Yes, we did it! BC's HST is toast. The libs are learning that they can't rip us off, lie to us, and otherwise trample on BC's citizens.

Of course, that doesn't slow the lib's propaganda machine. Now they're moaning about having to "re-pay" the $1.6B the feds gave them to implement the HST. What? Besides the fact that this wasn't money they had to begin with (!!!), they brought in an additional $800M in the HST's first year! I'm pretty sure (but am open to correction) that they haven't received the full $1.6B yet, so they're running a surplus! To me this is a little reminiscent of "we'll make BC's citizens pay for whacking our pee-pee cuz we got out of line."

The What we believe page on the The BC Liberal Party's web site indicates one of the BC Liberals' beliefs is: "promote the general well-being of the people by enacting legislation which reflects the will of the people". I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm having a little difficulty reconciling this with how they implemented the HST and how they are handling its repeal.

[update 28 August 2011] Another excerpt from the BC Liberal Party's web site's What we believe page: "be fiscally prudent and therefore to limit taxation". Today on CHBC News, our inimitable Christy Clark said we have to somehow get ourselves out of a $3B hole. Our Liberal leaders have somehow managed to turn a $1.6B "bonus" from the feds into a $3B debt. I've got a smallish background in Math, but can't seem to reconcile this with "fiscally prudent." Anyone?

In addition, the previous quote "reflects the will of the people" doesn't seem to match the libs moaning about the HST's repeal. Did the people of BC not clearly indicate they don't want the HST? I'd think that with a professed belief such as this, the libs would relish the challenge to implement the "will of the people." (I'd even allow them to take credit for doing so!... provided they don't try to screw us even more in the process - though I'm not holding my breath on either count.)

And, and... and! According to a story in the Times Colonist, Jack Findlayson (Business Council of BC) has said "moving back to the dual-tax system will cost the province dearly." Simple. Remove the PST also.