Editor:
An open letter to New Westminster MLA Judy Darcy:
As my representative in the British Columbia Legislature, I would appreciate a response from yourself in regards to some issues in regards to the speculation and vacancy tax.
I would appreciate not being referred to any other MLA or government department since you are my representative in the provincial government.
We received our declare now notice and immediately felt “presumed guilty” until such a time as we file the notice and then being pronounced “innocent” once exempted from the speculation tax.
I have been a resident of New Westminster since 1979 and my wife has been a resident for a much-longer period.
Questions:
Why was the required information not obtained from the Land Titles Office as a direct source to the government of property ownership?
Why was the information not obtained from the BC Assessment Authority as they also have the information of property ownership?
What happens in the event that one residence is in the name of one person and another residence is in the name of the partner/wife/husband/child? Would this avoid the speculation tax?
Why was Whistler granted immunity from the speculation tax? (Whistler has been known for a long time as an area where contractor workers and others cannot find lodging and at times some workers are living in their vehicles.)
What is the difference between the Whistler exemption and other resort areas that are subject to the speculation tax?
Why were the Gulf Islands, as a whole or part of, granted immunity from the speculation tax? This is an area where six-month rentals may actually be of benefit to those who can afford it but certainly not for true to life people who are looking for accommodation.
Do you or any of your co-MLAs, that you are aware of, own property in the Gulf Islands and/or Whistler?
Who would rent a property for a six-month period and then move out, having to find another location for another six-month period as subjected to by the speculation tax guidelines?
Minister Darcy, this is the worst form of taxation that I have ever seen and I have worked in the tax world for 35 years.
Frank Benoit, New Westminster
