Elections BC rejected a Fight HST recall application as too lengthy – but did so using rules that were drafted after it received the application.
The rejection has led recall organizers to suggest the province’s chief electoral officer deliberately thwarted their attempt to get approval to launch a petition to oust a Liberal MLA who supported the harmonized sales tax, and should step down.
While Elections BC has defended its new rules – which pushed the Fight HST application over a 200-word limit by counting the acronyms MLA and HST as eight words instead of two – recall organizers expressed concern that they were not included in the application form when they downloaded it from Elections BC’s website.
“It’s a total joke. This is the kind of thing they do in banana republics … when they don’t want to have elections or they don’t want people to win. And we’re doing it right here in Canada,” said Chris Delaney, an organizer of the Fight HST campaign.
[...]
Fight HST submitted its application on Monday. The document outlining the changes was uploaded to the Elections BC website on Wednesday afternoon. A cached view of the site shows it wasn’t part of the recall petition application package as recently as Tuesday.
Elections BC said Craig James, the province’s chief electoral officer, was unavailable for comment on Thursday. But a spokeswoman said Fight HST organizers were told after the application was rejected that the new rules would be put on the website this week.
The comments are interesting. I do believe BC has a quorum and it isn’t in favor of the “doofus” who pulled this stunt.
My father, the lawyer, always told me that words have meaning and that the way they are used is important so that there is no ambiguity. Why did the anti-HST (harmonized sales tax) not just "text" in their petition? Spell it out so that I know what I am signing. James did the right thing in rejecting "vander-slams" petition – it will be corrected by next week and we shall see if they get enough signatures to recall a very popular MLA (member of the legislature).
PS … I am FOR the HST because somebody (me) needs to pay for the political stupidity that this province sees itself in. Go ahead "doubter" … vote NDP and feel the Marxist pain!!
“This is a deliberate attempt to blow us out of the water before the Christmas break. All Elections BC had to do was call us up and let us know there was a ‘technical glitch’ and we could have easily fixed it. But James is doing everything he can to try to thwart the democratic process rather than facilitate it. It’s like he’s making up the rules as he goes along,” Colin Nielsen, the Lead Organizer for the Oak Bay-Gordon Head Recall.
But a spokeswoman said Fight HST organizers were told after the application was rejected that the new rules would be put on the website this week.
And, here's the proof … http://www.donewithdalton.com/2010/11/25/proof-that-elections-bc-added-number-of-words-in-proponent-statement-on-november-24/
Next up will be opposition by the B.C. Justice System — After the coerced "We're guilty" pleas in the Basi-Virik trial (skipping the sworn testimony of cabinet ministers and RCMP investigators) I certainly don't expect anything else. Odd thing is,
bothall of BC's major and minor political parties are going through a complete meltdowns. Vote for the person, not the party. This was never just about the HST!WCT: What are you talking about? The anti-HST "text" was simple enough. And if anyone is wondering
(1) I drove to a canvassing site
(2) The "text" was posted outside, to read.
(3) I was asked at-the-door if I had previously signed.
(4) I was asked by the canvasser if I had previously signed.
(5) The "text" was on the top of the petition I signed.
But you're confused (or something?) because right now, in this item, we're talking about a single (and soon to be more) RECALL petition. The anti-HST petition has already been accepted! Why do you think the vast multitudes of Liberal politicians lining up for Gordo's job both say they want to hold the anti-HST referendum ASAP instead of delaying a year. They're stuck, they both know it, and both want it resolved as far away from the next general election as possible.
Enviros please note:
(1) There's no public transportation between myself and the canvassing site.
(2) Every automobile seatbelt had someone strapped in.
I hope the driver wasn’t yapping on a cellphone (laughing).
Truth — I support you because this is one of the cheapest and dirty political tricks I’ve seen in a long time.
Tar and feathers comes to mind. Have I mentioned that Chris James will be thrown under a bus?
“Nah” — but he will be.
You can take that to the bank.
Lindsay … my point is that you can not/should not use "HST" but sould use Harmonized Sales Tax in the written text so that there is no ambiguity (LOL). I am fully aware that the "anti-"HST" petition was successful and that we shall have a vote on the subject next fall. I am also aware that the current recall legislation has been in effect in BC (British Columbia) for many years and that the current petition is being organized by the same (to some extent) individuals who ran the anti-HST petition drive. The reason Ida Chong is subject to "recall" is because she voted in favour of the "HST" – thus my comment about the BC (see above) marxist option that I have in voting in this province.
Jack … It may look as if this was a dumb move and it may have been, but this recall petition is a "democratic legal manouver" that must be correct in every way or the democracy of it will not work and be subject to all sorts of issues that will cost the tax paying public time and money in court.
As an aside, I do know Craig James and he has alway operated with the greatest of integrity and I can assure you all that he wants is for all the political BS to be taken out of the question on behalf of Elections BC.
Re: “As an aside, I do know Craig James and he has alway operated with the greatest of integrity and I can assure you all that he wants is for all the political BS to be taken out of the question on behalf of Elections BC.”
Noted (tongue planted firmly in cheek).
As I've said before – all of this is not about the HST – I wish the whole thing was called RailGate. It's all about corporate cronyism.
* The standard for who was up 1st was the total number of anti-HST canvassers. Ida Chong had more than other ridings. This is not secret information.
* Craig james may be the most honourable and honest man in the world. But, changing the rules after the petition was sent is wrong!. Change the rules for the next one, not this one. It's also kind of picky. Everyone in Canada knows that MLA stands for Member of the Legistative Assembly (5 words). I'm suprised he didn't include the prefix "The Honourable" (7 words).
* Again, this item is about the RECALL petition. The anti-HST petition has been validated; the anti-HST petition has been accepted by the BC Legislature; which has decided the anti-HST petition will go to referendum.
Don't read my politics into this. Both the BC Liberals and the BC NDP each removed a high profile politician from their respective caucus. Both for being too honest and honourable! The facts are coming out about both parties – there will be an open investigation starting with the sale of BC Rail – the NDP will not have any advantage from this. Neither will the BC Conservative Party nor the BC Green Party.
Correction:
I should have said "corporate and union" cronyism. The president of the BC NDP Party is being paid by the BC Unions. This was previously unknown, and the informing-the-people is the reason the NDP shoved Bob Simpson out of their caucus.
Both the Liberano's and the communist NDP are a nightmare.
Try voting in some conservatives and maybe it will get better, it sure can't get any worse.
Nope! They've degenerated into nit-picking squabbling. OK, take a look at the BC First party. No, I'm not a member nor have anything to do with them. I'm just a very confused citizen trying to find some one who acts responsible. Yes, I know they'll probably disappear before the 2013 election. Who knows, I certainly don't.