MARK MACDONALD
BRITISH COLUMBIA – Every once in awhile a good idea comes forth that business owners can applaud.
The latest is the newly formed Business Tax Alliance, which represents over 10,000 commercial taxpayers in BC, including from Victoria. Their goal? Solving enduring small business tax problems that have plagued this province for decades.
With such numbers, it will be hard for any level of government to diss the complaints and concerns of a group like the BTA out of hand. They should be a powerful lobbying force, and they have two major issues they’re focusing on right from the start.
First is a fair solution for small business taxation on properties valued as redevelopment. Second is a push for the return of the commercial vote in municipal elections – which was eliminated by a previous NDP government in 1993.
Paul Sullivan, a technical expert and spokesman for the BTA, notes “all levels of government have either played hot potato with the issue or are proposing outcomes that conflict with the market and are divisive in nature.
“We’ve seen a great deal of political rhetoric about helping small business, but no results. As governments continue pointing fingers at each other and passing the buck, unsustainable taxes push your favourite pubs and stores to the brink of bankruptcy, closure or relocation.”
Bev Highton, owner/broker with NAI Commercial in Victoria takes issue with the BC Assessment Authority “valuing properties on their potential use. . .a simple example of this type of concept is, if I dream of owning a Lamborghini, I am forced to pay the tax on it as if I have bought it.”
He also notes that commercial property owners – who pay exorbitant tax rates – have no vote regarding municipal taxes, adding “this is taxation without representation.”
They are being denied the right to vote for those who will choose which avenue to take when it comes to spending the taxes they cough up – at rates several times higher than those of residential homeowners.
Imagine the furor if non-residential property owners were denied the right to vote in municipal elections. A solid argument could be made that they shouldn’t have a say in how city hall spends tax dollars, since city finances are derived largely from property taxes and they don’t own any. Why should they determine how that hard-earned money is spent?
Many municipal governments are filled with members of the NDP farm team, often propped up by aggressive public sector unions like CUPE, the BCGEU and their funding. While non-union teams are hollered down because they are deemed to be “running a slate”, unions do exactly that, and send out lists to prospective voters prior to election day. Why aren’t the union-backed slates called out?
Once their candidates are elected, with much of their campaigns paid for by from public sector union purses, they are then tasked with voting on municipal budgets and prospective tax increases. A significant reason for the tax hikes? Public sector wages and salaries. Voted on by council members whose campaigns have been funded by the same unions. Somehow that is not a conflict of interest.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to elect non-union favoring governments at all levels in this province. Consider: The BC Teachers Federation union represents public sector teachers. Not only does the BCTF unabashedly support the NDP both in words and dollars, their members are the ones educating the next generation of voters. Would it be shocking to consider that a card carrying member might, from time to time, share their opinion about politics and government, and perhaps the “greatness of socialism” with impressionable young minds? Nah, that would never happen. . .
Funded generously by public sector unions, the well-oiled NDP election machine gets behind its members and pushes them into office, filling seats at School Board and City Councils. When seats at provincial and federal levels become empty, the NDP already has a list of candidates with name recognition – an important part of any individual’s electability. They’re waiting in the wings at the “lower levels”, even though those positions probably have the most impact on the lives of citizens due to the decisions they make.
They can go out with resumes showing they have already been elected, and the circle is complete. All they need is for voters to sign the ‘X’ beside the name of a person they’ve heard of on the ballot come election day.
This is not necessarily whining, for free enterprise groups and candidates could also do the same. This practice is within the rules of the election game, although perhaps not the sniff test.
So let’s summarize: Union-backed and funded candidates gaining election to vote on contracts that directly benefit their supporters? Nobody blinks an eye. Why, then, should commercial property owners continue to be denied the opportunity to vote for people who will determine where their civic tax dollars are spent, and how much? If it’s good for the goose, why shouldn’t it be good for the gander?
It’s time to change that, and bravo to the Business Tax Alliance for bringing these points up again.
Mark MacDonald is President of Communication Ink Media & Public Relations Ltd. and can be reached at mark@communicationink.ca
