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Stop infernal ever-increasing taxes and fees

This was supposed to be a 'Family Friendly Government' as was the campaign slogan of Premier Christy Clark

Editor, The News:

On the same day that Energy Minister Bill Bennett announces to the people of BC that B.C. Hydro will be getting a 5 year increase of 25 per cent in electricity costs, we hear from “First call” who are reporting that B.C. has the highest child poverty rates in Canada.

Ever since this ridiculous “Smart Meter Program” came along many, many hydro Customers have been expressing their concerns as to the path which B.C. Hydro has been on.

A good chunk of these increases are going directly to the B.C. Government. This was supposed to be a “Family Friendly Government” as was the campaign slogan of Premier Christy Clark. Now we see just how family friendly the Liberals really are.

They let B.C. Hydro take food from the mouths of babes. They allow local governments such as our District of Maple Ridge increase our property taxes 3.5 per cent per year for the next three years, directly taking food and shelter from the children of the community as their parents can no longer afford the house they reside in and find it necessary to sell that home.

They could make changes to the Local Government Act to put a stop to these atrocious salaries paid to the backroom elites who think they run the show.

They allow ICBC to increase Auto Plan premiums without any regard to the plight of the indigent, the elderly people on fixed incomes, those who find themselves disabled and also on fixed income.

So, my dear Premier, what of the plight of the children? What of the plight of the parent(s) who need to choose between nutritious food, ( three meals a day), and paying the hydro bill? What of the great, golden natural gas windfalls you were counting on with overseas sales to then help keep our hydro rates reasonable?

I guess our premier rakes in plenty for herself every year and need not concern herself  with the plight of the poor, the indigent, people on fixed incomes.

It would appear she is happy with these uncalled for increases in our daily costs of living or she would put her foot down and take a different approach. I remember a slogan from the 1980s election campaign referring to the Social Credit Party which aptly applies to today. It goes like this: “I’m alright Jack”. (as spoken from the premier).

When will these infernal, ever increasing taxes, fees and levies ever stop?

 

Mike Boileau

Maple Ridge