Tax system unfair
The recent news that Nova Scotia is falling behind in attracting people should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with our property tax system. Minister John MacDonell says the Provincial Valuation Service Corporation and our capping system "protect Nova Scotians from sudden and dramatic tax increases." However, the property tax system exposes anyone who has moved within or to the province since 2006 to higher annual taxes indefinitely.
Immigrants, anyone who moves home, and all future generations of home buyers in the province will be fully exposed to the escalating valuations put on properties by the PVSC. Are these people, including our children, not Nova Scotians?
Only an act of the legislature can change this system, and the NDP government must take full reponsibilty for its recent five-year review, and failure to take any action despite advice from full-time staff in the Association of Nova Scotia Municipalities.
The PVSC, of course, is "just doing its job," at an annual cost of over $16 million, when it hikes assessments rapidly, regardless of the lack of services provided for the taxes or the consequences of its actions. Newcomers to our province and young people will face a hostile property tax system until the government has the guts and economic sense to make changes before too much damage is done.
Philip Boyle, Kentville
Priorities must change
Workplace accidents seem to be on the rise in our province and I don’t think you have to be a doctor, or a politician, to figure out why. It’s stress — for workers, it is getting harder and harder to see a positive end in sight anymore.
Every time we turn around, taxes, gas prices and power bills are increasing, along with just about everything else. We are not all like some of the big CEOs, making hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. They don’t have to deal with the day-to-day worries of making ends meet.
The days when seniors could survive on Old Age Security and CPP are gone, especially when they are facing fuel, power, food and drug costs that are becoming out of reach. Which are they supposed to sacrifice?
A person works hard their entire life and then they have to worry about just being able to pay the bare necessities of life. It’s time for our government to work for the ordinary people, not just the big companies and big shareholders. Start thinking about the people out there working two and sometimes three jobs just to put food on their tables and a roof over their heads.
Our government priorities need to change. Start keeping more of our money in our own country and look after our own people. Stop worrying about who can build the biggest buildings or the conference centres, and worry more about making life available for all to live without the constant stress of not knowing if there will be enough money to cover our needs.
Claude Warren, Dartmouth
Enough is enough
I am getting so sick and tired of having to read about another unionized bunch of workers in either the private or public sector crying for more! Take a look around you, people. You all have it pretty good compared to the average non-unionized Nova Scotian.
Take, for instance, the Oland Brewery worker who is making $69,000 per year, but that’s not enough. Now the hospital and university workers want more. When will enough be enough?
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should! Unions had their place in bygone days. Now they are like the Mafia holding us all for ransom until they get what they want, whether it’s warranted or not.
A.Y. MacDonald, St. Andrews
Essential service
For some, the transit strike is an inconvenience while for countless others, it is directly affecting the quality of their lives. As a person living with a disability, if I can’t walk or get a ride somewhere, I simply don’t go. It wouldn’t take much in cab fare to eat up the $70 Community Services allocates for a bus pass.
The situation can be isolating for people living on a fixed income. Those who are prone to depression are bound to suffer. It’s winter. It’s not as if people can sit in the park. They can’t get on the bus and go to the mall. They’re unable to get to medical appointments or access support networks. They’re stuck. Mayor Kelly, I urge you to open your eyes and look at the detriment this strike is causing vulnerable people.
Public transit should be an essential service.
Sass Minard, Dartmouth
Mayor deserves respect
Mayor Peter Kelly has been in politics for 24 years now, so he must have done a lot of things right for all of us. He does a lot of volunteer work that he doesn’t brag about.
He is human and we all make mistakes; he has admitted his and apologized. You don’t see him running down others. He shows respect and he should be given the same by us.
I’ve seen him every week at Halifax City Hall for the last few years, being a willing listener to everyone and always respectful. He is a proper gentleman.
Instead of writing nasty things about him, get to know the man by coming to City Hall meetings and observing. Keep an open mind. He works 364 days a year for us and is under a lot of stress. Why not thank him for caring?
The HRM councillors and staff also work hard on our behalf, so they should be thanked as well. We elected them. Show some respect.
Mary B. Walsh, Dartmouth
No wonder people protest
After reading the most recent blood-pressure-raising information about Emera/Nova Scotia Power, relating to the granting of many thousands of stock units and "performance share units" to the senior executive team headed by Huskilson and Bennett, I found it impossible not to comment.
These perks are in addition to exorbitant salaries and bonuses paid to this crowd already, and are in the wake of many rate increases, record profits just announced, and a recent layoff of 40 or so lower-level staff. In addition, it was recently reported that CEO Huskilson netted a cool $2.25 million by exercising accumulated stock options — nice Christmas gift!
If any Nova Scotians have doubts about the reasons that spawned the Occupy Wall Street movements and the like, here we have a home-grown example to consider.
Doug Spencer, Bedford
Complaints fall on deaf ears
In following the "Voice of the People" in your newspaper on a daily basis, I would dare to say that Nova Scotia Power receives more criticism and complaints than any other subject, except HRM Mayor Peter Kelly of late.
The unfortunate part is that neither one seems to hear us or if they do, the comments fall on deaf ears.
We have not seen any reduction in power rates, only increases that cannot be afforded by many fixed-income Nova Scotians; and Mayor Kelly does not seem to have heard about the hardship the people of Halifax-Dartmouth are going through during the bus drivers’ strike — but certainly, the director and general manager of Metro Transit, with their reported incomes, can’t be facing financial hardship.
Time and time again, we will see large salaries paid, at the common people’s expense. This won’t change. We live in a democracy and while we have freedom of speech, apparently those who should listen don’t.
Drew Preston, Wolfville
