I am neither a fan nor an enemy of the Harmonized Sales Tax. Properly introduced, a consumption tax has its place in the arsenal of government.

I am however completely opposed to the duplicitous means by which the Gordon Campbell government introduced the tax, and mislead British Columbians during the 2009 provincial election campaign.

Recently in the Georgia Strait Premier Campbell tries to defend himself. See the link for the article and comments made by myself and others in response.

The bottom line: It was impossible for Campbell and Finance Minister Colin Hansen to not know anything of the extent of the economic pressures facing B.C. during the May 2009 election. Much of the revenue of any government can be modelled and all of it can be measured. Income tax revenue, resource revenue, taxation from other sales - all of these items could be viewed in an extremely negative light throughout the second half of 2008 and first half of 2009 up to and including the election campaign.

Only an idiot would believe a politician that claimed "we didn't know". Only a liar would try to make such a claim.

Regardless of what one's opinion is of the HST, who can claim to stand up for democracy while at the same time reward and support this liar of a Premier and government? I can't.

This is about the coolest bike frame I've ever seen! It is produced by a company in Portland called Renovo Design and they do amazing things with wood. Yes, wood!

Some folks view these frames as works of art, too nice or delicate for daily use, but they aren't your mom's dining room table. We chose wood for it's ride quality and sustainability, and got beauty as a bonus; but it's not a weakness. An impact that will dent and ruin a butted metal or carbon frame merely bounces off the Renovo frame leaving a small dent. http://renovobikes.com/

Click the thumbnail images for larger views of my friend Elizabeth's new frame being fabricated: