THE PROVINCIAL government has started what it calls a factual website containing information on the Harmonized Sales Tax.
Brought in last year by the province, the HST, which combines provincial and federal sales taxes, proved so unpopular it is widely credited for helping bring down Premier Gordon Campbell.
It will also be the subject of a province-wide referendum later this year.
The website, sponsored by the HST Information Office, is www.hstinbc.ca.
The province is saying that public opinion research released in December showed that there is confusion about the HST's implications, and that a majority of British
Columbians are interested in reviewing straightforward and factual
information about the HST.
The website "seeks to ensure web users have reliable, factual
information so they can eventually make an informed decision on whether
to keep the HST or return to the PST/GST," states a government press release.
The site will be updated over the coming weeks and months with new
information and more features, leading up to the public vote.