I do find it interesting how the Provincial NDP party, the great protector of the average working-class person has changed.
When faced with the opportunity to do a good thing and join in the Federal Governments reduction of
heating oil carbon tax they have stayed the course of taxing those with no alternative; they have
decisively turned their backs on those who most need help at this time.
Let me explain; oil heating is a small percentage of the heating energy in B.C. but serves farming
ranching and other primarily more remote rural areas. These are also the areas that have the lowest
income levels, the least dependable electric delivery services and no possibility of natural gas service
due to low density of population. This is a similar situation for Atlantic Canada and was the reason for
the push to remove the heating oil carbon tax there.
The NDP making billions from its race to expand natural gas service has jumped into bed with its corporate masters demanding concessions on natural gas taxation. But what concessions are they asking for as B.C. has its own carbon taxation system and has the ability to make these changes on its own. The NDP has turned decisively away from its past support of the working and middle class. They have become an institution solely dedicated to increasing its partnership with environmental and corporate lobby groups under the veil of safety and conservation; while turning a blind eye to the larger more affluent carbon hogs. Truly our system staggers under the weight of poorly thought-out taxations andregulations all the while ignoring the growing symptoms of an overburdened average citizenry.
A growing split in Provincial opposition, gently prodded on by the NDP pretty much dooms us to a continuation of the status quo and further misery for the “middle class”.
“May you live in interesting times.” Is a Chinese curse.
Rick Knodel
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