The HST petition drive is about to hit the history books this week as the first successful citizen’s initiative under the province’s Recall and Initiative legislation. Meanwhile in Ottawa, the Conservatives continue to tick off items on their agenda while keeping Canada’s parliament in a continuous state of discord. Both scenarios are illustrative of how the BC Liberal and the federal Conservative governments continue to operate in opposition to the majority of the people they represent.

May 17th the HST campaign announced it had collected half a million signatures. In 72 of 85 constituencies they had met their target of 15% of the registered voters, which is 5% above the 10% required by the legislation. Still left to be tackled were a number of lower mainland constituencies. A week later, following the May long weekend, the HST campaign was rolling strongly through Vancouver. By the end of May the campaign will be completed in all 85 constituencies with a little over a month still to go in the three month time frame.

It is an historic and stunning feat but not at all surprising to anyone who has stood on the street or in a mall asking people to sign the petitions. It is truly a grass roots revolt that people are eager to join. People of all ages, income levels, and men and women in equal numbers are angry with the government’s new tax and they are only too happy to have the opportunity to let them know it by signing a petition.

In the Comox Valley where it took only two weeks to get 10% of the electorate to sign the petition, the total is now over 21%. These stats no doubt make rookie MLAs like Don McRae nervous. Even veteran BC Liberals are showing signs of stress and this week the Premier himself admitted that the only thing more unpopular than the HST in BC was likely himself. Support for the BC Liberals continues to free fall and in a recent Mustel poll they were reported to have support from only 32% of BC voters. This is down from the 46% they received in the May 2009 election.

Mustel’s May 20th poll also found that the HST and taxes in general topped the list of most important issues facing the province with 21% of the people polled. With the HST campaign wrapped up the focus will now shift to what the Liberals will do with the fait accompli petition. Dismissing it, their first choice, is no longer an option. They say they will follow the procedure set out in the Recall and Initiative Act, but, so far there have been no indications that they plan to veer away from implementing the tax. They contend that citizens have been misled by bad people to believe that the tax will do more harm than good. This is an interesting strategy when most of the citizens’ anger comes from their belief that the Liberals duped them during the election with a pledge to not bring in the HST. Why bring attention to the idea of anyone being misled? Why brag about being unpopular? Why persist with implementing a tax with a revolt of this magnitude raging? Basically, as they have since 2001, the Liberals don’t care what anyone thinks and they are going ahead whether people like it or not.

That don’t give a darn attitude can be found in Ottawa too. The Harper government continues to treat Parliament and opposition MPs with little respect creating a perpetual state of crisis. Incrementally, between attacking the opposition and keeping everyone on edge, they are achieving their main agenda which is to change government and diminish its role in our society.

May 25th the government created a new furore when they withdrew permission for cabinet ministers’ staff to appear before parliamentary committees. BC MP Jay Hill, the government house leader, explained the new policy to the House of Commons: “The tyranny of the opposition majority has turned its attention to the men and women who make up our political staff, men and women who did not sign up to be tried by a committee, to be humiliated and intimidated by members of Parliament.” The Ethics Committee had been examining a political staffer about blocking an Access to Information request from Canadian Press and were about to hear from the prime minister’s assistant Dimitri Soudas when the new policy landed. This tactic continues a long string of assaults by the Conservatives on the ability of parliamentary committees to do their work.

While they might like to promote the beleaguered victim image, the Conservatives’ huge omnibus Bill C-9 casts them more in a bully role. Similar to 2008 when they included changes to the Immigration Act with the budget implementation legislation, Bill C-9 goes even further in terms of jamming through non-budget legislation under the cover of a budget bill that is subject to a confidence vote. Bill C-9 includes everything from Environmental Assessment amendments to the sale of the Atomic Energy Corporation and the Proceeds of Crime and Terrorism Financing Act. Parliamentary oversight goes out the window when so much legislation is lumped into one supposed budget bill.

Unlike Gordon Campbell, Stephen Harper continues to lead in the polls. However, the majority of Canadians and more than 50% of British Columbians do not think his government is on the right track. Campbell carries on doing what he wants because he has a majority. Harper carries on by keeping his opponents in crisis. Many Canadians meanwhile look longingly at Britain where a non-victory for any party may have opened the door to proportional representation and a more representative government in the future.

Jane E. Burton is a freelance writer who operates her company Memorable Lines from her home in Fanny Bay. For more information on the services offered please visit her website at www.memorablelines.com.