April 29, 2010

BC Liberals ram through HST legislation

VICTORIA – With an insensitivity to public opinion that defies understanding, the BC Liberals are forcing through the legislation that will enable the imposition of the Harmonize Sales Tax (HST), says Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald.

Despite the fact that there are still four weeks left in the Legislative session, debate on the HST legislation is being is cut short using closure.

“The implementation of the HST is one of the issues that has raised the most public interest that I can recall in the time that I have been in Victoria,” said Macdonald.  “I can’t remember any issue that has been so thoroughly discussed by the public.

“I also cannot recall any time that the people have so clearly been against a government action.  Every poll on the issue proves it.”

Bills are passed in the Legislature following a procedure that allows for significant scrutiny of each section of the bill.  The three stages of debate include an opportunity for each member to speak for up to thirty minutes about how that legislation will impact his or her constituents. 

The committee stage gives the Opposition time to review, section by section, each aspect of the bill.  This final stage of debate is crucial as it helps to establish the legal interpretation of each definition and clause within the legislation.

Closure was invoked this afternoon leaving committee stage debate incomplete.

“This bill which will drastically change our tax system contains 213 sections.  Each of those sections needs to be examined yet the BC Liberals shut debate down after only a quarter of those sections had been covered.

 “People want to have their say on the HST and now the BC Liberals will not even allow fulsome debate on the legislation.   It’s an attempt on the part of this government to over-ride democracy and I can’t imagine that British Columbians are going to stand for it.”