TIMELINE: The battle over B.C.'s HST

For the past two years, B.C.'s harmonized sales tax has captured headlines and ignited public debate but it all came to head as Elections B.C. announced British Columbians had voted to scrap the tax.

Since the tax was announced in 2009, it hasprompted a firestorm of debate and harsh criticism from its opponents, including former B.C. premier Bill Vander Zalm, who has led the public fight to repeal the tax.

The controversy over the taxresulted inthe resignation of a premier, asharp dive in public supportfor the B.C. Liberals andthe decision by one B.C. MLA toresign from the Liberal caucus.

Whatfollows is a timeline of the public battle over the HST, detailingthe twists and turns that ultimately forced a referendum on the issue.

HST timeline

• May 2009: The B.C. Liberalswin their third straight election.
• July 2009: B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell and Finance MinisterColin Hansenannounce the HST will replacethe GST and PST with a 12 per cent tax on all goods and services.
• July 2009: Former B.C. premier Bill Vander Zalmspeaks out against the HST,spearheading the campaign against the tax.
• August 2009:The B.C. Liberals insist the HST was not on their radar prior to the provincial election.
• September 2009: Vander Zalm stages a series of anti-HST rallies, whichdraw thousands of protesters.
• February 2010: Vander Zalm'santi-HST initiative petition is approved by B.C.'s chief electoral officer.
• March 2010:TheHST legislation is introduced.
• April 2010: Vander Zalmofficially launches his anti-HST petition.
• May 2010: The anti-HST petitionhits its critical milestone of 10 per cent of the province's registered voters.
• June 2010: Vander Zalmdelivers the HST petition to Victoria.
• June 2010: B.C. Energy MinisterBlair Lekstrom resigns from caucusbecause of public opposition to the HST.
• July 2010: The HST comes into effect.
• August 2010:A provincial Supreme Court justice rulesVander Zalm's 700,000-signature petition against the HST will be allowed to proceed, ultimately paving the way for the referendum.
• September 2010:Campbell announces theresults of the HST referendum will be binding.

• September 2010: Documents show B.C. government bureaucrats were engaged in discussions about the HST with their federal counterpartswell before the May 2009 provincial election.
• November 2010: Campbellannounces his early retirement, prompted by the backlashto the HST.
• February 2011: Christy Clarkwins the B.C. Liberal leadership,succeeding Campbell as premier.
• March 2011: The HST referendumis set for June.
• May 2011:Clarkproposes to cut the HSTby two percentage points by 2014 if British Columbians vote to keep the tax inthe referendum.
• June 2011: The HSTballots are sent out to B.C. households.
• August 2011: Thedeadline to submit an HST referendum ballot passes.
• August 2011: Elections BC expects the results of the referendumon or around Aug. 25.
• August 2011: Elections BC announces voter turnout for the referendum, indicating about52 per cent of registered voterscast a ballot.
• August 2011: British Columbiansvote to get rid of the HST.