A bit of ‘This and That’ from the news

My apologies … I have been busy with CA meetings for the Kamloops North and South Thompson CA’s … the Public Town Hall meeting in Clearwater with John Cummins tomorrow night ... and the founding meeting of our Fraser Nicola CA which takes place on Saturday. 

That means todays blog post will be a bit of ‘This and That’ from the news over the past couple of days.  Let’s start out with a story from Jordan Bateman OF the Canadian Taxpayers Federation;

“Outrageous B.C. Gas Taxes Keep Economy in Neutral”

If the federal and B.C. governments are as hungry to spark job creation as their expensive TV commercials and overseas trips make it appear, they should cut the taxes on gas.

Taxes now make up nearly one-third of the cost of gasoline, which both penalize drivers and raise the cost of any good or service moved by a vehicle. Leaving more of that money in drivers’ pockets to spend anywhere but on government, simply makes sense.

Lower Mainland drivers pay the highest gas tax on the continent—more than 49 cents per litre. In Victoria, the tax burden is almost 41 cents, while the rest of British Columbia sits at the national average of 37 cents per litre.

CLICK HERE to read the full story.

Next up, is the “The great Hydro cost coverup” by Vaughn Palmer of the Vancouver Sun

As the B.C. Utilities Commission moved this spring to hold public hearings on the B.C. Liberals' controversial electricity plans, the government mounted a rearguard action to drag the process back behind closed doors.

… the process is the formal name for what is essentially a backroom deal, brokered by the regulator with Hydro and the industry and consumer groups that make up the bulk of the players at any public hearing.

Had the commission gone along, the public hearings, set for a minimum three weeks starting June 18, would likely have been cancelled. Much to the relief of the Liberals, who - I'm told - lobbied hard to make sure they never happened …

CLICK HERE to read the full story.

And here’s one from Keith Baldrey, “Politics plus booze could lead to disaster”

One of the more puzzling, if not downright suspicious, moves by the BC Liberal government is its out-of-the-blue insistence on privatizing the Liquor Distribution Branch.

It has led to speculation that other major changes to the province's liquor policies are on the way - potentially paving the way for raising the price of booze and perhaps closing some government liquor stores as well.

Whenever a government appears to be in its dying days and its politicians start tinkering with liquor policies, my political antennae start quivering. Mixing politics and liquor can be a potent recipe for disaster (remember the Knight Street pub scandal?)

The government has yet to provide any business case for privatizing the LDB. The NDP's critic, Shane Simpson, has asked repeatedly in the legislature for any details supporting the sale, but has been rebuffed by the minister responsible, Rich Coleman, at every turn.

The privatization scheme appears rushed, without much thought given to the ramifications. Coleman has admitted the decision to sell the branch was only made a week before the February budget was tabled.

CLICK HERE to read the full story.

I’m Alan Forseth in Kamloops … and that’s all for the moment.