Following recent confessions that they did not understand their own tax proposals, it is time for the NDP to publicly admit that their platform lacks credibility and, if implemented, would result in devastating job losses in B.C.’s most critical industries, says Finance Minister Colin Hansen.
May 2, 2009
Following recent confessions that they did not understand their own tax proposals, it is time for the NDP to publicly admit that their platform lacks credibility and, if implemented, would result in devastating job losses in B.C.’s most critical industries, says Finance Minister Colin Hansen.
“We’ve learned that the NDP had to do a complete re-write on their $412-million tax on “flaring” by expanding it to “fugitive emissions” because they had no idea what they were taxing. And this is but one of the ‘fugitive omissions’ from the NDP’s tax platform that seem to be escaping each and every day,” says Hansen. “The energy industry is our province’s biggest revenue generator and has supported 34,000 direct and indirect jobs since 2001. This isn’t a game, and for the NDP to think they can just fake their way through these mistakes when jobs are on the line is reckless and irresponsible.”
Hansen notes that this is not the only tax policy that the NDP conveniently omitted telling British Columbians. Other examples include:
- Yesterday it was revealed that the NDP candidates favour a “death tax” on inheritance despite saying in the past they would not do so.
- A hidden $155-million tax on private liquor retailers that would result in a 25 percent increase to prices and threaten thousands of jobs across the more than 650 retail outlets.
- A new tax on log exports that are yet to be defined that could eliminate 2,000 jobs in B.C.’s logging industry.
- New emissions taxes on industry that experts estimate would cumulatively cost 60,000 jobs in our communities.
- Continued threats to undermine the softwood lumber agreement that would threaten thousands of jobs.
- A moratorium on IPPs threatening thousands of jobs and billions in new investment.
- Wage policies that will cost small business $450 million and threaten over 50,000 future jobs.
“Reckless policies and over $1 billion in new taxes in their platform – and that’s just what we’ve known about. And just now we are beginning to realize not only the full impact of those policies but we are also seeing almost every other day a new tax and job threat that British Columbians would have to cope with under an NDP government,” says Hansen.
“The taxpayer is not a bottomless well for the NDP to tap into every time they need more money to fund their spending over-commitments. It’s time for some accountability for this tax-and-spend rollercoaster ride the NDP are taking us on.”
