Reality check: Harper still on the defence over HST during his bc swing

Today Conservative leader Stephen Harper will visit the campaign of Diana Dilworth, Conservative candidate for New Westminster-Coquitlam.

Dilworth was soundly defeated in a 2009 by-election – mostly because of her support for the HST. Her by-election campaign unraveled after she admitted during her first all-candidates debate on radio that she would vote for the HST if elected.

After her disastrous performance, the Conservatives decided Dilworth should stay underground. She declined any further all-candidates debates, and became almost invisible. (Check out the The Curious Case of the Missing Tory on the Tyee (http://thetyee.ca/News/2009/11/05/MissingTory).

Despite the results of the by-election, Dilworth still isn’t listening to the people of New Westminster-Coquitlam. In this campaign she continues to support the tax, saying “the HST is good tax policy.” (Coquitlam Now, April 12, 2011)

Conservative candidates around the province are twisted in knots as they play defence over their decision to impose the HST:

• "Tory candidates are squirming when faced with tough HST questions." - Michael Smyth, The Province, April 7, 2011.
• "HST causes contortions for Conservative candidates in BC." - The Tyee, April 5, 2011.
• "I think it's good for business... after just about one year, some people may think it's not having a huge effect on my expense... so I really don't know. Haven't made up my mind." - candidate Ronald Leung (Burnaby–Douglas), CPAC, April 1, 2011.

Ms. Cadman said she was caught between her party and her constituents.

'I could not see standing up and voting outwardly no to my party. It would be like poking them in the eye with a stick so I felt that not being there showed that I was for the vote.'" -- Globe and Mail, March 29, 2011.

• "[The referendum] is unnecessary, because I think the HST is right for British Columbians." - Conservative spokesperson Colin Metcalfe, CKNW, April 4, 2011.
• "Colin Metcalfe does not speak for the party." - Conservative Party of Canada Director of Communications Fred DeLorey, Royal City Record, April 9, 2011.