HST Made Her Do It

Thursday, October 28, 2010 02:26 PM

Lois Boone will seek to represent the federal NDP in the PG-Peace River by-election

Prince George, B.C. - Saying the HST made her do it, former provincial MLA Lois Boone has announced she's seeking the federal NDP nomination for the coming by-election in the Prince George-Peace River riding in front of a roomful of supporters at a local cafe.

Boone served as a Prince George MLA from 1986 until 2001, including the post of Deputy Premier.

The 63-year-old, currently the vice-chair of School District 57's Board of Trustees, is using her location today, the "Africa Cafe", to illustrate the impact of the HST:

"This shop is a prime example of how small business is suffering because of the HST -- a large coffee costs $2.00, tax on that used to be 10-cents. Now it's 24-cents. If you buy a coffee here five days a week, that's a buck-twenty. Over a year, that's more than 60 (sic)-dollars." (photo at right shows supporters at the cafe)

She says add that onto home repairs, haircuts, tickets to hockey games, the theatre: "You name it, you're paying HST on it and that's costing families in this province, big dollars." And Boone says the federal government needs to be held accountable for its role in imposing the tax on British Columbians, saying "The federal government literally lured the province into it by seducing them with money." She points out Ottawa passed legislation last year to enact the tax.

As for whether there will be enough of a backlash against Stephern Harper's Conservatives to get her elected in a riding that has been a party strong-hold for years, the NDP hopeful says, "I think the people are really upset with the HST. I think people have said enough is enough."

In addition to fighting to overturn the HST, Boone says, if elected, she would say 'no' to the Enbridge pipeline. Another highly contentious issue, particularly in a riding so firmly based on a strong oil and gas industry. "I don't think any of the big executives from the oil and gas industry would ever vote for the New Democrats, but I think the workers would vote for the New Democrats because they recognize that our concerns are their concerns."

Boone points to the fact there are 700 breaks in pipelines in Alberta every year and the BP spill in the Gulf as giving rise to a new attitude, "People are looking at that and they're very skeptical in terms of what they're willing to accept in terms of damage to our environment and I think that has changed considerably over the past year."

On a light note, Boone says she ran into former Mayor Colin Kinsley last week and he thanked her for her part in increasing the speed limit on area highways during her time in provincial government, so she says she's taking that as an endorsement from him. Kinsley declared his intention last week to seek the Conservative nomination for the Prince George-Peace River riding.

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Posted on Thursday, October 28, 2010 02:26 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: pggo56 on October 28 2010 3:41 PM

HST my ass,its a federal seat not Provincial. HST is a hot issue but lets get real about what people in the North want from their MP. Start with an economic plan a vision for the north support for jobs and family would be a good start. Starting out of the gate by red flagging the HST and condemning the proposed pipeline may sound interesting to some such as the Greens and some First Nations Chiefs but they don't vote Federal NDP anyway. Know the issues of those that pay the bills for this Country or don't wast your time.

Posted by: david1 on October 28 2010 3:44 PM

You say that you are going to Ottawa to fight the HST-while Carole James & her party are going to accept the GST if they get in power-You talk about the price of coffee-I still remember you where in a cafe accross the street & your husband left a generous tip & you where behind him and took part of the tip & put it in your pocket.

Posted by: faxman on October 28 2010 4:04 PM

She could have picked a business that's actually located in the riding for her announcement...

Posted by: Slim2229 on October 28 2010 4:05 PM

You know, I've known Lois since the early 80's when she worked in vehicle management for prov. gov't. She did a great job and I'm sure Ray missed her when she moved on.
And being a union employee I can even understand her joining the NDP.
She's running with a party I can't endorse, but that's her way. I wish her success.

Posted by: verballabel on October 28 2010 4:40 PM

Her and Colin should just retire already, and leave the government to the young people who will see the long term impact of their decisions.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on October 28 2010 4:40 PM

Smart politican!
Say all the right things, and you just might get elected, and they always know what to say!
I think they really do believe we are all stupid and never see through political spin.
But what the hell,Prince George/Peace River could do worse, I suppose.
Not that I think the NDP has a chance against Kinsley and the Cons.

Posted by: gus on October 28 2010 5:54 PM

large coffee = $2.00
GST = $0.10
HST = $0.24
Difference = $0.14
Week cost = 5 x $0.14 = $0.70/wk increase
Year cost = 52 x $0.70 = $36.40

If 1 million people do that in BC it means a $36.4 million additional income that the Government will receive.

And to think that is just for coffee....

Of course, drink 16 cups less per year and the coffee house will make $32 less than normal, the coffee drinker will be healthier, and province will not gain any more tax money.

So, what doe the HST really achieve if people were actually to do that - buy less of the product/service.

Which part of this supports the government's theory that the HST creates more jobs?

Voodoo economics has made it north of the 49th parallel.

Posted by: interceptor on October 28 2010 6:04 PM

Wow - when I saw the first story I thought it was early April fools... She is really serious? Save your money Lois and just go away - please.

ps - thanks for the laugh Faxman. That is the truth!

Posted by: apoliticalgeek on October 28 2010 6:16 PM

You know the sheeple seem to blame gordo for the HST but Harper's the one who came up with it in the first place. Why not blame the instigator of the greatest tax shift in Canadian history?

I've met Lois and I believe that she truly wants to make a difference. Unfortunately I think Colin just wants a feedbag for life. For that reason alone she's got my vote.

When people realize that the conservatives have totally abandoned the people of this region (raw log exports up over 3000 percent anyone?) she might have a chance.

Getting rid of appurtenancy is another example of how big business has totally ruined small town British Columbia. From Donorth.com - Appurtenancy was a policy used in the management of water and forest resources to ensure that local communities gained economic benefits from their adjacent resources. Applied to the BC forest industry, it made sure that trees harvested in a region were processed in that same region, essentially guaranteeing the survival of many northern, rural communities.

Enbridge (Colin Kinsley's employer) might just be the straw that breaks the conservative back as big money and their employees, our conservative and liberal mp's, force us to accept a pipeline that most of us sane people are dead set against.

If that happens all bets in this region are off. The younger demographic is starting to have a roll south of us, maybe the dinosaurs up here might be outvoted if facebook, et. all is mobilized properly.
As the rich get richer and the poor poorer maybe it's time for the class warfare that shifted Canadian policy in the past. How far do we let the rich push us back from hard won rights and values for the sake of company profits?

For those who care - the demographics are easy to read, as boomers age and realize that conservatives aren't into great health care subsidies and the accompanying taxes, the government will change.

The question is 'when' not 'if'.

Posted by: Eagleone on October 28 2010 6:42 PM

I never did like her, because she seemed like a dictator while in power. But that said... she is taking a stand on issues... not one conservative candidate so far feels they can take a stand on issues like the HST. HST is a big issue in the Peace Country where they live next to GP for shopping. All the conservative candidates are all too scared of Harpers discipline to take a position. I'm sure she will get votes because of this alone.

IMO the HST should be repealed for BC... yes, but also the HST (GST) should allow for a deduction of the cost of employees from the gross revenue used to calculate remittance. The double taxation should not be acceptable to anyone, but especially a politicians that makes claims to represent the working class and job creation.

Posted by: Palopu on October 28 2010 8:08 PM

The HST was brought in by the Liberal Government around 1995/96 and was first introduced in the Maritime Provinces. The GST was brought in by the Conservatives and Brian Mulrooney in 1991. They lost the election in 1993 and were reduced from a huge majority to two (2) seats in the House of Commons.

The Harper Government made $1.6 Billion dollars available to the BC Liberal Goverment to offset the transition costs from the PST to the HST. This gave the Liberals an opportunity to use this money to try and hide (to some degree) their huge deficit. The fact of the matter is this transition money is available to any Province who wishes to implement the HST and has been available since the Liberals brought in the HST. So lets quit trying to hang this tax on Harper. He is just going along with the Liberal legislation. One thing is certain the Conservatives and the Liberals all love this tax. So do the Liberals in BC, because it pays off for business and corporations, at the expense of the everyday consumer.

The Federal Government does not have anything to do with the sale of lumber or the export of logs in BC. Forestry is a Provincial Jurisdiction, so if you want to blame anyone for exports, or appurtenancy you will have to again blame the Provincial Liberals.

Lois Boone, like Colin Kinsley, is a recycled politician. Neither one of them deserve the time of day from the voters in PG Peace River. We need new blood with new ideas. Not well trained trough feeders.

Lois Boone doesnt have a hope in hell of getting elected. The NDP are only running a candidate in this riding, because if they didnt they would have to explain why. Anyone remember who ran in the last Federal Election for the NDP???

If Colon Kinsley gets the nomination, he would probably get elected, because the riding is such a staunch Conservative riding, however I hope that they nominate someone further North who would be concerned for the whole riding.

Posted by: apoliticalgeek on October 28 2010 9:13 PM

Palopu- For once I agree with almost all of what you say - well spoken.

In regards the HST, I was drawing attention to the fact that Harper had to offer the carrot first. The deficit was the stick in the back of the donkey.

In regards the liberal/conservative difference, I'm aware of section 91 and 92's differences in the constitution. But what I was trying to point out is that unfortunately they differ only in their name. Their core supporters/activists are the exact same people (thank you James Moore for that tidbit).

Most people voted in the liberals and the conservatives because they thought they would make a difference. What they got instead was the same old stuff with 'a let the rich get richer' spin. The conservatives federally and provincially pay for the same sad Republican strategies pioneered by Frank Luntz (a paid Conservative strategist) that worked so well for George Bush. Blame a person's personality not their platform.

The sad reality is that I'm left because I know the rich will always buy off the right. Because they are more aligned with the riches world view they have fewer differing principles and as a result they're cheaper. Always have, always will.

What's sad is to see so many good people get hoodwinked by people that go to their church and hijack their causes only to follow their own ideologies for four years after election day. Harper hates the fact that we're a, in his words 'a second rate socialist democracy'. I'm rather fond of the fact that we are.

Hopefully, we'll realize that we have most of the worlds free and untouched natural resources in the most stable political climate and then we'll stop climbing over ourselves to sell them to the lowest bidder. Resources are only getting scarcer.

Rant over.

Posted by: hood rich on October 28 2010 10:24 PM

Palopu, the 1.6 billion was offered to BC in 2009, pretty sure federal Liberal were not in power.

Posted by: supertech on October 28 2010 11:45 PM

Lois doesn't have a hope in hell to win a federal seat in this riding. I don't think she could win a provincial either.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on October 29 2010 7:18 AM

I agree supertech...I don't think she is wise choice at all, from what I am hearing.
Sounds like she stepped on a lot of toes and P.O.'ed a lot of people in the past.
That has a nasty habit of following polticians around when they try to get back at the public trough after a long layoff.

Posted by: faxman on October 29 2010 7:50 AM

"Lois doesn't have a hope in hell to win a federal seat in this riding. I don't think she could win a provincial either."

Let's not underestimate the number of people who subscribe to the NDP way of thinking. You know, the people who -for some bizarre reason- believe that society owes them.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on October 29 2010 9:10 AM

Actually faxman...NOTHING to with B.C.politics suprises me anymore!
Which I guess is why everyone living in a province west of B.C. thinks we are all nutjobs!

Posted by: Andyfreeze on October 29 2010 9:11 AM

ummm....that should read EAST of B.C...duh!

Posted by: joeboy on October 29 2010 9:49 PM

Uh, hood rich, maybe try reading Palupou's post again. This time try using 4th grade comprehension. It will save the taxpayers money in the long run.

Posted by: supertech on October 29 2010 10:37 PM

WE MUST vote for a better way than the present. If we all vote for 'anyone but', new blood will be in the legislature and they will have to get along and do something positive at the same time. Coalition does work, it works well because the party line is eliminated and the MLA's would probably vote what the people wanted in their riding (or the wishes of the highest bidder eh?). Like they do now.

Posted by: PrinceGeorge on October 30 2010 3:43 PM

"If Colon Kinsley gets the nomination..."
reminds me of the colonoscopy I had some years ago!

Thanks for the laugh, though!