"I'll decide in my own sweet time." -- Federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff on whether his MPs will vote against Harmonized Sales Tax legislation . The best and fastest way to kill the Harmonized Sales Tax in both British Columbia and Ontario will happen as early as Wednesday in Parliament. That's because Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper is scheduled to introduce legislation shortly to implement the hated new tax, leading to a vote that could take place this week. So that's why I'm urging all readers who oppose the HST to not take their own sweet time but instead drop everything to join a brand new Facebook protest group I created on Sunday called "Defeat the HST in Parliament." Go to "No BC HST" Facebook group -- BC's largest at over 129,000 -- and join hundreds who have already signed up.
And then immediately contact your MP to tell them to vote down the 12 per cent HST that the B.C. Liberal government of Gordon Campbell wants to impose July 1, 2010. Harper has already declared two important things about the legislation. First, that it will not be a confidence vote, so the government will not be defeated and an election called if the HST does not pass. Second, Harper also says his party will not reintroduce HST legislation if it is defeated in Parliament -- meaning the HST is dead. That's why it's critically important for the public, who polls show overwhelmingly oppose the HST, to tell their elected representatives to vote it into oblivion.
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Ignatieff to support Harper on HST
Jane Taber Globe and Mail : Tuesday, December 1, 2009 10:08 AM
Michael Ignatieff and his Liberals will support Stephen Harper's government on the harmonized sales tax for Ontario and British Columbia. None of Mr. Ignatieff's MPs will be allowed to vote against the Conservagtive legislation without facing consequences. “This is a government bill. It is a whipped vote,” the Liberal Leader said after an emergency meeting with his caucus this morning to discuss the motion. Mr. Ignatieff defended his position, arguing that he had always said a policy “duly agreed between a federal government and provincial government would be respected.” “This is a matter of respect. This is a matter of how the federation has to work. We are practicing a federalism of respect,” Mr. Ignatieff said. “Mr. Harper, when he tore up Kelowna [the accord to aid aboriginal Canadians], when he tore up the child-care agreements, practiced a federalism of disrespect and division.”
The Conservative government will bring in legislation this week to allow for Ontario and British Columbia to harmonize their sales taxes. In return, they will receive several billion dollars in compensation from the federal government. It is a controversial bill that could have placed the Liberals in a bind, given that some of their MPs are not in favour of the HST. The NDP are opposed to it and believe their stand contributed to holding to a seat in British Columbia in the recent by-elections. The Bloc have said they will support it.
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