Hearing Premier Christy Clark reject the challenge by opposition leader Adrian Dix to debate the HST makes one wonder if she understands what office she ran for and got elected to.
She claims “the NDP were trying to politicize the issue… We won’t be playing those games,” said Clark. “This is about a major tax policy decision and not leaders of political parties.”
Well, welcome to the province of British Columbia, planet Earth, Ms. Premier. What could be more political than a major change in tax policy? What could be more useful to citizens trying to make up their mind on the referendum question than a good old-fashioned head-to-head debate between two central proponents on opposite sides of the question?
She is no longer hosting a radio talk show where she gets to pick the topics and cut-off troublesome guests. She owes it to the people of BC to leave her protective bubble and engage in the to and fro of democratic debate. What is she afraid of?
If going back to the GST and PST system, will it mean going back to the non taxable items, that were PST exempt?
David, sorry for the delay in responsing to your question – even fair tax fighters need summer holidays. The intent of the coalition of citizens behind the HST petition was clearly to go back to the PST system “as it was”. This should be the result of a YES vote in the referendum. However it seems finance minister Kevin Falcon has threatened to broaden the application of the PST if it is restored by the democratic process now underway. With a majority government they could do exactly that. Just one more reason not to trust the BC Liberals.