The liberal government's use of crown corporations as a de facto source of tax revenue is wrong and especially hurtful to senior citizen's and others on a fixed income.
I found the quote from minister Bennett," it can be high in some cases and it does affect people who are on fixed incomes and so on."
Glib, flippant and callous. And so on? Really, pretty short shrift for the people that worked in this province all their lives and paid to build the hydro system that affords us all low rates.
Minister Bennett goes on to say we're fortunate to have such low rates, (not luck, we paid for it) and that we should simply conserve power to reduce the hit. It shows how out of touch minister Bennett and likely his government is to the plight of seniors trying to survive and all out assault by all levels of government on our pocket books.
Does minister Bennett think that seniors trying to cope with rate increases about 10 times the rate of inflation are wasting power? They are more likely sitting in a darkened house with the temperature set at 60 degrees wearing a sweater trying to read a book by candle light and enjoying a second cup of tea brewed on the same tea bag.
This government has taken half a billion dollars from BC Hydro and more from other crown corporations. BC hydro could fund the much ballyhooed infrastructure upgrades needed over the next five years with the current rate structure in place.
The government should use the income tax system for the revenue they need to run the province which is indexed so that low income citizens pay less than the wealthy.
This government's use of crown corporations for general revenues is an insensitive attack on the seniors of this province. Nothing less than a smokescreen to avoid raising taxes and clearly designed to improve their chances of re-election. I hope seniors will remember "and so on" when voting day arrives.
Peter Bernier
Prince George
