HST protest launched on P.E.I.

A Charlottetown woman has begun organizing the fight against the introduction of the harmonized sales tax on Prince Edward Island.

Cindy Baird is originally from B.C., and lived in Ontario when the HST was introduced there.

Baird is not convinced by the government's argument that the business-friendly tax will bring down prices and prompt companies to hire more employees. She said there is no guarantee improved profits will be reinvested in employment.

Baird said even the deal struck for compensation from Ottawa for implementing the tax was not a good one.

"If you take a look at what British Columbia was offered, and what they received was $1.6 billion. Based on their population, what they received per capita was $352.63 per person. In Ontario they received was $4.3 billion, so per capita it's $323.55," she said.

"Yet in Prince Edward Island we're receiving $39 million and per capita it ends up being $267.39. Right there we get ripped off."

Baird has set up a Facebook site, has arranged meetings with a number of MLAs, and is encouraging Islanders to push back against the new tax.