Dear editor,
I have seen some of the other county residents are very unhappy with this government continuing to implement policies that are not providing any real benefits to Alberta, the latest carbon tax (PST). Please keep up the good work in publishing these letters, as others seem to only publish politicians’ brainwashing party line, 90 per cent NDP. In particular this week quoting how many corporations are supporting without detailing how the support was given, in particular listing Cenovus. Essentially the corporations will end up making more money. Here is an article link to CBC, very good posts http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-climate-change-policy-cenovus-ceo-1.3330956.
As to my previous letter that was published in your paper, to date I have not received any kind of response back from the premier’s office, even a response that that they will take into consultation. NDP feel that their program is the way to go, without any public forums, consultation on other ways to achieve similar results without the hardships, and admin costs. Your published example using gas guzzling vehicles purchase to subsidize low carbon vehicles is what I was alluding to. Well written.
I think a way to help people understand how the carbon tax will affect them, they need to look at Tax Freedom Day. I believe it will be adding 15 - 30 days to the average household as they try to reach this day, and this does not include the additional tax of $6 to $10 billion wealth transfer to the feds via the very flawed transfer payment program, that for some reason the Notley government will not touch. Borrowing money to give to the provinces so they can support their industries and have better daycare and education support? As I calculate it our Tax Freedom Day from Alberta will be 15 to 30 days later because of this tax, maybe this is how an average Albertan can see the change without all the political ballyhoo and start to fight back!
The Wild Rose Party have a petition ( http://www.taxoneverything.ca) to hold a referendum on this carbon tax which was not on the election platform, not to mention shuttering coal fired electricity. This program is outright election fraud, and I do not understand how any such government can remain in power, as they would not have won with this was on their platform! Any other business advertising like this or listed on stock exchange would have charges brought against them as the results they so called achieved had nothing to do with the actual platform. They have not published or indicated in any way what the cost will be to administer this tax, and also if the cheques issued to so called “lower income” people will be clawed back in taxes.
Any ways, I’m not quite sure how to have the above observations be introduced to the public, in such a way as people start to wake up and take notice. The average individual does not seem to realize exactly what is happening, that control over their lives is being taken away though wealth transfer programs, your election choices being bought with your taxpayer money in subsidy programs to special interest groups, draconian search and seizure laws (this week’s editorial Pipestone letter), forced workers compensation on fully ensured farmers, creation to this date of an additional parasitic six per cent public sector positions on your dime, excessive government traveling and operations budgets exceeding even the gold plated Redford years.
Bob Grier, Leduc County