“smoke’em if you got’em”
The old man in the hat
We have a new provincial budget in New Brunswick. Much like the old budget, we, because the government is no more than us, are spending more that we take in.
This is a problem and what makes it more problematic is the apparent fact that although the finance minister has put forward tax increases, some of which are substantial, we are still expected to have a deficit. This will lead to no good.
I am not sure who the government sounds out for political advice, but none of this makes sense to me. I mean, if you’re going to kick the body politic 18 months before an election, you might as well balance the budget. One bruise or two, it’s no matter. The public will be just as angry and with the failure to balance the budget, you, Mr. Alward, have basically zip to show for it.
Granted, I have never been elected to public office. I will admit I have not tried to manage a 10 billion dollar debt. But guys, what are you doing?
Apparently, you still have not sold the plane. This is a simple, no brainer. Get it done
.
The Point Lepreau mess is going to come back to bite. Let us be truthful, please. We all know that the taxpayers of New Brunswick are on the hook for NB Power’s debt. There is no one in government that can say, with a straight face, that we are not. And it gets better. Recently power generation at Point Lepreau was less that zero percent- that’s right, you didn’t misread it. To instill further confidence, CBC reported April 12, 2013 that a press release issued by Point Lepreau stated, “These hours of forgone operation do not come off the expected full-time life of the reactor,”. Duh. If it’s not operating I would naturally expect that non -operation would not wear the plant out! This is the level of brilliance that NB Power is operating at! This is the crown corporation that has the largest numbers of employees earning over $100,000 a year. The next press release, no doubt, will seriously advise us that water runs downhill!
And, bless the smokers. The favourite whipping post of government. Yes, smoking is not on the list of 10 healthy things to do, but another tax increase! It’s almost so bad that giving up smoking is the unpatriotic thing to do. It’s not bad enough that you can’t smoke anywhere but behind the barn, if you don’t smoke the government cannot meet its budget. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t!
This is starting to get depressing. We live in, I think, one of the best parts of the world. It rains a little bit, it snows a little bit, and the sun shines more days in New Brunswick that anywhere else in Atlantic Canada. The scenery is second to none. Our lakes and rivers are beautiful. Now, if we could only get our politicians to balance the books, it would be perfect!
