small slurpy yet another nickel, to $1.09.
With the HST, the tax is now 13 cents, and the total for a small slurpy is $1.22.
That’s almost an 18% increase in the cost of this simple, mass-produced item in eight months! To extrapolate that level of inflation across even a small sector of the economy could have disastrous ripple effects….
To wit, my son is now asking me for a raise in his allowance.
And, to avoid taking yet another hit to my own dwindling disposal income, I have decided to freeze my son’s allowance for at least the next decade.
To be sure, neither of us will be setting foot in 7-11, or any other overpriced chain convenience store, for a very long time, especially given the fact that they are part of the Western Convenience Stores Association, one of the six business groups who have launched the legal challenge to the NO HST petition.
It would seem to me that, in a consumer-driven economy based on convenience and mass production, it can’t be a very good thing for the captains of industry to have parents all across North America teaching their kids about FRUGALITY for the first time in 50 years.
And what may be even worse for them is that my young son has just learned a new word: BOYCOTT.
(Response: And remember, if your kid cuts the lawn, he has to charge HST, or he could face charges! As for a boycott, pretty hard to boycott the mining or forest industries but Mac’s and 7-Eleven are front and centre and lots of places have their Chamber of Commerce stickers on their windows. h.o)
2 Keith // Aug 18, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Ayup Harvey,
when a vote was cast for the Liberals these business groups are what we got. Democracy, Legislation doesn’t mean much to these people if it gets in the way of continually robbing Peter to pay Paul. Paul will fight tooth and nail to keep the good times rolling.
However, it’s been reported that if the case goes against the govt./this business group, ( what’s the difference,) they won’t appeal the verdict. It doesn’t make sense to give up so easily, maybe they don’t want this issue front and centre when and if the recall campaigns get under way, or…? I can’t quite figure why they would readily throw the towel in.
(Response: I think the business six realize they may be now making it worse for the Liberals, not better. Oops! And delaying the petition even more would make recall all the more inviting. h.o)
3 J.S. // Aug 18, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Then 700-thousand petitioners do not represent a majority of BC voters. I maintain that they represent people who, whether NDP or not, have become disaffected with the government of the day for their own reasons.Fair enough. You can do that here.
So what if a group of six businesses challenge these apparently sacrosanct 700-thou. ANYONE can launch a challenge in court on anything of this nature. That is part of our democratic process. Democracy covers us all not just the whiney 700-thou.
We’ll see in the fullness of time who wins this court case.
My concern is that a mob mentality broke out earlier this year over the HST and that is dangerous in our society.
To reiterate points earlier made. This government, and every subsequent BC government, will need more and more revenue (taxes) as the population gets older, crankier, sicker and delusional, as so many are right now!
So, here’s the deal all you spoiled brats out there. Taxation comes in two forms: mandatory (income taxes); elective or consumptive (HST). You choose!
To make this taxation issue even more pronounced, 2011 marks the first year of the Boomer cohort turning 65. What a zoo!
What you 700-thou should have done was to petition Parliament in Ottawa. Those folks passed BC’s HST law, because it was federal legislation. Hello! The BC legislature merely passed legislation banning the PST.
Rep by pop. No?
(Response: No one said the 700,000 represents majority of British Columbians. But they do represent, according ot the Acting Chief Electorial Officer, sufficient legitimate numbers from the voters list for their petiition to go forward to the legislative members. No one should try use their money and/or power to block that from happening. Whether it ends up being acted upon or discarded by government is irrelevant this debate, that the petition SHOULD go forward and not be set aside by some technicality. h.o)
4 Paul // Aug 18, 2010 at 9:32 pm
So let’s smoke the corporate members out from behind the chamber.
I notice that the Chamber of Commerce removed both links to their corporate members list.
They probably think that all traces of the list are also removed from the Internet lol.
***
BC Chamber of Commerce Corporate Members List
===============================================
01 18 Wheels Transport Ltd.
02 626371 BC Ltd.
03 633535 BC Ltd.
04 7 Eleven Canada Inc. – Total Contribution For This Search: $40,320.00
05 A-1 Unity Auto Services Ltd.
06 A&W City Square
07 Abasa Optical Ltd.
08 Acadia Park Preschool
09 Accent Inns Ltd.
10 Accenture Inc. – Total Contribution For This Search: $500.00
11 Access Gas Services Inc.
12 Advancedio Systems Inc.
13 Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang LLP – Total Contribution For This Search: $2,900.00
14 Alive Health Centre/Supplements Plus Health
15 Alliance of Beverage Licensees – Total Contribution For This Search: $93,810.00
16 Aloe Massage Therapy
17 AMEBC (Association for Mineral Exploration of BC) – Total Contribution For This Search: $9,680.00
18 Andrea Thompson
19 Androsiuk & Company
20 Arbor Body Shop (1980) Ltd.
21 Arris Design Ltd.
22 Arzesh Enterprises Corp.
23 ASPECT (Association of Service Providers for Employability and Career Training)
24 Association Management Consultants Inc.
25 AvenaPro Pet Solutions Inc.
26 B & D Capital Partners
27 Babe Belangere Boutique
28 Baby’s World
29 Back In Motion Rehab Inc.
30 Bains Travel Ltd.
31 Bamboo Cafe
32 Bank of Nova Scotia
33 Basant Motors Ltd.
34 BC & Yukon Junior Chamber of Commerce
35 BC Care Providers Association – Total Contribution For This Search: $500.00
36 BC Career Colleges Association
37 BC Ferries
38 BC Hotel Association
39 BC Hydro
40 BC Medical Association
41 BC Partnership for Sustainable Tourism
42 BC PavCo (The British Columbia Pavilion Corporation)
43 BC REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION: Total Contribution For This Search: $7,025.00
44 BC Road Builders & Heavy Construction Association – Total Contribution For This Search: $121,689.00
45 BC Wildlife Federation
46 Bean Around the World Coffee
47 Beijing Trading Co. Ltd.
48 Bell Mobility – Total Contribution For This Search: $8,700.00
49 Benefit Innovations Inc.
50 Best Falafel
51 Better Business Bureau of Mainland BC
52 Big Indian Coffee Ltd.
53 Blenz Coffee Yaletown
54 BMO Bank of Montreal – Total Contribution For This Search: $520.00
55 BMO Nesbitt Burns Corp. – Total Contribution For This Search: $45,500.00
56 BNI Franchise Corp
57 BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) Railway Company – 4,026.75
58 Boughton Law Corp. Brook + Associates
59 Bower Ng Staff Systems Inc.
60 Boxer Holdings
61 British Columbia Lottery Corp.
62 British Columbia Real Estate Association – Total Contribution For This Search: $74,802.00
63 British Consulate General
64 Broadway Roofing Co.
65 Brothers Reinforcing Steel
66 Burden Propane Inc.
67 Business Council of BC
68 Business Development Bank of Canada
69 Cadillac Fairview Corp. Ltd. – Total Contribution For This Search: $15,000.00
70 Canada’s National Brewers – Total Contribution For This Search: $41,602.18
71 Canadian Bedding Company Ltd.
72 Canadian C-TUG Distributors Inc.
73 Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC – 8,625.00
74 Canadian Pacific Railway – 48,770.00
75 Canadian Western Bank & Trust – Total Contribution For This Search: $16,300.00
76 Cascade Water Corporation
77 Cavell Enterprises Ltd.
78 Cavendish Investing Ltd. – Total Contribution For This Search: $10,000.00
79 CDM2 Lightworks Corp.
80 Century Plaza Hotel – 6360.00 (Lisogar? Cocchia?)
81 Certified General Accountants of BC (CGA)
82 Certified Management Accountants of BC (CMA)
83 CFR Management Inc. – Total Contribution For This Search: $300.00
84 Chas & Associates Consulting Inc.
85 Check Your Head
86 Churchill Universal Multitrade Ltd.
87 Ciao Bella Italian Restaurant & Piano Bar
88 Clearbridge Capital Corp.
89 CMC Hardware
90 CN – 172,410.00
91 Co-Development Canada Association
92 Coast Capital Savings – Total Contribution For This Search: $13,921.00
93 Coast Mountain Films Inc.
94 Communica
95 Community Futures Development Association of BC
96 Comox Valley Economic Development Society
97 CONDEV Electronic Consulting & Development Ltd.
98 Consolidated Management Consultants Ltd.
99 Consulting Edge
100 Contigo Systems Inc.
101 Contoured Software Development Inc.
102 Copy House Printing
103 CorePlan Financial Inc.
104 Cornwall Publishing Co. Ltd./
105 Cotton Mouth Smoke Shop
106 Council of Tourism Associations of BC – Total Contribution For This Search: $8,970.00
107 COUNTERPOINT Communications Inc.
108 Craig Hodge & Associates
109 Creative Bakers Ltd.
110 Creo Verde Design and Build
111 Criterion Communications Inc.
112 Cyberscribe Solutions Inc.
113 Cymax Solutions Inc
114 D.R. Innovation Society
115 David Bacic & Assoc.
116 David J. Annis & Associates
117 De Vie Business Solutions
118 Delia Enevoldson
119 Deloitte & Touche LLP – Total Contribution For This Search: $8,000.00
120 Destination Planners Inc.
121 DIPT Urban Hook-Ups
122 Direct Line Office Furniture Ltd.
123 Discovery Economic Consulting Services Ltd.
124 Diva’s Touch Nails Inc.
125 Do Most Auto Repairs
126 Douglas College
127 Dovre Import & Export Ltd.
128 Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House
129 Dr. Ian Yu Podiatric Corporation
130 Dr. Sam Daher Inc.
131 Dr. Vincent Hartloper
132 Drake Street Residences
133 Dulcinea Chocolate Cafe
134 e-Global Strategies and Development
135 E.L.C./E.E.G./E.B.I.C./Eaton Arrowsmith School / Family Montessori School Society
136 Eclipse Awards International Inc.
137 Eclipse Productions Associates Ltd.
138 Ecmarket.Com Inc.
139 Edward Wong Physiotherapy Clinic
140 Elie J. Doumet Canada Ltd.
141 Eminence Organic Skin Care
142 Enbridge Inc. – 50,290.00
143 Encana Corp. – Total Contribution For This Search: $373,470.00
144 Encompass Communications Inc.
145 English Bay Law Corp.
146 Erezlife Software Inc.
147 Euro Kitchen Appliances Inc.
148 Exeter Resources Corp.
149 Fairhaven Holdings Ltd.
150 Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
151 Faris Investment Company
152 Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP – Total Contribution For This Search: $148,660.00
153 FatPort
154 Faulkner Brand Inc.
155 Fireswirl Systems Inc.
156 Fireworks Marketing Group Inc.
157 First Line Marketing Inc.
158 First Vancouver Theatrespace Society
159 Five Mile Holdings
160 Flying Wedge
161 FM Galbraith & Company Inc.
162 Focus Agency Ltd.
163 Four Elements Marketing Inc.
164 Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver
165 Gaboogie Canada Inc.
166 Gandalf Consulting
167 Gardens West Magazine
168 Genesis Recycling Ltd.
169 Geoffrey Gibb Personal Law Corp.
170 Geomania Vancouver
171 Geominex Consultants Inc.
172 George Shimizu Barristers & Solicitors
173 Geoscience BC
174 Geshtin Consulting Inc.
175 GGL Diamond Corp.
176 GlaxoSmithKline Inc. – Total Contribution For This Search: $32,412.00
177 Global Learning Resources Corp.
178 Global Mentor Technologies (GMT)
179 GLOBE Foundation of Canada
180 GM Restorations
181 go2 – The Resource for People in Tourism
182 Gold Canyon Resources Inc.
183 Gold-Ore Resources Ltd.
184 Gordon Douglas, CGA
185 Graham Barnes & Associates Inc.
186 Grand & Toy
187 Grey Hound Canada Transportation Corp. – 5,980.00
188 Guinness Business Centre
189 Hamazaki Wong Marketing Group
190 Harbour Pacific Capital Corp.
191 Harris & Company
192 Havana Haven Cigar Company
193 Heffel Gallery Ltd.
194 HMDA International Business Group Inc. – Total Contribution For This Search: $5,600.00
195 Hodgson King & Marble Ltd.
196 Home Billiards Sales
197 Homesteaders Furniture & Appliances
198 Huamali & Associates
199 Hudson Furniture Inc.
200 Human Capital Strategies
201 Hyatt Regency Vancouver
202 ICBC
203 IDC Diving Centre Ltd.
204 Imperial Parking Ltd. – Total Contribution For This Search: $76,525.00
205 Indicator Minerals Inc.
206 Industrial-Alliance Pacific Life Insurance Company
207 Industry Canada
208 Infinite Artists Inc.
209 Informa Financial & Insurance Services Inc.
210 Inntimate Inns Ltd.
211 Inside Design Studio Inc.
212 InsiderTrading Inc.
213 Institute for the Study & Treatment of Pain
214 Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC – Total Contribution For This Search: $4,244.00
215 Intentional Design
216 International Stop Smoking Services
217 Investax Management Inc.
218 Italian Cultural Centre Society
219 Jane Baker Productions
220 JCH Holdings
221 JHS Le Soleil Montessori School
222 JMT Roof and Paint
223 JTM Holdings Ltd .
224 Juliano’s Hair Salon
225 Just Energy
226 Kal Tire – Total Contribution For This Search: $33,950.00
227 Kensam Enterprises Inc.
228 Khanna & Co
229 KN Investments Ltd.
230 Koch & Associates
231 Kokoro Dance
232 Korean Businessmen’s Co-op Association of BC – Total Contribution For This Search: $875.00
233 KPMG LLP – Total Contribution For This Search: $49,830.00
234 Kuber Business Consultants Ltd.
235 L & M Metcalfe Enterprises Ltd.
236 Lake Mechanical
237 Lang Michener Barristers & Solicitors LLP – Total Contribution For This Search: $30,000.00
238 Law Office of Barbara Findlay, QC
239 Lawson Lundell LLP – Total Contribution For This Search: $2,990.00
240 Lesley Wood Bernbaum & Associates
241 Lever Arms Service Ltd.
242 Liberty Design Inc.
243 Literacy BC
244 Longview Communications
245 Loren, Nancke & Company
246 LTA Production Ltd.
247 M. Capewell & Associates Inc.
248 M. L. Marshal & Associates
249 MacIntyre Appraisals
250 Magusta Development BC Ltd. – Total Contribution For This Search: $500.00
251 Mail Channel
252 Marchentic Cosmetics Men’s Club Fashions (1986) Inc.
253 Marine Hairstyling For Men
254 Mario’s Gelati
255 Marvin Construction Group Inc.
256 Massage Therapists’ Association of BC – Total Contribution For This Search: $300.00
257 Master Painters and Decorators Association
258 Maxwell Claims Services Inc.
259 Merck Frosst Canada Ltd. – Total Contribution For This Search: $19,883.00
260 Meridian Retail Group Inc.
261 Mikron Enterprises Inc.
262 Mining Association of BC – Total Contribution For This Search: $13,180.00
263 Mirage Clothing Ltd.
264 Molo Design Ltd.
265 Molson – Total Contribution For This Search: $41,308.25
266 Momentum Conferencing Corporation
267 Morning Sun Health Foods/Supplements Plus Health
268 Mount Pleasant Commercial Improvement Society
269 Mr. Sandless
270 MVT Canadian Bus Ltd.
271 National Bank of Canada
272 National Post
273 NATIONAL Public Relations Inc.
274 Netfone Services Inc.
275 New Creation Consulting
276 New Directions
277 Newport Exploration
278 Nexvu Services
279 Nippon Kaiji Kyokai Radha Yoga & Eatery
280 NKB Consultants Inc.
281 Norman M. Cameron law Corp. Ltd.
282 North Shore Studios Management Ltd.
283 North West & Canada Cruise Association – Total Contribution For This Search: $37,643.00
284 Norton Lilly International OR Wallis Trucking Inc. -
285 NovaGold Resources Inc. – Total Contribution For This Search: $1,650.00
286 Ocean Industries BC
287 Olympic Business Development
288 Om Integrated Media Inc.
289 Omnipresent Productions Inc.
290 One-O-One Holdings Ltd.
291 Ontrack Media Ltd.
292 Opus Salon
293 OSR Open Systems Resources Inc.
294 Oxford Construction Ltd.
295 P&O Ports Canada Inc. – Total Contribution For This Search: $24,485.00
296 P+A Furniture
297 PACE (Pacific Corridor Enterprise Council) Group – 2,300.00
298 Pacific Centre
299 Pacific National Exhibition (PNE)
300 Pacific Newspaper Group Inc.
301 Pacific Shower Doors
302 Pacific Western Brewing Company Ltd. – Total Contribution For This Search: $74,610.38
303 Pacific Yacht Systems Inc.
304 Pagoda Home Imports
305 Paperie & Design
306 Payworks
307 Pediment Gold Corp.
308 Pencilneck Software Corporation
309 Peter W. Brown Law Corp.
310 Pheidias Project Management Corp. – Total Contribution For This Search: $6,000.00
311 Phoenix Environmental Services Ltd.
312 Plaza 500 Hotel & Convention Centre
313 Plenary Group – Total Contribution For This Search: $25,190.00
314 Plutonic Power Corp. – Total Contribution For This Search: $114,786.00
315 Pollock Import Company Ltd.
316 Pomegranate Design Inc.
317 Port Metro Vancouver
318 Porta-Pave Industries Inc.
319 Pottinger Gaherty Environmental Consultants Ltd. – Total Contribution For This Search: $1,550.00
320 Precision Athletics
321 Premier Security Inc.
322 Priceless Telecommunications
323 Primus Canada
324 Progressive Strategies Ltd. – Total Contribution For This Search: $54,414.00
325 ProMexico
326 Q4 Financial Group
327 Qoola Holdings Ltd.
328 Quality Imports Ltd.
329 Quasar Financial Planning Group Ltd.
330 Quest Outreach Society
331 R&B Brewing Co.
332 Raised Eyebrow Web Studio Inc.
333 Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver – Total Contribution For This Search: $1,350.00
334 Redden Development Management Ltd.
335 Renocon Design Centre Inc.
336 Rio Tinto Alcan
337 Robert Trapp
338 Robson Street Business Association
339 Rogers Wireless
340 Rolfe Benson Chartered Accountants
341 Roofing Contractors Association of BC
342 Rouxbe Video Technologies Inc.
343 Rugged Media West
344 S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
345 Sage Clinic
346 Save-On Nutrition Centre Ltd.
347 Schmidt & Funk Financial Services
348 Scott Ferris Financial
349 Sea Breeze Power Corp. – Total Contribution For This Search: $10,753.00
350 Sea Horse/Seven Sea Household Products (Canada) Ltd.
351 Second Cup
352 Seeton Shinkewski Design Group Ltd. – Total Contribution For This Search: $500.00
353 Senergy Communications Inc.
354 Sentinel Peak Holdings Ltd.
355 Sequence
356 Serengeti Resources Inc.
357 Service Canada In
358 Shato Holdings Ltd. SLG – Total Contribution For This Search: $65,697.00
359 Shaw Sabey & Associates Ltd.
360 Shifeon Enterprises Ltd.
361 Sinclair and Ruiz Consulting and Special Services Inc.
362 Sip Resto-Lounge Sweet e’s Pastries & Sweets
363 Skyland Tours Ltd.
364 Small Business BC
365 Small Business Marketing Coaches Inc.
366 Society of Composers, Authors & Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN)
367 Solus Decor Inc.
368 Sparkle Clear Resources (1992) Inc
369 Spectra Energy Corp. – Total Contribution For This Search: $16,670.00
370 Stallion Group (The)
371 Stanley Park Cycle
372 Stephen E. Martin Law Corp.
373 Strathcona Business Improvement Association
374 Supercity Construction Ltd.
375 Superstition Boatworks
376 Suraj Imports
377 SustaiNet Software Solutions Inc.
378 Sydney Feinstein Agencies
379 Tamwood International College Ltd.
380 Tapastree Restaurant
381 Taseko Mines Ltd. – Total Contribution For This Search: $30,150.00
382 Tata Productions
383 TD Bank Financial Group
384 Tech Track Solutions Inc.
385 Teepee Handicrafts
386 Teleconnect Solutions
387 Telus
388 Terasen Gas Inc. – Total Contribution For This Search: $90,108.00
389 Thang Long Travel Ltd.
390 Thinkbox National Marketing Inc.
391 Three Graces Fashion Ltd.
392 Timeline Sales Corp.
393 Tina Tam Triplice Consulting Inc.
394 Tofino Business Association
395 Toni & Guy
396 Torbram Electric Suply
397 Tourism Vancouver
398 Trade Commission of Mexico
399 TransCanada Pipelines Ltd – Total Contribution For This Search: $51,901.00
400 Translink (Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority)
401 Tricom Building Maintenance Ltd.
402 Trillium Talent Resource Group
403 Truck Loggers Association – Total Contribution For This Search: $32,720.00
404 True Benefits
405 Truskool
406 TVS Small Business Services Inc.
407 Twist Conditioning Inc.
408 Two Brothers Plumbing & Heating Ltd.
409 University of Phoenix – Total Contribution For This Search: $21,740.00
410 Van Pet Yaletown Ltd.
411 Vancouver Devine Style Inc.
412 Vancouver European Delicatessen Ltd.
413 Vancouver International Airport Authority (YVR
414 Vanessa Ventures Ltd.
415 VanTechs Computers Ltd.
416 VCR Condo Rentals
417 Venue Kings
418 Versapay Corporation
419 Vertex Graphic & Business Equipment
420 Vibrant Software Corporation
421 Vick, McPhee & Liu
422 Victor Godin & Associates
423 Victoria Real Estate Board – Total Contribution For This Search: $7,050.00
424 Vinci Park Services (Canada) Inc
425 Visible Solutions Inc.
426 Viviane’s Health Care West End Optometry
427 Vortex Business Software Corporation
428 WA-2 Water Company
429 Wah Fai Plumbing & Heating Inc.
430 Wardell Professional Development
431 WCG International HR Solutions Ltd. – Total Contribution For This Search: $25,464.45
432 Weber Shandwick Worldwide Whalebone Productions Ltd.
433 West Coast Leaf Association
434 West End Business Improvement Association
435 West Fourth Chiropractic
436 Westcoast Hot Yoga
437 Westcoast Music
438 Westfair Foods Ltd. – Total Contribution For This Search: $30,000.00
439 Westside Montessori School 971 Holdings Ltd.
440 Whiskey Investments Inc.
441 Whitelaw Enterprises Ltd.
442 Willis Louie Ltd.
443 WISH Drop In Centre Society
444 WM Uniform Group
445 WMW Reprographics Ltd.
446 Women’s Enterprise Centre Seiwa
447 Wordsworth Media Ltd.
448 World Journal Ltd.
449 Worldwide Business Promoters Ltd. Partnership
450 Wylton Canada Ltd.
451 Yaletown Marketing Solutions
452 Yoshi’s Salmon Smokehouse Ltd.
453 Yoshi’s Salmon Village Ltd.
454 Young & Naughty
455 Yukon-Nevada Gold Corp.
456 YVR Travel Service
457 Zing
***
(Response: I cannot vouch for how up to date this list is …but I am amazed and bolstered by the ingenuity of my blog readers. Really is power of the people for the people. h.o.)
5 Steve // Aug 18, 2010 at 9:46 pm
J.S. The HST is a tax shift, as stated by the government when the introduced it. I am paying more do big business can pay less. I do not think that 7-11 is really doing that badly that I need to do with less so they can fatten their bottom line. I am tired of the lie about ” the government needs the HST to pay for health care, etc. ” They didn’t and they don’t. If you are going to make an argument at least get your fact straight. The BC Government has stated from the get go that it was revenue neutral, meaning the government was not going to get any more taxes, they were simply going to beat it out of the common man so that big business could make bigger profits.
6 Stephanie T // Aug 19, 2010 at 12:44 am
We live in the South Okanagan and believe it or not, about a half hour ago we received a phone call from direct line office furniture (listed above) soliciting business. I nearly laughed my ass off when I read their name on this list. If there is a boycott against this company, I guess it’s working!
(Response: Hope you told them why. h.o)
7 D. M. Johnston // Aug 19, 2010 at 1:54 am
Well I had my go at it yesterday!
In Delta we are having a by-election due to the recent death of Councilor George Hawksworth. One of the Candidates trumpets her being with the Delta chamber of Commerce, came to door with the proverbial “vote for me.”
“NO” I said, “I could not vote for you.”
“Why”, came her bleat.
“Because the Chambers of Commerce believe that they are more important than the taxpayer and they are trying to thwart the HST petition, which I signed” said I.
“But you are mistaken”, she bleated, “The HST is good for business and what is good for business is good for the province”.
Trying to keep my temper I did try to convey to her that in just one month our cost of living has increased by over 10% and my wife was busy in Portland (staying with relatives) shopping to keep within our budget. So how is HST good for local business?
The Political wannabee gave me the look that she felt I was a mindless pothead…..
http://www.timescolonist.com/lawyer+compares+anti+protesters+potheads/3414571/story.html#ixzz0x0CrUvbV
……. and it was time to go and go she went.
So endeth the story, except chatting with some of my neighbours, they all linked her to the Chamber of Commerce interference with the voter and the voters desires.
I believe she will have a long lonely campaign.
(Response: Hope she reads my next posting on the blog. h.o)
8 AJ // Aug 19, 2010 at 4:36 am
Remember we don’t vote parties into office , we vote them out.
Also remember that Iran is KILLING Canadians in Afghanistan.
9 Bob T // Aug 19, 2010 at 4:52 am
What is it that these Business groups do not understand that their members will lose millions of dollars in sales as many of us will head south to Bellingham to fuel up and buy all our school supplies, kids clothes and groceries while the dollar is at $95 or for those living in Cranbrook or Fort St James will gladly suffer 3 hours on the road to go shopping in Alberta where the tax(GST) is only 5%.
Hair dressers will see their clients only twice a month rather than the weekly perm and chat. business owners will be forced to move to areas with less property tax and lease costs just to stay in business. Real estate in Gtr Vancouver is already taking a hammering sales drop and the realisation that the essential home inspection or the maintenance of the furnace will cost 7% more than it did June 30th! That $5000 furnace replacement will now have to be put on hold until the second car can be sold or there is a win on the lottery!
The list goes on and on – perhap unemployment at 15% might smarten up those in Victoria finally realise that they have totally trashed the BC economy and increased the debt load to even greater heights!
10 Mike C // Aug 19, 2010 at 5:00 am
Simply join many of us who jump in the car, take the bus or the train and go to the US for 48 hours or more.
Gas is much cheaper there as is just about everything else.
Come back and leave on a weekday and the border wait is very short.
After 48 hours, you can bring back 400 dollars per person of goods bought south of the border, 700 dollars each if you’re gone for a week.
A much larger selection of merchandise is available which cannot be bought in Canada for any price, such as no and low fat food and sugar free items for diabetics and dieters.
Clothing is dirt cheap there and they still have customer service at businesses that are grateful to take your money.
Use Priceline’s bid system and get good hotels anywhere from Bellingham south to Portland (where there is NO TAX) for about 30 dollars a night.
The BC Government and greedy merchants are robbing us blind while paying the hired help only 8 bucks an hour.
I’ve paid very high taxes all my working life.
I’ll be damned if they’re going to get more of my money.
(Response: Mini vacations never looked better …or more profitable. h.o)
11 Ruraidh // Aug 19, 2010 at 6:58 am
Many of the members of the Gang of Six are resource companies that are required both by the government and by investors to engage in consultation with First Nations and other stakeholders in large projects.
The intent is of course to minimize risk by consultation and where possible accomodation.
Given the Gang of Six reaction to the petition, outside investors are entitled to question whether these companies have any integrity when they engage in the political process or whether they rely solely on compliant regulators to achieve their goals.
Either way, the fumbled HST introduction may be far more damaging to the business climate than the benefits flowing from HST induced tax breaks.
12 Crankypants // Aug 19, 2010 at 7:07 am
It looks as if some people figure that democracy should be tied to how much gold one has in one’s jeans. Yes, anyone can go to court about anything, but if one doesn’t have the financial wherewithall then it’s too bad so sad.
The Howe Streeters are using their gold to thwart democracy and in the process intimating that the electorate are nothing but inconsequential morons. Their lawyer, Mr. Gall’s statement that those of us that signed the petitions were basically too stupid to know what we were signing. He couldn’t be more wrong.
It seems to me that the BC Liberal Party and their Howe Street cohorts are putting more effort into this HST battle than they did in the last election. To me this is a sure sign that there is nothing good for the average citizen with respect to the HST.
I will be boycotting as many of the members of these associations as I can. In the end it seems that the only democratic we really have is the votes we make with our wallets. From what I’ve seen posted on many sites, including the Globe & Mail’s site, there are a lot of people that will be doing the same.
13 SB // Aug 19, 2010 at 8:07 am
This is a deflection for campbell from his pork barrell buddies I cant come up with anything more respectful for this group who beleive 700,000 + of us are just not smart enough to know what we signed and a court can enlighten us , i can only point to BC rail in court and think oh goody here we go again .
14 crh // Aug 19, 2010 at 9:23 am
So what if a group of six businesses challenge these apparently sacrosanct 700-thou. ANYONE can launch a challenge in court on anything of this nature. That is part of our democratic process. Democracy covers us all not just the whiney 700-thou……..so says J.S.
Well, J.S., I say you’re wrong. This type of democracy only works for those who can afford it.
The other type of democracy came in the form of this petition to sign. Or would you prefer violence if it was not available?
Frankly, many of us are sick of this constant uploading of our money into the hands of the already wealthy, Gordo Campbell style.
15 Laila Yuile // Aug 19, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Harv, Norman Farrell and I started a new site earlier this week, to inform and initiate a province wide consumer action against businesses that support the HST and the legal challenge.
http://honestlyshared.blogspot.com/
Readers can find all the information they need at this one site, and we will are working on a small but effective list to suggest to readers as targets for boycott.
That list is going to include the following:
White Spot ( Shato holdings – C of C member)
7-11
Canadian Tire
Kal Tire
and more to come. Please feel free to make suggestions or comments !!
We are looking for volunteers to assist with printing information sheets, and for volunteers to hand out these sheets at Skytrain stations during peak periods to assist in informing the general public of these businesses. As well, we are asking that readers please send the link to our site to their contacts if they are in support of this consumer boycott.
Any interested citizens can contact us through our personal blogs contact pages, or at lailayuile@live.com
Thanks Harv! And thank you to everyone who has already stopped by, because our initial stats are through the roof already~ clearly indicating a deep interest in this action!
( although I suspect 7-11 and Canadian Tire are not so happy about it already, from the emails I’ve been getting! )
16 anon // Aug 19, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Mr. James, as a former legislative clerk and as a the acting CEO, was entirely correct in withholding the HST Extinguishment Act from the Legislative Initiative committee. The Act, as approved by the former CEO of Elections BC appears to violates the Assembly’s Standing Orders. Specifically, Mr. Vander Zalm’s legislation violates Standing Order 75 (No Bill may be introduced either in blank or in imperfect shape); and more importantly, Standing Order 67. Standing Order 67, which is often used by Speakers to terminate debate on Opposition private member bills, reads as follows:
Standing Order 67 reads:
All Bills, etc., appropriating public revenue
to originate by Message.
67. It shall not be lawful for the House to adopt or pass any vote, resolution, address, or Bill for the appropriation of any part of the public revenue, or of any tax or impost, to any purpose that has not been first recommended to the House by Message of the Lieutenant-Governor in the Session in which such vote, resolution, address, or Bill is proposed. (Vid R.S.B.C. 1996, chap. 66, sec. 47 (Constitution Act).
Given that HST Extinguishment Act both institutes a new tax (per part II: A PST of 7% with the same applications and exemptions as at June 30, 2010, shall be reinstated as the only Sales Tax in BC for the raising of revenue Provincial Purposes*), and requires an appropriation of provincial revenue to pay back the federal government’s bribe for introducing the tax, neither the Legislature nor its subordinate committees should consider this bill.
As Mr. Neufeld erred in approving the HST Extnguishment Act (as it is in contempt of the Legislature’s Standing Orders), Mr. James is entirely correct to withhold this petition/legislation from ever appearing before the committee, per section 170 of the Recall and Initiative Act. For those of you who stopped reading the R&I Act at section 10, Section 170 overrides section 10 and reads as follows:
Emergencies and other extraordinary circumstances
170 (1) The chief electoral officer may, by specific or general order, make exceptions to this Act and the regulations under this Act in accordance with the purposes of this Act if, in the opinion of the chief electoral officer, this is necessary because of an emergency, a mistake or extraordinary circumstances in relation to proceedings under this Act.
No backbench MLA from either the opposition or government side would ever be allowed to introduce the HST Extinguishment Act in the House because it is in contempt of the Standing Orders. Yet the Legislative Initiative committee – which is subordinate to the rules of the House – is able to review this legislation because it originates outside the House? Extra-parliamentary intitiative campaigns undermine our parliamentary democracy: this is a dangerous road to be going down.
*A couple of other points:
1) there was no such tax called the Provincial Sales Tax. The PST is actually called the Social Services Tax Act . In essence, Mr. Vander Zalm wants to “re-introduce” a tax that technically never existed in BC.
2) In stating that the “PST” be the only sales tax for raising revenue for provincial revenue, he is also convieniently eliminating all other taxes imposed by government for the sales of goods and services: namely, all sin taxes on alcohol and tobacco, fuel taxes and carbon taxes, and Mr. Vander Zalm’s own, property transfer tax!
17 W.L. // Aug 19, 2010 at 4:53 pm
What a wonderful article. You said what most of us are thinking. It is no longer about the HST but about democracy. I think we are living in a dictatorship and the arrogance of this government, amazes me. I voted for them, obviously with the facts about the HST, which they witheld from us. I will never vote for them again. I will be working with the recall campaign for sure.
18 RJ // Aug 19, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Is it really about the HST? Or is it about politics and the Campbell government’s lack of foresight in ratifying the tax. I’m certain Vanderzalm is looking to make a come back under a new party platform that’s why he is leading the charge of disgruntled voters. I’m for the HST and its user pay properties. Hopefully the NDP with its lame working man philosophy and aspirations of an expanded social welfare basket will not get back in to power.
(Response: I think it started out about THE WAY the tax was brought in ..but now that people are paying it .. I sense a shift…people see it almost everywhere ..too harsh…on just about everything …and no way do they believe will it be revenue neutral. h.o)
19 Doesn't apply to me // Aug 19, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Just a little note to J.S. who apparently is misinformed.
To quote J.S. . . .
To reiterate points earlier made. This government, and every subsequent BC government, will need more and more revenue (taxes) as the population gets older, crankier, sicker and delusional, as so many are right now!
So, here’s the deal all you spoiled brats out there. Taxation comes in two forms: mandatory (income taxes); elective or consumptive (HST). You choose!
To make this taxation issue even more pronounced, 2011 marks the first year of the Boomer cohort turning 65. What a zoo!
Apparently J.S. is not informed about the healthcare issue with respect to the young folk in Canada.
The following is an article from EatRight Ontario
Children’s Health- Overweight and Obesity
How bad is it?
By all accounts, it is really quite bad. Research indicates that more Canadian children are overweight and obese than in the past. In 1978/79, 12% of 2- to 17-year-olds were overweight, and 3% were obese—a combined overweight/obesity rate of 15%. By 2004, the overweight rate for this age group was 18% and 8% were obese—a combined rate of 26%.
Because our kids have become more overweight and less active, they are now experiencing obesity-related health problems. For example, Type II diabetes, a disease that was once known as adult-onset diabetes because it was rarely seen in anyone under the age of 40, is now being diagnosed in kids as young as 9 or 10. The cost of dealing with diabetes alone will soon eat up over 15 % of health care budgets.
But obesity is related to a lot more problems than just diabetes. One recent study concluded that obesity is linked to 41 separate adverse health outcomes. This includes well-known and obvious problems such as an excess risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoarthritis of the knees and hips, to less well-known obesity-related conditions such as a higher risk of depression and cancer.
Even worse, just like our children’s waist lines, the list of obesity-related problems is ever expanding. For example, a recent report from researchers claims that radiologists are having a tough time reading diagnostic tests such as abdominal ultrasounds and abdominal CTS scans in overweight people. Current testing apparatus is just not designed to peer through so much fat tissue.
Here is another exert from HealthNewsDigest.com
Top 10 Health Concerns for Kids in 2010
. . . “Levels of stress among children may relate to economic challenges faced by their families in the national recession and slow recovery,” says Davis, who is also associate professor of public policy at the U-M Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.
“The fact that stress now rates higher on the list of child health problems is a reminder that most of the problems on the list are behavioral or psychological in nature. Lawmakers often deal with adults’ concerns about making ends meet. In contrast, in times like these children’s stress may fly under the policy radar.” . . .
So J.S. do some research before you make statements.
20 anon // Aug 19, 2010 at 6:09 pm
OK, I’ll admit I made a boo-boo. Section 12 of the R&I Act expressly allows for the “appropriation of any part of the consolidated revenue fund or of any tax or impost.” Nonetheless, the HST should never make it to the Assembly for the following reasons:
1) The R&I Act proscribes powers to the public (chiefly, the initiative proponent) to introduce legislation impacting the appropriation of revenues that even MLAs do not have.
2) The HST Extinguishment Act is fatally flawed in that it calls for the re-introduction of a tax the never existed in law.
(Response: If the tax never existed ..why have we been paying? h.o)
21 Doesn't apply to me // Aug 19, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Making people believe that ‘it is the best thing for us’ is a scheme throughout history. Here is a amusing but insightful little film from the National Film Board of Canada.
“In this animated short, Richard Condie offers up a history lesson about one of the most sensational get-rich-quick schemes that took place in France over 200 years ago. With economist John Law at the helm, the plan was to open a bank and exchange bank notes for gold at wildly inflated share prices to mask the fact that the country’s gold had been depleted in the building of Louis XIV’s palace. When the inevitable rush to cash in the notes takes place, poor John Law is left broke and broken-hearted.” 9 min 40 s
http://www.nfb.ca/film/john_law_and_the_mississippi_bubble/
A friend sent this little bedtime prayer to me from Alberta:
Dear Lord,
I know that I don’t talk to you that much, but this past year you have taken away my favourite actor, Patrick Swayze, my favourite actress, Farah Fawcett, and my favourite musician, Michael Jackson. I just wanted to let you know that my favourite premier is Gordon Campbell.
Amen
22 sunshine coast girl // Aug 19, 2010 at 6:52 pm
I think the Gang of Six have just realized that not only are they not helping their buddies, the Liberals, but they have drawn a target on their own backs! That is the real reason they won’t appeal.
23 anon // Aug 19, 2010 at 7:15 pm
You have been paying the Social Services Tax. There was no such tax in BC called the “PST” or “Provincial Sales Tax.”
I realise that everyone in the province, including the government, calls it the PST. But the fact is that Vander Zalm, Delaney and Tieleman – in their desire to build on populist rhetoric – were lazy. You can’t re-introduce a tax that never existed in the first place.
Should this legislation get to the Committee, they’ll have to amend the legislation to fix this fatal flaw. Legislation requires some degree of precision. After all, isn’t that the reason why everyone is in court right now?
(Response: I want a refund!! h.o)
24 Henri Paul // Aug 19, 2010 at 7:18 pm
anon // Aug 19, 2010 at 4:26 pm
The Act, as approved by the former CEO of Elections BC appears to violates the Assembly’s Standing Orders.
It “appears ” you dissenters of our democratic rights are grasping at grass straws over this HST issue, additionally, you do not even have the gonads to display your names.
Therefore, I for one consider your comment irrelevant.
25 Paul // Aug 19, 2010 at 8:17 pm
The business message IS quite disturbing, isn’t it.
Here’s the message they are now spewing out on their Home Page.
(From the (updated) British Columbia Chamber of Commerce Home Page.)
Position on the Judicial Review
“Our membership has endorsed the BC Chamber of Commerce to lobby the Province for the HST since 2002. At our Annual Meeting in Whistler in 2008, the members voted for this to become a policy priority for all Chambers in BC.”
http://www.bcchamber.org/
It doesn’t say ‘some of our membership’
It says “OUR MEMBERSHIP”
“the members voted for this to become a policy priority for ALL Chambers in BC.”
Find businesses on the list that you are currently doing business with and tell them that you are no longer going to be a customer.
The membership dues that these businesses pay to the chamber are financing this Judicial Review.
It’s important that you let them know WHY you’re no longer going to be a customer.
They have the power of money on their side.
Whether they win in court or not, they will never defeat our purchasing power.
***
And here’s another little gem from their website:
British Columbia Chamber of Commerce
2010 – 2011 Policy & Positions Manual
HST Policy (2010)
QUOTES:
THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS
The Provincial Government:
[1] Review the impact of the HST and continue to consult with businesses, particularly those from adversely impacted sectors, in order to mitigate any negative effects of the HST; and
[2] Introduce targeted transitional assistance for business sectors that are adversely impacted by the added HST cost.
http://www.bcchamber.org/advocacy/policy/priority/taxation/hst_policy.html
“Transitional assistance” sounds like corporate welfare to me.
QUESTION:
If they have been lobbying the Campbell government for the HST since 2002 and they voted in 2008 for this to become a policy priority for ALL Chambers in BC, why are they now crying for transitional assistance?
They have no respect for us.
They think that we are nothing more than mindless consumers with credit cards.
We have the power to prove them wrong.
Purchasing power
The customer is always right lol.
(Response: Really interesting stuff. h.o)
26 Ruraidh // Aug 19, 2010 at 8:20 pm
I am still troubled by the idea that the government lawyers and the government itself thinks or thought it was quite OK to delegate major economic powers to the federal government without, as far as I can tell, making the electorate aware of this, or making the electorate’s representatives aware of this delegation.
I am not sure it is proper to delegate provincial powers without a vote of the legislature and if the elected members of the provincial liberal party knowingly acceded to the (improper) delegation then the wrath of the electorate, including their own supporters will know no bounds.
It is not up the Gang of Six to supplant a legislature, no matter how important are the alleged national and international corporate benefits. Who elected them?
(Response: No one elected them …but they sure helped elect the current government, with their campaign fuinding, expressions of support and all kinds of other backing. h.o)
27 Alexander // Aug 19, 2010 at 8:38 pm
It’s interesting to read this baloney espoused about the B.C. government not being able to retract this tax because it was passed by the Canadian parliament.
If my memory of our history is correct, i believe when British Columbia negotiated entry into the Canadian Dominion, B.C. government was deemed the only agent of tax collection within its boundaries.
So how can one man have the right to give away a piece of my provinces soverignty to an outside government body??, with no debate in the peoples house or the permision of the British Columbian people
28 Crankypants // Aug 19, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Anon, you state that the PST never existed. If that is the case then why did the Legislature have a vote in this year’s spring session to remove the PST as well as the hotel tax?
Methinks that you are just trying to pull the wool over our eyes. It ain’t working.
29 anon // Aug 19, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Read Bill 9. Show me where the Liberals repealed the “Provincial Sales Tax” or “PST”.
Bill 9 repealed the Social Service Tax.
I realise this is a technicality and that the mere mention of this will drive people nuts, but it is a hole so big you can drive a truck through it. Don’t think for a moment that the Liberals won’t exploit this gaffe.
(Response: This is exactly the type of thing I was referring to im my blog …where people get caught up in all kinds of debate about symantics, whether the “t”s are crossed or what’s the proper name for a tax … …while the real issues go unaddressed. It does our society a great deal of harm: no wonder so many of our young people are so turned off government, elections and participating in anythnig more than Facebook and Twitter. h.o)
30 Paul // Aug 19, 2010 at 10:47 pm
B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Bauman: “You say it’s wrong, and they say it’s right. And I have to resolve all that?”
With a comment like that, I’m starting to think that the judge is going to tell these corporate turkeys to get stuffed on Friday.
***
The lawyers say that the tax is a federal measure and thus beyond the jurisdictional reach of the province.
QUOTE from Stephen Harper:
***
“The federal government isn`t pushing the HST on any province,the decision to adopt the HST is completely a provincial decision,it has nothing to do with the federal government”
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper – October 13/2009 – the Port of Vancouver.
***
It sounds like the lawyers are telling the judge that the Prime Minister of Canada is a liar?
How Galling is that?
***
From the Canadian Centre for Policy Studies
http://www.policystudies.ca
Impact of HST on Ontario and British Columbia Households
Written by David Murrell, Ph. D
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
In this paper David Murrell, Professor of Economics at University of New Brunswick and Senior Fellow at the Canadian Centre for Policy Studies, measures the impact of the new HST tax, implemented on July 1, 2010, by the Ontario and British Columbia governments, on households. The paper focuses on the effects of the tax regime change, from the retail sales tax (RST) to the HST, on the five income quintiles as defined by Statistics Canada.
Among Dr. Murrell’s findings:
[1] The switch to the HST, even with personal income tax relief, represents a net tax increase on average for households in both provinces over time.
[2] In the first year the average family in British Columbia can expect extra taxation, whereas the average family in Ontario will see a tax reduction because the Government of Ontario has undertaken HST transition payments to families.
[3] The net per-family tax increase in British Columbia is higher than that for Ontario, given that the Government of British Columbia has granted much less in the way of personal income tax relief.
Click below to download a copy of the paper (PDF):
http://www.policystudies.ca/documents/Impact_of_HST_Implementation_ON_BC.pdf
31 Jimmy // Aug 19, 2010 at 11:54 pm
After reviewing the CoC list above, I have decided to do my part to boycott these firms/cancel my accounts and it wasn’t easy:
1. BC Ferries – no more;
2. BC Medical Association – I’ve decided to have a new family doctor in Blaine, Washington;
3. BC Hydro – canceled my account – I can make do with candles and a wood stove;
4. BC Pavco – no more attendances at BC Place;
5. Bell Mobility – canceled my cell phone;
6. BC Lottery Corp. – no more lottery tickets;
7. ICBC – canceled my car insurance;
8. Molson – no more beer from that co.;
9. PNE – boycott;
10. Telus – canceled my land line;
11. Terasen Gas – canceled my account and am buying a wood stove;
12. Translink – no more Skytrain or buses;
13. YVR – boycott;
I’m doing my bit. How about everyone else?
(Response: Let me know how it goes …that is, if you’re Internet provider isn’t a member of the C of C. Stay healthy …and drive carefully … very carefully!
h.o.
32 D. M. Johnston // Aug 20, 2010 at 12:29 am
Anon = PAB!
Here is the real issue.
HST, replacing SST/PST and GST is increasing prices on many items that were SST/PST exempt, driving up costs.
HST petition has over 700,000 signatures.
BC Chamber of Commerce goes to out to try to make the HST petition invalid.
700,000 BC voters are sorely pissed off and demand recall!
The Liberal party and their hangers-on are scared S***less of recall.
PAB types are flooding the blogs with pro government propaganda.
Government propaganda is too late, as voters now want total recall!
Gordon Campbell government is teetering on the edge of political annihilation and continue to rev up the ‘dogs of war’ aka the Chamber of Commerce.
RECALL IN THE FALL begins in early November.
RCMP criminal investigation into the Gordon Campbell Government starts in the summer of 2011.
33 Rocker R // Aug 20, 2010 at 1:18 am
Nice to see Pacific Newspaper Group (publisher of the Vancouver Sun and Province) proudly belonging to the Chamber. The National Post, too. (Odd in that the Post purports to be a national newspaper and is headquartered out of Toronto after the Winnipeg-based Aspers exited.)
Big media just doesn’t seem to twig to the unseemliness of so obviously throwing their lot in with Corporate Canada. (I’ve been a far more jaundiced listener to CKNW ever since station owners donated to the BC Liberals. And I’ve questioned CTV’s neutrality since they granted leave to CEO Ivan Fecan to co-manage the federal Liberals advertising campaign a couple of elections ago.)
Do media bosses not care or understand why increasing numbers of readers, listeners and
viewers are turning to alternative forms of information or simply tuning out completely?
(Response: I can’t verify what you say, but find it quite interesting … and, of course, if any organization/anyone you name wants to correct your version, would be happy to give them space to do so. h.o)
34 Ron // Aug 20, 2010 at 2:15 am
I am repeating an entry I made in a prior topic Harvey wrote about, but I feel it needs to be heard again for people that don’t read earlier topics:
Another plan of action is to get in touch with friends, relatives, and acquaintances that live in other provinces where they live and get them to boycott all these companies across Canada, because if the tax flies here, it will sure as s*it be hitting them next!
I’m starting to let the people I know across Canada about this and they have agreed to not shop at Canadian Tire, Esso, Petrocan and 7-Eleven, the banks, and let those companies know why they are being boycotted in their province. I’m sending them the lists as they are available. That’ll sure get their attention!
I am pulling all my business from Coast Capital Savings tomorrow because they blew me off when I asked about their stance on the HST and asked about their BC Liberal political donations. That will teach the money grubbers. They just lost $3k a month in business. Too bad, so sad.
I hope someone loses their job over that.
Now, does anyone know of a bank, etc. that doesn’t support this scam tax. I bet there’s no takers, hahahaha (money grubbers…he mumbles while poring over banks in the yellow pages to call tomorrow).
35 Henri Paul // Aug 20, 2010 at 3:37 am
For several months,Ive been contemplating on purchasing a used motor home, nothing fancy, nor expensive, only big enough for me and my wife.
Previously when we set out, we would stay at motels and eat at restaurants.
Now, not only we will stay in our motorhome, but eat in it as well, this will be a considerable saving for us, as well, those savings will go towards fuel and maintenance of the motorhome,and for even more savings, destination Alberta, where we load on on sales tax free goods.
We get to travel and save money.
Thank you BC Chamber of Commerce and your oh so eloquently spoken hired mouthpieces for showing us of how little consequence your members place in us as consumers here in BC.
And no, Kal tire I will no longer patronize you here or Alberta,in fact any franchise or brand in Alberta who are with the BC Chamber your toast as far as my wallet goes.
Just maybe that used motrhome will be purchased in Alberta, saving me a futher 12% tax, my Alberta cousin suggest I put it in name .
36 anon // Aug 20, 2010 at 4:45 am
PAB? No. A PABster couldn’t find a Standing Order or a precident if it bit them on their collective ass.
A keen interest in parliamentary history and practice? You betcha.
I’m not for the HST.
I am, however, in favour of not running around tarring and feathering respected public servants and the parliamentary process in general without a basic understanding of how the process works. The Recall and Initiative Act is a complicated piece of legislation that introduces populist measures that are counter-intuitive to normal parliamentary practice. Anti-HST advocates, – and the population at large – need to know how the legislation, the legislature and its committees work in order to be effective. You can play checkers all you want, but if the Liberals are playing chess, the people of the province will lose.
I have suggested two grounds for why the HST-E act should not receive a reading before the committee. No one has been able to refute these statements. You can be sure that Mr. Lake is going to be well briefed on these matters by the AG’s staff if and when required.
Shouting from the rooftops “abuse of process” and “the end of democracy” will make good pictures, but not manifest in the actual legislative change required. Of course, if it is your goal to “Recall them (Liberals) all”, rather than actually repealing the HST, the initiative process and subsequent bluster is but a phony war.
Harvey, with respect to your comments about the minutiae of procedure turning people off: politics isn’t clean; is based on flimsiest regulations, practices and precedents; and can’t be made palable for those who don’t give a damn. If and when the petition is ruled out of order, maybe some of those “average citizens” who signed the petition will take the time to learn how they were bamboozled by a false prophet.
(Response: Believe me, if there’s anyone who is aware politics is not clean, it’s me. And where has that brought us? To a society where many don’t vote; many who do just vote by Pavlovian response rather than really studying platforms … and where lying and deceit are actually considered acceptable. Things must change … and a good place to start is to at least let our politicians CONSIDER the voiced will of the people and have elected offiicials, not some Acting bureaucrat decide whether and when to proceed or wait for disposition of a court challenge. h.o)
37 Ron // Aug 20, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Re: D. M. Johnston // Aug 20, 2010 at 12:29 am
RECALL IN THE FALL begins in early November.
RCMP criminal investigation into the Gordon Campbell Government starts in the summer of 2011.
Yessir, right after we get a real look at the thieves’ books and blow apart the Lieberals generally accepted accounting practicec (that $73 million that’s missing is obviously what they’re using to pay for the pro-HST fight).
Campbell, Hansen, Coleman, Falcon, et al should all be smashing rocks in jail for (edited… h.o.) …. selling out BC taxpayers!
What a glorious day that will be! And no gold plated pensions or “re-training” monies.
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