Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Story Reference:   Liberals move to deliver tax cut they say will help 20 million Canadians . Finance minister says new measure will lower taxes for people earning less than about $150K a year This is a classic exercise in making an announcement of doing (almost) nothing. The Basic Personal Amount (BPA) for personal federal income tax 2018 was $11,809, increasing to $12,069 for 2019, and scheduled to be $12,298 for 2020. According to Finance Minister Bill Morneau, the increase from 2020 to 2023 will be from $12,069 (2019) to $15,000 by 2023 spread over four years -- that works out to about $733 per year.  The 2020 BPA will be $12,802 rather than $12, 298 -- or an increase of $504.  Morneau is adding complexity to an already incomprehensible Tax Act. At a basic tax rate of 15% a taxpayer will save ($504 x .15 =) $75.60 or $6.30 per month in 2020. That will not offset carbon taxes or other pressured on increases in cost of living. There is...

Yesterday, the BC NDP government of Premier John Horgan, announced that ... o il and gas companies in British Columbia will be forced to reveal to consumers how gas prices are set, as a result of new legislation that was introduced.    Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology, stated: “ It’s incredibly frustrating to watch the price of gas shoot up for no reason, and British Columbians are tired of feeling ripped off whenever they fill up their vehicles.   This legislation sends a message to oil and gas companies: the days of setting your prices in total secrecy have come to an end .” According to the BC Conservative Party however, current and previous governments are the problem.   Party leader Trevor Bolin itemized a number of reasons for high prices including ... a serious lack of refineries, lack of services, lack of foresight and continued tax grabs for the past three decades. “ In the same past decades...