Anti-HST claims anger B.C. minister

B.C. taxpayers can expect to get a flyer in the mail spelling out the Liberal government's side in the debate over the harmonized sales tax.

Finance Minister Colin Hansen wants to go directly to voters to counter what he says is misinformation in former premier Bill Vander Zalm's petition campaign against the HST.

"What really concerned me is that Bill Vander Zalm … is spreading blatant false information," Hansen said Thursday, referring to a so-called "HST Hit List" on Vander Zalm's website.

The list itemizes all the goods and services the former premier says will cost seven per cent more with the HST.

"The real blatant ones are cable television, new homes, for example. That doesn't add seven per cent," Hansen said. "On big expensive houses there might be a little bit more. But it's certainly not every new home in the province as is implied."

In fact, new-home buyers will have to pay the HST at the time of purchase, but on homes priced less than $525,000, the buyers receive a full rebate from the province.

Hansen could not say what the government mail-out countering Vander Zalm's claims will cost, but he said it would be a modest advertising campaign.

"We're not going to be out buying TV ads and any kind of extensive print or radio ads," the minister said.

Vander Zalm woos Victorians

Meanwhile, Vander Zalm was in Victoria on Thursday night, drumming up support for his anti-HST petition at a public meeting.

"It brings together people all over the province, regardless of what their political affiliation," Vander Zalm told the crowd of about 300 who turned out at the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort.

"We have people that are young, old, they belong to the NDP, Liberals, the Conservatives, or they have no political affiliation, all involved because this is really about people," he said.

"This is not about politics. It is not about political parties. It is about people," he said.

The 12 per cent HST, scheduled to come into effect on July 1, combines the five-per cent federal goods and services tax and the current seven per cent sales tax imposed by the province.

The HST will apply the extra seven per cent to a number of goods and services that are not currently subject to the provincial tax, such as haircuts and restaurant meals.

NDP signs up with former foe

The B.C. NDP started its own anti-HST petition in the fall of 2009, but Vander Zalm's campaign won official status from Elections B.C. and has eclipsed the New Democrats' effort.

The former political foes have informally joined forces. It was reported Thursday that about two-thirds of the province's NDP caucus has signed the former Social Credit premier's petition.

The anti-HST petition campaign requires signatures from 10 per cent of voters in each of B.C.'s 75 ridings, which must be collected by July 5. If the petition numbers are reached, it could trigger a referendum on the tax.