MLA defends himself against opposition attacks on the HST

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 04, 2010 12:00 PM

Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster continues to refute claims that he knew the Liberal government would initiate the harmonized sales tax after the last election. The NDP has urged Foster to “come clean” about his awareness of the tax in light of documents that show some government activities surrounding the issue before the 2009 vote. “I had no knowledge or discussion of the HST prior to the election,” said Foster. In a media release, NDP MLA Michelle Mungall calls on Foster to clarify the matter. “If Mr. Foster knew that the finance minister and the premier were deceiving British Columbians about the HST, he betrayed his constituents by keeping silent,” said Mungall, who represents Nelson-Creston.“If he was kept in the dark and left to suffer the consequences – now is the time for him to stand up and speak out on behalf of the people who elected him.”

Foster insists he has not been misled by government officials. “I have faith in the people who told me how the sequence of events occurred,” he said. Mungall goes on to say that an internal study shows that the HST will reduce incomes and eliminate jobs. “If Mr. Foster wants to rescue his credibility he needs to condemn the sneaky tactics used by the B.C. Liberal premier and finance minister to bring in the HST, and he needs to commit to doing his utmost to help scrap this unfair tax,” she said. Foster says he is tired of Mungall’s attacks. “If her party was in power, would they repeal the HST? They won’t answer that question,” he said. “Why did the NDP government in Nova Scotia raise it by two per cent?”