To the Editor,
Though a rural resident, I’ve watched the city’s budget discussions with some interest.
The ideology of this council seems fully disjointed. The collection of garbage and sewage along with the supplying of water must pay its own way—yet the Parks and Recreation branch must not. The entire parks and rec budget manages to get only 25 cents of every dollar from what is charged at the gate. In other words, 75 per cent of their budget comes from the tax collector—extracted from people who don’t use those facilities.
And the tax collector is asked to take your money to fund McLean Mill.
Similarly, considering the state of development in Port Alberni has no one wondered why we are paying for an economic development office? Over the year, all I’ve ever seen from that office is grant applications to higher levels of government.
Again, resorting to the tax collector— and that’s not the way to build a viable economy.
Is there any question that past actions by those in local government have not led to affluence? Is it not time to reconsider the direction being travelled?
Do you believe that you should be taxed in order that the bureaucratic process can determine which business is funded?
It is never too late to turn things around and it can’t be done any sooner.
It is time to be honest with ourselves. The free market supports all who exchange value for value. The free market is the source of our wealth. Give it some thought.
Gary Seinen,
Port Alberni