Opinion

In July of this year, B.C. Hydro and Fortis will embark upon a $1 billion plus venture to replace every analog hydro meter in the province with a wireless smart electrical meter.

Let’s assume that when everyone in B.C. gets to be finance minister for a day, a majority choose to throw a $3-billion chair through the office window to show how mad they are about the harmonized sales tax. The cleanup will take two years, but first there will be a provincial election to decide who holds the broom and dustpan. And the choices are becoming clear.

It’s no secret that the tourism industry in B.C. has struggled with how to respond to the harmonized sales tax. However, in light of the proposed two-per-cent reduction, it is clear to the Tourism Industry Association of B.C. that the HST will be good for B.C.’s tourism economy in the long run.

The tax dollars the province needs to pay for programs and services does not change because our politicians arbitrarily change the way they collect those taxes and what they call them.

I believe it is important that as members of Parliament we not only listen to the concerns of the citizens who elect us, but also that we share those concerns in Ottawa as well.

I would like to begin this week in offering my sincere condolences to all who were involved in the tragedy north of Summerland last week.

As a current employee of Summerland Waste and a future employee of BFI I felt compelled to write in after I read Gwen Redfern’s letter regarding the new yard waste bag policy.

Opponents of the HST can't seem to resist making the tax sound worse than it really is.

The Tourism Industry Association of B.C. has struggled with the impact of the harmonized sales tax, but supports it at a reduced rate.