Mr. Speaker, in the last couple of weeks it has been my honour to visit with my constituents of Burnaby—New Westminster at public meetings. There have been hundreds and hundreds of residents out, all concerned about the HST that is being imposed by the federal government. I have in my hand a petition signed by dozens of residents of Burnaby--New Westminister and other areas of the Lower Mainland calling upon the government to rescind the HST. What they say is very clear.
The petitioners are saying to the government that they cannot afford the $500 each that would come out of pocket as a result of the HST. They believe it is an unfair tax shift and at a time when so many families in British Columbia are struggling to pay their bills, they feel it is completely inappropriate for the Conservative government to impose the HST on British Columbians. I table this petition.