They were chased to the back of the Vancouver Art Gallery by a parade of pot smokers, but B.C.’s anti-HST organizers were in fine form Saturday afternoon.
Under sunny skies and huge “Fight the HST” banners, a steady stream of people added their signatures to petitions.
Most seemed optimistic that organizers will be able to collect enough signatures — 10 per cent in each B.C. constituency — to force a referendum to repeal the tax.
“We’ve had pretty constant traffic,” said volunteer Richard Pearson. The North Vancouver man was manning a table with a petition for his constituency.
“I hope this will show the government they can’t count on people’s apathy to let them railroad this through.”
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Regional organizer Sal Vetro said the campaign has collected about 175,000 signatures so far, with nine weeks to go.
“I’m thinking we should have this here every Saturday,” he said of the petition drive. There were petitions for 15 constituencies represented outside the art gallery.
“It has been very successful today,” he added. “Young people are finally starting to say ‘Yes, I can make a difference. My vote will count.’
“This is true democracy.”
Vancouver East resident Amanda Hamilton said she came to the art gallery specifically to sign the petition.
Meanwhile, in Surrey, nudists added their voice to the opposition.
Don Pitcairn with Surrey’s United Naturists joined anti-HST activists on the streets of the Semiahmoo peninsula in South Surrey to put up signs alerting residents to the tax.
“You Pay Today!” says one of the signs, referring to the early implementation of the tax on services that will continue to be delivered after July 1, such as gym memberships and theatre tickets.
The opposition has until July 5 to collect enough signatures.
gluymes@theprovince.com
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