Bad weather forces cancellation of Bill Tieleman speech in Courtenay Wednesday night for Fight HST Recall campaign to remove BC Liberal MLA Don McRae

Bill Tieleman speaks at Fight HST rally in Vancouver, Sept 19, 2009

Unfortunately the high winds and stormy weather that stopped all BC Ferries trips to and from Vancouver Island for much of the day also forced the cancellation of my planned speech in the Comox Valley tonight.

I am very sorry to all the organizers who put the event together and hope to reschedule if possible.

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I am pleased to tell you that I will be speaking on behalf of the Fight HST Recall campaign against BC Liberal MLA Don McRae in Courtenay on Wednesday March 2 at 7 p.m. at the Native Sons Hall.

Here is the news release from Comox Valley Recall - hope to see you there - even if you disagree or just want to know more about the Harmonized Sales Tax.

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Fight HST Strategist and Political Commentator Bill Tieleman to Speak on Recall Campaign in the Comox Valley

Bill Tieleman, Fight HST strategist and political columnist with 24 Hours Vancouver newspaper and The Tyee Online will speak on the politics and economics of the Harmonized Sales Tax at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2, at the Lower Native Sons Hall in Courtenay

Tieleman, together with former Social Credit Premier Bill Vander Zalm and former Unity Party leader Chris Delaney are the originators of “Fight HST”, the grassroots group that launched the first-ever successful citizens’ initiative in Canada.

They represent the wide diversity of people who have come together to fight the HST and support recall campaigns. Tieleman was Communications Director to Premier Glen Clark in his successful upset victory in 1996 and a former BC NDP executive member.

When former NDP cabinet minister Paul Ramsey and former Premier Dan Miller denounced the idea of “recall”, Tieleman broke ranks to speak out on the importance of recall in demanding accountability in government.

When it comes to the economic and social impact of the HST, Tieleman doesn’t pull any punches. “I need to be as alarmist as possible,” he says on his website. “The Harmonized Sales Tax is the biggest wealth transfer through taxation that we have ever seen, with big business shifting $1.9 billion of corporate taxes onto individuals!”

“The big business community loves the HST,” Tieleman tells his readers, “And no wonder. Large companies no longer pay 7 % PST on the purchase of goods and services and instead get "input tax credits."

 Most big B.C. businesses like Rio Tinto, Alcan and Canfor don't produce any goods and services for B.C. consumers so they can't pass on any "savings". British Columbians now have to pay that $1.9 billion HST cost every year -- simply to subsidize Alcan selling aluminum to China! The only possible price reduction for most of us will be, maybe, 7 % less on a roll of aluminum foil.”

Tieleman posts research on his blog to explain the deception in B.C. Liberal HST messages during the 2009 provincial election and is widely known for his coverage of the B.C. Rail or “Basi-Virk” scandal.

In the Tyee, Tieleman chided politicians on all sides for their contempt for accountablilty and ironically left the last word to recall opponent Paul Ramsey, who is quoted as saying: "The campaigns have proven to be more effective at getting the government's attention than other forms of political protest…One thing is clear: the recall campaigns have forced the government to pay far more attention to the local effects of provincial policies.”

According to Kathryn Askew, local recall proponent, who has invited Tieleman to speak at the March 2 Town Hall, Tieleman is delighted to take any questions from anyone of any stripe. She encourages people who have been unsure about signing the recall petition to come and hear this dynamic speaker.

For more information go to http://www.comoxvalleyrecall.ca/ or 250-334-7891

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