Get to the core of housing problem

Re: “Ex-premiers rail against housing taxes,” column, June 13. The comments by B.C. Finance Minister Carole James and Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps sum up nicely what is wrong with the direction of politics in B.C.

James accuses fearmongers of wanting “to sell properties in B.C.’s urban core to offshore millionaires.” Well, then, target only offshore millionaires. How did business people willing to put risk capital into building needed housing become the enemy?

Helps was even more outrageous when she was quoted saying: “Increasing the capital gains tax would be a better way of raising money from speculators.” I wasn’t aware that our goal was to find a better way to raise money. I thought we were trying to build housing.

What about the long-term owner who decides to downsize from a house? All those juicy capital gains. But hey, they must be rich and successful, so our governments scheme to bleed them. And if I am young and want to trade up for my growing family, the market increase will be greater than my post-capital gains increase.

Instead of James battling the wrong enemy and Helps confiscating property-owner wealth, how about focusing on regional transportation and creating jobs by supporting businesses, including developers? More transit access, good jobs and homes could also raise government revenue and give beneficiaries a greater sense of purpose and personal responsibility than confiscation and tax increases just to build low-cost government housing on a public park.

Time for fresh ideas with a new council. James Campbell Victoria