Hate the Harmonized Sales Tax?
Maybe you’ll be able to vent about it after hearing politicians defend and denounce it at an HST debate on April 7 in Maple Ridge council chambers.
The discussion starts at 6:30 p.m. and is supposed to feature Bill Tieleman, with FightHST, taking on Liberal MLA Marc Dalton, representing the pro-HST side – providing the latter shows up.
The event is part of the Done with Dalton recall campaign recently approved by Elections B.C. for the Maple Ridge-Mission riding.
The campaign launched Thursday and will require about 100 canvassers to collect 14,082 anti-HST signatures from the last election list, within 60 days. If successful, that will trigger a byelection in the riding that Dalton won by just 68 votes.
Dalton’s appearance at the debate has yet to be confirmed, despite a direct invitation to his constituency office.
He didn’t return phone calls Thursday.
If Dalton declines, the evening will still go ahead. Campaigners are also willing to reschedule the date, to suit the MLA’s schedule.
To stir up support, the Done with Dalton campaign will hold a rally Saturday, March 26 at 1 p.m. at 224th Street and Dewdney Trunk Road.
Then on April 1, former B.C. premier and FightHST leader Bill Vander Zalm comes to the Maple Ridge legion, on 224th Street, at 7 p.m. for a fundraising dinner.
Bell wants the referendum on the HST to take place as soon as possible. It combines the Provincial Sales Tax and the federal Goods and Services Tax, adding seven per cent to restaurant meals, entertainment and other services.
