Dear editor,
What are the solutions to our financial crisis as I see it?
The solutions are simple and many, but I doubt there is the political will to see them through, at least as it is today. I am really worried about the costs to our future generations.
As with everything else we have to start at the top. All levels of governments have to reduce in upper management personnel, and reduce the outrageous benefits and wages of all public service sectors.
Canadian pensions must be regulated so that all employees get the same amounts and need the same qualifications as do the politicians and the bureaucrats. Limit private pensions, thereby making employers pay a bit more towards a good Canadian plan equal in size and qualifications to all.
Taxing the rich to pay the poor is not the answer. It is better to have very high incomes taxed at a higher rate, but please don’t upset the entrepreneurs and small businesses whom we depend on in this economy.
There is a need for simple, honest government accounting practices, unlike that of BC Hydro, ICBC, BC Ferries, etc. Overhaul all public corporations and departments, reduce wages to upper employees and cut their perks and severance packages, and freeze the wages to the lower employees to an adequate and fair amount.
Why do we fund the public coffers with what we needlessly pay more for, like Hydro, Auto insurance, Ferry rates and other utilities like gas? Natural gas prices have never been lower, yet we are facing a sizable increase for its consumption, as with the continual increases in petrol prices because of different departments needing more tax money, and Hydro rates sky rocketing to fuel more money for private placements and smart (dumb) meters etc.
B.C. has many resources the rest of the world needs and we must use that revenue to pay for and upgrade our health care and education. Don’t give them away.
Forget the major pipelines and build a government-owned refinery along a major route to the coast, and, with strict controls, ship by rail and tankers.
Economically the simplest solution is “cut, cut, cut," especially in the public service.
Albert Land,
Comox