Voters in the northwest overwhelmingly voted in favour of scrapping the Harmonized Sales Tax, according to numbers released today by Elections BC.
Here on the North Coast 6,149 people cast their votes in the referendum with 4,131, or 67.18 per cent, voting to return to the PST/GST system. Only 2,018 people, or 32.82 per cent, voted to keep the HST.
"I am pleased with the result as it appears that the people of British Columbia won over the arrogance of the Liberal government and its powerful friends. It is a victory for democracy in times where we must question bad decisions by those in power. The people of B.C. sent a clear message to the government – that our voices must be heard and our democratic rights respected,” said North Coast MLA Gary Coons.
"Those on the North Coast showed strongly what they thought of this governments lies and deceptions. The vote resoundingly rejected the HST, and the smoke and mirror campaign by the government, by a vote of over 67 per cent. It’s time for Christy Clark to sort out the mess this BC Liberal government got us in, get out Plan B and get down to business and address the real challenges we see in our communities and in the province. The issues of jobs and the economy, affordability, health, education, the environment and the growing inequities we see throughout the province , especially in First Nations communities. The people spoke , this government must respond.”
Next door, in the Skeena riding, 9,521 people voted with 66.74 per cent, or 6,354 voters, choosing to scrap the HST and 33.26 per cent, or 3,167 people, voting to keep it. Overall the HST was defeated with 54.73 per cent voting to repeal the tax and 45.27 per cent voting to keep it.