HARPER MUST ACT TO HELP BC ECONOMY OVER HST MESS: DAVIES
Harper should suspend the BC HST until Referendum

OTTAWA – New Democrat Deputy Leader Libby Davies (Vancouver East) is calling on Stephan Harper and Gordon Campbell to suspend the Harmonized Sales Tax until the referendum.

“The uncertainty surrounding the future of this tax is further harming B.C.’s economic recovery,” Davies said in the House of Common on Friday. “Will the government at least suspend the HST until the voters of B.C. can have their say in a referendum?”

This week, federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty admitted that July’s drop in GDP—the first in a year—is partly due to the introduction of the HST. He also said that the HST will cause Canada’s deficit to balloon even further.

“We’re now seeing the consequences of the HST, but the government is refusing to do anything about it.” Davies said later. “The people of British Columbia can’t afford any more delays. Harper and Campbell proved they work together to bring in the HST now we need them to work together to help fix the damage.”

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