Although B.C. Liberal leadership contenders appear to be opening the possibility of moving up the date of the referendum on the harmonized sales tax, it may not satisfy opponents of the new tax, depending in part on how early the vote could be held.
The anti-HST campaign, led by former-premier Bill Vander Zalm, has said they will halt their recall campaign if the HST is rescinded or if the referendum on the HST is moved up to January or February.
The referendum, forced by a successful province-wide initiative petition, is set for Sept. 24, 2011.
A new Liberal leader will not be chosen until Feb. 26, likely the soonest time the government would take a new direction on the HST.
And there is also some question as to how soon the HST vote could be moved up, since Elections B.C. has said they need time to prepare for the vote. Changing the vote would also require legislative change, also not likely to take place until after a new Liberal leader is chosen.
Eric Allen, an anti-HST organizer in Prince George, says he doesn't believe opponents of the new tax will be satisfied by the date of the referendum being moved up. He said that's particularly true in the midst of recall efforts. Three ridings on Vancouver Island have been targeted in the first phase to begin soon, but the campaign is set to move to the Central Interior in the new year. A successful recall of a Liberal MLA will put enormous pressure on the government, said Allen. "They have to get rid of the tax for a fresh start," he said.
Allen also questioned the rationale behind carrying out the referendum, with the conclusion of a no-vote a foregone conclusion he argued. Allen points to the more than 700,000 people who signed the petition, and adds that it's likely that those against the tax will be more motivated to vote in the referendum. The Liberal government, under Premier Gordon Campbell's leadership, has also said that the referendum will be decided by 50 per cent plus one among those who vote. That's a much lower threshold than that stipulated under the legislation.
Chris Delaney, an organizer with the provincial anti-HST campaign, said he sees no reason why Elections B.C. could not organize a vote within four weeks, arguing that snap elections are often organized quickly.
The HST, introduced on July 1, has become a defining, negative issue for the Liberals. Premier Gordon Campbell announced suddenly three weeks ago he was stepping down halfway through his third term. Campbell acknowledge he had become a lightning rod for public anger.
Moira Stilwell, a rookie MLA and cabinet minister, became the first Liberal leadership candidate on Monday. She has said she would talk to the Elections B.C. about moving up the referendum date. Education Minister George Abbott, who appears set to declare his candidacy, has also said the referendum date could be moved up.
Earlier, northern B.C. Liberal MLAs like Pat Bell had said the year-long run-up to the Sept. 2011 HST vote was needed to encourage a healthy debate of the new tax.
Bell said Tuesday he was not opposed to moving up the referendum if it was possible, but noted any decision on that was not likely to take place until a new leader is in place at the end of February.
From there, any decision would depend on how much the vote could be moved up. If it is May, for example, that may make sense, but moving it up one month would not.
Bell said, if the referendum is moved up, he still thinks there would be enough time to carry out a healthy debate on the HST.
