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NEWS RELEASE
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For Immediate Release Jan. 25, 2011 |
Ministry of Finance
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INDEPENDENT PANEL TO REPORT ON HST REFERENDUM OPTIONS
VANCOUVER – A newly appointed independent panel will report to British Columbians on a fact-based analysis of the implications of keeping the HST or returning to the PST and GST sales tax system, Parliamentary Secretary for HST Information John Les and Finance Minister Colin Hansen announced today.
“British Columbians want and deserve to have all the facts about the two options so they can make an informed decision on whether to support the HST or to return to the PST and GST sales tax systems,” said Les.
“Given the fractious debate that has led to the HST referendum, we feel that it is essential for voters to receive an independent, expert assessment of the options in the upcoming referendum,” said Hansen.
The panel members are Jim Dinning, former finance minister of Alberta, chair of the Canada West Foundation and chancellor of the University of Calgary; former B.C. Auditor General George Morfitt; Coast Capital Savings CEO Tracy Redies; and Simon Fraser University professor John Richards. The panel will be chaired by Jim Dinning.
“Members of the panel understand how important this referendum decision is for British Columbians and the future of the province. We know people want to understand the choices and what they mean. Voters need the facts before they go to vote,” said Dinning. “The panel will do all that it can to deliver to British Columbians a plain-speaking, straightforward set of facts that will help them make a choice.”
The panel has 10 weeks to complete its work and will deliver a final report to the public by the first week of April 2011.
Terms of Reference for the panel are available on the newly launched HST website: www.hstinbc.ca
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A backgrounder follows.
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Media Contact:
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Sarah Harrison Communications Director Ministry of Finance 250 356-2821 |
BACKGROUNDER
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For Immediate Release Jan. 25, 2011 |
Ministry of Finance
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HST PANEL BIOGRAPHIES
Chair – Jim Dinning
Jim Dinning serves as chair of the Canada West Foundation and Western Financial Group Inc. He is a chair and director of a number of public, private and not for profit companies and organizations. Until 2004, Mr. Dinning was executive vice president of TransAlta Corporation. Prior to mid-1997, he held several key positions during his 11 years as a member of the legislative assembly in Alberta. Of note is his service as provincial treasurer from 1992 to 1997. Mr. Dinning is a graduate of Queen’s University with two degrees: a bachelor of commerce in 1974 and a master’s in public administration in 1977. He received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Calgary in 2002 and today, serves as chancellor of the University of Calgary.
George Morfitt
George Morfitt is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and a chartered accountant. After a 20-year career as chief financial officer in the private sector in Vancouver, he served two terms as auditor general of British Columbia. Mr. Morfitt has held senior executive positions in a number of organizations, including: president, B.C. Institute of Chartered Accountants; chair, Universities Council of BC; and chair, UBC Board of Governors. Mr. Morfitt is a fellow of the B.C. Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Queen’s silver and golden jubilee medalist. He currently serves as chair of WorkSafeBC and is a past director of the Motor Vehicle Sales Authority of B.C., the B.C. Safety Authority and the Health Council of Canada. Mr. Morfitt is an inducted member of the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame and is past chair of Canadian Sport Centre Pacific. He currently holds an appointment as adjunct professor at the University of Victoria.
Tracy Redies
Tracy Redies is the CEO of Coast Capital Savings – Canada’s second-largest credit union outside of Quebec with over 400,000 members. Ms. Redies has over 20 years of experience in the international financial services industry and holds a BA (double major in economics and Asian studies) from the University of Victoria and an MSc in business administration from the University of British Columbia. Her banking expertise spans the industry – from commercial, personal, and private banking to e-business, IT, and investment services. Ms. Redies is a director of the CD Howe Institute, the Vancouver Board of Trade and C.H.I.L.D. – a Canadian foundation dedicated to finding a cure for Crohn’s disease, colitis and other gastric illnesses in children. Ms. Redies has been recognized as one of Canada’s top 100 female business executives.
John Richards
John Richards is a professor in the school of public policy at Simon Fraser University. Trained as an economist, Mr. Richards has written extensively on public policy matters in Canada and is widely recognized for his contributions to public policy dialogue on social policy in Canada. Professor Richards holds the Roger Phillips chair in social policy at the CD Howe Institute and has been widely recognized as one of British Columbia’s leading economists. His current social policy focus is on Aboriginal policy. He co-edits Inroads, a Canadian policy journal, and he has undertaken teaching and research internationally over the last decade. He also heads a policy institute linked to the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology in Bangladesh. Professor Richards also served as an NDP Member of the Saskatchewan legislature from 1973-1975.
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Media Contact:
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Sarah Harrison Communications Director Ministry of Finance 250 356-2821
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