VICTORIA — British Columbians will know the fate of the harmonized sales tax in August.

Attorney General Barry Penner says ballots for the referendum on the future of the HST will start arriving in the mail starting June 13 and that most people should have them by June 24.

He says the cut-off date for Elections BC to receive the ballots by mail or in person is July 22.

Penner says it will take several weeks to count the ballots.

Thousands of British Columbians signed a petition last spring calling for the repeal of a provincial law that led to the introduction of the 12-per-cent combined federal and provincial tax.

Controversy over the HST prompted the mid-term resignation of former premier Gordon Campbell last fall.

His replacement, Christy Clark, promised during the leadership campaign to move the vote up to June 24.

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