MEDIA RELEASE
DALTON SHOULD FOLLOW LEKSTROM’S LEAD AND STAND UP FOR HIS CONSTITUENTS, SAYS NDP
MAPLE RIDGE – Marc Dalton should listen to the voters in Maple Ridge-Mission and reject the HST, New Democrats say.
“Voters in Maple Ridge-Mission have been loud and clear in their rejection of this HST doublecross,” said Michael Sather, the MLA for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows. “It’s time for Mr. Dalton to pause and take a long hard look at what the people who elected him want him to do.”
Dalton has repeatedly backed the B.C. Liberals and their plans to bring in the HST, as opposition voices in his constituency continue to get louder and louder.
“I recall being in the house, and seeing Mr. Dalton stand up and call the HST the ‘Honest Sales Tax.’ The reaction in the house when he said that was one of disbelief – time and time again, this government says one thing and means another,” said Sather.
Sather went on to describe Dalton talking about his constituents, and how they “understand” why the HST is necessary. Referring to the rationale for the HST during the budget debate, Dalton said “In general, most people get it. Almost everybody seems to understand it.”
“When Mr. Dalton says that most people in his constituency “understand” why the HST is a good thing, he really shows how out of touch he is with the people in Maple Ridge-Mission,” Sather said. “What they understand is that they’re facing a $1.9 billion tax shift from businesses onto consumers, and that’s the problem.”
“If Mr. Dalton truly wants to be on the same page as the voters in his constituency, he should follow former cabinet minister Blair Lekstrom’s lead, and stand up for his constituents.”
Carole James and New Democrats are working with British Columbians from all walks of life, all corners of B.C., and all sectors of our economy to build a better British Columbia for the people of this province.
