B.C. premier denies anti-HST interference

B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell denies exerting any political pressure to impedethepetition against the province's harmonized sales tax.

Former premier Bill Vander Zalm has accused Campbell and chief electoral officer Craig James of thwarting democracy by stalling the eventual petition process.

Campbell was in California on Thursday to talk to state legislators.

"I'm not going to comment on Mr. Vander Zalm's comments," he said. "It doesn't help for anyone to cast aspersions on anyone else."

The anti-HST petition was verified Wednesday, which means that it met the threshold of 10 per cent of voters' signatures from each of B.C.'s 85 ridings.

But James said in a letter to Vander Zalm thata business coalition's challenge of the petition campaign mustbe dealt with in B.C. Supreme Court before the petition result canbe addressed.

The court challenge questions the petition's constitutional validity.

According to the law under which the petition was conducted, it mustbe sent to a committee of the legislature, which would decide what next step to take.

Court hearing next week

Campbell said he doesn't tell James what to do.

"Craig James has been someone who has served the public for more than a decade in an independent manner. He is doing, I'm sure, what he considers to be the best thing that he can possibly do for all the people of British Columbia."

There would be no comment from Elections BC while the issue is before the courts, a spokesman in James's office said Thursday.

B.C. Opposition Leader Carole James said she demandedin a letter to Campbell on Thursday that he recall the legislature and debate scrapping the HST. The fact the issue is before the courts in no way stops the government from debating it, James said in Victoria.

If thecourt rules the petition is constitutionally valid,the legislative committee would have to decide whether to send a bill to the legislature withdrawing the HST or to put theissue to a province-wide referendum.

Thecourt hearing is scheduled for the week of Aug. 16. Whateverthe court decides, appeals of that decision could take years and leave the petition inlimbo, anti-HST campaign organizers suggestedWednesday.