HST-petitioners claim success, Campbell agrees to vote if it meets legal scrutiny

John Bermingham, The Province May 28, 2010

B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell says he’ll honour the wishes of HST critics if their petition succeeds — and either grant them a referendum on the issue or put the question to a vote in the legislature. Neither vote would be automatically binding on the government, but it could choose to honour the outcome. On Friday, petition organizers said they’d reached the magical 10-per-cent threshold in each of B.C.’s 85 ridings, with the Liberal stronghold of Vancouver-Langara the last to fall. “There is a law in place and we’re going to follow that law, right down the line,” Campbell said. If the petition is successful, with sufficient valid signatures, a legislative committee will decide whether to draft a bill or call a referendum, he said. (more)