Premier Gordon Campbell in February dress rehearsal
The imposition of the Harmonized Sales Tax by Premier Gordon Campbell has led the BC Liberal Party to the political Eve of Destruction a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll shows.
The BC Liberals have dropped another 3% to just 23% in the poll, taken after the HST was implemented on July 1, while the BC NDP is at 46%, the Green Party at 14% and the BC Conservative Party at 8%.
The most disturbing news for the HST-backing BC Liberal MLAs? That 67% of their voters would sign a Recall campaign petition to remove them from office while only 16% of BC Liberal riding voters would definitely not. Recall can begin in mid-November.
The HST is clearly killing the Campbell government - 76% oppose the tax, 75% would vote against it in a referendum and 73% say they will be either severely or moderately impacted by the HST personally. Only 4% expect no impact.
70% of the 801 respondents to the poll also say they will eat out in restaurants less because of the HST, 62% will cut back on sporting events and concerts, 60% will reduce going to the movies and 55% will buy fewer newspapers and magazines.
For Campbell himself, the news is even more grim. 72% of respondents have a worse opinion of the premier after the last three months - just 1% have a better view.
NDP leader Carole James isn't immune from criticism despite her party's 46% standing however, with 18% of respondents saying their opinion of her has worsened versus 10% who say it has improved.
Green Party leader Jane Sterk has also dropped 3% in respondents' opinions.
The political ramifications of the HST on BC politics are clearly significant and with no end in sight.
UPDATE: The fallout from the poll continues.
Angus Reid Public Opinion VP Mario Canseco says the BC Liberal fall since the May 2009 provincial election is stunning.
"This shows they've lost half of the voters that they had in the last election, which is a monumental decline," told CTV BC.
And Global TV's Victoria Bureau Chief Keith Baldrey - writing in the Surrey Now - says that former BC Liberal Finance Minister Carole Taylor is warming up in the wings to take over from the hapless Campbell.
"Of all the potential heirs to Gordon Campbell's leadership, only Taylor can separate herself from the current government, particularly over the issue of the HST," Baldrey writes
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14 comments:
Have heard the misleading, if not flat out lying, Liberal Party HST radio ad, Bill? The one that says, "if you did not pay PST on it, you will not pay HST on it".
It does not surprise me at all that the LIEberals would use tax payer money to lie to the tax payers.
Goody, goody. Can't wait. Hang in there Gordo. You'll take the entire party down with you. Couldn't happen to a nicer group of people.
Aren't they having their caucus retreat in Harrison this week? Love to be a fly on the wall. That is, if anyone has developed any cojones.
I don't understand, why the BC Liberal Ministers, don't ask Campbell to step down? The BC Liberal party, is shredded into tatters. Perhaps they know the party is finished. Their HST propaganda isn't going to work. Grocery shopping is a total mess. The HST, on a pastry bun, goes by sugar content. Less sugar, no HST, the other bun with more sugar, has the HST applied. Bottled drinks, the HST depends on size. I ended up, getting a carry basket, to throw all the HST items back. Only a lunatic, could have made such an asinine mess.
"I don't understand, why the BC Liberal Ministers, don't ask Campbell to step down?"
For the same reason why a few Social Credit Ministers asked VanderZalm to step down and he didn't when asked to do so.
The BC Liberal party, is shredded into tatters. Perhaps they know the party is finished. Their HST propaganda isn't going to work. Grocery shopping is a total mess. The HST, on a pastry bun, goes by sugar content. Less sugar, no HST, the other bun with more sugar, has the HST applied. Bottled drinks, the HST depends on size. I ended up, getting a carry basket, to throw all the HST items back. Only a lunatic, could have made such an asinine mess.
Yeah, yeah sure. Keep thinking while having another donut.
Mmmmmmm.. dough-nutttss.
"Aren't they having their caucus retreat in Harrison this week? Love to be a fly on the wall. That is, if anyone has developed any cojones."
That was last week. If you're goin to complain, try to keep up with the rest of us.
A few of us are wondering who to replace Carole James with before the next election so we can actually win.
Any ideas, Bill? You know this leadershi stuff more than anyone here.
To Anonymous 4:33 p.m. - gee, I wonder where you come from - you want an NDP leadership change so "we" can win but don't have your own ideas as to who would be a better choice?
Again, sorry - not biting today - you will need better bait that that!
"To Anonymous 4:33 p.m. - gee, I wonder where you come from - you want an NDP leadership change so "we" can win but don't have your own ideas as to who would be a better choice?
Again, sorry - not biting today - you will need better bait that that!"
He does bring up an important point.
Carole James has been bland through this whole thing, Bill.
We need a replacement leader, especially with us high in the polls.
Why not Gregor Robertson? He's left wing, had a track record in the NDP, and despite his mouth needing a good Irish Spring soaping out, he would catch alot of voters.
NDP needs to be a party of the moderate left. The days of catering to the "Solidarity Forever" left wingers is over.
"NDP needs to be a party of the moderate left. The days of catering to the "Solidarity Forever" left wingers is over."
I wish you could see past your obvious bias and base your opinion on a truer picture of reality.
Start with the premise that working people are okay. Add to that: Working people who join democratic organizations called unions rather that let their interests be taken care of by the kind graces of right wing employers, are pretty smart to start with.
Now please understand this fundamental truth while you are at it....Working people ARE their unions!
They also have lone opinions like you and just as much of a vote.
You wish that your lone opinion counted more than theirs I guess. It in effect, counts less unless you are politically active in some other way like through the coporporate boardrooms supporting their Liberals.
What makes you so sure that a group of moderate left working people are not going to be represented by moderate left leaders and spokespersons?
I am hoping with your strong anti-union opinions, that you do hold your nose and vote for someone. I also hope you enhance that vote by convincing others to vote the same way. That is how democracy works.
Your chances of cancelling out your own vote by promoting negative, trite, tiresome, cliches about those that you would vote for is quite significant in my view and not too bright.
"I wish you could see past your obvious bias and base your opinion on a truer picture of reality."
Look at the bigger picture.
Start with the premise that working people are okay. Add to that: Working people who join democratic organizations called unions rather that let their interests be taken care of by the kind graces of right wing employers, are pretty smart to start with. "
Well begin with anyone who gets a paycheque is considered a "working person".
Not everyone who works needs to join a union. You won't find unions in IT companies or in many small businesses.
"Now please understand this fundamental truth while you are at it....Working people ARE their unions!"
Working people are also non-union.
"They also have lone opinions like you and just as much of a vote."
Yeah right with some unions. A few are filled with power hungry people.
"You wish that your lone opinion counted more than theirs I guess."
If it is to be, it is up to me.
"It in effect, counts less unless you are politically active in some other way like through the coporporate boardrooms supporting their Liberals. "
Stereotype there. Just as the NDP is supported by the union headquarters and the shop stewards?
"What makes you so sure that a group of moderate left working people are not going to be represented by moderate left leaders and spokespersons? "
Quite the contrary. If the NDP got rid of the more left wing elements and became more moderate and not pander to Big Union, then they would get somewhere.
"I am hoping with your strong anti-union opinions, that you do hold your nose and vote for someone. I also hope you enhance that vote by convincing others to vote the same way. That is how democracy works."
Sure does, and I am not anti-union. They have their place, but they certainly should not have a monopoly on working persons (in other words, anyone who get a paycheque every two weeks).
"Your chances of cancelling out your own vote by promoting negative, trite, tiresome, cliches about those that you would vote for is quite significant in my view and not too bright."
Same can be said to you too.
Many people do not work for large corporations, but rather small business, and are very happy.
and by the way I have worked in union shops. Best one I worked in was represented by the Teamsters.
Great bunch of guys.
"I wish you could see past your obvious bias and base your opinion on a truer picture of reality."
Look at the bigger picture.
Start with the premise that working people are okay. Add to that: Working people who join democratic organizations called unions rather that let their interests be taken care of by the kind graces of right wing employers, are pretty smart to start with. "
Well begin with anyone who gets a paycheque is considered a "working person".
Not everyone who works needs to join a union. You won't find unions in IT companies or in many small businesses.
"Now please understand this fundamental truth while you are at it....Working people ARE their unions!"
Working people are also non-union.
"They also have lone opinions like you and just as much of a vote."
Yeah right with some unions. A few are filled with power hungry people.
"You wish that your lone opinion counted more than theirs I guess."
If it is to be, it is up to me.
"It in effect, counts less unless you are politically active in some other way like through the coporporate boardrooms supporting their Liberals. "
Stereotype there. Just as the NDP is supported by the union headquarters and the shop stewards?
"What makes you so sure that a group of moderate left working people are not going to be represented by moderate left leaders and spokespersons? "
Quite the contrary. If the NDP got rid of the more left wing elements and became more moderate and not pander to Big Union, then they would get somewhere.
"I am hoping with your strong anti-union opinions, that you do hold your nose and vote for someone. I also hope you enhance that vote by convincing others to vote the same way. That is how democracy works."
Sure does, and I am not anti-union. They have their place, but they certainly should not have a monopoly on working persons (in other words, anyone who get a paycheque every two weeks).
"Your chances of cancelling out your own vote by promoting negative, trite, tiresome, cliches about those that you would vote for is quite significant in my view and not too bright."
Same can be said to you too.
Many people do not work for large corporations, but rather small business, and are very happy.
and by the way I have worked in union shops. Best one I worked in was represented by the Teamsters.
Great bunch of guys.
Hey,
I don't really think Taylor is as much of a Dauphin as everyone seems to think she is. She was part of the government until 2009 and we all know the Liberals had to be planning to introduce the HST before the election, considering the timing of the tax. I'd like to know what she knew about it back then? Of course she'll claim "nothing", but I'm not sure I believe her.
In addition, can she even win a BC Liberal leadership contest. She's sitting on the sidelines criticizing the party, while her former colleagues take their lumps. Are they going to be pleased to support her as she jumps on them? And in any case isn't she from the more L/liberal wing of the party? Will the C/conservatives line up behind her?
Let us not forget that the majority of good/high working conditions were won through the unions for the last 100 years or so. That means the benifits non union workers enjoy are also tied to the efforts of the unions.
Unions did a lot to ensure safe working practices, good health care, work safe legislation and the list goes on.
Don't be too quick to "knock the unions" - you benifit greatly from their efforts. Don't think for one minute, that companies give you benifits out of the good of their hearts. They are forced to or they just won't get people working for them - again, non union companies treating workers better because of the unions and their fight over the years.
Thank you.
"Let us not forget that the majority of good/high working conditions were won through the unions for the last 100 years or so. That means the benifits non union workers enjoy are also tied to the efforts of the unions."
True, no question, but a few unions have gotten too political and away from why they exist and that is to ensure good representation for the workers to the employers.
"Unions did a lot to ensure safe working practices, good health care, work safe legislation and the list goes on."
They did but not nearly as much now. Its more of being a bit greedy
and unreleastic in changing economic times
"Don't be too quick to "knock the unions" - you benifit greatly from their efforts. Don't think for one minute, that companies give you benifits out of the good of their hearts. They are forced to or they just won't get people working for them - again, non union companies treating workers better because of the unions and their fight over the years."
Yes and no. But don't think non union businesses are all bad. Many aren't a few are. I've worked in both. One that should have been sued for how they paid the workers, another kept the workers very happy and was a delight to work within.
Heck even the NDP headquarters staff is union.
Thanks for writing.
I think, Carol James, is letting the Liberals, cut their own throats. Why interfere, with them, when they are doing such a good job, on their own. That dictator Campbell, had to lie, deceive and cheat to win, says it all.
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