I write in response to the recent article in The Morning Star outlining local MLA Eric Foster’s opinions on issues affecting Vernon and B.C. Two comments require a response.
Firstly, the article quotes him as trumpeting the foresight of the health ministry in building the two additional floors on the new hospital addition. The quote stated, “The ministry knew we needed them or they wouldn’t have put those two floors on.”
Selective memory is a wonderful thing.
The reason the two floors were added was not the foresight of the ministry but because of the tremendous effort of the local community opposing the lack of hospital beds in Vernon.
The additional floors were added in response to the furore brought about by the lack of foresight of the ministry.
The second point is that he still supports the HST, saying it is good for business and for consumers. Based on the reports and statistics I have read, the majority of British Columbians do not agree with him. We cannot justify increases in consumer taxes and the subsequent reductions in the disposable income of taxpayers is “good for consumers.”
Mr. Foster is on record as saying that the HST is the single-most effective move that we could make to spur economic recovery and job growth.
The statistical evidence thus far has not supported this view. The December 2010 employment numbers are in and while Canada’s employment numbers were positive overall, B.C.’s unemployment rate increased from 6.9 per cent in November to 7.6 per cent in December.
B.C. lost 22,000 jobs in December, 19,900 of which were full-time positions, and has lost 10,000 jobs in the construction section alone in the last year.
The jobless rate in other Western provinces who don’t have the HST are; Alberta 5.6 per cent, Saskatchewan 5.5 per cent and Manitoba 5.2 per cent.
Is the HST good for business and the consumer? Hardly.
Mark Olsen
