Dear Editor,
Will anyone in government please tell us why they broke their promise to keep current residents of Michener Centre in place until they die?
I hope the government will not continue to insult our intelligence by telling us what Gene Zwozdesky did and deny any recollection of such a promise or as Ms. Jablonski did and tell us that scientific studies indicate that this is the best solution for residents. If Ms. Jablonski is to be believed, why were residents not moved prior to the budget fiasco? Moving most of these individuals into continuing care, and placing them in beds badly needed by seniors currently languishing in active treatment hospital beds, is a breach of trust to both residents and seniors.
It should be obvious to everyone, except those in government and their spin doctors, that this is being done solely to save money at the expense of the residents, who are defenseless, and seniors who are easy targets.
Rather than slashing services to the most needy, the government needs to pull its head out of its ideological orifice and do something about its revenue problem. I am not talking about RAISING tax rates, I am talking about RESTORING tax rates to their pre-existing levels. Getting rid of the flat tax, and restoring the old pre-Klein progressive tax structure, will eliminate the deficit. The wealthiest Albertans will pay a rate no higher than they did under Klein. Middle and lower income Albertans will pay less. Since Albertans in the lower and middle income range make up the vast majority of voters this should be a no brainer, even to those currently in power. Wealthy Albertans will still be taxed at the lowest rate in Canada so there will be no incentive for them to move. Alberta will remain the lowest taxed jurisdiction in Canada.
The government also needs to reintroduce the pre-Stelmach premiums for Alberta Health Care. We should not believe their spin that this would be a tax on the poor as the poor were subsidized and never paid these premiums in the first place.
Finally, when prices improve, they need to do something about the royalty structure.
Do these things and the self-imposed budget problems will disappear.
Michael O’Hanlon,
Red Deer