Anti-HST recall-Chong campaign allowed in B.C.
A recall campaign targeting B.C. Science Minister Ida Chong has been has been given the green light by the province's acting chief electoral officer Craig James.
The campaign to unseat the Liberal minister will officially begin on Dec. 6, and registered canvassers will have 60 days to collect just over 15,000 valid signatures within the suburban Victoria riding of Oak Bay-Gordon Head.
If the petition is successful, the seat will become vacant and a byelection must be called within 90 days.
The campaign is being organized by former premier Bill Vander Zalm in an effort to force the government to repeal the HST.
Elections B.C. rejected a prior application to launch the recall campaign last week, saying it contained too many words. More than 150 canvassers' applications were also tossed out for being improperly filled out.
Chong has an expense limit of $36,000 to counter the campaign, according to Elections B.C.
The anti-HST organizers have promised to expand the recall campaign to other ridings after Christmas if the government does not withdraw the HST.
B.C.'s 12 per cent HST was rolled out in July to replace the five per cent GST and seven per cent PST, but it proved so unpopular that Premier Gordon Campbell was forced to resign over his failure to sell the tax to B.C. voters.
Here is the 174-word recall petition that will be put to voters in Science and Universities Minister Ida Chong's Oak Bay-Gordon Head riding:
I am proposing the recall of Oak Bay-Gordon Head Member of the Legislative Assembly, Ida Chong, because she supported the deceptive introduction of the harmonized sales tax and refuses to represent the clear wishes of her constituents, in the legislative assembly.
During the 2009 election, the premier and finance minister stated that the harmonized sales tax was NOT on their agenda, and British Columbia voters re-elected them significantly on that assurance.
Only 72 days later, British Columbia Liberals, with NO public consultation, debate or enabling legislation, implemented this tax through an "Order in Council." The successful Fight-Harmonized Sales Tax Initiative Petition campaign to repeal the harmonized sales tax was an undeniable message to Ms. Chong, but was without effect.
Ms. Chong supports a costly harmonized sales tax referendum (over $30 million!) more than a year later, creating economic uncertainty, harming businesses and consumers.
Oak Bay-Gordon Head voters deserve honesty and accountability from elected representatives. A successful recall unequivocally tells this, and future governments, that they must openly and fairly represent those who elected them
With files from The Canadian Press