The Progress editorial of Aug. 30, much like the comments coming from Chilliwack’s MLA’s, tends to blame BC voters for the painful financial mess the province has found itself. I blame the mess on those who mismanaged our tax money, and I believe that our politicians are missing the message sent by the destruction of BC’s HST.
People are taxed enough already. It doesn’t matter if it appears as a tax on something we believe to be bad for us (cigarettes and alcohol) or something that will cure the dying planet (the dreaded carbon footprint), or if it appears as a fee for buying and using auto tires or an electrical product. Politicians are masters of hiding tax increases and creating new taxes for innovative new initiatives that are for everyone’s safety or welfare. People will no longer accept the deceit and they will give no more of their families’ income to be squandered.
The Progress asks, ‘So now what?’ How will we fund our province? We could revisit the financial carnage of the BC Rail Deal and all its accompanying hullaballoo. There has to be a few million that could be clawed back here. The severance packages of the BC Rail CEO’s, announced in the last few days, speaks volumes about how easily the tax money flows to those on the inside. That Golden Ears Bridge Deal has drained off $62 Million in the last 2 years. I cringe to think of what the total losses and interest charges will add up to if BC is ever able to pay off that P3 Project. The Vancouver Convention Centre, BC Place Roof Replacement, Fast Ferries,... the high priced list goes on and on. Government spends our tax money as if we were not providing military training in Afghanistan, we were not helping Libya with their regime change, and we were not planning to help out Syria and Iran.
There is plenty of tax revenue to serve BC and Canada. We are lacking prudent financial managers. The failure of BC voters to accept the HST is the message that directs our elected public servants to quit whining, and help us build a bright future with the money we have already given. So get at it!
Gary Raddysh
Chilliwack BC