An amazing feat for which we owe great gratitude to Bill Vander Zalm, and all the leaders of other political Parties, or those heavily involved in them, who were large enough to put partisan politics aside and come together in unison with the majoirity of British Columbians on this issue. And, our equally great appereciation for all their time and effort to all the organisers and volunteers from every political stripe, or none at all, who made it happen.

If nothing else, the latest action of those opposing us bears witness to the "power of money". They can try to "buy" what we cannot. For their pockets, and the pockets of the minority that backs them, and the bankers of those backers, are deeper than ours . But they will not prevail.

This petition speaks volumes.

No one can deny that there is no support for this tax except from vested interests like business, and corporations, who stand to save billions. Taxpayers will pick up the tab if it stays in place.

The court challenge from Campbells supporters at this late date, could legally derail the petiton and have it thrown out however, guess what???

It will make no difference because we still have recall and we will use it to ensure that the people are properly represented on this issue. People are very upset with the Government and Government spending and waste in general.

I predict that if they continue to stall this petition and try to circumvent what is now pretty obviously the will of the people, that you will eventually see a huge protest talking place in Victoria with people from all over the Province attending. It will start with smaller protests in Citys and Towns through out the Province, and end up in Victoria.

Campbell and his cohorts better get it together pretty soon. The time for bombastic buffoonery is past.

AXE THE TAX. RECIND THE HST. RETURN TO THE STATUS QUO 2009. Nothing less will suffice.

I agree with Palopu, its a bit late to try to stall this thing in court now, and the silly thing is it is 6 seperate companies trying to get Vanderzalm into court, not people but companies, the very companies who would be benefitting from the HST maybe? it just goes to show how clueless the government and others can be, when the whole province hates a law that is attempting to be passed and yet they try to tie it up in the courts with deep pockets and b.s.

I would love a recall.. love, love a recall and then watch Gordo try to run his government with half a team...I've been completely against Campbell from the start and always will be, he shows absolutely no responsibility in any of the stupid decisions he has made, he gets arrested for drunk driving in Hawaii and embarrasses the whole province, he couldn't care less about the BC public.. the guy is a joke as a premier, it convinces me that the natural selection process is breaking down.

Yes recall would be a very entertaining thing to watch.

Happy Canada Day everyone.

Maybe what we need is a general strike right across the province. Show the government & corporations that we mean business. The people of BC have spoken with this petition and we've said we do NOT want the HST. How dare they now try & stop this and tell us what's best. Their scared and it shows. I'm sick & tired of government & big corporations making decisions that the majority does NOT want!

The period allowed for collecting signatures is not yet past, so these self serving companies are essentially participating in tghe petion process on the anti-petition side. Are they registered as opponents? If not, do they even have legal standing to make an application to the courts in the first place?

More people against the Liberals in the last election than have signed this petition. Almost anyone is going to sign a petition that says we want to get rid of a tax...but we still have to pay them.

I hate paying taxes. I think we should put pressure on all levels of government to stop wasting our tax dollars. Campbell has been as wastefull as the former NDP government if not more. Don't get me started on the city of PG or Harper.

However, the HST is better than the PST/GST combo it is replacing.

Dish taxes out tomorrow HST and carbon tax, no more haircuts for me late 60's early 70's coming back. No more restaurant foods, stay home and eat. Wear the clothes I have till they wear right out, no more golf, no more hunting, no more driving. Think I'll just stay home.

That is exactly where the socialists want you. Stay at home, watch TV,drink beer, pay taxes. OH yeah--they want you at the Casino too. Provincially owned casinos -- did anyone get to vote on that?

I keep repeating over and over that this tax is a TAX SHIFT from Business and Corporations to Taxpayers (Consumers)

Thats what it is pure and simple. It matters not a twit what it does or does not apply on because at the end of the day business and corporations will pay approx $1.9 Billion dollars a year less, and individual consumers will pay $1.9 Billion dollars a year more.

Why do you think that Corporations, and business supported entities like the Chamber of Commerce support the tax.

This is not a tax that will go away next year. We will be paying between $500.00 to $1500.00 per year from July 1/10 for the rest of our lives. That is $1.9 billion year after year after year.

This is not a joke. This is serious business, and should be treated as such. Its time for the sleepers in the Province to wake up. We need to stop these people from robbing us, and we need to do it now.

I talked to some small business owners to-day, and they beleive that this tax will break them. There are a number of business's in the guiding,fishing, and tourism businss that feel the same way.

Who the hell are these people to tax us at will, and cause people hardship. Who and what the hell are we as citizens to let this happen.

Its time for the hand sitters, and fence sitters, and those who wax philosophically about all and sundry but do nothing, to get off their asses, and when the time comes, (AND COME IT WILL) to do their share to stop this tax.

We the people need to take control and stop these assinine politicians from ruining our Country. These bloody overpayed, underworked, pork barrel, trough sniffing, people need to back off.

AXE THE TAX, RECIND THE TAX, RETURN TO THE STATUS QUO OF JUNE 2009.

750,0000 PEOPLE CANNOT BE WRONG. FORTY NINE LOW BROW POLITICIANS PROBABLY ARE.

Palopu

"TAX SHIFT from Business and Corporations to Taxpayers (Consumers)"

and

"I talked to some small business owners to-day, and they beleive that this tax will break them"

doesn't seem to add up. Explain?

Palupo

750,000 people cannot be wrong. What about the 2.5 Million eligable voters who did not sign the petition?

All eligible voters will have their say if Gordon Campbell honors the intent of the referendum law.

The problem is we now have corporations showing that they are more than willing to abuse their corporate rights to interfere in the democratic process. Really, that has been at the heart of this issue from the start and it is only now going to be crystallized in the open daylight for everyone to see.

Elections what are they for anymore anyways....

good post Palopu!!! Totally agree. Small business owners are going to be hurt by this kolberg because consumers are not going to spend as much because of the HST. I know I will be cutting back, especially with eating out now that I have to pay HST at restaurants. Even gym memberships now have HST. Boy, that's a great way to encourage people to stay healthy...just charge them more????? Make's no sense at all.

Kolberg. Big difference between **small business** and Business and Corporations.

Im basically talking about Corporations like Rio Tinto Alcan, Major Coal Companies, and Mines, Lumber Corporation, Pulp and Paper Mills, etc; etc;. These big Corporations and Business's are the winners.

Small business like Golf Courses, Restaurants, Massage Therapy, Barber, and Hair Shops, Fishing Charters, Coffee Shops, etc; will be effected. And of course the main effect will be on Consumers.

A tax shift pure and simple. Keep track of your increases starting to-day, and see where it takes you.

Have a nice day.

I am a small business owner. I am in favour of the HST. I just received my final PST return in the mail. I used have to file a PST return every month and a GST return once a year. Now I will just have to file one HST return every year. This will save considerable time and accounting expense. I was holding off on purchasing some new equipment until the HST kicks in because now every piece of equipemtn I purchase is now 7% cheaper. Lower overhead and lower input costs now means I can make more profit. But price pressures from other small businesses will mean that my prices will have to come down so I can stay in business. A small business is governed by the same economics as a large business so the result will be the same across all businesses in the economy.

Sure service businesses will feel a pinch because their products are now 7% more expensive and their cost savings will probably only offset about 2% of that so their consumers will have to pay 5% more. But why is it that consumers of services have historically had to pay less tax than consumers of physical goods. Why shouldn't the customers of Tim Hortons and Wendy's contibute to the tax pool the same way that consumers of Northern Hardware do?

Happy HST day.

Kolberg. I dont give a twit how much you save by implementing the HST. Mainly because it will be a frosty Friday indeed before you or any others lower your prices.

In fact if you run true to form, the first chance you get you will increase your prices to make more profit. Your job may be to make a profit, my job is to see that your making a profit does not cost me money.,

In the case of the HST it does. Business gets a break, consumers get a tax increase.

Enjoy your tax break while you can, because it, along with the Liberal Government will be short lived.

To-day had breakfast at Restaurant $2.06 extra tax. Later, Coffee, and quart of oil .62 extra tax. Pie and Coffee later in the day 1.02 extra tax. Total extra tax on a slow day. $3.70. Doesnt seem like much, but if you multiplied it by 365 days it would be $1,350.00.

Anyone who thinks this tax is not huge is just fooling themselves. If it wasnt as cash cow the Governments wouldnt be pushing it, and Business and Corporations, wouldnt be supporting it.

As a business owner, the HST does not impact me directly at all. However, as an end user and taxpayer the HST affects my family and all of my clients. These are the one I care about, as they continue to bear the brunt of the increased taxes. There comes a point where one more tax is one to many and you have a revolt. Or, you force the economy underground. In all honesty, I can't blame them.