News Release

New HST Website Underscores Clear Public Demand for HST Vote, Says Abbott

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 22, 2011

Vancouver, BC – The successful launch of government’s new website providing the

people of B.C. with more factual information on the HST is another reminder that British
Columbians are demanding the right to have a vote on the HST, and that Christy Clark’s
threat to scrap the vote and hand the issue back to politicians will not be accepted,
George Abbott said today.

“With the launch of this new website, government is responding to numerous citizen calls
for more factual information on the HST,” says Abbott. “It is even more clear today that
people want all the information in their hands, and that they want to have their say on the
HST.”

Yesterday, the Province launched www.hstinbc.ca, which provides factual information to

the public in a way that is easy to find and straightforward. The new site also allows
users to look at the HST from the perspective of being a consumer, a family, or a small
or large business in British Columbia.

“Christy Clark continues to claim that if the polls aren’t favourable, she would scrap the
HST referendum, taking the decision away from people and putting it back into the
hands of politicians,” says Abbott. “I’m once again calling on her to set aside the double-
speak, admit that her proposal is unworkable and undemocratic, and clearly commit to
allowing citizens to express their own voice on this vital public issue—regardless of what
the pollsters tell her.”

Since his leadership launch in November, Abbott has been a strong proponent for giving
people a choice and voice through the HST referendum and committed to moving the
HST referendum date up to no later than June 24, 2011, if elected Premier.

Abbott further committed to add a question on the next steps on the carbon tax to the
HST referendum ballot as part of his 18-point plan for a new style of leadership released
on January 4.

George Abbott announced on November 25, 2010 that he was running to be the new
leader of the BC Liberal Party and Premier of B.C. George was elected to provincial
government in 1996 and was a five-time cabinet minister whose portfolios included
health, the environment and resource management, aboriginal affairs and communities.
Prior to being in cabinet, George was a college instructor, a regional district chair, and
ran a berry farm in his hometown of Sicamous.

For more information, visit www.georgeabbottforbc.ca.

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