Open letter to Premier Clark, and Ministers Fassbender and de Jong:
I’m sorry, but your “reasons” for not settling the dispute over public education in B.C. are simply not credible.
You claim the BCTF is asking for unreasonable settlements, but in reality they are only asking for some of what has been taken out of the education budget since 2002.
You claim B.C. cannot afford to settle this dispute. The reality is the economy is growing, there is a budget surplus, and you have money in the bank. Our money, in fact.
You say that taxpayers don’t want a tax increase. That is mostly true; however, taxpayers are more concerned with their tax dollars being wasted than paying for things that really matter, like education and health care.
A $600 million dollar roof for a stadium that only benefits private business interests is a waste of tax dollars. Did you notice it’s leaking again?
Cutting corporate taxes to nearly the lowest level in North America, with the excuse that businesses will use the savings to reinvest in the economy is also a waste. Canada Revenue Agency and the IRS show that most of that money, amounting to trillions across North America, is being held in offshore tax havens, not being reinvested in the economy.
You are literally selling the future of our kids, our economy and our society to benefit a few large corporate friends. There is nothing wrong with corporations making a profit, but not at the expense of taxpayers.
Your claims are demonstrably false. Court rulings have proven that you have no intention of bargaining in good faith.
You will find yourselves on the wrong side of history. Your legacy will be to irreversibly damage the fabric of our society.
Is that really what you want to be remembered for?
Jeff Nelson
