Former B.C. cabinet minister Lois Boone announced Thursday she is seeking the NDP nomination for the coming federal by-election in Prince George-Peace River.
She says she was driven to do so a decade after leaving provincial politics because of the introduction of the harmonized sales tax in British Columbia. She blamed both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell for an "unfair" tax shift onto consumers from business.
"Harper's HST was the last straw for me," said Boone, 63, who served as a Prince George MLA from 1986 to 2001, serving for a time as deputy premier but also holding posts in transportation and children and families.
"It's time for a strong voice from this riding to tell Harper that we don't want to be taken for granted," said Boone, who continues to be involved in local politics as vice-chair of the Prince George board of school trustees.
In a short speech to party stalwarts at the Africa Cafe, Boone mentioned Campbell's name as much as Harper. In an interview, Boone said she views the pair as "kissing cousins" on the issue of the HST.
While it was the B.C. Liberal government's decision to introduce the HST, the federal Conservatives seduced them with money, said Boone, referring to $1.6 billion in transition money the province received for signing on to the HST.
The new tax - which combines the seven per cent provincial sales and five per cent GST - came into effect on July 1 and has been met with an onslaught of opposition.
Boone added her campaign will not be focused only on the HST. She would campaign on the elimination of the federal tax on home heating, against Enbridge's $5.5 billion oil pipeline and for more green jobs, including in the alternative energy sector.
Boone, should she win the NDP nomination, faces an uphill battle in a byelection.
The Prince George-Peace River riding has never been won by the NDP.
Conservative party candidates have won the riding going back nearly four decades, often with large margins.
In the last election, Conservative MP Jay Hill won with 63 per cent of the vote to the NDP's 17 per cent, the party with the second most votes.
Hill, who retired, has already left office, but a byelection has still not been called.
There are several candidates for the Conservative Party already, including former-Prince George mayor Colin Kinsley, Prince George city councillor Cameron Stolz
Also in the running are Bob Zimmer, Dan Davies, Don Irwin, all from Fort St. John and Jerrilyn Schembri, who is from Tumbler Ridge.
