Re: Deficient provincial funds:
As the price of oil goes down, we are starting to hear all kinds of rumours about a sales tax, return of health-care premiums, toll roads and hiking income tax, etc.
The average price of a barrel of oil over the past 10 years is approximately US$73 a barrel. Indications are that the oil prices may remain low.
A year from now, the price of oil may have stabilized, and we should not be burdened with some form of sales tax that will never go away.
If it is essential to raise more funds to operate our province, I believe the majority of taxpayers would prefer the graduated income tax if given a choice at the ballot box.
Another option is perhaps the time has arrived to use the rainy-day fund, namely the Heritage Trust Fund, that was created for hiccups like this.
I think we all realize that we all have to pay and nothing is free, but it would be satisfying to know that all our hard-earned money is being spent wisely.
Leo Leonard
Red Deer