Mini-Budget Continues Discrimination
Against Mackenzie
October 20, 2000
Today in the House of Commons
Prince George Peace River MP, Jay Hill rebuked Finance
Minister Paul Martin for failing to end the discrimination
against the District of Mackenzie through its unjust exclusion
from the Northern Residents Deduction. The following is
the text of Mr. Hill’s statement:
"The Finance Minister is
very smug about his mini-budget/ election platform. As
always he is trying to be all things to all people, however
for the 7th straight year he has knowingly
discriminated against the people of Mackenzie, British
Columbia.
When the Northern Residents Deduction
was changed in 1993, the District of Mackenzie was unfairly
excluded. Mackenzie is a small, remote community more
that 100kms from a major urban centre. Much larger communities
in the region such as the cities of Grande Prairie, Fort
St. John, and Dawson Creek, qualify for the deduction
and deservedly so. But why the continued discrimination?
Over the past 7 years I have repeatedly
asked the Finance Minister to correct this, each time
he has studied the issue and then refused.
I guess if the Prime Minister’s
Office believed the change would increase his election
chances then it would have been announced this week!
How sad this Liberal government
only believes in buying votes, rather than doing what
is right,"
In conclusion, Hill reiterated
his commitment to continuing for tax fairness for the
constituents of Prince George-Peace River.
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