You could hardly be faulted for viewing last week’s B.C. government Throne Speech through glasses that are not at all rosy coloured.
We are, after all, only 83 days away from a general election.
So, there’s that.
Yay, gang, we hear from our somewhat long-in-the-tooth Liberal government.
Guess what? There’s a $2.2-billion surplus in this year’s budget.
Yay.
Also, guess what? We’re going to give money back to you!
After all, as you can read in the Throne Speech itself, “That money belongs to you” and “your government is now in a position to pay you back.”
No details were proffered, however, on how you, the taxpayer, will be paid back.
Tax cut shell games? Chickens in pots? Huge tax credits for people who donate to political parties? Who knows?
The obvious conclusion one can arrive at is this: If the government is hoarding a $2.2-billion surplus, then the government must have collected at least $2.2 billion more in taxes than it should have. B.C. Premier Christy Clark has said as much, but spins as a campaign talking point.
“What you’re going to see in the coming weeks is a contrast in the legislature between those who’d like to take the surplus and grow government, make it bigger, figure out how they can spend your money better than you can, and those of us who believe that when we have a surplus, it means we are taking too much money from people in their taxes,” said Clark.
Any way you look at it, the trap has been set for cash-strapped voters looking for financial relief any way they can get it.
Some say money can buy anything. In this case, it’s clear that your government wants to use your money to try to buy your vote on May 9.
-Surrey Now
