ANNOUNCEMENT ON RAIL TAX RELIEF “DECEPTIVE”: NDP MLA
Nov 27, 2008
THE PROVINCE HAS ANNOUNCED IT'S COMMITTING $5,000,000 DOLLARS TOWARDS PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND A NEW STUDY OF THE E&N RAIL CORRIDOR.
BUT NDP OPPOSITION MLA JOHN HORGAN SAYS THAT'S NOT REALLY THE CASE.
HORGAN SAYS 4.5 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF THE MONEY WAS POTENTIAL LIABILITY FOR ESQUIMALT AND NANAIMO BELT TAXES.
HORGAN SAYS BELT TAXES ARE AN OLD, ANTIQUATED PIECE OF LEGISLATION WHICH HASN’T BEEN USED IN DECADES.
“THE PRESS RELEASE AGAIN IS A BIT DECEPTIVE – IT SAYS 5-MILLION DOLLARS. THE 4.5-MILLION IS FORGONE REVENUE – MONEY THE PROVINCE NEVER WOULD HAVE SEEN.”
TRANSPORTATION MINISTER KEVIN FALCON SAYS HORGAN SHOULD KNOW BETTER.
“I THINK THAT’S INACCURATE, ACTUALLY. HE (HORGAN) IS A LEGISLATOR AND HE SHOULD KNOW THAT WHEN THERE’S A LAW IN PLACE THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS AN OBLIGATION TO FOLLOW THE LAW. WHEN THERE IS A LAW IN PLACE THAT SAYS THERE IS GOING TO BE A TAX OWING AS A RESULT OF THE TRANSFER OR LAND, LIKE THE RAIL LAND, TO THE ISLAND CORRIDOR FOUNDATION, GOVERNMENT DOESN’T GET TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH LAWS WE OBEY. WE HAVE TO OBEY THE LAW.”
THE PROVINCE’S NEW BUSINESS CASE STUDY FOR THE RAIL LINE IS EXPECTED TO COST $500,000 DOLLARS.
THE ISLAND CORRIDOR FOUNDATION MEANWHILE SAYS IT'S PLEASED WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEW STUDY.
ICF CO-CHAIR MARY ASHLEY SAYS THE ORGANIZATION IS DELIGHTED THE PROVINCE HAS RECOGNIZED THE POTENTIAL FOR RAIL RENEWAL HERE ON VANCOUVER ISLAND.
SHE SAYS SHE IS CONFIDENT THE STUDY WILL CONFIRM THE VALUE OF THE LINE AND HELP BOTH PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT INVEST THE AMOUNT OF OVER 100-MILLION DOLLARS NEEDED TO BRING THE LINE UP TO CURRENT STANDARDS.
- ADAM STIRLING
