Vander Zalm says B.C.'s HST is reversible

Former B.C. premier Bill Vander Zalm is disputing B.C. Liberal government claims that the passage of legislation last week means the harmonized sales tax in B.C. is a done deal.

Businesses in B.C. started charging the 12 per cent tax on certain items over the weekend, in advance of its full implementation on July 1.

But according to Vander Zalm, any legislation can be reversed, and he points to Saskatchewan, where he says politicians repealed an HST in 1991, two years after it was enacted.

As the leader of the Fight HST campaign, Vander Zalm is attempting to gather enough signatures to trigger a provincial vote on the tax, under the province's initiative legislation.

But even if the petition does lead to a vote calling for the reversal of the HST, the provincial government would not be forced to repeal the tax, according to the rules governing initiative votes in B.C.

Vander Zalm's fellow Fight HST organizer Chris Delaney warns that Premier Gordon Campbell could face a recall drive in his Point Grey riding if he ignores a successful anti-HST petition or vote.