As taxpayers, here in Columbia River-Revelstoke, you deserve a government that is responsible with your hard-earned tax dollars and ensures that it goes to enhance the services that you need. Unfortunately, seven years of reckless NDP spending has led to a deteriorating healthcare system, reduced public safety, and the affordability crisis that we have all been experiencing.
Shockingly, British Columbia recently received two credit downgrades in a single day. This is the third year in a row that B.C.’s credit rating has dropped.
Each credit downgrade results in less money for services as more money must be spent on B.C.’s debt interest. Your kids and grandchildren will be paying off the NDP’s debt for years to come, and with David Eby as Premier, it’s only expected to get worse. What they don’t seem to understand is that we simply cannot spend more than we make.
It’s embarrassing to think that British Columbia is already the least affordable province in the country. We face North America’s highest gas prices, gas taxes, and most unaffordable housing. Since 2017, the NDP has piled on 32 new and increased taxes, worsening the strain on B.C. families.
It’s disturbing that under this NDP government, more than 50 percent of British Columbians are $200 or less way from being able to pay their bills at the end of every month. The last thing they need is more taxes. What we all need is a government that prioritizes fiscal responsibility and takes decisive actions to resolve the affordability crisis.
BC United, led by Kevin Falcon, is committed to changing this negative fiscal trajectory. We’re committed to cancelling David Eby’s carbon tax hikes – including the one on April 1 – removing the carbon tax on home heating and scrapping it for on-farm fuel. Helping farmers save on operational costs will lead to lower grocery prices for everyone. We will also scrap the provincial fuel tax saving families up to 15 cents per litre every time you fill up.
If you want to make housing more affordable then you need to make it less expensive – it’s just that simple. BC United plans to make housing more affordable include a rent-to-own program allowing more families to enter the housing market, eliminating the provincial sales tax on residential construction so we can build more homes, using empty public land to build more affordable housing, and scrapping the property transfer tax for first-time home buyers up to $1 million to make it easier to save for a home.
These are only the first steps that BC United will take to make your life here in Columbia River-Revelstoke more affordable again. Frankly, life doesn’t have to be this expensive. David Eby’s policies continue to drain our wallets with no relief in sight. We know people are struggling, we hear about it every day.
Folks, United we can fix it and give you a fighting chance.
I want to hear from you about any concerns you have about this or any other issue. I read every email I receive. Please reach out to me at doug.clovechok.mla@leg.bc.ca or call my office in Kimberley at (250) 432-2300 or Revelstoke at (250) 805-0323.
Doug Clovechok
MLA Columbia River - Revelstoke