Editor:
Sadly, as Canadians, we have blindly accepted that our politicians lie – and they do so because they know they will get away with it.
The Fight HST organization began because of just such a lie.
In my opinion, defending the HST is, in effect, sending a message to our children (and others) that it is okay to lie as long as you get what you want.
If we want politicians to change, we must change our attitudes and hold them accountable for what they say and do.
The average household debt in Canada is $96,000 (Vanier Institute of the Family, February, 2010).
It costs money to carry debt.
When you take money out of consumers’ pockets to service debt, there’s less for them to spend. People are cutting back now.
The HST will only add to consumer debt, fuelling the underground economy.
Everybody loses, including government.
I believe the HST will result in job losses, not gains.
Business owners who think they may benefit from the $1.9-billion tax shift to consumers must realize that they and their families will ultimately pay more for everything from haircuts to houses.
If we divide the $1.9 billion by the province’s population of 4.5 million, we see the HST costing each person $422 per year, or $1,688, on average, for a family of four.
As for the argument that the HST/VAT system is good public policy, how many countries with a VAT are presently in recession, their economies ravaged?
We’ve heard about how great the HST has been for New Brunswick.
Having lived there most of my life, I can tell you that the HST, overall, has been devastating for the province which has a population of 750,000.
MLA wages and all public service salaries have been frozen, with 700 jobs lost or positions unfilled since 2008.
At the moment, New Brunswick is negotiating to sell its utility – NB Power – to Quebec.
The 11 power plants, including a newly refurbished $1.8-billion nuclear plant at Point Lepreau, are being sold out of desperation.
My friends tell me New Brunswick will no longer have control over the price it pays for power – hardly a healthy economy.
If the HST was such a shining example of a better taxation system, why is NB broke and in recession?
It costs $600 million a year to service NB’s debt, and NB Finance Minister Greg Byrne stated earlier this year that the NB power sale will do nothing to lower that debt.
There are certainly examples of HST proponents, but 85 per cent of British Columbians hate the HST.
Some of the groups opposed to the HST include: Consumers Association of Canada, British Columbia Real Estate Association, Canadian Homebuilders Association of Northern B.C., B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association, Council of Tourism Associations, Union of B.C. Municipalities, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, B.C. Government Employees Union, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Community Business and Professionals Association of Canada, and Independent Funeral Directors of B.C.
The recent announcement by B.C. Finance Minister Colin Hansen linking the HST to health care spending – with the province “allocating every dollar from the HST (and four other taxes) to health care” – was largely a public relations spin to make people think the HST dollars were going towards health care.
Weren’t we told last year that the HST was going to be “revenue neutral?”
At least the coming “Fight HST” petition will give citizens a voice and a choice on the HST, something the government hasn’t done.
Paul McCavour,
Fight HST organizer,
Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-March 17, 2010

WEBCASTING CONCEPT NOT GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY

Editor:
To Mayor Stu Wells and council:
I read with alarm that the taxpayers are being asked to fund what has the potential of being a state-controlled propaganda ministry.
Our community is very well served by the private industry which gives us news about council via independent newspapers, radio and television.
The webcasting service can easily become the propaganda organ for council.
As CAO Romanko explains, there will be staff costs.
Taxpayers do not need this extra cost.
He will decide what are “newsworthy” items to be carried.
Therein lurks the danger.
Let the independent news media do the “news” and let council govern and make the news that we will read or see.
Filtering the news is a real threat.
Please govern.
Let others judge what warrants to be news.
Stick to your mandate, make the news and the media will get it to the public.
Stan Stodola,
Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-March 17, 2010

TAPING OF MEETINGS SHOULD BE ALLOWED

Editor:
No video recording allowed of Oliver “Open council” meetings.
Has that made the news in your area?
If not, why not?
Do you think townsfolk will believe council when they talk about transparency in governance?
Most likely not.
Will the Granicus software being selected by Osoyoos and Oliver allow for citizen video?
Do you think the citizens will see through this deception?
Doug Pederson,
Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-March 17, 2010

MOUNTAIN RESIDENTS ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK

Editor:
In response to the article regarding the petition on Anarchist Mountain wishing to leave the regional district, I wish them luck and congratulate them for standing up for their rights.
I was under the impression that in a democratic system that majority ruled and clearly 74 out of 80 is a majority.
And if you can recall the regional mob was created by the provincial government that was in power at that time and the public had no choice in this mob being imposed on us, which makes me question what authority they have and how they got it; it was never approved by the public and certainly not by any majority and never has been.
Not only has this mountain, but the rest of this country, got along quite nicely without regional government and only until the public made their homes and improvements did this regional mob, like a flock of vultures, descend on the people with land use and planning bylaws as if the people can’t do their own planning, and who needs more bylaws.
Good luck in abolishing this mob.
Vern Rexin,
Rock Creek

OSOYOOS TIMES-March 17, 2010