Well said, Ben. Let's hope that Vander Zalm keeps his sights set on repealing that damned HST.
We are all reminded of that added tax burden every time we buy a newspaper or cup of coffee. We won't forget the duplicity of Campbell's crew. Maybe some of us will recall how he gave away our railway with similar stealth.

I'm SummerSoul and this is just SummerSoul's opinion.

Anyone know where a person can aquire a copy of the list of things now on the HST list...especially at the grocery store...the list on the BC Gov web site is very very basic...doesn't say much except..basic foods...well their idea and mine may well be different...

[url]http://hst.blog.gov.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/GST_PST_HST_List_v04.pdf[\url]

If you were involved with canvassing and meetings you would know that Mr V is not intending to run in the next election. The man is over 70! I believe that this is his way of helping us so that he is remembered in a good way.

I for one appreciate the fact that we have him leading us through this fight. If it was not for him this would never have gone this far.

He is the only politician on this planet actually working for the people! That in itself is a great thing.

I agree, Ben. The whole anti-HST effort so far has been magnificently 'non-partisan' with British Columbians holding a wide divergence in political philosophies uniting in a common, though as yet unfinished, cause.

Lets keep it that way. Bill Vander Zalm deserves our everlasting gratitude for the tremendous role he has played, and his ability to bring people together in attempting to achieve a desired result.

If there is any broad public desire for Mr. Vander Zalm to personally go beyond where the anti-HST campaign is headed, and back into elected office himself at a later date, it should clearly come from 'the People' at the grass-roots level opposed to the HST and government(s), or Parties, that will not listen. That may, or may not ever, happen. But at the moment it is entirely too premature. We have a much more important job to finish, and we can do it with the means available to us ~ and that job is getting those we elect, whoever they may be, to LISTEN to us when we're telling them what we DON'T WANT.

It would indeed be a great mistake on his part for Mr. Vander Zalm to try to take this historic united effort and the obvious popularity he's currently enjoying for his leadership of it, back into the "Party" arena for personal political gain, even if that gain is solely limited to enhancing his ego.

It would also be a mistake on our part to discount Bill Vander Zalm's experience as a past Premier, who undoubtedly learned many things the "hard way" during that period, and has had a great deal of time to reflect upon them.

So we shouldn't write him off completely as someone who won't ever have any further role to play in government, but the decision as to whether he should again lead any movement attempting to achieve office must come from a broad spectrum of the public desiring his service, rather than any attempts on his part to again attain office.

Politics in BC are a bloody mess. The Liberals say if you dont vote for us then the NDP will get in and look out then.

The NDP say that if you continue to vote for the Liberals you will continue to get things like the BC Rail fiasco, the BC Hydro fiasco, HST, Corporation favourtism, etc; etc;

We need a strong party that represents the regular, normal, everyday people, and we dont have one. We just had an instance where over 700,000 people signed a petition, and for all intents and purposes they are being ingnored by their respective MLA's. Why is that??? Who the hell do these people represent. The very least they could have done, was have this tax debated in ;public, and then gone with the will of the people, but no, they did it behind closed doors, and are trying to ram it down our throats.

This issue if far from over. We now have a court challenge from business trying to show that the petition is unconstitutional. We have a challange from Vander Zalm claiming the Province did not have the authority to implement this tax.

We have the NDP sitting in the bush watching the Liberals self distruct, and waiting to take their place.

Vander Zalm may have headed up the anti-HST group, but he does not own it. It is made up of hundreds of thousands of BC Citizens that are very upset with this Government. Any group of people in any riding in BC can start a recall of their MLA in November. They do not need the blessing of Vander Zalm. In additon the NDP will probably start recalls in those ridings that they feel would work best for them, and they certainly will not wait for the blessing of Vander Zalm.

So in November we are heading into a brand new ball game. Will Vander Zalm and Delaney try to revive the Provincial Conservatives, and run in the next election, or in the ridings where the recall has been successful. I suspect so. At least Delaney will.

The Liberal Government in BC is in serious trouble. It has very little support, and Campbell has none. People are very upset with Campbell and want him gone yesterday.

The only way the Liberals can now survive and hope to continue as a viable party and continue to form the Government is to get rid of two very serious problems.

1. The HST
2. Gordon Campbell

To do nothing is political suicide.

Went grocery shopping last night. Eggs, milk, etc = no HST. Bought some fresh shrimp and was charged HST. Any baked goods that fall under the "sweet" category is charged while others are not. Apparently a box of granola bars is charged HST. How many people buy granola bars for kids lunches? Pudding cups, fruit cups, etc. all charged HST (so I hear, please correct me if I am wrong). I have looked at my receipts since July 1st and I have to say, I predict that over the course of a year, my family household will spend far more in additional taxes than what the "experts" predicted. I have 2 children under the age of 15 who wear size small adult clothing that I now have to pay HST on. "Some" school supplies are charged HST, but there is no indication as to what these items are. I have one child who plays soccer, HST on cleats and pads. There are far more items that are charged HST than many people think.
I predict that people will stop spending money on such items, resulting in prices going up. The idea of any potential savings being passed on to the consumer from the retailers is absolute BS.

"Bill Vander Zalm deserves our everlasting gratitude for the tremendous role he has played, and his ability to bring people together in attempting to achieve a desired result."

Vander Zalm had a vision for a university for Prince George. Although many tried to persuade him to select another city in the south for a new university he stuck to his decision and during the last few weeks of his term as premier he passed the act to establish UNBC in Prince George, together with the first seed money!

Thank you, Mr. Vander Zalm!

I predict that most people won't change their way of shopping. Most people don't have the time, or the energy, or the knowledge, to disect receipts and compare with past ones.

I predict that because of it, credit card debt will rise as families try to keep everything on an even keel.

my2bits:-"I predict that because of it, credit card debt will rise as families try to keep everything on an even keel."
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That's exactly what will happen, and it'll be one more way "Finance" profits at our expense. The HST is a golden gift from the governments to the Banks.

CRA's basic grocery list.
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/gm/4-3/4-3-e.pdf

"the regular, normal, everyday people" are apathetic ....

Thus we could form an "apathetic" party that would solve their problems. Then again, no one would vote for them .... LOL

Hey don't forget the carbon tax. I travel to Alberts a few times a year and make most of my clothing and major purchases there when visiting.

Way to support the local economy.

I believe you are one of those proponents for those Job creation/industry growth kinda things, yet you insist on tanking our local economy by purchasing in another economy.

Cutting off the nose to spite the face?
I call that shootsinfoot syndrome.

So day 7 of this HST and I still have not payed it for anything yet. You could say matty is on strike now. I am making a list of what I need and will be now travelling once a month to Grande Prairie where you can buy what you need with no HST. I will NOT buy anything here now other then basic groceries that have no tax. I will stand at the checkouts and scrutinize my recipt and if anything has HST I will force them to refund my money for what ever. (shrimp???) UNBELIEVABLE. I am doing shopping for friends also. Looks like a new hustle maybe get some cash for going for others too?? Hmmmm. Anyways I aint buying anything else here in BC. I have a fuel efficient vehicle too so I know I will probably double my savings in HST. These rip off stores here should be required to post on every isle posters of what is or not taxed. They are too afraid to do that. They know people might not buy those items. Well I have the answer. Dont buy anything. Just save your money. I already gone one week and have never payed HST in my life yet and dont intend to start now. Thats one mans opinion. Im Matt Cooper, registered voter. Recall is in November. This riding is gonna fire pat bell. Yeeeee Haw.

thanks cherylincanada

For groceries, chips, snacks etc. If you used to pay GST, you now pay HST. If it used to be GST exempt, it is HST exempt. If you never noticed since the GST was introduced in 1992 then......