To the Editor,
Property tax increase stinks but will it be even more if the pulp mill’s welfare checks cease?
If we hadn’t bucked a Liberal prison offer or city council’s BC Hydro generating station, didn’t get stuck with million-dollar paramedic bureaucracy and fund McLean Mill to the tune of $300,000 annually, would tax be less? Hindsight is 100 per cent accurate but can we learn from the past and prepare for lean years?
If we need a museum director, can we award it to the lowest tender just like city, business and homeowners do for roofs and bridges, etc?
Could we cut costs by leveling the public with private sector in wages, benefits and working conditions when CUPE’s contract expires?
If Raven’s 16-year project is only 15 per cent (or less) of the Island’s coal heyday, is it reasonable to assume that under present guidelines, it’ll cause 15 per cent of the environmental damage that Dunsmuir’s dynasty did?
If we built bridges and roofs a thousand times the anticipated loads and exacted zero tolerance rat droppings in food, would costs be prohibitive?
Can coal and shellfish farming coexist as they did when coal was king?
Could pulp and sawmills have been built if they were subject to today’s green standards?
Would we still be in the dark ages and would Echo Centre and the arena have been built?
Will BC government be pressured by the shellfish lobby or license coal for the royalty and drop sales tax like Alberta did?
RJ Frankow,
Port Alberni