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Don't punish us for having our say

Dear editor, Now that British Columbians have firmly rejected the HST, we should now be looking to our elected provincial and federal representatives to protect our interests and not punish us for finally getting our say.

Dear editor,

Now that British Columbians have firmly rejected the HST, we should now be looking to our elected provincial and federal representatives to protect our interests and not punish us for finally getting our say.

The HST agreement was negotiated behind closed doors and without public consultation.

With the dark cloud of a $1.6-billion dollar repayment penalty hanging over the referendum process, NDP Jack Layton promised to work to make sure B.C. taxpayers could have their say on the HST, without such an onerous payback to Ottawa.

Unquestionably, the people of B.C. have now said the HST has to go. But, who can say why the provincial Liberals are slow to reintroduce the old system or why they haven't stepped up quickly to begin negotiating a fair settlement with Ottawa?

On the federal front, members of Parliament from throughout British Columbia, including our own Conservative MP, should be working hard on behalf of their constituents to make sure BCers are not double-taxed by Ottawa.

As Jack often said, “Don't let them tell you it can't be done!”

Ronna-Rae Leonard,

Courtenay

Editor's note: Ronna-Rae Leonard, a Courtenay councillor, ran for the NDP in the past federal election.