www.theotherpress.ca News. Bloodmobile drains Douglas New Westminster rolls up sleeves for roving blood bank By Dylan Hackett, News Editor ast Thursday, the Bloodmobile pulled up to Douglas College, prompting students and staff to roll up their sleeves and load up the Canada Blood Services’ lorry with their red blood cells. Appointments were soon booked for the entirely of the six-hour collection period. Last week’s collection was the 15th visit from the Bloodmobile, whose operators have drained 523 units of blood from the coronary systems of the Douglas community since October 2010. “The collection target for the Bloodmobile is 36 units of blood. Of course, we always want to try to over collect and on a good day we can collect up to 40 units,” explained Stephanie Scott, Bloodmobile partnership specialist for the Canadian Blood Services. By 1 p.m., the registration was no longer booking appointments and instead handed out reminder cards for the red semi-truck’s next visit in the summer semester. The second visit of the summer semester will take place in late July. “The Bloodmobile is on site at Douglas College every 56 days. The next clinic will be returning on May 30,” said Scott. “You can also book an appointment online at www. blood.ca or by calling 1-888- 236-6283. We encourage donors to book their appointments in advance to guarantee their preferred appointment time.” Scott explained how successful Douglas blood collections have been in the last two-and-a-half years and helped relate the 523 units of donated blood to direct applications in healthcare. “Blood is so vital and most people don’t realize how much blood is required to save a life,” said Scott. “Fifty units of blood are needed to help someone in a car accident. Eight units a week are used to help someone with leukemia. Someone with internal bleeding may use two to eight units. One donation equals one unit of blood. It is one of the most altruistic things you can do and you can help save a life along the way.” The Bloodmobile is always blood donors from across the Metro Vancouver area, and will stop by local businesses and schools with at least 300 sleeves to drain and parking to accommodate the sizeable semi-truck. Those interested in a visit from the Bloodmobile are encourage to email Scott at PST returns to British Columbia 2010 referendum result kicked into effect By Keating Smith, Staff Writer n April 1, British Columbians reverted back into the GST / PST tax system after 54.73 per cent of referendum participants voted yes to abolishing the harmonized sales tax through a mail-in ballot referendum in summer 2011. Three months after the BC Liberals won their third consecutive term in early 2009, Gordon Campbell announced to the province that it had accepted Ottawa’s $1.6-billion offer to transfer to the harmonized federal-provincial tax system. Former BC premier Bill Vander Zalm, who led the anti-HST campaign, “Fight HST,” criticized the provincial government in delaying the switch back as another way for the Liberals to capitalize off the revenues paid on the extra taxes Clark says the consequences from the return could outweigh the positives. “Some folks aren't celebrating the return of the PST,” Clark said. “The HST was good for our film industry, good for manufacturing, and province have called the turbulence surrounding BC’s tax switch political suicide for the Liberal Government. Former premier Gordon Campbell stated his resignation in a televised broadcast to the province in November 2010, BC will now spend the next five years repaying the federal government the $1.6-billion transfer, interest-free, they received for adopting the HST. for consumer goods in BC. “Not only have we gotten rid of a nasty, unfair, cruel tax, but we've also shown the world, particularly our country, that direct democracy can work as it should,” said Vander Zalm. In contrast, Premier Christy for many other sectors of our economy,” she said. BC will now spend the next five years repaying the federal government the $1.6-billion transfer, interest-free, they received for adopting the HST. Many people in the officially stepping down March 2011 due to the outcry from the public over the switch. Restaurant lobbies were among the most vocal of critics, with representatives claiming food and beverage sales were hurt the most. “HST cost BC’s Photo courtesy of Dylan Hackett food service industry a total of $1.5 billion in lost sales,” claimed Mark von Schell witz, of the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association. While the BC government is still finalizing the finer details of the transition back to the original tax system, they have set up several services including a general complaint website for small business owners facing any problems from the revert to GST/PST. British Columbians are set to go to the provincial voting polls next month, with an NDP majority expected by poll analysts.