With Jack Layton arriving in the Comox Valley today, the Vancouver Island North NDP candidate is praising her party鈥檚 plan to ensure that British Columbians will not be financially punished if they defeat the HST in June鈥檚 referendum.

鈥淲hy should British Columbians pay the price for Stephen Harper鈥檚 backroom deal with Gordon Campbell?鈥� asked Ronna-Rae Leonard in  news release. 鈥淚鈥檓 pleased with Jack Layton鈥檚 pledge that B.C. would keep the $1.6 billion in federal payment that was allocated to the B.C. government as an incentive to bring in the HST.鈥�

Leonard called on Conservative MP John Duncan, who voted in favour of the HST, to start listening to his constituents and support Layton鈥檚 proposal.

Layton told British Columbians on Wednesday that if the voters rejected the HST, he would rip up the Harper鈥揅ampbell deal and ensure that the penalties contained in the agreement were cancelled.鈥ㄢ�淏ritish Columbians shouldn鈥檛 be punished because Gordon Campbell and Stephen Harper didn鈥檛 tell you the truth,鈥� said Layton.鈥↙ayton reminded British Columbian voters that only New Democrats have stood up for BC in Ottawa.  On Dec. 9, 2009, every Conservative and Liberal MP from B.C. voted in favour of the HST, Layton stated.

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Vancouver Island North Liberal candidate Mike Holland of the Comox Valley will be joined Saturday by former federal leadership candidate Bob Rae for a town-hall forum.

They plan to discuss veterans, seniors and other important national issues from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the Lower Native Sons Hall in Courtenay.