Wednesday May 12th, 2010 - Organizers Reporting Success in Anti-Harmonized Sales Tax Petition Drive

The campaigners for Fight HST in Langley believe they have made a significant step: Ridings in both Langley as well as Fort Langley-Aldergrove have now passed the ten-percent level, which is the minimum percentage needed to meet requirements toward a Citizens Initiative Petition. According to Shaun Sephton, an organizer, the riding for Langley is actually past 17 percent, and signers include some 7,300 voters.

A 15-percent total is preferable, said Sephton, as it gives a cushion over and above the requisite ten percent. He said that when the 20-percent mark is achieved, his group will continue toward reaching 25 percent.

The petition in Fort Langley-Aldergrove is also well past the 15-percent status. Ridings that have achieved more than 15 percent are permitted to send volunteers and organizers to other areas nearby where the percentages are still below ten and 15 percent.

Throughout the province, organizers of Fight HST have reported that of 85 ridings, 56 have achieved the ten-percent status so far, and the campaign is just a little beyond one month old. According to law, organizers are granted three months to gather as many signatures as possible. The initiative will come to an end July 5.

Should all ridings in British Columbia witness at least ten percent of their voters signing petitions, the provincial government will be compelled to launch legislation repealing the tax. However, even if the government would be required to introduce the legislation, it would not be required to pass it, and it can actually disregard it.

Sephton and his co-organizers hope that the significant number of signatures they are getting will make a real statement to politicians. Chris Delaney, provincial lead organizer, said that 34 ridings are currently beyond the 15-percent status. He said that rural areas tended to pass the ten-percent mark quickly, but ridings in urban areas have been more lackluster.