By David F. Rooney
Wave an anti-HST petition in front of them and Revelstokians will flock to sign it. In fact, since the petitions and official Elections BC canvassers’ badges arrives here late last week 560 people have signed the document, which is the only valid anti-HST petition that the government of Premier Gordon Campbell must pay attention to.
Canvassers are beginning to make their rounds of businesses and neighbourhoods, but Jim Daniel — the campaign’s local captain, or organizer — said there are some static locations where people can go to sign the petition. They are:
| CITY/TOWN: | Revelstoke | |
| RIDING:: | Columbia River – Revelstoke | |
| ADDRESS: | Silverline Auto Repair | 770 Lundell Rd | |
| DATES: | April 19, Monday – Friday – July 1st | 8:00 AM – 5:PM |
| CITY/TOWN: | Revelstoke | |
| RIDING:: | Columbia River – Revelstoke | |
| ADDRESS: | Revelstoke Home and Leisure Show – Booth #25 | Revelstoke Forum – 1100 Vernon Ave | |
| DATES: | Saturday, April 24 – Sunday, April 25 | Saturday and Sunday 11 AM – Saturday 7 PM, Sunday 4 PM |
| CITY/TOWN: | Revelstoke | |
| RIDING:: | Columbia River – Revelstoke | |
| ADDRESS: | Spice o’ Life Emporium | 106 Orton Ave | |
| DATES: | April 19 Monday – Saturday – July 1 | Noon – 7 PM |
| CITY/TOWN: | Revelstoke | |
| RIDING:: | Columbia River – Revelstoke | |
| ADDRESS: | Conversations Coffee House | 605 MacKenzie Street | |
| DATES: | April 20 Monday to Saturday – July 1 | 8 AM – noon |
“I want every voter to have an opportunity to see the petition, to read the petition and, if they choose, to sign the petition,” Daniel said.
The petition, established under the Citizens’ Initiative Act by former premier Bill Vander Zalm through Elections BC, demands the repeal of the HST. It is the only anti-HST petition backed by the force of law and that the provincial government must pay attention to.
It must be signed by at least 10 per cent of the registered voters in each riding. Only registered voters’ signatures matter.There are 23,858 registered voters in the riding of Columbia River-Revelstoke. That means the local campaign to derail the BC Liberals’ plans to foist an odious new tax regime on British Columbians only needs 2,386 signatures in this riding. The campaign can probably collect at least that many and probably more in Revelstoke alone.
You can see the minimum thresholds required in all ridings by clicking here.
If you’d like to register as a voter or confirm your status as a voter please go to Elections BC’s e-registration page.
For more general information about the petition go to Elections BC or the official petition campaign at fighthst.com. Canvassers organized by Vander Zalm’s Fight HST organization will be gathering signatures until July.
