Expert: Keep HST referendum question simple
Posted September 14, 2010 7:11 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The Harmonized Sales Tax is going to a referendum and now the experts are weighing in on how the question should be asked. If the question is complicated, you can bet the Liberals will take flak for it.
Much like they did in their 2002 referendum on First Nations treaty rights or like the Parti Quebecois did during its 1995 sovereignty vote.
SFU Public Policy analyst Doug McArthur also recommends a mail-in initiative over an in-person ballot. “Generally, it makes it easier for people to vote. It encourages participation and you always worry about low levels of turn-out. It’s cheaper and it’s becoming a much more common way of doing votes.”
He adds the question would be more efficient and would get the best response if it was just a simple yes or no.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the country Ontario’s Premier Dalton McGuinty says his province will benefit if B.C. ditches the HST. He adds it would provide a competitive advantage.
Political Scientist Dr. John Redekop says that’s because industries in Canada’s biggest province will boom if we axe the tax. “Particularly manufacturing and those with strong export sectors, presumably they’ll be able to operate a little more efficiently.”
The paper and pulp and mining industries fall into that same category too. There’s been no anti-HST movement in Ontario, but a provincial vote is scheduled a year from now when we’re voting on the HST.
McGuinty says that will be Ontario’s referendum on the tax.
