Re: 鈥淗omeowners must apply for spec-tax exemptions,鈥� Jan. 16.
I can鈥檛 express strongly enough my opposition to and disgust with this latest addition to the speculation-tax fiasco.
A week ago, I was at a public meeting and commended Premier John Horgan鈥檚 leadership and the government鈥檚 action through its re-entry into the West Coast fisheries arena, and I鈥檝e been cautiously optimistic about other initiatives he and the government have undertaken. However, when the speculation tax and its ever-changing iterations were announced, I聽saw it as nothing more than a thinly disguised, targeted cash grab.
But this tax-exemption registration requirement wins the government stupidity contest hands down, not only for sa国际传媒 but for anything I鈥檝e seen in Canadian politics. All the goodwill the government built up with this longtime sa国际传媒 and Canadian non-speculative homeowner went right out the window.
Since when did the solution to a minor problem require all citizens who own homes in the targeted areas to prove each year that they are not speculative pariahs who are driving up prices, and in so doing are preventing the less fortunate from acquiring reasonably priced housing? This needs to be handled on a case-by-case basis.
This goofy plan needs to be sent back to the drawing board. The plan needs to be stopped immediately or the government will pay for it dearly at the polls.
Tom Davis
Colwood
