British Columbia Referendum Attempt

The B.C. government has recently passed a controversial new tax law called the HST. A similar, unpopular law is likely to be imposed soon in Ontario. But, a former BC premier - Vander Zalm decided to test whether its Direct Democracy law, passed in BC a few years ago can actually be used to permit the people to test this tax decision of their government. He is leading an effort to permit the people to vote upon a referendum upon the issue. It is a tough process . The "Direct Democracy" law principle passed at the behest of a vast majority who wished such right, requires that a petition be first signed by 10% of the citizens in each of some 89 legislative districts. This is before the referendum is required to be put to the whole citizenry for a vote. The government had not wanted such a democratic process to be enabled when it first enacted the tough conditions, it seems clear.
But, it seems there is such enthusiasm for a vote of the citizens that it is very likely such a difficult boundary will be crossed soon. Hundreds have pressed forward volunteering to distribute the petition within their neighbourhoods to obtain the required signatures. That will still not mean clear sailing for the vote, however, under the very tough BC referendum process.
There is an alternative - in which the legislature can bring up the HST vote again, and maybe pass it again.
Vander Zalm does not feel that that is a likely result, however. He feels that if the legislature should try to foist such an apparently unpopular law again, without clear majority approval - that the people would clearly vote out of office the accomplices at a later election.
What it all does show is that citizen referendums can be made to work in this easily communicative and educated age. The elites who have run our affairs cannot hide under the guise of a withering memory of citizens, or other machinations.
Surely our other provinces, including Ontario will take note of this popular desire to effect citizen's democratic rights. This would be by by enacting easier referendum processes than BC - as in 24 US states and in Switzerland, and many other successful countries around the world. Wouldn't that be a breath of fresh air!