There has been much discussion among British Columbians of boycotting members of the business associations who are behind the legal challenge to the FIGHT HST petition .
Within hours of Elections BC refusing to pass the petition on, the links and websites to many of these business associations were posted all over the internet, so people could see the members of these associations and contact them, or perhaps, boycott them.
One of these associations is the BC Chamber of Commerce. It still begs to reason that this challenge may have been, and likely was, enacted without extensive consultation of their respective members. My personal belief is that it is likely the large corporate members who are behind this challenge, since small businesses have not benefitted from the HST – and in fact, most are hurting. Since the HST was enacted, I have made a point of asking every small business owner I encounter if the HST has helped business, or hurt it.
So just who are the corporate members of the BC Chamber of Commerce? You might try to go to their site and find out, but interestingly enough all links to the corporate member directory have been disabled and no longer appear in cached versions found on most search engines. Perhaps an internet glitch, perhaps not, but a damn convenient one if you ask me, with talk of boycott in the air.
Luckily enough, I have obtained a list of those corporate members for you- in no particular order – from a chamber member who is less than impressed with the actions taken by the Chamber itself – and I quote : ” It was never mentioned when I joined, that my fees might be used towards any kind of action like this. I had no say in this whatsoever and I certainly do not support this action! ”
I guess democracy isn’t the only thing under threat in all of this. I’m not one to take actions like boycott and strike lightly, but desperate times call for desperate measures. When the guns with money push, those without must push back the most powerful way we can, and that is buying power. No one wants to alienate customers, nor do they want to lose the money they bring to the table.
This list was previously available online on the Chambers site, and I do apologise for the horrific format and colour, but the manner in which it was transmitted to me made it difficult to post to the blog. As soon as I can PDF it, I will post the file link. Some companies have links embedded, some do not, but feel free to let these members know how you feel about the Chambers participation in this action.
***UPDATE : Tuesday August 17th
The Chambers site was updated sometime yesterday with this bit yesterday, which states that their members have endorsed the Chamber to lobby the provincial goverment FOR the HST since 2002 and that at their general meeting in 2008, the members voted for this to become a policy priority for ALL CHAMBERS IN BC. ( Needless to say, those businesses did not anticipate this would become such a heated and contentious issue that would incite corporate boycotts)
Position on the Judicial Review
On June 29, 2010, the BC Chamber of Commerce together with five BC business associations filed for a Judicial Review of the HST Extinguishment Act, the proposed Bill attached to the “Stop the HST” petition. This legal submission in no way challenges anyone’s democratic rights, or the petition itself. The BC Chamber is attempting to establish clarity in regards to BC’s tax policy, the absence of which may impact potential investment.
The BC Chamber’s focus is on the constitutional validity of the HST Extinguishment Act. The Judicial Review questions whether a Federal law already in place can be debated in the Provincial Legislature. A definitive legal position from the Supreme Court of BC will ensure that considerable time and money will not be spent on a draft bill that is constitutionally unsound and therefore incapable of becoming law. It will also remove any uncertainty on this issue which could otherwise potentially harm BC businesses and the economy at large.
Through filing for this Judicial Review, the BC Chamber is not making any recommendation to either the Anti-HST group or the BC Government. Once the result of the Judicial Review is in, it will be up to the Anti-HST group and Government to decide how to proceed.Our membership has endorsed the BC Chamber of Commerce to lobby the Province for the HST since 2002. At our Annual Meeting in Whistler in 2008, the members voted for this to become a policy priority for all Chambers in BC.
The BC Chamber will continue to support its local chambers and their efforts to promote a vibrant business environment
BC Partnership for Sustainable Tourism / Industry Canada Small Business BC / Tourism Vancouver Acadia Park Preschool / ASPECT (Association of Service Providers for Employability and Career Training) / BC Career Colleges Association / Check Your Head / Douglas College / E.L.C./E.E.G./E.B.I.C./Eaton Arrowsmith School / Family Montessori School Society / Global Learning Resources Corp. / IDC Diving Centre Ltd. / JHS Le Soleil Montessori School / Nippon Kaiji Kyokai Radha Yoga & Eatery / Tamwood International College Ltd. / Truskool / University of Phoenix-Vancouver Campus Westcoast Hot Yoga / Westside Montessori School 971 Holdings Ltd. / Boxer Holdings/ Five Mile Holdings Fairhaven Holdings Ltd. / JCH Holdings / JTM Holdings Ltd / . Kuber Business Consultants Ltd. / One-O-One Holdings Ltd. / Qoola Holdings Ltd. / Sentinel Peak Holdings Ltd. / Shato Holdings Ltd. SLG 633535 BC Ltd. / Accenture Inc. / Advancedio Systems Inc. / Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang LLP / Androsiuk & Company Andrea Thompson / Arris Design Ltd. Association Management Consultants Inc. / Benefit Innovations Inc. / Boughton Law Corp. Brook + Associates / Certified General Accountants of BC (CGA) / Certified Management Accountants of BC (CMA) / CFR Management Inc. / Chas & Associates Consulting Inc. / Communica CONDEV Electronic Consulting & Development Ltd. Consolidated Management Consultants Ltd. / Consulting Edge Contigo Systems Inc. Contoured Software Development Inc. COUNTERPOINT Communications Inc. / Craig Hodge & Associates Criterion Communications Inc. / Cyberscribe Solutions Inc. / Cymax Solutions Inc / David J. Annis & Associates / De Vie Business Solutions Delia Enevoldson / Deloitte & Touche LLP / Discovery Economic Consulting Services Ltd. / EASE Management Ecmarket.Com Inc. / e-Global Strategies and Development / Elie J. Doumet Canada Ltd. / Encompass Communications Inc. / English Bay Law Corp. / Erezlife Software Inc. / Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP Faulkner Brand Inc. / Fireswirl Systems Inc. / Fireworks Marketing Group Inc. / First Line Marketing Inc. / Focus Agency Ltd. / Four Elements Marketing Inc. / Gandalf Consulting / Geoffrey Gibb Personal Law Corp. / George Shimizu Barristers & Solicitors / Geoscience BC Geshtin Consulting Inc. / Global Mentor Technologies (GMT) Gordon Douglas, CGA Hamazaki Wong Marketing Group / Harris & Company / HMDA International Business Group Inc. / Huamali & Associates / Infinite Artists Inc. / Inside Design Studio Inc. / InsiderTrading Inc. / Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC / Intentional Design Investax Management Inc. / Khanna & Co / Koch & Associates / KPMG LLP L & M Metcalfe Enterprises Ltd. / Lang Michener Barristers & Solicitors LLP Law Office of Barbara Findlay, QC Lawson Lundell LLP Lesley Wood Bernbaum & Associates Liberty Design Inc. Longview Communications Loren, Nancke & Company M. Capewell & Associates Inc. M. L. Marshal & Associates Mail Channel Maxwell Claims Services Inc. Molo Design Ltd. Momentum Conferencing Corporation NATIONAL Public Relations Inc. Netfone Services Inc. New Creation Consulting Nexvu Services NKB Consultants Inc. Norman M. Cameron law Corp. Ltd. Om Integrated Media Inc. Ontrack Media Ltd. Payworks Peter W. Brown Law Corp. Phoenix Environmental Services Ltd. Pomegranate Design Inc. Pottinger Gaherty Environmental Consultants Ltd. Progressive Strategies Ltd. Raised Eyebrow Web Studio Inc. Renocon Design Centre Inc. Robert Trapp Rolfe Benson Chartered Accountants Rouxbe Video Technologies Inc. Seeton Shinkewski Design Group Ltd. Senergy Communications Inc. Small Business Marketing Coaches Inc. Solus Decor Inc. Stephen E. Martin Law Corp. Sydney Feinstein Agencies Tech Track Solutions Inc. Thinkbox National Marketing Inc. Tina Tam Triplice Consulting Inc. TVS Small Business Services Inc. Vick, McPhee & Liu Victor Godin & Associates Wardell Professional Development Weber Shandwick Worldwide Whalebone Productions Ltd. Whiskey Investments Inc. Worldwide Business Promoters Ltd. Partnership Yaletown Marketing Solutions 626371 BC Ltd. B & D Capital Partners Bank of Nova Scotia BMO Bank of Montreal BMO Nesbitt Burns Corp. BNI Franchise Corp Business Development Bank of Canada Canadian Western Bank & Trust Cavendish Investing Ltd. Clearbridge Capital Corp. Coast Capital Savings CorePlan Financial Inc. David Bacic & Assoc. Faris Investment Company Graham Barnes & Associates Inc. Harbour Pacific Capital Corp. ICBC Industrial-Alliance Pacific Life Insurance Company Informa Financial & Insurance Services Inc. KN Investments Ltd. National Bank of Canada Q4 Financial Group Quasar Financial Planning Group Ltd. Schmidt & Funk Financial Services Scott Ferris Financial Shaw Sabey & Associates Ltd. True Benefits TD Bank Financial Group Whitelaw Enterprises Ltd. Willis Louie Ltd. Coast Mountain Films Inc. Cornwall Publishing Co. Ltd./Gardens West Magazine Eclipse Productions Associates Ltd. FatPort Jane Baker Productions LTA Production Ltd. National Post North Shore Studios Management Ltd. Omnipresent Productions Inc. OSR Open Systems Resources Inc. Pacific Newspaper Group Inc. Pencilneck Software Corporation Primus Canada Rogers Wireless Rugged Media West Sequence SustaiNet Software Solutions Inc. Tata Productions Teleconnect Solutions Telus Vibrant Software Corporation Vortex Business Software Corporation Wordsworth Media Ltd. World Journal Ltd.
Westcoast Views with Laila Yuile 
If I were interested in encouraging a boycott of C of C members, I’d probably target a dozen who serve consumers, are owned in the province and not related by business or ownership to government. Anger expressed by the public isn’t going to bother the CEO of BC Ferries because he found the golden ticket.
Let’s narrow the list and make it count.
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As a Vancouver Island ferry user and citizen who is paying to have every item i buy shipped here by ferry id liek an explanation as to if BC Ferries has voted and paid to help fund this , and agreed a list of big chains BC wide who support teh HST would make a difference >
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I totally agree Norman, that a narrowed down list is the way to go,my intention by posting all members was to let readers see where they might beunknowingly supporting a company who supports the HST.
In fact, after reading the update on the Chamber site – ( see the update to the post above for the Chambers explanation of this legal challenge) – I think people should definately be thinking about where they spend every dollar.
In the update above, the Chamber says it’s members have endorsed them to lobby the BC government in support of the HST since 2002 ! And furthermore, at their AGM in 2008, members voted in favor of making this a policy priority for all chambers in BC. That would be those members who actually attended, I am assuming.
However, note that it does not say that all members were in support of this action, or even that all members were consulted prior to commencing the action.
In a completely unrelated note, if you go to the Chamber site, under News, you will see a large congratulations going out to the brand spanking Plutonic Power/GE IPP at Toba Inlet/ Montrose creek…..
Speaks volumes, no?
So, back to businesses in support of the HST.
KAL Tire is on that list, as is 7-11, as well as the PNE.
Let’s go through that list, and find more that work well for many in BC, and many here in the lower mainland.
As well, check your local Chamber websites for members in your community you can think about, and add to this list as you do!
Another avenue to see more businesses who support the HST can be found here http://fighthst.com/smart-tax-alliance/
This shows all the organizations and associations that support the HST through the Smart Tax Alliance.
It is quite unfortunate that a tax that benefits large businesses also happens to be one that does more harm than good to the average person, the low income and the elderly, as well as small businesses around the province.
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I am not one of those people who speaks up at all, or comments on sites and things, but I was shocked to see a business I support daily on your list !!
You see, I was under the impression from my daily chats with the manager that the company was against the HST, but obviously the manager is mistaken!! I feel completely conned.
I am going over to that coffee shop right now and asking what is going on, and to tell them that after several years I will be taking my business to a business that is not for the HST.
Also, I would like to say that someone should be giving lists out at malls, or in front of the businesses that favor the HST, so that they know they are being fingered. We have to give the same pressure as they give us!!
Thank you for letting me get that off my chest., Nancy
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Count me in. I’m on workers comp and can’t afford crap all extra, and yes I do notice the difference when I am behind every frigging month. It’s jsut getting worse and if this arm doesn’t get better before winter, I’m gonna have issues because I cant afford to pay my heating bill.
recall in the fall, and boycott them all !
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Bye Bye Flying Wedge pizza, where we get pizza every Friday night. No More BUSINESS FOR YOU!!!!!!!
I’m just so sick of this shit, excuse me, but they always make like the HST is so bad for business, and now I find out they voted for it?
It’s just wrong. All these businesses should be boycotted, every single one!
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Just as a point of fact, delegates from the Chamber I used to work for didn’t ask their members how they wanted them to vote on issues. Members weren’t even aware of most of the issues! Most of the members of my small town Chamber were only members in the first place to access the cheap Visa/MC rates and benefit plan for themselves and their employees, and because they grew up being told they should belong to the Chamber. John Winters and his henchman are totally aware of this fact. I attended a couple of those meetings. The agenda was totally led by the Executive and in fact, any small Chambers that had the temerity to stop out-of-line were quickly chastised and/or embarrassed. Guaranteed many of those small town Chamber members would quit if they had somewhere else to access those services.
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Remember, it is not enough to merely stop spending your money with a Chamber of Commerce member. Tell them. Tell them loudly.
It is an excellent idea to create lists of businesses that support HST. Maybe, even a blog dedicated to naming and shaming.
We can create a team blog. Stay tuned.
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Wonderful Norman, superb idea!! Please, count me in, I just got in and there are so many emails from people in support of the idea of boycotting and naming businesses in support of the HST. I will be posting those emails that give permission to do so later today or this evening.
Cherylb – thanks for clarifying that point, it is important to note!! Even so, those businesses who are members of a C of C, and DO NOT support the HST, or this challenge, need to make that exceedingly clear for their clients and customers -or suffer the consequence~!
Terran – power to you, and as Norman mentions, please tell them why you are no longer going to be a customer. It will not make a difference if you don’t tell them what is going on.
Stone cold broke- sorry to hear about your arm, and your situation. I hope things get better, and I’m hearing you loud and clear. Find someone on the list that you currently do business with and let them know you won’t be doing it anymore, and why that is. Let us know how it is going, and thanks for making the effort to type, even with your arm!!
Nancy and Ralph – Bravo to you! Well done. If the retailers feel the pressure from us, they will in turn pressure the government and these associations!
And yes, this screams crap on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce of BC, and the city chambers who are members.
It may interest you to read the Chambers policy on HST, which can be found at this link – unless it too disappears! Rather than tout the line the BC government has that this tax will not harm anyone, they openly discuss the negative impact this HST will have on businesses that were previously exempt from PST, example, the restaurants, and how to handle that negative impact, like ” transitional assistance ” from the government. Meaning, the government may have to bail out those sectors that the HST has harmed, again, with our taxpayers money!!?? Go figure. http://www.bcchamber.org/advocacy/policy/priority/taxation/hst_policy.html
Quote :
“Despite these benefits legitimate concerns remain in certain sectors of the business community. Certain products and services, such as restaurant services, which have enjoyed tax breaks under the current PST system, will see their tax-rates rise to 12% from its current 5%.
While these businesses will save money through increased ITC’s and the removal of embedded PST the cost structure of these businesses are such that these savings are unlikely to offset the need to increase the sales tax charged to their customers. This has led to the very real concern that where demand is elastic, any increase in the cost to a consumer may dissuade these consumers patronizing a business, or may erode the profit margin for an impacted small business if they feel they cannot fully pass on the cost to customers.
The potential for a negative impact to certain sectors means that, as with all taxes, the Chamber believes government has a duty to continue to review the impact of tax across the economy and make adjustments where a negative and potentially harmful impact can be demonstrated. This will be particularly important in the case of the HST.
We need economic policies that enable BC employers to create jobs, increase investment and enhance productivity. The HST will give BC export industries the competitive edge they need in the new world economy, and Government must ensure that the benefits are felt by the service and domestic sector as well.
THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS
The Provincial Government:
1.review the impact of the HST and continue to consult with businesses, particularly those from adversely impacted sectors, in order to mitigate any negative effects of the HST; and
2.introduce targeted transitional assistance for business sectors that are adversely impacted by the added HST cost. ”
Read the entire page. This tax is all about big business, not people, and investment in BC. I think we can keep BC dollars in BC and encourage local business growth through other means. Why not help our local businesses grow and fill that need, rather than look towards foreign investors?
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A response from my first boycott email; Century Plaza Hotel:
“Thank you for your email and letting us know of your decision to not use our
facility, but may I ask what information you were given on our involvement
in regards to the HST and what you believe to be our stance is on this topic
because we have never made any public statement either for or against the
HST”
My answer:
“Thank you for your reply and question.
You are a member of the Chamber of Commerce. The same CoC that is challenging the hst petition.”
Thank you Laila for quickly posting the list.This is a fine start.
A revised retail list would equally be helpful.
Inside pressure will certainly put the brakes on, and in doing so, change the way the CoC represents it’s own membership.It is a matter of time before Campbell is receiving pressure from all angles.
It is high time the powers at be start listening a little closer to those who matter and those who make a difference.
Well done everyone. Keep up the pressure.
Campbell has made a huge mistake. A mistake that woke up the citizens of this Province.A mistake I am grateful he made.
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Lynn, I would suggest you forward them the information I have posted in this comment thread, and in the post, regarding the Chamber of Commerces notice on their website, which states that the members endorsed and supported the lobbying of the provincial government in 2002, and then voted in favour of making it a priority policy in 2008. As well, may I suggest you email them the link I just posted in the comment above yours, which is the Chambers policy.
Good for you Lynn. Good for you!! : ) And yes, I am working on a revised list, but with the little ones around my feet, it is challenging! Before 10 this morning I had done two loads of laundry, written a post, answered comments, fished a dime out of my five year olds nostril before it became an emergency room visit, and made ice cream cone cupcakes for them as a treat..lol and of course, worked on that list. A clear and concise list/ file will be available later today or tonight !!
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Our local CoC which is a member of the BC Chamber chose to remain neutral as they could see the harm that would be done to manyof their members and the employees that work for them. With the close proximity to /Alberta more people are headed out of province to purchase than ever. And now out of province companies can come in and take away the jobs and income taxes those jobs generate without paying any PST or supporiting the communities in any way. I have written to Mr. Winter on this issue even though I doubt he cares. Ideology rules, not what is right.
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Have a look at Honestly Shared Taxation, a new group blog to identify companies that fund and support BC Liberal actions to impose HST.
http://honestlyshared.blogspot.com/
Laila and I have started this group blog and invite others to participate.
You can comment at the site or send an email to
HonestlyShared@gmail.com
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Thanks for letting Mr.Winter know how you feel cfvua, it takes people willing to stand up for what they believe in to voice their concerns and anger to make this happen, as with the Recall in the Fall campaign. I had a visit with my dad recently, and he had just come from Saskatchewan through Alberta, where he stocked on a few things that were considerably cheaper there. When I heard the prices, I nearly flipped! I would do the same if I was close enough to the border.
Norm, thanks for inviting me to do this blog with you. Couldn’t ask for a more astute person to do this with! A big thank you today to a variety of readers of both our blogs who have stepped up to assist, Lea, and many others who have been furiously writing letters and getting responses from several of the businesses on the list.
Look for the Honestly Shared Taxation facebook group later today, and a story coming shortly on a 2010 Olympic Initiative that may have proven to be a flop.
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I boycott, chain supermarkets. Chain fast foods and pizza parlors. I also boycott retail chains, Wal Mart and such. I caught one business, I knew that had a C.O.C. in the window. Next time I noticed, the sign was gone. I confronted the merchant, he said between the HST and the C.O.C. boycott, he was losing too much business. He mentioned, he would not register again. If that is the truth. Price gouging in BC is rampant. Just before the HST was due, supermarkets, jacked up their prices, sky high. Our provincial budget taxes, were bad enough. Then slapped with the HST, which applies to everything, from a fridge to a tube of lipstick, is just too hard on, seniors, low income people and blue collar workers, with children. I saw, not one lick of concern from, Campbell and crew, about their citizens. Nor, from the greedy bottomless pits of big business. BC has the highest number of, children living in poverty. Well, Campbell and his henchmen, and his big bribe, businesses, just raised that number, by the hundreds. Just when you think, they can’t possibly go any lower, they do. Disgusting, and I will despise any big business, for the rest of my life.
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I have been boycotting business i know supported this and telling them and locally they are feeling it and small business owners who do not support are starting to say so and win customers so it does work make them pay and tell them why.
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