The first meeting of a legislative committee deciding the next stage of the successful Fight HST initiative split on party lines Tuesday, with each side manoeuvering to gain control.

Kamloops Liberal MLA Terry Lake, elected chair by a majority of the six Liberals and four NDP members during the first meeting, said the NDP quickly attempted to force the measure to a free vote of the legislature.

That move was headed by vice-chair and Vancouver-Mount Pleasant New Democrat MLA Jenny Kwan.

The legislative initiatives committee must decide within three months whether to send the anti-HST petition to a non-binding referendum or to a free vote of the legislature.

“Ms. Kwan put forward a resolution to select Option A — sending it to the legislature as fast as practicably possible,” Lake said, arguing that is too fast and without knowledge of the issues.

But, using their majority, the Liberal members countered with a successful motion to adjourn that vote in order to hear from B.C.’s chief electoral officer on a possible referendum — a choice to which the Liberals are moving.

“A referendum is the only way to know how British Columbians feel about it,” Lake said of the HST. “They’ll come much more informed than six months ago.”

He said while Vander Zalm and the NDP claim “the people have spoken” on opposition to the HST, he noted only about 19 per cent of the population signed the initiative.

Fight HST organizer Chris Delaney went into the meeting hoping the committee would immediately refer the petition to the legislature for a free vote.

Former premier Bill Vander Zalm, who led the petition drive, was attending a funeral and didn’t attend the meeting.

Lake’s committee meets Monday afternoon to hear from the chief electoral officer.