?

This is so absolutely ridiculous I am at a loss for words. The only thing I can say is who in the hell believes a word that comes out of Hansen's mouth, anyway?

Irony is dead

"I request Elections B.C.'s opinion on the validity of names collected through misleading information."

Votes collected through misleading information would be just fine though, wouldn't they Colin?

Null and Void

"People opposing the HST are spreading misinformation, he said, and questioned whether signatures collected to date should be considered valid"

The real question here is; Is the Liberal government valid? Should the votes they received during the election be considered valid? The public was lied to on several fronts by the Liberals and therefore the election was a fraud and should be declared null and void.

Nice to see the people of BC finally starting to recognize the Liberals for what they are, LIARS

Colin has found that no

Colin has found that no matter what lies he spreads that when the voters get pissed at Gordo and Co. finally have a method of slapping him down it upsets him. Rough ass Colin, you figured that since the voters let you back into power, you could then manipulate as much as you want. It isn't selling anymore Colin, you are fried, and it's about time

Gee Colin

They deny you the use of an illegal letter but it's okay for you to deny us proper debate?

Double standard? One for the government and another for those who elected you? Get your head out of the dark places and start wising up.Your governments arrogance is sickening. We elected you and we can unelect you. November 15 2010.

Kaption Kontest

"One of those completely unquestioning, devoted drudges on whom, more even than on the Thought Police, the stability of the Party depended."
1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four)

Has Hansen Bothered to List the "Lies" of the Anti-HST'ers?

I would be curious to see what they are.......

rich irony

and Colin Hansen doesn't even have the grace to blush while trying to have BC Elections disallow the anti-HST petition for . . . wait for it . . . lying to the voters.

Also see Sean Holman's excellent posts (and video clips) on this in Public Eye online.

Kaption Kontest

“Think of the press as a great keyboard on which the government can play.”
-Joseph Geobbels

Hansen says...

Hansen says this publication was the kind normally put out by this government to explain the budget. What an unfortunate choice of words for him...given the track record of this government informing us about their budget! I am quite sure it was their "normal" BS and as such, would have been a complete waste of money and time. We are so much smarter now....finally!

Boo Hoo!

Too bad for Colin. His lies during the election, his lies after the election are finally catching up with Gordo's minions! Was he really uncomfortable announcing that the deficit was only.......tee hee, $459 million? Then to their amazement it ballooned to nearly .... wait for it.....2 billion (will we really ever know the true amount). Did they know before the election they were going to take the bribe of 1.6 billion for the HST from Ottawa to reduce the deficit? There is a rule of thumb the LIbERlS are finding out, what goes around, comes around! It looks good on you Colin!

Hansen ought to be happy

The fact he and the CEO aren't permitted to issue their little cheat sheet actually serves his cause better than if the mailer did go out.

Sometimes Colin, when you can't seem to get your foot out of your mouth, it's better to just shut up and let the chips fall where they may. You played the hand with nothing more than lies and a big bluff - the public's calling your bluff Colin - live with it.

In the end, he and the CEO will use this as just another excuse for their long standing and totally self-serving approach to governing.

To wit:
'It's all someone else's fault.'

A letter to Chief Electoral Officer- write your own too

April 30, 2010

Dear Mr. Neufeld
Chief Electoral Officer
Elections BC
Victoria, BC

I am informed via the public media that Mr. Colin Hansen, MLA has sent you a letter stating: "I request Elections B.C.'s opinion on the validity of names collected through misleading information."

I am hereby requesting Elections BC's opinion on the validity of votes obtained by the BC Liberal Party during the last BC Provincial election that may have been obtained through provision to registered voters of misleading information regarding the HST.

Yours truly,

Peter Dimitrov

Good one Peter!

I can't imagine my life ever being the same without having read the liberal propaganda on the HST.

fyi: Copy of actual letter sent to Elections BC today

April 30, 2010

Dear Mr. Neufeld
Chief Electoral Officer
Elections BC
Victoria, BC

I am informed via the public media that Mr. Colin Hansen, MLA has sent you a letter stating: "I request Elections B.C.'s opinion on the validity of names collected through misleading information." via the Fight HST initiative by Mr. Bill van der Zalm and others.

I am hereby requesting Elections BC's opinion on the validity of votes obtained by the BC Liberal Party during the last BC Provincial election that may have been obtained through provision to registered voters of misleading information regarding the HST, and if on a balance of probabilities, your opinion concludes that misleading information was provided by the BC Liberal party on the HST issue during the last BC election, did that conduct prejudice or nullify the rights of registered voters to meaningfully participate in said election, as enunciated by law pertaining to the electoral rights of citizens under the Charter and by virture of common law or Equity.

Yours truly,

Peter Dimitrov
Barrister & Solicitor

I'm being deprived of timely medical care

for the crab salad cartilage in my knee thanks to the Liberal government. Definition of deprived from Mirriam Webster's: "marked by deprivation especially of the necessities of life or of healthful environmental influences ". Junk mail from the minions at the Public Affairs Bureau? Not a necessity of life.

Peter's letter is priceless, BTW.

Boo Hoo! Sniff, sniff ...

The only reason that the decision was "surprising" to Hansen is because his boss had told him that the government can do whatever it wants, whenever it wants, to whomever it wants. And the boss is never wrong.

As for the government's "fundamental obligation to inform British Columbians" ... where was this "fundamental obligation" before the last election? Or right after the last election? Or on the day they dropped the HST bombshell? Or in the months since then?

I've lived in B.C. since 1971 and I have a pretty good memory. But I don't ever recall watching a premier and a senior cabinet minister tell so many bald-faced lies - lies of such breathtaking scope and cynicism. Oh sure, we've had our share of dishonest politicians. But Campbell and Hansen (and Dejong and ...) consistently outperform those amateurs.

It's a bit like watching a child do something wrong, and then having them completely deny that it ever happened. They keep up the denial for a while and then they start to cry. Just like Hansen.

Government

This government doesn't get it we are tired of all the lies coming out of Victoria. Gordo and his band of cutthroat liars are on there way out and this is just the beginning I hope. The biggest mistake the people of BC made was too let Gordo stay in as premier after his drunk driving conviction in Hawaii. He has no creditably anymore with anyone and the whole Liberal party in Victoria lies. And it is obvious that nothing is going to change as long as they are in power.

fyi: my letter to Elections BC

If anyone wants to comment on, or be updated regarding my letter to Elections BC, please follow me on twitter: search on Twitter for me at: JusticeNow_2288

I plan, as time permits in my schedule, to provide updates, and also comments on other bc political issues.

For versus against

So, if you're against BC Liberal policy, you issue 'misleading information.' If you're for it, seemingly anything in the barrel of impression management tactics, smoke and mirrors, and outright lies are just fine.

This government is morally and ethically bankrupt!!!

I WANT AN ELECTION!

Oh my god!!! Campbell wasn't even there!

I have never seen such a coward in my entire 52 years. The man rams this through and doesn't even have the cojones to be present at the vote? He leaves all his people standing alone?
Un-frikkin'-believable....What on earth is in that kool-aid?

From CHBC News
"Independent MLA
Vicki Huntington voted against the bill Thursday, as did the entire 35-person Opposition NDP. All but three Liberal MLAs were present at the end to push the legislation over its final hurdle and into law. Premier Gordon Campbell was not at the legislature. The vote marks the end of a month of debate on the HST, in which New Democrats had pledged to use every trick in the book to slow its passage. In recent days, they had called for standing votes on many of the bill's more than 200 individual clauses, forcing Liberal MLAs to rush back and forth from the House almost every hour to have their votes recorded."

Ministerial Complaints of misinformation about the HST

Frankly, the liberals have had over 9 months to get 'the truth' out. If their information is so confusing and poorly communicated, they have no one to blame but themselves. They also had the opportunity to register as opponents to this initiative, and they chose not to. Honesty on the campaign trail doesn't seem to be an issue, full disclosure during budget discussions doesn't seem a concern, but using their own partial information and clearly established initiative rules does. It would seem that they don't like it when the rules are applied to them as well as everybody else.

In most kindergartens this sort of temper tantrum would earn a time out. Not a bad idea really!

Colin Hansen

He was a disaster as Minister of Health and now as
Minister of Propaganda for the Campbell government he
is trying to cover up the lies that were made during
the last election and not just about the HST!!

It's only a matter of tilme

Okay, that's it! Elections B.C. will be privatized by the end of the year!

Peter!

Your letter is in the Georgia Strait.

http://www.straight.com/node/320640

I for one hope the tirades

I for one hope the tirades continue, it is only serving to ensure the intitatives success. If in the event the Libs did succeed in having a portion of the votes disallowed then I for one would hope that would galvanize the populace into revolting against them (which from a large portion of what i've been reading would suggest they're on the verge of doing anyway).

Seriously though i've never seen this level of whining ever from a bunch of cowardly public servants. It's disgusting.

I would hope that after this display of unity by the province that we do not just fall into an apathetic existence again and look deeper into this issue. The libs may be touted as the bad guys here but this all started with the feberal Cons reduction of the GST of which they gained votes while at the same time mulling over introducing the HST. Even if it can't be proved by our federal cabinet of secrecy that they had this in mind I think it is a clear matter of deception. Not to mention the ridiculous display of opportunism by the NDP leader Ms James. Pardon me ma'am but riding the tailcoats of discontent is not the way to demonstrate leadership qualities. Step down and show you actually can demonstrate some.

All these clowns need to go and we need to vote in a government with less interest in Unions or corporations and more interest in the people.

Poor sniveling Hanson

The only thing Hansen can't do is tell more lies to the voters of BC. We've heard enough from him and Campbell.

The Liberals rammed the HST through despite over 80% of voters being against it. So lets ram something right back at them. A general strike! Everyone, union and non union, should go on strike and refuse to work until Campbell calls an election. This time we'll know the truth about his platform so we'll be able to judge who we want to govern the province.

For those that talk about the NDP not being fit to govern I say look at Campbell's record. He's a drunk driver and he tried to cover up that incident, he lied about not selling BC Rail, he's underfunding our education system to the breaking point, he's bringing in private for profit medicare, he lied about not increasing gambling in the province, he's helping destroy the environment by allowing expanded fish farms and allowing dams on rivers, he lied about the deficit, our deficit is larger than it's ever been, the list of political transgressions are too many to list. Now he's defying 80% of the voters after lying about not bringing the HST which is going to cost us all dearly while his corporate cronies will make out like bandits. Then there's the original lie. He's not a Liberal, he's a Conservative who couldn't get elected under his true colors so he ran under the Liberal banner. Somehow the NDP are supposed to be worse than this guy? Anybody else would be better for BC than Campbell.

Peter Dimitrov, Thank you for

a very timely letter. Makes one feel good just reading this. I hope every one that reads it, sends a copy or their own letter to Elections BC. BC rednecks say the NDP is a tax & spend party - well take a good look at the Lieberals record and they came in to power with over a billion dollars in the treasury, left by the NDP.
"Conductor274" good post too.

Their methods have not changed...

They will use the same perverted logic that was put forth to justify ripping up the HEU contract all those years ago, they will claim that people signed the petition based in misinformation, so it`s invalid just as they claimed the HEU members were given a sweetheart deal by those evil socialist bolshevic ndp so it was not really a legal contract. and besides we know best so screw you!

Carole Taylor (No, not James)

"This particular tax takes the tax off of businesses - it takes 1.8 billion dollars off of businesses - and puts it on consumers...
"But I think the bigger issue is that just before the election [Gordon Campbell] promised that [the B.C. Liberals] would not - they would not - do the harmonization of the sales tax. And then right after the election, decided to do it... there's a feeling of having been deceived by the government that people elected."
- Former Finance Minister Carole Taylor (on CTV), April 22, 2010

For a government that is so

For a government that is so far in the hole to start with, you would think that Hanson would be happy he is not allowed to spend a couple on million dollars more on a useless mailout.

Why does he think that he has to justify the government's position when he intends to ignore our wishes anyway?

Carole Taylor irony

As Rick W notes, Carole Taylor, former Finance Minister for Gordon Campbell's BC Liberals, has denounced the HST more because it wasn't announced pre-election than because it transfers taxes to the "consumers" from business. (Let's not forget, she calls citizens "consumers" rather than people or citizens.)

It is also important to remember that when Carole Taylor was a Finance Minister, one of her last actions was to introduce and have approved a bill that gave the banks (big bussines) an annual $100,000,000 dollar break. Very shortly after that she left the BC Liberal government and took a lucrative job as a Bank Director.

From Wikipedia:

"In one of her last acts as Finance Minister, Carole Taylor ended the corporate capital tax on banks -- $100 million a year in government revenue. Upon leaving government, Taylor joined the TD Bank board where she stands to earn $145,000 to $300,000 per year."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carole_Taylor

Former beauty queen and TV host, Carole Taylor, isn't so much about caring for the life of the average BC'scitizen as she is about appearing to care for the "consumer". When studying Ms. Taylor's actions, one learns it is all about appearances. Her substance has nearly always been about improving things for the wealthy.

Carole Taylor (cont.)

One must also note that her husband, Art Phillips, heads the firm Phillips, Hager & North. By 2007, this company "had become a leading investment firm on the west coast, with over $66 billion of assets under management."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Phillips

Yep, Carole is all about the rich and connected.

Hansen complains

Given the lies to truth ratio of Colin Hansen & his elected compatriots in the Liberal government. I doubt anything he has to say about the HST is of any value or interest to the public, unless of course he wants to increase the lies to truth ratio
The desires of the public are pretty much being made aware by the number of signatires on the anti-HST petitions. Desires of the people this elected dictatorship continues to ignore

I have never seen a

I have never seen a government so adamantly opposed to the will of the electorate! Campbell, Hansen and company have got to have something to hide beyond the slim-ball actions they have already shown. What is it?

SIG

Carole (not James) is surely the poster child of that segment of society that cannot fathom change. She calls we peons "consumers" - and in the light of the solidifying revelations that consumerism is what is poisoning the globe, she (by proxy of course) keeps shovelling the coal into the boiler of the runaway train.

Karen D.

They're tying BC into the Harper regime and its deal with the CETA. Not sure what that is? Most Canadians aren't, but they should be! Google it...or go to tradejustice dot ca.

There is a LOT more at stake here in BC than just the HST if the CETA is made law...and they're already into their third round of negotiations.

Read it and weep...or read it and get mad enough to tell Harper it would be in his, and our, best interests to let this NAFTA/TILMA offspring horror die a natural death.

oh crap...

rom The Western Producer April 20 2010

By Terry Boehm, National Farmers Union
Canada and the European Union are negotiating a new free trade agreement, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
This agreement with the EU is no small matter for farmers. The CETA, if implemented, will, as much as the North American Free Trade Agreement or the World Trade Organization, transform Canadian agriculture and farms. And not for the better. The CETA will further intensify Canada’s farm income crisis.
The CETA would mean many changes, but none would be more negative or sweeping than its effect to extinguish farmers’ rights to save and use seeds.
Worse, the agreement would give enforcement powers to any corporation that asserted a farmer had infringed the company’s intellectual property rights.

Takuan

I'm glad you found it!

Have you noticed the absolute silence surrounding this issue in Canadian media? Yet our very WAY of living is affected by it - in the extreme negative. For a primer on just how bad the CETA will affect our farmers, visit the Percy Schmeiser website - just google his name, it's the first on the list.

CETA is so incredibly damaging, and serving of the elite...no wonder Harper has kept it totally under wraps. It's up to US to get the word out - and start acting on it.

The HST issue is directly involved, but I'll leave it to you and those who are interested to connect the dots. It ain't hard! :)

Peter Dimitrov...

...wouldn't it also be valid to ask about his lying about BC Rail being sold in the first election, and find out that yes, he did knowingly lie about it and won because of it, therefore; the election is null and void. As is every contract he signed from day 1 to today, every obligation he placed on the citizens of BC?

Ahhhhhhh...yes, but if you're gonna dream - dream BIG. Momma said.

This Info Should Be Provided From Revenue Canada

Since the BC Liberals are handing the power to collect provincial taxes over to the Federal Government I can't see that they have any further authority nor jurisdiction to to say what will or will not be taxed. Why waste any further time and money producing any sort of information for public consumption when it's obviously now the job of Revenue Canada. Have they signed off on this information package that Hansen wants to release and are they in agreement that it is indeed correct? Isn't one of loudest rallying cries of the Right the need to stop the duplication of work in the government ?

The Consumer Society - or - Less Stuff

A few right wingers here seem to dislike this tax on stuff.

Food and fuel is not taxed and will not be either.

We on the left side of the spectrum applaud this tax on stuff. We must all learn to consume less.

HST (VAT) around the World

Austria 20%
Belgium 21%
Czech 20%
Finland 23%
France 19.6%
Germany 19%
Greece 21%
Hungary 25%
Ireland 21%
Italy 20%
New Zealand 12.5%
Norway 25%
Sweden 25%
UK 17.5%

BC Canada 12%

EU countries with a lower rate:
Canary Islands 5%

Non-EU countries with a lower rate:
Australia 10%
Egypt 10%
Iran 3%
Indonesia 10%
Japan 5%
South Korea 10%
Lebanon 10%
Malaysia 10%
Panama 5%
Singapore 7%

everone see this?

http://www.straight.com/article-320743/vancouver/hst-takes-effect-same-day-premier-gordon-campbells-newest-trade-agreement

The Liberal Party is DEAD, by its own hand

What has characterized this "Liberal" Party? Corruption, scandal (from that first drunk driving charge to BC Railgate), lies, neoconservative fiscal policy, miserliness when it comes to the poorest and middle class, and generosity when it comes to the wealthiest.

BC has the lowest minimum wage of any jurisdiction in Canada and the highest poverty rate, despite the hyped Olympics (which ended up costing the tax payer much more than it benefited the tax payer). If BC has no revenues to cover services it's because Campbell slashed personal and corporate tax to the bone and when the recession hit, found itself without sufficient funds. This is why it needs the HST.

There isn't a single MLA in Campbell's dictatorship who will survive the next election. They are all tarnished by having sided with him on every issue. BC voters would have to be complete morons to let this Party survive the next election.

The HST will kill this government. Having said that, if BC elects a government that spends the revenue it generates on social services, specifically health care, transportation infrastructure, education, and child welfare, to name a few, the electorate could probably get behind it. I know I would. I just don't trust Campbell to ever spend a dime of the revenue on ordinary working people. If HST becomes a done deal, the government needs to be one that commits to services that benefit the people. That's the only way this will fly.

Citizen's Deprived

It is funny every time I see that byline. The "Citizen's are Deprived" of more BS from the government. I don't feel deprived at all. I feel spared, really spared more of the same drivel from Campbell and Hansen that has flooded the MSM media for the past nine years. Now to be spared more whining from Hansen that would be great. To be spared more political mugging from the whole bunch of them would be heavenly.

realisticman

http://ideas.repec.org/p/cra/wpaper/2004-03.html

Corporate tax rates around the world

EU countries
Austria 25%
Belgium 33.9%
Finland 26%
France 33.3%
Germany 29.8%
Greece 25%
Italy 31.4%
New Zealand 30%
Norway 28%
Sweden 26.3%
UK 21-28%

Someone’s not afraid of taxation

BC - Canada 25%
http://www.gov.bc.ca/yourbc/tax_business/tb_business.html

EU countries with a lower rate:
Czech 20%
Hungary 16%
Ireland 12.5%

Non-EU countries with a lower rate:
Bosnia 10%
Chile 17%
Georgia 15%
Lithuania 15%
Serbia 9%

Great countries, all....wouldn’t you just love to live there?

May 3, 2010 reply from Elections BC to my letter

Dear Peter Dimitrov:

Harry Neufeld, the Chief Electoral Officer, has asked me to respond to
your April 30th email on his behalf.

Elections BC cannot speculate on the reasons people vote for a
particular candidate, or what factors influence their votes.
Additionally, the Election Act is silent with regard to the content of
election campaigns.

This office does not have authority to question the validity of an
election in that regard and will not offer an opinion in this matter.

Regards,
Amie Foster

Executive Program Manager
Elections BC

AND MY THOUGHTS ON THAT REPLY:

I think the 'winds of change' need to bring about legislative reform strengthening the democratic rights of citizens prior to, during and following electoral campaigns, reforms that will ensure that concealment, deception, misrepresentations, etc. by a political candidate can be remedied by bodies such as Elections BC acting to protect the larger public interest, rather that leaving it up to citizens to initiate and finance expensive court actions to seek a remedy. To not bring about such reform implies we shall continue to bumble onwards with outdated political institutions that concentrate political and fiscal power excessively in the executive branch of government with minimal checks and balances - in a essence a low level largely dysfunctional system urgently in need of upgrading to a better "operating system".
and you can quote me on that if you wish!

Peter Dimitrov
Barrister & Solicitor

opinions about other people's reasons

Mr. Vander Zalm has been a very colourful character in all his public dealings, but rarely were his actual beliefs or even his motives on display.

It seems to me that people liked him for his smile, for his voice, especially when he pronounced words like fantaaastic, or when his voice gave voice to their own opinions and prejudices. (Give them all shovels instead!)

It wound up with a serenade sung in public by Fay Leung in a dozen different hats. Not a bad punch line, that.

I have to wonder whether this issue, a tax revolt led by a Socred, for heaven's sake, doesn't conceal some sort of new, hyper-left tea party type move that, once we find out the whole picture, won't wind up being another BC political joke involving not only us, but also the horse we rode in on.

Too bad

I was so looking forward to receiving this mailout so that I could mark it "RETURN TO SENDER". The government has been anything but up front about the HST from the getgo and if the information they have on the government website is any indication of what the mailout contained then I'm not interested in the BS they are trying to sell. I was really looking forward to register my displeasure in more ways than signing the initiative.