B.C.'s Elections Act to be reformed: premier

CBC NEWS Friday, October 2, 2009 | 12:32 PM PT

Municipal leaders vote against HST at annual meeting

Premier Gordon Campbell promised to reform B.C.'s Election Act — including possibly granting municipal voting rights to industrial and business property owners — during his speech Friday to the Union of B.C. Municipalities' annual convention in Vancouver.Campbell said he will set up a study group to examine possible changes and asked the municipal leaders to submit their ideas. Other possible changes included increasing or shortening the current three-year term for elected municipal officials. The task force would report back to the premier by May and legislation would be tabled before the 2011 municipal elections, Campbell promised.

The premier also briefed the municipal officials on the state of the province's finances, health care and education spending, thanked them for supporting his greenhouse gas initiatives and talked up the coming Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler as a fantastic marketing opportunity for all of B.C. "What better way to launch the recovery than having the Olympics in 2010?" he said, noting Olympic venues such as the Richmond speedskating oval will promote international interest in B.C.'s wood products.

The premier's speech, which began with a lighthearted impersonation of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, was well received by the delegates, who filled the room and gave him several standing ovations. But shortly before the Liberal premier took the stage, the municipal leaders issued narrowly passed a vote to ask him to abandon the controversial harmonized sales tax (HST). Vancouver Coun. Kerry Jang said British Columbians have made it clear they oppose the HST. "The best resolution to the HST is simply to get rid of it…. Every family has got to pay more money. A tax is a tax is a tax," said Jang. The final vote on the motion opposing the HST was 185-159 and appeared to divide the convention along political lines.Campbell responded in his speech by defending the HST, noting it would be the lowest in Canada, and that with B.C.'s low income tax and business taxes, it would attract business to the province.