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New carbon tax hits working family the hardest, results in more tax cuts for corporations
February 19, 2008
Premier's promised aid for forest workers and communities nowhere to be found
VICTORIA - The new carbon tax announced in today's provincial budget hits low-income and working families the hardest, while corporations secure even more tax cuts, says the B.C. Federation of Labour.
"Once the carbon tax is fully implemented it will completely exhaust any of the personal income tax cuts for lower-income families, while corporations will still likely benefit," says Federation President, Jim Sinclair.
At the same time, forest workers and forest communities looking for much-promised aid can't count on any help from today's budget. "There is a crisis in forest communities and despite Premier Campbell's hollow promises, this budget makes it clear that the provincial government has no plan to help", Sinclair said.
"There is absolutely no job strategy in today's budget. Instead of investing in the forest sector to build more value-added jobs, or making key investments to create green jobs, today's budget actually cuts per-student funding in post-secondary and imposes deficits on BC's colleges.
"At a time when older workers are looking for job re-training and young people are looking for a foothold in a green economy, this budget completely misses the mark."
Sinclair noted it's shameful that over the next two years, banks and financial institutions will get $110 million dollars in tax cuts while BC has the highest rate of child poverty.
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For more information contact Jessie Uppal: 604-430-1421 or cell: 604-220-0739.
