Anon 6:39You have hit on something here that needs a little expansion."the wishy washy people in this riding who claim that Ida is so nice, she works hard and should be left alone."
That statement is being used by virtually every MLA that is up for recall. It's the party spin right out of the PAB in Campbells office.
(The same morons that visit this and other blogs that regularly dis the government in this province)
And therein lies two problems. These MLA's either can't or aren't allowed to think for themselves.So for a party that is run by big business who would these MLA's be backing.You guessed it. Big business.
Now say a business has 20 employees. Those 20 employees voted for someone else other that the sitting party. They expect to be heard because they are voters just as are the people who voted for that MLA. But the money lies in the donations to that party from big business. So 20 people who voted for something don't mean diddley squat in BC. One vote from the business owner means everything. Why? Because he has the money.
So the MLA can't think for themselves and big money, not the voter is driving them.
Now. Here in BC we have a mechanism for getting rid of any MLA for any reason should the electorate so choose. That mechanism is called RECALL.
But something else comes into play. Big money could lose their voting power if recall is successful. So they pull out all the stops and start a slander machine that is fully geared to discrediting organizers and telling you how good your MLA is. How much they are doing for you. They aren't doing $&!% for you. They are running scared and (with the full backing of the Mainstream Media) are slanting interviews and having photo ops the like of which we don't even see in a full election. They have their pictures taken with projects that they weren't even involved in.
Historically people have believed in what they read in the papers. I contend that the majority have never heard the saying that "you can't believe half of what you read in the news."
Just look at what happened in the BC Rail Trial. The only time you read anything was in a blog or an online paper. If the buzz got loud enough it was sparsely reported in the MSM Even then they twisted the facts and called bloggers names like "conspiracy theorists" "nut jobs" "wacos". And Why? Because the reporters who were supposed to be reporting facts to you were manipulating their columns so that what you read inferred that something else was being done.
It was only when the government shut down the trial that the papers would report on the case and even then they twisted the facts.
I have perceived something else that has come into play. And that is that NO MAJOR PARTY wants recall to work. And my friends that is for very obvious reasons.
Things have gotten so bad in this province that some very good bloggers have been attacked. Bill Tielemans'
office was rampaged during the discovery protion of the BC Rail Trial.
BC Mary, GrantG, and Kootcoot have been threatened. And most recently Laila Yuile, who uncovered the shadow tax, was physically attacked. And I'm fairly sure that others in the blogosphere that hold the governments feet to the fire have been the subject of , if not attacks, then at least investigation. Even I have not escaped the dirty tricks.
So, it's time to wake up the masses. Tell you friends where they can get the real news and discuss it with others. Unlike the MSM, who, if they don't cut you off. will cut off the whole comment section.
12/22/2010
Elections BC Acting CEO Has Now Sat Longer Than Any Other Acting CEO
| It's interesting to note the span between Appointments of Elections BC CEO's and under whose watch. Craig James has now used the office (temporarily) longer than any other temporary Chief Electoral Officer. Many people, including myself question this appointment. And now we are questioning it's length. If things had been done properly the previous Assistant CEO would have been (with her 28 years experience) appointed the new CEO. | ||
|---|---|---|
| November 7, 2002 - June 5, 2010 | Harry Neufeld |  |
| May 2, 1990 - June 6, 2002 | Robert A. Patterson |  |
| April 15, 1980 - May 2, 1990 | Harry Morris Goldberg |  |
| June 1, 1968 - October 1, 1979 | Kenneth Loudon Morton |  |
| April 1, 1947 - June 1, 1968 | Frederick Harold Hurley |  |
12/19/2010
Ida Chong Oak Bay Recall Good News and Other Things:
Following is a update from Colin Nielsen For the Oak Bay Gordon Head Riding
Hi Volunteers
On Friday, a gentleman came into the Lillian Street office and offered us a signing location in the heart of south Oak Bay - corner of Central Avenue and St. Patrick Street. This is central to hundreds of Oak Bay residents, making it very convenient for them to sign the Petition. That corner hosts a popular restaurant, a beauty salon, Casey's Market, etc, hence attracts lots of people via car and on foot. People will still be able to sign at Lillian, however our main signing point will become this new site - the address is 697 St. Patrick Street. It is a nice storefront and sandwich board signs are allowed on the street and there is good parking. We will be moving to this site on Monday December 27th (2 days after Christmas) - volunteers currently working at Lillian Road will continue working at Lillian Rd until Thursday December 23rd. We feel we will get many more signatures at this new site due to its convenient location.
To clarify
Schedule for Lillian Road:
Monday December 20th - open 10.00 am to 8.00 pm
Tuesday December 21st - open 10.00 am to 8.00 pm
Wednesday December 22nd - open 10 am to 8.00 pm
Thursday December 23rd - open 10 am to 8.00 pm
Friday December 24th - closed
Saturday December 25th closed
Sunday December 26th - open 10 am to 8.00 pm
END OF SCHEDULE FOR LILLIAN
Schedule for 697 St. Patrick Street:
Monday December 27th - 10 am to 8.00 pm
Tuesday December 28th - 10 am to 8.00 pm
Wednesday December 29th - 10 am to 8.00 pm
Thursday December 30th - 10 am to 8.00 pm
Friday December 31st - 10 am to 6.00 pm
Saturday January 1st - closed
Sunday January 2nd - 10 am to 8.00 pm
Monday January 3rd through February 4th open daily from 10.00 am to 8.00 pm
Our continued Good Wishes to the folks at Oak Bay Gordon Head.
Update: Dec.21,2011 Latest Numbers from Oak Bay Gordon Head 4151
That's up from 2014 and the proponent says they are on target.
12/14/2010
12/13/2010
Ida Chong and the Liberal Party Spin
You can tell when party spin takes over in a situation like recall. All the MLA's spout the same Rhetoric. Not only Ida Chong is spinning it but so is Donna Barnett. The words they use are almost identical. One only need to read this article in Politics Respun
http://politicsrespun.org/2010/12/clueless-ida-chong-spins-and-begs-for-her-political-life/
I find that the Liberal spin that they rolled this money grab out wrong is just pure spin.Now they want us to believe that they want to talk to us. Actually have a conversation. Why now when they wouldn't even allow full debate in the Legislature? It sounds to me like the school bully when someone finally smacks his face and all of a sudden he wants to talk. Their smugness has disappeared and they find their political asses in a sling and NOW they want to talk. They don't even realize that we ARE talking. Our message is Drop the HST or face RECALL. You see we don't just have the HST we have them lying to the people. People who trusted them and sent them to Victoria to work FOR us. Not to go and give away the farm to their large political donors.
The people now have a vehicle to remove those who lied and we are using that vehicle.
http://politicsrespun.org/2010/12/clueless-ida-chong-spins-and-begs-for-her-political-life/
I find that the Liberal spin that they rolled this money grab out wrong is just pure spin.Now they want us to believe that they want to talk to us. Actually have a conversation. Why now when they wouldn't even allow full debate in the Legislature? It sounds to me like the school bully when someone finally smacks his face and all of a sudden he wants to talk. Their smugness has disappeared and they find their political asses in a sling and NOW they want to talk. They don't even realize that we ARE talking. Our message is Drop the HST or face RECALL. You see we don't just have the HST we have them lying to the people. People who trusted them and sent them to Victoria to work FOR us. Not to go and give away the farm to their large political donors.
The people now have a vehicle to remove those who lied and we are using that vehicle.
12/09/2010
Government and Business Friends Dirty Tricks
The government that is supposed to be looking after the people who elected them has allowed Phil Hochstein to run rampant using busness money to smear not only the Campaign but individual canvassers.
I will be doing all I can on this site, time permitting, to counter this activity. I am in complete support of this boycott and will be contacting the only two businesses in my area to see if they support these actions.
FIGHT HST LAUNCHES BOYCOTT OF INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATION MEMBERS
Vander Zalm: Business lobby group is targeting canvassers and voters in smear campaign in a bid to try to stop Recall and save the HST
VICTORIA (December 9, 2010) – Fight HST Leader Bill Vander Zalm is calling for a province wide boycott of the businesses and members of the Independent Contractors and Business Association of BC (ICBA) for their attack campaign directed at the canvassers working to Recall Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Ida Chong.
Vander Zalm says the ICBA, led by their president Phil Hochstein, are trying to smear canvassers in the riding and intimidate voters from signing the Recall petition with deliberately misleading comments in an advertising campaign funded by their members from across BC. He says a series of ads, together with a web site called “stoprecall.ca” encourages voters not to sign the petition because doing so “means giving your name, your signature, and your phone number to people you don’t know”.
“That is a ludicrous statement given that Elections BC requires this information and given that canvassers are required by law not to use the voters’ information for any other purpose but Recall,” said Vander Zalm. “It’s just pure intimidation.”
Vander Zalm says the ICBA goes further by smearing the citizens conducting the Recall, describing them as an “army”, “disgraced”, “fringe”, “defeated”, and “opportunists”, and then saying “Do these sound like the types of people you want to hand your personal information over to?”
“It is unbelievable that the members of the ICBA would see fit to attack the citizens of BC by funding a massive advertising campaign to stop Recall and to try to save the HST,” said Vander Zalm. “Especially when many of their contractors, roofers, new home builders, renovators and trades people who sell directly to the public have been hurt by the HST and our efforts are actually helping them.”
“You’d think they would be cheering us on, but instead they are spending mega dollars to attack the democratic process with misleading ads and deliberate smears designed to scare people.”
Vander Zalm says his group has published a list of the members of the ICBA on the Fight HST web site and will be sending it out to the Fight HST supporters list of over 7,000 members with instructions to create a viral campaign across BC using the internet. He is encouraging all British Columbians to cancel any jobs or contracts they have lined up with ICBA businesses and to seek alternative companies to work with.
“Companies like Able Roofing Contractors; Gabe’s Painting and Decorating; and Howell Electric in Kamloops, Canpro Construction; Four Flower Enterprises; PBS Contracting and Soare Contracting in Victoria, as well as hundreds of others around the province are supporting this attack campaign,” said Vander Zalm.
“We don’t have the big money of these groups, so we can only counter their efforts by suggesting a boycott. Hopefully, the ICBA members will come to their senses and let Mr. Hochstein know they don’t agree with the use of their membership dues for such a purpose.”
Vander Zalm says the ICBA has donated over $325,000 to the BC Liberals since 1996. “We challenge Mr. Hochstein to tell British Columbians just how much of his members’ money he is planning to spend to defeat the Recall.”
Vander Zalm notes that Hochstein has gone on record saying there are no limits on his groups’ spending against Recall.
“They’ve found another loop hole in the Recall legislation and are using it to act as a conduit for the BC Government to attack the Recalls. The big business lobby went to bat for the BC Liberals during the petition by trying to strike it down in court and lost. Now they’re trying again with a mega bucks ad campaign designed to subvert the ‘equal spending’ rules for proponents and opponents.”
Vander Zalm is calling on all of the BC Liberal leadership candidates to say where they stand on what he describes as an “abuse of the Recall process.”
“It is totally unfair and undemocratic. The ICBA must be held to account by the people, and refusing to do business with ICBA member companies is the most effective way to do that,” concluded Vander Zalm.
http://www.fighthst.com/media/
I will be doing all I can on this site, time permitting, to counter this activity. I am in complete support of this boycott and will be contacting the only two businesses in my area to see if they support these actions.
FIGHT HST LAUNCHES BOYCOTT OF INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATION MEMBERS
Vander Zalm: Business lobby group is targeting canvassers and voters in smear campaign in a bid to try to stop Recall and save the HST
VICTORIA (December 9, 2010) – Fight HST Leader Bill Vander Zalm is calling for a province wide boycott of the businesses and members of the Independent Contractors and Business Association of BC (ICBA) for their attack campaign directed at the canvassers working to Recall Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Ida Chong.
Vander Zalm says the ICBA, led by their president Phil Hochstein, are trying to smear canvassers in the riding and intimidate voters from signing the Recall petition with deliberately misleading comments in an advertising campaign funded by their members from across BC. He says a series of ads, together with a web site called “stoprecall.ca” encourages voters not to sign the petition because doing so “means giving your name, your signature, and your phone number to people you don’t know”.
“That is a ludicrous statement given that Elections BC requires this information and given that canvassers are required by law not to use the voters’ information for any other purpose but Recall,” said Vander Zalm. “It’s just pure intimidation.”
Vander Zalm says the ICBA goes further by smearing the citizens conducting the Recall, describing them as an “army”, “disgraced”, “fringe”, “defeated”, and “opportunists”, and then saying “Do these sound like the types of people you want to hand your personal information over to?”
“It is unbelievable that the members of the ICBA would see fit to attack the citizens of BC by funding a massive advertising campaign to stop Recall and to try to save the HST,” said Vander Zalm. “Especially when many of their contractors, roofers, new home builders, renovators and trades people who sell directly to the public have been hurt by the HST and our efforts are actually helping them.”
“You’d think they would be cheering us on, but instead they are spending mega dollars to attack the democratic process with misleading ads and deliberate smears designed to scare people.”
Vander Zalm says his group has published a list of the members of the ICBA on the Fight HST web site and will be sending it out to the Fight HST supporters list of over 7,000 members with instructions to create a viral campaign across BC using the internet. He is encouraging all British Columbians to cancel any jobs or contracts they have lined up with ICBA businesses and to seek alternative companies to work with.
“Companies like Able Roofing Contractors; Gabe’s Painting and Decorating; and Howell Electric in Kamloops, Canpro Construction; Four Flower Enterprises; PBS Contracting and Soare Contracting in Victoria, as well as hundreds of others around the province are supporting this attack campaign,” said Vander Zalm.
“We don’t have the big money of these groups, so we can only counter their efforts by suggesting a boycott. Hopefully, the ICBA members will come to their senses and let Mr. Hochstein know they don’t agree with the use of their membership dues for such a purpose.”
Vander Zalm says the ICBA has donated over $325,000 to the BC Liberals since 1996. “We challenge Mr. Hochstein to tell British Columbians just how much of his members’ money he is planning to spend to defeat the Recall.”
Vander Zalm notes that Hochstein has gone on record saying there are no limits on his groups’ spending against Recall.
“They’ve found another loop hole in the Recall legislation and are using it to act as a conduit for the BC Government to attack the Recalls. The big business lobby went to bat for the BC Liberals during the petition by trying to strike it down in court and lost. Now they’re trying again with a mega bucks ad campaign designed to subvert the ‘equal spending’ rules for proponents and opponents.”
Vander Zalm is calling on all of the BC Liberal leadership candidates to say where they stand on what he describes as an “abuse of the Recall process.”
“It is totally unfair and undemocratic. The ICBA must be held to account by the people, and refusing to do business with ICBA member companies is the most effective way to do that,” concluded Vander Zalm.
http://www.fighthst.com/media/
11/26/2010
Has Elections BC Gone Outside Their Mandate? Are They Messing With Legislation?
The following post is from Bill Tielemans' Blog
-
Paul said... - Proof that Elections BCadded "Number of words in proponent statement" on November 24 Below is technical proof, this clause was added on November 23, 2010, AFTER the submission of the recall application. Technical Proof! This shows two Google snapshots of the Elections BC recall page. November 23, 2010 snapshot E. Recall petition application package: It is recommended that anyone planning to apply for a recall petition carefully study the forms and guides listed below before making an application. The application package contains: The "Number of words in proponent statement" link does not exist in the November 23 snapshot. The page on November 25, 2010 clearly shows the Number of words in proponent statement link. They placed this new link right in the middle of the original five links probably thinking that no one would notice the difference. Furthermore, there was a new folder created on November 24th beneath the Elections BC "/docs/" folder called "rcl/" A new .PDF document created on November 24, 2010 2:51 PM containing the new clause was placed into this new folder. The definitions of what counts as a word were obviously changed sometime between the filing and the rejecting of this Recall Petition. Craig James was obviously ordered to find something wrong with the application. What other monkey wrench is Craig James going to throw into the works after everything is re-submitted? People try to play by the rules and this Campbell anointed clown changes them. He's supposed to be appointed by an all party commitee not just the Campbell Liberals. Spread the link. The first commenter asks the question: This seems anti-democratic to the point of possibly being criminal. If this requirement were changed on November 24th as some are claiming does this deserve a criminal investigation? Or is that reserved for fictitious crimes against back decks?
- (Gary E)How anyone in this province can believe that Elections BC is not being manipulate by this government is beyond me.
- Why is it taking so long for the MSM to report these findings? Or are they going to report them at all? What kind of spin will Palmer and Baldry put on this? How will they make it look like it's the NDP's fault? Or for that matter the fault of the people of BC?
11/15/2010
Is Democracy Being Subverted By a Corrupt Government and a Complicit Police Force?
Robin Mathews reporting from the Vancouver Courthouse on the adjustments today to Dave Basis sentence in the Legislature Raids had the following to report.
"Indeed, outside the Law Courts the massed media waiting to hear from Bill Vanderzalm and his team about the HST and the Recall Campaign, found themselves (willingly) addressed by Michael Geoghegan, a consultant from Victoria. Describing himself as a concerned citizen and a friend of Dave Basi and a card-carrying member of the Liberal Party, Mr. Geoghegan stated his belief that there was going to be a grab ... by government ...for the evidentiary documentation produced in the process of the pre-trial and trial processes.
Mr. Geoghegan said that the material should stay in hands that can make it available to a Public Inquiry - or for any other reasonable use to which the public wants it put."
And this from Bill Tieleman
Outside court political commentator Michael Geoghegan, a Basi friend, said the RCMP pressuring Basi to cooperate in what he said is their intention to regain evidence from the trial in his possession and destroy it, jeopardizing a possible public inquiry.
Now I don't know about my readers but if this is in the works I alledge it is tantamount to treason
In this country there is no room for this type of subversion. A complete and thorough investigation should be immediately launched into these allegations. Further a Court injunction should be sought to lock this evidence into the hands of the people.
If this type of subversion is allowed to go ahead (if true) we in this country are in deep trouble. Very deep trouble.
I don't know anything about Mr. Geoghegan. It matters not to me, nor should it to you if he is pulling our leg so to speak but if these allegations are not investigated immediately there will be severe consequences to those involved. I believe the people of this province have had enough from this government. The time for Liberal MLA's to resign en masse is now, or face recall.
Further if there is no reporting of this in the mainstream media everyone in the province should be writing them and demanding to know why it is not being reported.
"Indeed, outside the Law Courts the massed media waiting to hear from Bill Vanderzalm and his team about the HST and the Recall Campaign, found themselves (willingly) addressed by Michael Geoghegan, a consultant from Victoria. Describing himself as a concerned citizen and a friend of Dave Basi and a card-carrying member of the Liberal Party, Mr. Geoghegan stated his belief that there was going to be a grab ... by government ...for the evidentiary documentation produced in the process of the pre-trial and trial processes.
Mr. Geoghegan said that the material should stay in hands that can make it available to a Public Inquiry - or for any other reasonable use to which the public wants it put."
And this from Bill Tieleman
Outside court political commentator Michael Geoghegan, a Basi friend, said the RCMP pressuring Basi to cooperate in what he said is their intention to regain evidence from the trial in his possession and destroy it, jeopardizing a possible public inquiry.
Now I don't know about my readers but if this is in the works I alledge it is tantamount to treason
In this country there is no room for this type of subversion. A complete and thorough investigation should be immediately launched into these allegations. Further a Court injunction should be sought to lock this evidence into the hands of the people.
If this type of subversion is allowed to go ahead (if true) we in this country are in deep trouble. Very deep trouble.
I don't know anything about Mr. Geoghegan. It matters not to me, nor should it to you if he is pulling our leg so to speak but if these allegations are not investigated immediately there will be severe consequences to those involved. I believe the people of this province have had enough from this government. The time for Liberal MLA's to resign en masse is now, or face recall.
Further if there is no reporting of this in the mainstream media everyone in the province should be writing them and demanding to know why it is not being reported.
11/11/2010
11/09/2010
Delaneys' Response to Elections BC Heavy Handed Letter
For anyone who doesn't read the Fight HST site here is Chris Delaneys response to the letter sent out by the supposedly independent Elections BC
Elections BC intimidating voters and wasting police time
VANCOUVER – Fight HST is questioning why Elections BC has taken action against a small number of individuals who may have inadvertently or accidentally signed the citizens Initiative petition to eliminate the Harmonized Sales Tax twice.
Fight HST is concerned that both the timing of Elections BC’s threatening letters to citizens and disclosing to the media that they have asked the RCMP to investigate the actions of seven registered canvassers may negatively affect Fight HST’s Recall campaign against BC Liberal MLAs.
y Elections B
“Elections BC has completely overreacted to the 1/3 of 1% of the 705,643 voter signatures obtained in the historic Fight HST citizens Initiative campaign that were somehow duplicates,” said Fight HST lead organizer Chris Delaney. “Sending intimidating letters to voters who made an honest mistake is incredibly heavy handed and wrong.”
Delaney said Fight HST will cooperate with the RCMP, but questions why news of the investigation was given to media without informing anti-HST proponent Bill Vander Zalm, and only a week before Fight HST is set to announce which BC Liberal MLAs will be the first subject to Recall campaigns.
“The Chief Electoral Officer has had this information for months, but only now decided to release it to the police and media? That is especially perplexing given that Elections BC told us from the beginning that if any signatures were accidentally duplicated, the extra signature would simply be discarded since all signatures had to be validated in their process.”
“Now they are acting like some people intentionally tried to deceive them. That is ridiculous. We have been inundated with emails from upset people all over BC saying that if they signed twice it was in an attempt to correct their address, or to put their formal name in place of a nick name," said Delaney.
Delaney said if any individual intentionally broke the rules they agreed to obey, then they should be held to account. "However, it is hard to imagine anyone deliberately duplicating a name, since all the canvassers knew that any invalid signatures would be discarded anyway. There was nothing to be gained by doing it."
Delaney said Elections BC is making a mountain out of a molehill, especially given that Acting Chief Electoral Officer Craig James has already stated that the potential infractions do not invalidate the Initiative.
“Ordinary citizens did the extraordinary by volunteering and signing to make this the first-ever successful citizens Initiative in Canada,” Delaney said. “Attempting to make this into CSI Victoria is an unnecessary scare tactic and a waste of police
Elections BC intimidating voters and wasting police time
VANCOUVER – Fight HST is questioning why Elections BC has taken action against a small number of individuals who may have inadvertently or accidentally signed the citizens Initiative petition to eliminate the Harmonized Sales Tax twice.
Fight HST is concerned that both the timing of Elections BC’s threatening letters to citizens and disclosing to the media that they have asked the RCMP to investigate the actions of seven registered canvassers may negatively affect Fight HST’s Recall campaign against BC Liberal MLAs.
y Elections B
“Elections BC has completely overreacted to the 1/3 of 1% of the 705,643 voter signatures obtained in the historic Fight HST citizens Initiative campaign that were somehow duplicates,” said Fight HST lead organizer Chris Delaney. “Sending intimidating letters to voters who made an honest mistake is incredibly heavy handed and wrong.”
Delaney said Fight HST will cooperate with the RCMP, but questions why news of the investigation was given to media without informing anti-HST proponent Bill Vander Zalm, and only a week before Fight HST is set to announce which BC Liberal MLAs will be the first subject to Recall campaigns.
“The Chief Electoral Officer has had this information for months, but only now decided to release it to the police and media? That is especially perplexing given that Elections BC told us from the beginning that if any signatures were accidentally duplicated, the extra signature would simply be discarded since all signatures had to be validated in their process.”
“Now they are acting like some people intentionally tried to deceive them. That is ridiculous. We have been inundated with emails from upset people all over BC saying that if they signed twice it was in an attempt to correct their address, or to put their formal name in place of a nick name," said Delaney.
Delaney said if any individual intentionally broke the rules they agreed to obey, then they should be held to account. "However, it is hard to imagine anyone deliberately duplicating a name, since all the canvassers knew that any invalid signatures would be discarded anyway. There was nothing to be gained by doing it."
Delaney said Elections BC is making a mountain out of a molehill, especially given that Acting Chief Electoral Officer Craig James has already stated that the potential infractions do not invalidate the Initiative.
“Ordinary citizens did the extraordinary by volunteering and signing to make this the first-ever successful citizens Initiative in Canada,” Delaney said. “Attempting to make this into CSI Victoria is an unnecessary scare tactic and a waste of police
10/18/2010
BC Rail Court Sentence
A Deuce less
That's two years less a day. This sentence effectively keeps the trial within the jurisdiction of the Province. Out of the federal realm.
By now the whole province is outraged that the defendants in the Basi-Virk Trial have plead out. Guilty. And the Judge in the case after impeding the trial herself has taken pity on the defendants and given them house arrest. She says "because they have young families.
I allege that this presents a double standard in our system. Think about it. This excuse we call a government has robbed the people of money from their pockets. They have set up the lowest minimum wage in the country. We have the highest child poverty in the country. And these people plead guilty in a obvious plea bargain. But they have young families so they get what amounts to a slap on the wrist.
What about all those people that are driven, because of the Campbell policies, to crime. Are they let off with a slap on the wrist. I think not.
So now the people are so pissed (watch out for the language cops) that they are calling for a public Inquiry. According to the Attorney General we aren't going to get one.
Well Mr. AG we'll just see about that. I submit that your so called government is about to fall. Your arrogance in all matters in this province are sickening to say the least. The people of this province have had it with you and they are about to speak out.
We have a democratic system unlike any other in this country and we are going to use it. We will get our Inquiry and heads will roll. Karma Mr. AG, Karma.
As for the MSM in this Province. Just look at how they are prancing around saying the government is good and there was never anything to see here. The only thing more sickening than the governments attitude is the MSM lap dog mentality. Unbelievable.
That's two years less a day. This sentence effectively keeps the trial within the jurisdiction of the Province. Out of the federal realm.
By now the whole province is outraged that the defendants in the Basi-Virk Trial have plead out. Guilty. And the Judge in the case after impeding the trial herself has taken pity on the defendants and given them house arrest. She says "because they have young families.
I allege that this presents a double standard in our system. Think about it. This excuse we call a government has robbed the people of money from their pockets. They have set up the lowest minimum wage in the country. We have the highest child poverty in the country. And these people plead guilty in a obvious plea bargain. But they have young families so they get what amounts to a slap on the wrist.
What about all those people that are driven, because of the Campbell policies, to crime. Are they let off with a slap on the wrist. I think not.
So now the people are so pissed (watch out for the language cops) that they are calling for a public Inquiry. According to the Attorney General we aren't going to get one.
Well Mr. AG we'll just see about that. I submit that your so called government is about to fall. Your arrogance in all matters in this province are sickening to say the least. The people of this province have had it with you and they are about to speak out.
We have a democratic system unlike any other in this country and we are going to use it. We will get our Inquiry and heads will roll. Karma Mr. AG, Karma.
As for the MSM in this Province. Just look at how they are prancing around saying the government is good and there was never anything to see here. The only thing more sickening than the governments attitude is the MSM lap dog mentality. Unbelievable.
10/12/2010
Liberals Admit HST Is Bad For Tourism
Minister Krueger Has come out and admitted The "HST Betrayal" hurtd Tourism.
For Immediate Release
Oct. 12, 2010
B.C. LIBERALS ADMIT HST DOUBLECROSS IS A BIG BLOW TO TOURISM SECTOR
VANCOUVER – The B.C. Liberal Tourism Minister, Kevin Krueger, appears to now be admitting that his government’s HST betrayal is hurting the tourism industry, say New Democrats.
“After toeing the B.C. Liberal line on the HST, Minister Kevin Krueger is now admitting not only that the HST is bad for tourism, but also that the HST will not be making life cheaper in British Columbia. This is a clear back-track from everything we’ve ever heard from this government,” said Spencer Chandra Herbert, New Democrat critic for tourism.
Krueger told the media this morning that he would like to see an HST rebate for international tourists, saying that “it just seems a very unnecessary barrier to be charging our visitors sales tax when we’re trying so hard to attract them here”.
“This is a dramatic about-face from this Minister,” said Bruce Ralston, New Democrat finance critic. “The B.C. Liberal government has been saying that the HST will be good for British Columbia and good for tourism. Now he’s saying an exemption is required, which just goes to show that the B.C. Liberals should have consulted with business and consumers before flip-flopping and pushing through a significant tax change like the HST.”
In budget estimates debate last spring, Krueger stubbornly defended the tax, saying that “there’ll be tremendous savings with regard to the harmonization of the sales tax” and saying the HST will “help lead to a more robust tourism industry.”
“Clearly, if a rebate is needed, then HST savings are not being passed on to consumers, as the B.C. Liberals have repeatedly claimed,” said Chandra Herbert. “Where is the rebate for British Columbians?”
“I’ve talked to many stakeholders in the tourism industry, from all across the province, and they are clear that the best thing the B.C. Liberals can do for tourism is to scrap the HST as soon as possible,” said Chandra Herbert.
“The HST is clearly having an impact on British Columbians – this adds to the urgency of settling the HST matter. The best way to do that is for the B.C. Liberals to hold the HST referendum as soon as possible,” said Ralston. ..... end
So now let's see. We already know that the tax is bad for the people. They hand out a rebate that doesn't nearly cover what the individual taxpayer will pay out in this new tax grab.
We know that big business is getting a windfall that the government says the savings will be passed on to the consumers. And to date there are NO savings being passed on. In fact some business people are saying that any windfall they get will UNLIKELY be passed on.
We also note that big business is helping finance the propaganda campaign by the Liberals.
We know that restaurants are hurting badly and I know of one that has gone out of business. Others are cutting staff and the remaining staff are getting reduced hours.
So they are looking at basically subsidizing tourists. Why is this happening?? The taxpayer in BC are the ones building the province and it appears that everyone but the taxpayer gets the breaks.
Now Kreuger has as much as admitted that the double cross is hurting tourism. We happen to know here in the Cariboo that Tourism has been cut to the bone.
So now I am wondering just how long it will take the PAB to put a spin on this so that Kreuger looks like he isn't now double crossing Campbell
This is just more fuel for the fire.
Donna Barnett will be recalled. Only the date remains open.
10/03/2010
9/16/2010
Bill (not so) Good's Questions Just Shot Down
Bill Good has been repeatedly asking the question on air "if you get rid of the HST how will you pay for social programs, health care, schools etc.
I have been trying for months to get people like him to figure out what has happened. Not the least of which was giving away BC Rail.
But now, our own finance minister has shot Goods propaganda all to hell.
Seems our finance department has found another 2.7 billion in corporate taxes that magically appeared in the middle of the HST rebellion. He even says that they have an option with what to do with part of the windfall. Like maybe paying back the Feds all the money minus the bribe money of $235 Million
I have another question. Where did they find this money. Was it from a projected deal to further reduce corporate taxes? Quite possibly.
So, Bill Good Junior, what do you think of that.
I have been trying for months to get people like him to figure out what has happened. Not the least of which was giving away BC Rail.
But now, our own finance minister has shot Goods propaganda all to hell.
Seems our finance department has found another 2.7 billion in corporate taxes that magically appeared in the middle of the HST rebellion. He even says that they have an option with what to do with part of the windfall. Like maybe paying back the Feds all the money minus the bribe money of $235 Million
I have another question. Where did they find this money. Was it from a projected deal to further reduce corporate taxes? Quite possibly.
So, Bill Good Junior, what do you think of that.
8/11/2010
Vander Zalm Calls ForTotal Recall
An independent government department is playing politics with your life.
Elections BC has decided that we only need to know that all 85 ridings in the HST initiative acquired the 10% minimum required to pass. We don't get to see the numbers.And that goddam decision sucks. It is not in their mandate to with hold information from the public. They don't get to dictate what we hear or don't hear.
Their reason? They apparently think that the numbers would unduly affect the court cases that are lurking in the background and they won't release the numbers until the cases are over. Horse Sh!t. We the people, those who pay their wages, don't give a rats ass for the court cases. Especially if they are initiated by Ding Dong and his buddies.T%hese cases could take years. The people have spoken and we want our results. We didn't go out and bust our asses just so some f***** bureaucrat could dictate to us what we have a right to know.
The Sun online is reporting that Vander Zalm is calling for a total recall of all Liberal MLA's in the Fall. I'm behind you Bill, 100%. I will sign up in every riding that I can to help. I'll live out of my little travel trailer for two months anywhere I'm needed. I will not take any more shit from these little turds. Especially the little turd that is ruining this province.
If that little p***k in Victoria gets anymore brain farts on how to stop the tide I will be calling for a General Strike in this province. And it won't be like the last two. This time everybody stays out until we get what we want. No More ifs or maybies
Go for it Bill. I'm not the only one behind you.
Elections BC has decided that we only need to know that all 85 ridings in the HST initiative acquired the 10% minimum required to pass. We don't get to see the numbers.And that goddam decision sucks. It is not in their mandate to with hold information from the public. They don't get to dictate what we hear or don't hear.
Their reason? They apparently think that the numbers would unduly affect the court cases that are lurking in the background and they won't release the numbers until the cases are over. Horse Sh!t. We the people, those who pay their wages, don't give a rats ass for the court cases. Especially if they are initiated by Ding Dong and his buddies.T%hese cases could take years. The people have spoken and we want our results. We didn't go out and bust our asses just so some f***** bureaucrat could dictate to us what we have a right to know.
The Sun online is reporting that Vander Zalm is calling for a total recall of all Liberal MLA's in the Fall. I'm behind you Bill, 100%. I will sign up in every riding that I can to help. I'll live out of my little travel trailer for two months anywhere I'm needed. I will not take any more shit from these little turds. Especially the little turd that is ruining this province.
If that little p***k in Victoria gets anymore brain farts on how to stop the tide I will be calling for a General Strike in this province. And it won't be like the last two. This time everybody stays out until we get what we want. No More ifs or maybies
Go for it Bill. I'm not the only one behind you.
7/24/2010
Provincial Government Lied To The People In The Northwest
There is no way to describe what the Government has done to the people in the Terrace Kitimat area than to say they lied to them.
A deliberate and calculated lie perpetrated by the bastards in Victoria. What they have done is unforgivable.
Read the full story here http://www.terracedaily.ca
"In a stunning new development, it has been revealed through confidential correspondence that not only did the government know that Eurocan would never restart, they purposefully mislead the entire Northwest region by funding a doomed viability study. The BC Government has literally thrown money into the furnace, and encouraging others to do the same by raising false hopes and dreams with the residents of Kitimat and Terrace."
What kind of people would do something like this? After cutting social programs, health, education and a lot of other things to the bone they throw money down the drain to perpetrate a god damn lie.
Wake up people. RECALL IN THE FALL.
A deliberate and calculated lie perpetrated by the bastards in Victoria. What they have done is unforgivable.
Read the full story here http://www.terracedaily.ca
"In a stunning new development, it has been revealed through confidential correspondence that not only did the government know that Eurocan would never restart, they purposefully mislead the entire Northwest region by funding a doomed viability study. The BC Government has literally thrown money into the furnace, and encouraging others to do the same by raising false hopes and dreams with the residents of Kitimat and Terrace."
What kind of people would do something like this? After cutting social programs, health, education and a lot of other things to the bone they throw money down the drain to perpetrate a god damn lie.
Wake up people. RECALL IN THE FALL.
7/23/2010
Barnett Worries About Recall Threat: Rebuttal
The July 6th Edition of the 100 Mile Free Press published a story on Donna Barnetts concerns about being recalled. I wrote a paragraph by paragraph response and was asked if I would allow the paper to use it as a letter to the editor. To which I agreed.
The heavily edited version of my response was finally published in the July 21 edition and I don't feel that it completely covered my response, so I have chosen to publish it in full here.
All writing in black is from the original news article and the red is my response.
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett says she has concerns about the Fight HST group putting out a hit list of 24 MLAs it would target for recall.
And so she should be afraid. Although she maintains she didn't lie to her constituents it is quite obvious by the response in the initiative that more people than voted for her think she did.
It’s a piece of legislation that’s there for people to use, she says, adding it’s been used quite a few times, but never successfully.
Wrong on this one Donna. Paul Reitsma in 1999 was recalled but to save face and not have the distinction of being the first to be fired by his constituents he quit. While the petition was being submitted I might add.
“Recall is a definite concern for everybody. There’s 24 of us on the list and it could bring the government down.”
Yes Donna it is a concern. Do you actually think we want to do this. Your boss is bringing it on himself. His arrogance and your continueing to spout the party line are forcing our hand. We have the option and we will use it
She says it’s the last thing British Columbia needs right now because the world economy is so bad — with the United States looking at “double recession” — and the province’s lumber industry so fragile.
Just what makes you think the world economy is the fault here and why do use the tax on the people back as a solution. Our situation hasn't got anything to do with the world economy, Campbell even alluded to this when he explained why our deecit was only $435 million. and we were calling his BS then
Noting people are saying the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is big business against the ordinary citizen, Barnett says it’s proven that the HST is good for business, and what’s good for business is good for jobs.
“The world only rotates for the private sector by keeping your doors open.”
The people of this province get jobs on their own merits. We don't pay big business to give us a job Why is it that whenever a government policy is bad for the people, government uses the excuse it's good for jobs and the economy? What good is this shift going to do for the economy? Never mind the jobs that are going to be lost in the restaurant industry alone.
Barnett says she doesn’t know how far the recall threat is going to go because there are so many things on the table, including a challenge by a group of B.C. business leaders as to whether the petition, itself, is legal.
If the petition is validated by Elections BC, she adds, then it has to go to an all-party government committee and then it has to go to the legislature.
How far will recall go? It will go all the way Donna. The people have spoken and you and your party didn't listen. What do you expect. Call a special session, push the initiative through just like you did with the Bill to sell the farm. It's easy. Just repeal it. All of it. Your government are masters at ramming things down our throats. Get rid of it.
It will be successful and I want you to think outside the box for a moment. We just had a referendum whether you recognized it or not. And tell your colleagues to stop spouting that $1.6 billion dollar crap. the first transfer is $235 million. Have we even received that yet?
What she does know, however, is the B.C. Liberals stumbled coming out of the gates with HST and the lack of public information was a big blunder.
It wasn't a blunder Donna it was arrogance pure and simple. Campbell and Hansen were caught with their pants down. They didn't even bother to register as opponents because they never thought the people had had enough
“The HST isn’t the most popular thing the government has ever done, but there’s a reason for everything.
Barnett says the B.C. Liberal government did a very poor job bringing the HST out and explaining it to the public. “They still haven’t got the proper information out.”
See above
Noting she has a number of good friends who have signed the anti-
HST petition, Barnett says they complain they have to pay HST on groceries and gas. I have to tell them groceries and gasoline are HST exempt, she adds.
Donna let's be a little more honest here. People who voted for you and are lifelong liberals were absolutely livid when they came to sign the initiative. They were red faced and talking loudly saying you had betrayed them. One that I know said he will vote NDP before he ever votes for you or a liberal again. And there were many of them who were well informed. Not the ones you say only were afraid of groceries and gasoline. By the way did you know some groceries that people purchase often did go up. Maybe you should check it out the next time you go shopping.
“So, you know we did an absolute terrible job of presenting this issue, and we have to take full responsibility for the terrible job that was done.”
Yes you have, yes you have
A lot of people have told her she let them down with the HST decision.
“I wish I didn’t have to make this decision. It would be so nice to make decisions that make you popular, but unfortunately, sometimes in government, you have to make decisions that make you unpopular.”
Now you're using Campbells feeble line. You could make no worse decision I allege, than to do the bidding of Campbell. It will be your downfall.
However, she explains, government has to look at the budget and deficits because the main economic drivers, including forestry, mining and agriculture, are seeing their revenues shrinking.
Can I ask who put us in this mess in the first place? Don't know? It was your micromanager boss. You know? The one who is best suited to manage our economy?
The sophomore MLA says she asks people to tell her what to go back and cut, but people say they don’t want anything cut.
“I feel just awful inside that you have to make these kinds of decisions, and people say, ‘you were elected to represent us’ and yes I was, but I was also elected to protect health care and education.”
She adds health-care costs are almost $15 billion a year and education is more expensive every year.
“We don’t want to close schools; the enrolment is shrinking; we have people who need help and assistance, but how do you provide it?”
Why are you suggesting that we cut anymore in the first place? This tax is supposed to be revenue neutral. It has absolutely nothing to do with schools. Campbell has already cut that to the bone. And if he hadn't messed with health care we would have been in far better shape than we are in that department.
The $1.6 billion HST transitional funding the federal government put on the table, Barnett says, helps keeps the provincial deficit down.
Without that money to help with education and health care, she adds, the provincial deficit would be astronomical.
Revenue Neutral Donna.
“A lot of people said, ‘close the schools’ and others said, ‘have a deficit,’ but do you want to leave a deficit for your kids?”
No we don't want to leave that defecit for the kids. So why are the liberals avoiding the subject of returning some (or all) of the tax exemptions that your corporate welfare system gave out.instead of giving them more candy by dumping this on your constituents.
Barnett says the B.C. Liberals will definitely be travelling around the province to ensure its information on the HST is heard in all 85 constituencies.
Bring it on Donna. Bring them all here. We are beyond believing what you and your party say.We've had enough. Start taxing the big businesses again and repeal this draconian piece of legislation.
Rumors have since had it that Falcon was to be here to make a big deal about some Seniors beds.But the ribbon cutting didn't materialize. I have since learned that it may be held in early September .
This is a project that was announced Four years ago and consisted of 29 Beds. Here we are 4 years later and it is only 14 Beds.
Rumors have since had it that Falcon was to be here to make a big deal about some Seniors beds.But the ribbon cutting didn't materialize. I have since learned that it may be held in early September .
This is a project that was announced Four years ago and consisted of 29 Beds. Here we are 4 years later and it is only 14 Beds.
I say RECALL IN THE FALL
7/21/2010
Liberal Liars Club. HST Ripoff Coming Back To Bite Them In The Ass
 |
| President and VP Liberals Liar Club |
If you would like to know just how bad things are getting under the HST, visit the Fight HST sight:
http://fighthst.com/press-
I was going to do a separate piece on my experience with the HST and Hansens lying his face off on TV in what I deem is a commercial for Huggies, but I see in this piece that someone else had the same problem.
What happened was Hansen, being a new father as I am, went on TV with a bag of Huggies and explicitly said that these Huggies for example would not be subject to HST. He put it in such a way, I allege, that it was designed to allay the fears of parents with young children. But it appears that he went out of his way to NOT mention that these Huggies would still be subject to GST. I have a copy of my receipt taped here on my computer desk as an everyday reminder of the lies by these fools.
So what we have here is a select tax. Anything with PST on it gets the extra 5% to make it 12%. Now it appears that things with GST stay as a GST item not eliminating any taxes but still collecting 5%.
Thus Hansen had his LIE put on tape from a newscast. You see, if he comes out saying one thing when not advising another he is perpetrating a lie.
If there is anyone out there who has a copy of this "commercial" for Huggies I implore you to get it on Facebook and/or YouTube before the thing is removed from the station archives if it hasn't been already.
Which brings up a final matter. The Image above was sent to me by The bride. She got it from someone on Facebook. I am unable to trace the author and I hope they don't mind my use in this article. It just seems to fit so well and I thank them in advance.
Recall In The Fall
7/06/2010
I Wonder If Harry Reid's Staff Takes Lessons From The BC PAB
No matter what side of the AISLE you're on, THIS is FUNNY and very telling!
It just all depends on how you look at some things...
Judy Wallman, a professional genealogy researcher in southern California , was doing some personal work on her own family tree. She discovered that Congressman Harry Reid's great-great uncle Remus Reid, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889. Both Judy and Harry Reid share this common ancestor.
The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows in Montana territory:
On the back of the picture Judy obtained during her research is this inscription: 'Remus Reid, horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives,convicted and hanged in 1889.'
So Judy recently e-mailed Congressman Harry Reid for information about their great-great uncle.
Harry Reid:
Believe it or not, Harry Reid's staff sent back the following biographical sketch for her genealogy research:
Judy Wallman, a professional genealogy researcher in southern California , was doing some personal work on her own family tree. She discovered that Congressman Harry Reid's great-great uncle Remus Reid, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889. Both Judy and Harry Reid share this common ancestor.
The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows in Montana territory:
On the back of the picture Judy obtained during her research is this inscription: 'Remus Reid, horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives,convicted and hanged in 1889.'
So Judy recently e-mailed Congressman Harry Reid for information about their great-great uncle.
Harry Reid:
Believe it or not, Harry Reid's staff sent back the following biographical sketch for her genealogy research:
"Remus Reid was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory . His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his honor when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed."
NOW THAT's how it's done, Folks!
That's real POLITICAL SPIN
7/05/2010
More HST Lies
We are a family of four. Our GROSS income is less than $25,000 per year. In fact it is just under $20,000. So when I received my rebate this morning something stunk. Bad. I went back to the government propaganda site to recheck what they had posted online.
According to Campbell and Hansen my household should receive the amount from line 2 below. So now I'm asking these Pathological liars why my check was $488.75 for a family of four all duly registered under the income tax act. My friggin calculator reads $122.1875 each for this family of four. Even if you say that the adults got a total of $460.00 which they say you should. The other two members only get $28.75 between them.
They can't even tell us the truth on what we are supposed to get here. Of course the statement says "up to $230" . I'd really like to hear from anyone who is below the poverty line as to whether they got $230 for each family member.
I'm not even going to look at the total of $716. I'm positive that is bullshit as well.
Low Income Credit
Starting July 1st, individuals with incomes up to $20,000 will receive a $230 HST credit.
Families with incomes up to $25,000 will receive a $230 HST credit per family member.
People also eligible for the federal GST credits may see a total of up to $716.
UPDATE Great Aunty Bertha has left a link in the comment section. the link is copied and pasted below.
Cherylb if you read this have someone get something up on the front page of Fight HST. This is pure unadulterated Bullshit.
How much will I receive?
 | The maximum HSTC is $230 per family member. Individuals with incomes up to $20,000 and families with incomes up to $25,000 are allowed to receive the maximum credit. The HSTC is reduced by 4% of net family income over the income thresholds. For example: If an individual has net income of $23,000 for the year, the HSTC will be $110.
|
7/04/2010
Harvey Oberfeld Speaks Out On The HST
For those who may not know former (retired) reporter Harvey Oberfeld has started a blog called Keeping it Real. It is touches on almost everything major that is happening today in the world, in BC and in the media
As he did when he collected a paycheck so he goes indepth reporting in his blog in retirement. All this at the expense of losing touch with some colleagues and, as I understand it, some friends as well.
Following is his most recent post in it's entirety with a link to Harveys' blog. It's something we all need to hear and the title says it all.
Time for Media to Stop Defending/Promoting HST
July 4th, 2010 · 3 Comments
The hurt has begun: BC consumers are now being hit with a higher sales tax (HST) almost every where they turn. And as a result some of those who can hardly afford it … like food servers … are already taking the hit.
A friend of mine told me the following story: each morning he has coffee and toast at a neighbourhood restaurant … the cost, pre-HST, was about $3.75 … so he would leave $5, including the tip. Post HST, the bill is now $3.94 … and he still leaves $5. So the server takes the hit, because let’s face it, most people are not going to adjust and now leave $5.10. Multiple that by tens of thousands of customers for thousands of servers in B.C., on more than just toast and coffee … and you can see who the real victims of the HST tax shift will be: some of those who can least afford it.
And yet, too many media reporters, editorialists, commentators and pundits are still trying hard to prove the “people” were wrong in opposing the HST … and throwing out smelly red herrings that demean themselves and their profession.
First, notice how many are now asking “Well, where are we going to get the additional money we need for education, health etc?”
This is a whale of a red herring in any discussion the HST. The premier, the finance minister, all their economists, the corporate mouthpieces have always said the HST is “revenue neutral”. It is a tax shift from business (mostly BIG business) to the consumer … not a new or extra tax in any way …at least that’s what the premier and the government said. And they wouldn’t lie to us, would they?
So just posing the question of where would we now get the extra money we may need, in the context of any stop-the-HST discussion, is disengenuous and downright dishonest.
Where were those questions from the media commentators and pundits when the BC Liberals lowered personal income taxes and corporate taxes to what the government boasts are about the lowest in the country? Seems to me that because THEY and their employers were benefitting so much, those questions about “where will we get the $$$ we need?” were virtually ignored. The spiel then was how lower taxes would generate more spending and thus help improve the economy and promote job growth… and thus, produce higher provincial revenues
.
What hypocrites!
If their supposition is that we need more revenue for growing education and health costs is correct, how come none of them are proposing or even asking why shouldn’t big business in B.C. or the highest income earners give back some of their earlier tax reductions that have them now paying, according to the government itself, among the lowest taxes in Canada?
I guess that question would hit too close to home.
A second red herring the government’s “voices” keep raising: if we get rid of the HST, we’ll have to pay back the $1.6 Billion the federal government gave BC to go along with the program.
That argument suggests the $1.6 Billion is a windfall … a gift … a wonderful reward. Give me a break! Why would Ottawa give B.C. that money? Because it’s merely a ONE-TIME CASH ADVANCE ; under the HST, BC consumers will be “paying back” millions of dollars each year in extra revenues on purchases not formerly covered. And we will keep paying FOREVER: if BC really needed a one-time cash advance so badly, we may in fact have gotten a better deal from the Mafia instead of Ottawa!.
And then there’s the other myth now being promulgated by the provincial government and eagerly supported and promoted by their media puppets: without the HST break for business, BC will lose thousands of jobs and investment to other provinces. The sky will fall!
That’s simply a crock: the government, remember, has boasted for years that BC business already enjoys some of the lowest corporate taxes in the country. Not to mention the lowest minimum wage as well! So without HST break, all that will disappear?
The biggest point most media fail to consider … or forget to mention: BC’s economy is VERY largely a resource economy. Does anybody really believe that without still more EXTRA breaks given their suppliers by the HST, China, the U.S. and other foreign countries will stop buying our oil, natural gas, mining resources or even our lumber as their economies recover and the need for our resource riches skyrockets again???
Our media needs to get real on this issue … and stop being just a mouthpiece for the Liberals, the Chamber of Commerce and the world’s largest global resource corporations … out looking for even more concessions. And at the cost of those who already have so much less than they?
Ontario brought in the HST to protect its still huge manufacturing base, not heavy resources, which they know will only sell well when the U.S. and world economy is in full swing again. In addition, Ontario simply won’t be able to supply Asia with many of the BC natutral resources they are hungry for … and the cost of moving those resources from Ontario, instead of BC , to China or other parts of Asia, would far outweigh any HST benefit.
True, Australia and Russia are also competitors for resource sales … but do you really believe China’s purchases to satiate its burgeoning economy’s hunger for stable, efficient and reliable high-quality resource supply hinges on their suppliers in BC getting an EXTRA HST tax break? LOL!
And the final red herring: those who will really be hit by the HST will be getting a rebate.
Officially, that’s true, but ONLY if you earn $20,000 a year or less as an individual or $25,000 as a family. The rebate is $230 a YEAR for each individual. I’d bet not too many media types (or corporate executives) are earning less than $20,000 a year. Do they really believe at that salary level, trying to pay for rent, food, transit, clothing, toiletries and maybe a movie ticket once a month … a tax rebate of 63 cents a day will cover it all?
And what’s REALLY scary, and should be questioned quite hard, is that the government says more than a million British Columbians (a quarter of our population) will qualify for this poverty level relief!!!!! That deserves not only a question …but a five-part series!
And yet, the pundits seem to feel anyone earning over $20,000 a YEAR should be willing to pay even MORE taxes through the the HST to help out the biggest resource industry corporations, that even pre-HST, measured profits in the hundreds of millions and whose executives already enjoy the good life of million-dollar Whistler second-homes, multiple luxury family cars and for some, even yachts that rival Jimmie’s!. And a restaurant server should help subsidize them even more ? It is absolutely ludicrous.
Media types should stop taking sides while they’re on the job … soaking up and promoting the BIG BUSINESS scam for yet another tax break on the backs of small business, working people.
Or register as lobbyists for the government.
Harv Oberfeld
A friend of mine told me the following story: each morning he has coffee and toast at a neighbourhood restaurant … the cost, pre-HST, was about $3.75 … so he would leave $5, including the tip. Post HST, the bill is now $3.94 … and he still leaves $5. So the server takes the hit, because let’s face it, most people are not going to adjust and now leave $5.10. Multiple that by tens of thousands of customers for thousands of servers in B.C., on more than just toast and coffee … and you can see who the real victims of the HST tax shift will be: some of those who can least afford it.
And yet, too many media reporters, editorialists, commentators and pundits are still trying hard to prove the “people” were wrong in opposing the HST … and throwing out smelly red herrings that demean themselves and their profession.
First, notice how many are now asking “Well, where are we going to get the additional money we need for education, health etc?”
This is a whale of a red herring in any discussion the HST. The premier, the finance minister, all their economists, the corporate mouthpieces have always said the HST is “revenue neutral”. It is a tax shift from business (mostly BIG business) to the consumer … not a new or extra tax in any way …at least that’s what the premier and the government said. And they wouldn’t lie to us, would they?
So just posing the question of where would we now get the extra money we may need, in the context of any stop-the-HST discussion, is disengenuous and downright dishonest.
Where were those questions from the media commentators and pundits when the BC Liberals lowered personal income taxes and corporate taxes to what the government boasts are about the lowest in the country? Seems to me that because THEY and their employers were benefitting so much, those questions about “where will we get the $$$ we need?” were virtually ignored. The spiel then was how lower taxes would generate more spending and thus help improve the economy and promote job growth… and thus, produce higher provincial revenues
.
What hypocrites!
If their supposition is that we need more revenue for growing education and health costs is correct, how come none of them are proposing or even asking why shouldn’t big business in B.C. or the highest income earners give back some of their earlier tax reductions that have them now paying, according to the government itself, among the lowest taxes in Canada?
I guess that question would hit too close to home.
A second red herring the government’s “voices” keep raising: if we get rid of the HST, we’ll have to pay back the $1.6 Billion the federal government gave BC to go along with the program.
That argument suggests the $1.6 Billion is a windfall … a gift … a wonderful reward. Give me a break! Why would Ottawa give B.C. that money? Because it’s merely a ONE-TIME CASH ADVANCE ; under the HST, BC consumers will be “paying back” millions of dollars each year in extra revenues on purchases not formerly covered. And we will keep paying FOREVER: if BC really needed a one-time cash advance so badly, we may in fact have gotten a better deal from the Mafia instead of Ottawa!.
And then there’s the other myth now being promulgated by the provincial government and eagerly supported and promoted by their media puppets: without the HST break for business, BC will lose thousands of jobs and investment to other provinces. The sky will fall!
That’s simply a crock: the government, remember, has boasted for years that BC business already enjoys some of the lowest corporate taxes in the country. Not to mention the lowest minimum wage as well! So without HST break, all that will disappear?
The biggest point most media fail to consider … or forget to mention: BC’s economy is VERY largely a resource economy. Does anybody really believe that without still more EXTRA breaks given their suppliers by the HST, China, the U.S. and other foreign countries will stop buying our oil, natural gas, mining resources or even our lumber as their economies recover and the need for our resource riches skyrockets again???
Our media needs to get real on this issue … and stop being just a mouthpiece for the Liberals, the Chamber of Commerce and the world’s largest global resource corporations … out looking for even more concessions. And at the cost of those who already have so much less than they?
Ontario brought in the HST to protect its still huge manufacturing base, not heavy resources, which they know will only sell well when the U.S. and world economy is in full swing again. In addition, Ontario simply won’t be able to supply Asia with many of the BC natutral resources they are hungry for … and the cost of moving those resources from Ontario, instead of BC , to China or other parts of Asia, would far outweigh any HST benefit.
True, Australia and Russia are also competitors for resource sales … but do you really believe China’s purchases to satiate its burgeoning economy’s hunger for stable, efficient and reliable high-quality resource supply hinges on their suppliers in BC getting an EXTRA HST tax break? LOL!
And the final red herring: those who will really be hit by the HST will be getting a rebate.
Officially, that’s true, but ONLY if you earn $20,000 a year or less as an individual or $25,000 as a family. The rebate is $230 a YEAR for each individual. I’d bet not too many media types (or corporate executives) are earning less than $20,000 a year. Do they really believe at that salary level, trying to pay for rent, food, transit, clothing, toiletries and maybe a movie ticket once a month … a tax rebate of 63 cents a day will cover it all?
And what’s REALLY scary, and should be questioned quite hard, is that the government says more than a million British Columbians (a quarter of our population) will qualify for this poverty level relief!!!!! That deserves not only a question …but a five-part series!
And yet, the pundits seem to feel anyone earning over $20,000 a YEAR should be willing to pay even MORE taxes through the the HST to help out the biggest resource industry corporations, that even pre-HST, measured profits in the hundreds of millions and whose executives already enjoy the good life of million-dollar Whistler second-homes, multiple luxury family cars and for some, even yachts that rival Jimmie’s!. And a restaurant server should help subsidize them even more ? It is absolutely ludicrous.
Media types should stop taking sides while they’re on the job … soaking up and promoting the BIG BUSINESS scam for yet another tax break on the backs of small business, working people.
Or register as lobbyists for the government.
Harv Oberfeld
7/02/2010
A Fine Start To Saving You Money With The HST. Another Campbell Lie
It sure didn't take long for Campbells next lie to appear. That guy needs some serious help from a phsycologist. I honestly don't believe he knows that he is lying.
This list was forwarded to me and deserved posting here.
It is a fine example of how our prices will go down Just like the government adjusting the price of booze so you don't get a reduction.
The pricing is from Kitsalano and the person asks that maybe we should all check things out in our areas.
What appears to me to be happening is that the prices are going up higher than they are supposed to so that when the reduction comes (if it ever does) it will only fall to the regular price.Just like when you see department store savings. Just before the sale the price rises to a point where a 10% reduction only reduces the item to the same level (or higher) as the original price. Some saving.
Have a look at the very first price.The Sun (paid lackies for Campbell by way of advertising) who made such a big deal of prices falling, 19%.Gary E
Vancouver Sun
Weekday Vancouver Sun $1.00 plust GST on Wednesday Morning - June 30
Weekday Vancouver Sun $1.25 inclusive of HST on Thursday Morning July 1 or a 19% increase
Now WHO SAID over and over again THAT HST WOULD MAKE THINGS CHEAPER
Movies at the Hollywood
Last Wednesday Jun 30 - $7.00 for a second run double bill movie
Thursday July 1 $8.00 for a second run double bill movie or a 14.5% increase
Vancouver Park Board Concession Stand
Veggie burger - $4.75 June 30
Veggie burger - $5.25 July 1 or a 10% increase instead of 7%
Comments are welcome. Recall in the fall
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