Former-energy minister Blair Lekstrom said the public satisfied his concerns over the introduction of the harmonized sales tax with the success of a initiative petition that resulted in a planned referendum vote.
It's why he felt comfortable enough asking if he could return to caucus, which was granted earlier this week under premier-designate Christy Clark, said Lekstrom, the MLA for Peace River North, and one of four Liberal MLAs in Northern B.C.
Lekstrom resigned suddenly last June in the heat of the anti-HST fight, saying he had to listen to thousands of his constituents who had signed the petition.
At the time of resignation, Lekstrom said he was not opposed to the HST, but stressed the public needed to be involved in a comprehensive discussion over the changes.
"The public themselves satisfied what, actually, I was looking for -- and that's them having their say," Lekstrom told The Citizen this week. "We made history in British Columbia with that initiative vote. We actually gained the signatures needed."
The 12 per cent harmonized sales tax, which came into effect July 1, replaced the federal five per cent GST and the provincial seven per cent sales tax.
The change mean consumers are paying the provincial seven per cent portion of the HST on some new items including meals, domestic airline tickets, funerals, haircuts and new homes over $525,000.
There are some exemptions on the provincial portion of the tax including gasoline, children's clothing and diapers. As well, items that are currently GST exempt, such as basic groceries, are not subject to the HST.
Its introduction caused a public furor, and, in part, led to the resignation of Premier Gordon Campbell half way into his third term.
Anti-HST forces led by former-B.C. premier Bill Vander Zalm launched the successful initiative petition that gathered more than 700,000 signatures provincewide.
A referendum vote is slated for September, but Clark has said the vote should be moved up to June 24. Clark, a radio talk-show host and former Liberal MLA, won the leadership contest last week.
Lekstrom said he will respect the outcome of the referendum vote.
If the HST remains, he said he will help make it work the best he can, adding it may need some tweaking.
If the HST falls, Lekstrom said he will work to reinstate the GST and the provincial sales tax.
Lekstrom said he has also returned because he believes Clark, who he knew from her previous tenure in government, brings real change to the premier's position. "I think she recognizes that the most important thing is the ability to go out and engage the public in what government has to do," he said.
The anti-HST forces have not let up on their fight, adding a fifth recall campaign, targeted at Maple Ridge-Mission Liberal MLA Marc Dalton.
Anti-HST opponents are using the province's recall legislation to put pressure on the government to act quickly on repealing the HST.
However, two recalls have already been unsuccessful. A planned recall against Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett was cancelled, and canvassers did not collect enough signatures in an attempt against Science and Universities Minister Ida Chong in Oak Bay-Gordon Head.
There are two other recall attempts underway, directed at Kamloop-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake and Comox MLA Don McRae.
