Helping Peter while robbing Paul

I would like to respond to Liberal MHA Bernard Davis’s letter, “Protecting our most vulnerable,” published in The Telegram on Sept. 29.

In my opinion, Davis is partially right (or partially wrong) when he says the Ball Liberal government is “committed to protecting the most vulnerable in our communities.”

Yes, the current provincial government has replaced the former HST rebates and Home Heating Rebate Program with the NL Income Supplement and Seniors Benefit, and is using this to assist some of our province’s most vulnerable people. But, there are many vulnerable Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who are hurt by our government’s cutbacks on the former Adult Dental Program, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program and other programs, plus the many tax increase measures by the Dwight Ball-Cathy Bennett-Bernard Davis Liberals.

Wanda White made a excellent point on Facebook on Oct. 5: “Also affecting our ability to have heat next winter will be the assorted array of raised fees and higher taxes, most notably the gasoline tax of 16 cents to take effect June 2, 2016. Although we do not own a vehicle, this (what George Murphy’s refers to as ‘the Chevy Levy’)16 cents/litre increase tax will increase how much we pay to get to and from Carbonear (15-20 kilometres away) to see our doctor, pay bills and get groceries. “Groceries themselves will increase greatly to cover this additional government gouging tax on gas. Increased vehicle registration, too, no doubt, will be passed on to the consumer, in the form of higher cost on foods as will the additional two per cent GST which also gets added to everything we buy or use, including gas and taxable groceries. Now, you might say, what about that new income supplement, won’t that help? It might help some but when you look at and weigh in other factors mentioned above, as well as the shut down of other programs, I see very little to no change at all. In fact I estimate, based on other figures I’ve seen (on CBC, for one) that my husband and I will see our buying ability drop by about $1,000-$1,500 annually. The Liberal government budget will not see us merely ‘falling through the cracks,’ it will be the hand that pushes us through the cracks.”

Bernard Davis, you, the premier and your Liberal colleagues are providing assistance to some of our most vulnerable residents on one hand, but taking increased taxes and fees and cutting our essential social and health-care programs on the other!

And when we say Newfoundland and Labrador is supposedly helping our most vulnerable citizens, whatever happened to our Poverty Reduction Strategy?

There are many vulnerable Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who are hurt by our government’s cutbacks…

Edward Sawdon St. John’s