TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2010
Happy Canada Day! Special 20-page section inside today’s paper
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❚HST STARTS THURSDAY
HOGG TIED TO RECALL LIST Tom ZYTARUK Staff Reporter
Veteran Liberal MLA Gordon Hogg is the only Surrey MLA so far who’s on a list of government politicians to be targeted for recall as the widely loathed Harmonized Sales Tax is set to come into effect on Thursday. Considering the Surrey-White Rock riding has traditionally been the provincial Liberals’ safest seat in these parts, it may come as a surprise to many that Hogg, of all Surrey Liberal MLAs, is among the anti-HST campaigners’ list of 24 government MLAs potentially up for recall. But former Socred premier Bill Vander Zalm, who is spearheading the campaign against the controversial sales tax, said Hogg is on the list because more than 25 per cent of his GORDON HOGG constituents signed the petition asking the government to kill the HST. “Our best numbers are coming out of the Liberal ridings,” Vander Zalm said. He questions how the Liberal government can even consider forging ahead with the tax “when so many are opposed.” See VIEWPOINT, page 10
Sometimes you have to dance before you walk
❚PHOTO/Brian Howell
Shiro Olson dances to warm her body up for Childcare Canada’s inaugural five-kilometre Walk for Haiti Water on Sunday at Bear Creek Park in Surrey. The event, which Childcare Canada hopes to make an annual fundraiser, raised funds to provide water to Haitians.
Because the government has not heeded the petition, which contains the signatures of roughly 750,000 British Columbians, Vander Zalm vows to fight on with recall campaigns. It will be a difficult task, as Elections B.C. requires that at least 40 per cent of registered voters within the constituency sign on in order for a recall campaign to be successful. Hogg said Monday he believes “in the long run” the HST is in British Columbians’ best interests. As for the recall threat, he said “I will be accountable for the decisions I make. “I honour a democratic political process our country and our province should be proud of,” Hogg said of the recall process. “We’re the only province that has recall legislation... I appreciate the process.” tzytaruk@thenownewspaper.com