We're from the Government....

... and we're here to help you....

Right in the middle of the developing mountain view springtime is this news from the centre of the BC universe: our honorable provincial legislators have (at least most of them) decided that they should receive a 29% increase in their income. We wouldn't want to be accused of knee-jerk reactions, so let's review the issues.

The honorable members haven't received much in the way of increases for 10 years, from what I hear. Our representatives do work long hours and many of them need to support two residences. On the other hand, this government (Liberal, they say) is the one that cut the salaries of nurses in this province by 15% and can't manage to find the money to upgrade decrepit, unsafe schools. We won't go into the way recent negotiations with the province's teachers have gone.

So, I have a suggestion: It's my observation that BC has the highest sales tax of the 3 western provinces (yes, even higher than Saskatchewan). Perhaps it's time for a payday for BC residents as well as our honorable legislators. If they can manage the BC economy well enough to allow a decrease in our sales tax, then how about they vote themselves a salary increase as a bonus for a job well done. Oh, one additional thing...most of us in the sticks (ie: anywhere outside of the Lower Mainland and the Island) would really appreciate knowing that our representatives are listening to OUR concerns for once. Health care in the Interior, for example?