Tax Petition Gets More Attention

A Vernon city councillor is pleased with the support his online petition is getting — even though he says the momentum has stalled.

Bob Spiers initiated a campaign back in January to get the federal government to eliminate the GST it charges on the provincial carbon tax.

Spiers says over 1,200 people have signed it, well above the 500 needed for the government to respond.

“I’m quite happy now that we’ve reached the maximum, and we will get an answer from parliament,” Spiers tells Kiss FM.

Spiers argues it’s wrong for Ottawa to impose a tax on a tax, which he says amounted to 63 million dollars in BC last year.

After a special meeting Tuesday, Vernon council passed a motion recommending local government associations like the Union of BC Municipalities and the Southern Interior Local Government Association to reach out to member municipalities, encouraging mayors, councillors, chairs and directors to act as concerned citizens, and sign the petition which calls on the feds to eliminate the GST that’s charged on the provincial carbon tax.

Spiers says local governments don’t have too many concerns about the tax because municipalities can reclaim the GST on any tax.

“They can off set it. But as individuals, hopefully they will express their concerns to all the people they are part of and get more signatures.”

Spiers started the campaign on January 4.

“The momentum has slowed down. We’re up to 1,264 signatures across Canada, so we’re well above the 500 needed and it will be presented in parliament,” adds Spiers.

The petition — which is backed by local Conservative MP Mel Arnold — will remain online until May 4.

Most of the support, 1,134 names, has come from BC residents.

“Most of the people who signed from Manitoba are my relatives, and the two from Nunavut are my kids,” says Spiers.

CLICK HERE to get details on the petition.