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Take the CFIB Taxpayer Pledge!
Shachi writes about politics, culture, economics and anything else provocative, thoughtful or fun.
Born and raised in BC, Shachi Kurl is Director of Communications for Vision Critical, a leading market research and technology firm headquartered out in Vancouver BC.
Shachi has more than a decade of journalism experience in BC as Legislative Reporter for CTV Vancouver Island, as a reporter for Global Vancouver, CBC Radio, and as a contributing columnist for the Vancouver Sun. She is the recipient of the prestigious Jack Webster award for Best TV Reporting.
Shachi is a graduate of Carleton University's schools of Journalism and Political Science.
On November 19th – voters across BC will elect their mayors and councilors.
Unfortunately, in past civic elections, only about one in three of us went to the polls.
And it’s because we don’t show up that we may be settling for municipal spending that in the last decade, has climbed to twice the rate of population growth and inflation.
That means higher taxes and fees for you.
Small business owners are saddled with property tax bills three times what homeowners pay.
The impact is crippling – it kills job-growth and threatens small business survival.
That’s why this year, we’re asking you to get involved – to vote – and we’re making it easy – with the CFIB Taxpayer Pledge.
What is the pledge? Well, we’re encouraging municipal candidates to commit to three guiding principles.
First – narrowing the property tax gap that’s breaking the backs of small business – so they can get back to creating jobs in your communities.
Next – reigning in municipal spending by tying operating spending increases beyond their control to a reasonable benchmark. The less cities spend – the less you pay.
And finally, supporting an unbiased, independent Municipal Auditor General to look at the books in BC’s local governments, and tell you whether you’re getting the best value for your tax dollars.
The CFIB Taxpayer Pledge will help voters hold their candidates to account, and help candidates communicate what they stand for.
If you feel overtaxed, if you want less expensive, more accountable government, you have the power to do something about it in 2011.
In its first week the pledge already has ten signatories including Darren Inkster, Mayor of Sechelt; Suzanne Anton, Vancouver City Concillor running for mayor; Mike Klassen Vancouver City candidate; Diana Dilworth, Port Moody City Councillor; Linda Reimer, Coquitlam City Councillor; Andy Shen, Coquitlam City candidate; Ken Charko, Vancouver City candidate; Terry O’Neill Coquitlam City candidate; Chris Coleman; Victoria City Councillor and Jason Lamarche Vancouver City candidate.
On behalf of BC’s small businesses and taxpayers, thank you. And we ask, who will be next?
We again extend the invitation for all candidates to sign. Taxpayers want it. Taxpayers deserve it.
For more information about the pledge, check out our website:
http://www.cfib-fcei.ca/english/focus/90-bc_civic_elections_–_vote_november_19_th_.html
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