To the editor,
I would like to comment on the new tax imposed a few months ago by county council. The LRO tax (deed transfers) demands when one purchases a home or property they must pay one per cent of the purchase price to the proposed new Wellness Centre. I am astounded that officials at the lowest level of government feel they have the right to do this. They are elected to set our tax rate but this amounts to telling us what we must do with out after-tax money. In my opinion the people who need this wonderful new centre should be prepared to pay for it instead of putting an extra burden on people who struggle to buy and maintain a home.
I have been talking to a lot of people regarding this matter. About 90 per cent of them felt I was misunderstanding something, only to find out I was right and many of them called to say how enraged they were about it.
I have been asking for facts and figures but no one seems to have answers, particularly the people who instigated this nightmare, namely county council. It seems no one has any figures as to total cost, maintenance or anything else. There are many questions here to be answered, as this project was not well received and then Peter MacKay jumped into the fray with a $12 million federal donation, but after the piece Peter MacKay had in The News some months ago titled 'Pictou County poised to become next Fort McMurray,' I think his involvement should be taken with a grain of salt.
Some questions:
1. What will be the overall cost and where is the money coming from?
2. Who will foot the bill for furnishing and staffing?
3. Where will the money come from for long-term maintenance?
People want answers and since the members of council advocated this money madness they should have all kinds of answers, but for questions I have asked, all they have is lots to say in defence of what they have done. Also, can you imagine this posh club for the elite, as it seems where this is going, sitting in the Stellarton business park amid all the coal dust and dirt? Something went off the rails somewhere and it starts with county council.
It is my opinion that since the council slid this by the people who elected them without first holding district meetings to get approval, that should now be done to give account of themselves and some answers. People in elected office must be held accountable. They will soon be looking again for votes and this will surely come back to haunt them.
Perhaps property buyers should refuse to pay the tax. I bet that would shake things up when deals start to fall through and the real estate people would be unhappy. So will the members of council stand up and be counted and look after things that are their business? One example would be the condition of the seniors apartment building in Merigomish!
Whenever I think of politicians I am reminded of the little girl who asked her father, a prominent politician, to read her a bedtime story. After he was done reading his daughter asked, "Daddy, do all fairy tales begin with 'once upon a time?'" After a slight pause he smiled and replied, "No dear, many of them begin with 'once I am elected.'" How true!
Irene MacDonald
RR1 Merigomish
