Dear Editor:

This letter is directed to Todd Stone, B.C.’s Minister of Highways and Transportation.

You have recently announced many millions of dollars worth of changes to our highway system in southern B.C. I have not seen much need for them.

The walking paths around Kaleden are not going to help handicapped people as they have no money to get outside.

If I remember correctly, they only get $940 per month and there hasn’t been an increase over the last 10 years.

What was your wage increase this past year?

B.C. seniors have seen a drastic decrease in their income as your department deleted the free ferry service for seniors during non-peak hours.

Your government has increased hydro rates beyond sight and taxes have increasingly continued to climb since your government has been elected.

Penticton Regional Hospital tower expansion was promised to start construction in 2014, but there has been no announcement so far.

This is the end of July and it seems that highways are more important that people’s lives. Penticton Regional Hospital has not had an upgrade for many years and badly needs one now. The hospital is overcrowded. The staff are beyond belief for the great service they provide under these trying conditions.

My suggestion to help get your government’s costs under control include:

• Cut all MLAs salaries in half.

• Cap all provincial civil servants’ salaries at $100,000 per year (except overtime when needed).

• No golden handshake for any government employee.

• All MLAs, heads of Crown corporations, senior government employees receive Canada Pension Plan benefits only.

I know this will not meet with your approval, but many people believe that government costs are out of control.

By doing this cost cutting, other provinces who give pay raises when B.C. does, will have to take another look at their financial picture. Now that you have saved all of this money, can the Premier announce that the Pentiction Regional Hospital tower will be built before the new bridge across Okanagan Lake around West Bank is built?

W. A. Milner

Oliver, B.C.

(Editor’s Note: B.C. Premier Christy Clark announced last week that the provincial government would be contributing $160 million for a massive expansion and upgrade to the Penticton Regional Hospital. The entire cost of the project will be $325 million.