Aé - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 26, 2003 CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD The Mail Bag Warning: Gas attack March 1 Dear Sir: The 3.5 cent per litre increase in our gas taxes effec- . tive March 1 is just another example of the Gordon Campbell Liberals’ economic failure. Every time you fill up at the gas pumps remember the math. Campbell is running massive deficits, Tax cuts are not paying for themselves as he promised, The new era of prosperity is on permanent hold. Rural! B.C. economies are being devastated, He needs money and can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. It all gocs back to the lynch pin of his economic plan, tax cuts. If you made $30,000 per year you gat a tax cut of $500; if you made $150,000 per year your tax cut was. $5,800. It gets more unequal when you go higher on the income scale. The top 8,000 income earners in B.C. got an average reduction in their laxes of about $25,000 each. The Campbell government then increased Medicare coverage for eyeglasses, physiotherapists, chiropractors and a host of other “auxiliary services.” They increased MSP premiums by 50 per cent and increased the sales tax from 7 per cent to 7.5 per cent. They reduced ser- vices to those less able to pay for them to the point thal iwo-thirds of British Columbians are worse off than be- fore and we have not bepun to consider those who are unemployed as a result of the cuts in services. The tax benefits to the high income sector are yearly and the impact on government coffers compounded. Campbell’s gas tax increase is a cash grab from those who can afford it least, If you do the math for a fa- mily in the north that drives “i _ an average 10,000kms with The tax bene an average economy ear, fits to the high IN- the extra cost will be about come sector are $200 per year. It is more if yearly and the im- you drive a larger vehicle or pact on govern- 2 truck as many in the north ment coffers com- It is even more with the ” pounded. longer distances most north- erners drive. The 66 per cent of B.C. taxpayers who had a net loss income since ‘Campbell started his economic plan and before the gas tax increase have now increased in number after the new gas tax. The gas tax is expected to raise some $200 million dollars. We are to feel good about it because it will all go into the highways budget. Before Campbell that and much more came out of general revenue. But the biggest insult is that the $200 million more | that we all get to pay in gas taxes is equal to the total lax cut benefit. shared between the top 8,000 income earners, those making more than $250,000 per year. Remember the math and remember’ those’ poor unfor- tunates making more than $250,000 a-year:when you fill up after March 1 and then ask yourself: “Have [ had en- ough yet?” Helmut Giesbrecht, Terrace, B.C. a * Stop complaining Dear Sir: I would suggest that many of the letter writers lo your newspaper with complaints about the Social Credit right wing Campbell government which masquerades under the Liberal banner, should buy themselves baby soothers and bigger crying towels. They deserve exactly what they voted for, Fred Glover, Terrace, B.C. Take the Guesswork Out of Your RRSP Investment Strategy Professional financial advice has never been more important than it is today. Northline Financial Services offers: « Assistance in creating @ financial strategy to meet your financial goals * Afull range of investment products and services Including mutual funds, stocks, bonds and annuities Veena! theo . orthline Financial Services foe’ Agency Lid. Nortiline Financial Services Agency Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Northern Savings Credit Union CARTIER PARTNERS Tiretalk _ -Let’s not jump to too many conclusions regard- ing ambulance tires just yet. (“Winter tire news Dear Sir: Terrace Bottla Depot 3098 Kofoed Drive Terrace, BC Recycle, Recyclo, Recycle. ’ Bring In all your glass, plastic and cardboard containers, came as a surprise,’ story, Feb. 5, 2003.) j Those same all-season tires have to perform | many functions in the day to day service. , Those same tires have to withstand subslandard roads conditions where they have to be puncture- . proof, be able to perform at high rates of speed on any highway whether the road is hot or cold, wet or frozen. They must also be able to carry more than re- quired loads and be able to give a long service life ‘to the ambulances. _ .To require just “winter service” would be a dis- serve. Bill Braam, Terrace, B.C, Rich Toomey Congratulations on 25 years with the Bank i halped a client.” “Thank you.” and high quality businass consulting. sy Hardon (250), 627. 3612 - PRINCE RUPERT { Tarrace Bottle Depot undar the ownership of Shifey Lavole and John Taylor, had this to say about Rich Toomey, Account Manager, BDC: “Congratulations on your 25 years wilh the Bank Rich. We came as nervous as anybody could be, looking for aloan. You made us comfortable and be BDC offars a unique blend of business fnanchg Qppe Banque de développement du Canada Rich Toomey, Account Manager 9233 Emarson Streat Terrace, BC - V8G SL2 Phone (250 615-5317 Fax (250) 615-5320 1-800-663-5035 rich.toomey@bac.ca www. bde.ca 599 Maxwell House Coffee 1 kg, First 3 sors CAL soy WEE Post Jumbo Cereal : . Shreddies or Honeycomb, ¥ Kraft Salad Dressing 800 to 1240g 7852 Selected Varieties, 475 mL rasce-s card price ~ card price 19 First 4 rz7si-6 ’ card price card price Lancia Pasta’ All Varieties, 900g, . \ 99. SO MUCH Mope IN STORE Prices effective from Wednesday to Saturday, February 26 to March 1, 2003. Business Development Bank of Canada. A