Use taxes, not tolls to fund new bridges in fair manner
Everybody loves paying sale prices. So it puzzles me why so many people are happy paying double or more for bridge tolls.
Delta Mayor Lois Jackson’s idea about charging $1 on all metro bridges sounds fair, but is it a good deal for taxpayers?
Something like half of tolls pay for the equipment and administration to collect them. That is the opposite of a sale price.
If the TransLink fare-gate project or the Port Mann Bridge taught us anything, it is that cost estimates are often overshot and programs aren’t as efficient as planned.
It would be cheaper to collect the money needed for new bridges through taxes.
Hans Opelka, North Vancouver
Bridge is for big business
I challenge Premier Christy Clark’s government to remove the tolls from all Metro Vancouver bridges eight weeks to study how traffic flow would be affected by putting a $1 toll on all crossings as suggested by Delta Mayor Lois Jackson.
If it proves to be successful, it will save billions of dollars on the proposed new Deas Islands crossing. The money saved could be spent on B.C. children, who are our future, and on other projects that could make B.C. stronger.
I believe the proposed bridge to replace the George Massey Tunnel is being built for corporations, not for the public. If the bridge is built, the river will be dredged, so larger ships and tankers can come, damaging the environment.
Robert McLean, Ladner
Equalization isn’t fair
This year, the “have-not” provinces will receive increased equalization payments from Ottawa, while “have” provinces such as B.C. will continue to pay for this largesse.
Quebec will receive more than $10 billion this year. Since the equalization program began, Quebec has received more than $200 billion, which that province uses to provide rich social programs for its citizens, such as the cheapest daycare and post-secondary education in North America.
Quebec is a large province with a wealth of resources, much like B.C. It doesn’t deserve the wealth redistribution that the equalization program provides. B.C., with its higher cost of living, doesn’t deserve the wealth confiscation that the program requires.
Readers may wish to address the inequities of equalization with their MPs.
Jeff St. Gelais, Victoria
Cash deals should be tracked
The big issue in B.C.’s real estate market is the use of cash to buy properties.
Fintrac — the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada — should look into all cash purchases to try to stop the open money-laundering.
It amazes me that cash deposits of $5,000 or more into bank accounts are tracked, but government doesn’t seem to care about cash real estate payments. Are they addicted to receiving the property transfer tax?
Ed Rogers, Coquitlam
Show me the money
I’m the same age as Paul Kershaw’s mother and while I support the premise of his op-ed Sunday that younger people may be getting the short end of the stick, I wonder where I can queue up to receive the $21,000 a year he says Ottawa will spend on me.
David Musser, New Westminster
Here’s another tulip tip
Another tip for displaying tulips is to poke a pinhole through each stem just below the head. The tulips won’t droop. That, along with a penny in the water, will help you enjoy these beautiful flowers as long as possible.
Jeff Laurie, Langley