VICTORIA –Yesterday, Economic Development Minister Iain Black falsely claimed Manitoba is the only province holding out on implementing an HST, said the New Democrats.Bruce Ralston

“I’m not sure where the minister gets his information, but the truth is B.C. is the only western province to adopt the HST,” said New Democrat finance critic Bruce Ralston. “Neither Saskatchewan nor Alberta have an HST.

Manitoba and Saskatchewan have refused to move to the HST, while in Alberta the only sales tax is the five-per-cent GST.

“The province’s finance minister is accusing anyone who opposes the HST as spreading misinformation, but clearly it’s the B.C. Liberal cabinet ministers that need a lesson in telling the whole truth,” said Ralston.

Ralston attended the Fourth Annual International Trade Dinner and Surrey Export Award on Thursday night hosted by the Surrey Board of Trade, where Minister Black made hisremarks

“The minister also arrogantly dismissed any arguments against the HST as ‘nonsense,’ to quote him,” said Ralston, the MLA for Surrey-Whalley.

“It’s extremely disturbing that the small business minister refuses to address the impact the HST will have on the restaurant and tourism industries, both of which have said the tax could lead to the loss of 10,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.

Carole James and the New Democrats will continue to hold the B.C. Liberals to account for their deception on the HST and their broken promises on health and education.

Bruce Ralston

Surrey-Whalley

Bruce Ralston was re-elected as the MLA for Surrey - Whalley on May 12, 2009. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2005.