West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA Joan McIntyre is speaking out against the latest step in the anti-HST Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) campaign, which involves an attempt to remove her from the legislature.
McIntyre has called the latest tactic used by anti-HST campaigners "a farce" and "a mockery" this week after campaign leader and former B.C. premier Bill Vander Zalm launched a preliminary recall campaign based on the reality TV show Survivor.
"I think that what Bill Vander Zalm and [recall campaign leader] Chris Delaney are doing making this a Survivor Island contest is just making a farce, it's just making a mockery out of serious business," said McIntyre.
The anti-HST group fulfilled BC Election rules to petition for the new tax's repeal, and on Monday Sept. 13, a B.C. Liberal legislative committee announced that a referendum set for on Sept. 24, 2011 would decide the fate of the HST.
McIntyre said she was "very delighted" over the decision to bring the HST to referendum next year since it will give the province time to have "a proper, well-informed debate" and will give the Liberals "more opportunity to get some of the facts out."
"I appreciate that people were caught off guard. It did come out of the blue for people. We did not do a particularly good job of explaining it, so I understand that people were concerned."
However petitioners were not happy with the year-long wait, so this week Vander Zalm announced what he called the "game" of "MLA Survivor Recall - Vote them off the Island" to determine which three out of 18 MLAs will be targeted for recall first.
"We had so much interest from so many constituencies, we decided this would be the fairest way to determine who gets to go first," stated Vander Zalm in a press release.
"It will also help gauge interest in each riding and build an army of volunteers to ensure success."
Legislation states voters can begin a recall process 18 months after an election, which would make Nov. 15 the target date for the first three chosen.
Local anti-HST petitioners are making a bid for McIntyre, who was elected to her riding in 2005 and re-elected in 2009.
Lead anti-HST campaigner for the riding Kelly Carson said she was relieved to see McIntyre on the list of 18 since at first, it seemed strong Liberal Party support in the riding would exonerate her from being considered by the recall campaigners.
But local opposition to McIntyre fuelled the decision to include her, said Carson.
"So many people came forward and said 'Hey, we want ours gone too,'" she said. "I think these MLAs thought they were pretty safe - but none of them are safe."
Carson has begun drumming up support to convince lead recall organizers that the West Vancouver-Sea to Sky riding is ripe for their campaign.
"We need to have enough canvassers that when a recall process begins we can get out there to every door," said Carson. "As long as we have 150 to 250 [canvassers] we will be able to recall Joan McIntyre."
McInytre said she too was surprised to be on the list of 18 since the initial list of 24 potential recall candidates the anti-HST group publicized last month didn't include her name.
She said the entire ordeal boils down to a few people and a disreputable process.
"Kelly [Carson] and her canvassers put up their hand to enter a contest, which is what I'm saying to you makes a farce and a mockery turning this into a reality TV show," said McIntyre.
"Recall is supposed to be it was originally designed for malfeasance or criminal behaviour. It's not supposed to be when you don't like policy."
However, said McIntyre, she's not speculating on how much support the movement will generate.
"I like to keep my head down and do the job that I do every day for the riding. I work hard. I care. I just want to be able to do my job," she said. "I'm not a candidate for recall so I'm definitely not going to speculate."
-With files from Meagan Robertson
