To the Editor:

(Open letter to the provincial NDP and Green parties)

In the next election, the repetitious situation of having to vote for the “best of the worst” must cease. From my previous letters to you, you have been made aware that I have launched a campaign to hold our next government accountable after the May 2013 election.

The days of the premier dictatorship have to end through organized public referendums. The squandering of public funds will cease. The exorbitant salaries and gold-plated pensions of the MLAs will end.

Using the term “real estate value” is merely and optimistic assumption made by property promoters for profit by overpricing. With the provincial government's property assessment department using this term as a guideline for taxation purposes would make it appear to be an irresponsible act to tax the owners unconstitutionally for excessive revenue, resulting in many people being taxed off their property or forced to defer tax payment.

B.C. property assessment on residential lots and raw land values has got to be curbed to prevent skimming and overpricing by enterprisers and overtaxation by municipalities and regional districts. Property has got to be affordable to everyone, including the young. To begin with, this can be done by placing assessed flat rate prices in land categories.

ICBC is supposed to be an economical insurance for the people of B.C., not for the government to exploit the users and skim more profit for general revenue. We want to pay our share for the service — meaning our fair share. Green taxation on the gasoline and levies on utility bills must be abolished.

BC Rail, which the taxpayers of B.C. had paid for over the years in the late 1970s and early 1980s, was ours free and clear and making a profit. It's like it was stolen from us. We want it back!

Quoting from the letters mailed to you, “Unless the party and its leader draw up a letter of promise: To perform on the seven stipulations within six months of forming the government and agree to being liable to punitive class action lawsuit by the taxpayers of B.C. or any single party for the failure to perform.”

This should be signed by every party leader and party delegates, have it notarized and published in every B.C. newspaper at the start of the election campaign in order for the public to scrutinize the wording of the letter of promise, the signatures, the notary stamp and date.

If the provincial party chooses not to become part of this agreement, then there will be a mass of people who will choose not to vote for that party.

In closing, I wish to say that we who mailed you the petition letters are looking forward to you earning the faith of the public with a published letter of promise.

Michael Bunn
Creston