When it comes to the HST, the Harper Conservatives are trying to shift the blame for a tax policy that will shift an estimated $3 billion in new sales taxes onto British Columbia and Ontario families.?

The Harper Conservatives say the HST is a “strictly provincial decision":??

“Whether or not to harmonize provincial sales tax with GST in a non-harmonized province is up to that province...” – Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Hansard, 25 March 2009?

“...it's strictly a provincial government decision.” – Conservative Cariboo--Prince George MP Dick Harris, Prince George Citizen, 10 August 2009?

But hold on.

The Conservatives also say the HST is a federal decision:??

“I have been gently prodding Premier McGuinty to reduce corporate tax rates in Ontario... we're also calling on the remaining provinces that have not harmonized their PST with the GST to work with us to accomplish that goal of harmonization.” – Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Speech to C.D. Howe Institute, 10 April 2008?

“The Government invites all provinces that have not yet done so to engage in discussions on the harmonization of their provincial retail sales taxes with the federal GST.” - Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Budget 2006,?

“Feds still pressuring Province to sign on to HST” – headline, Summerside Journal Pioneer (PEI), 10 August 2009?

“Ottawa made Victoria an offer it couldn't refuse on HST -- $1.6 billion in cash” – headline, Vancouver Sun, 1 August 2009?

So after all this, two questions remain.

If the HST is strictly a provincial decision, why is Stephen Harper’s Finance Minister’s signature on a contract with Gordon Campbell's Liberal government to introduce the HST in BC??

And if it's strictly a provincial decision, then why is Stephen Harper threatening to bring forward an HST law in the federal Parliament?