BarrieToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected]. Please include your daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following is in response to 'LETTER: MP says new luxury tax will 'devastate' manufacturing,' published June 9.
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I have just browsed a letter to the editor from you, Mr. Brassard and all I have to say is, really? Is it true that we should hold a “pity party” for those folks who are prepared to spend a thousand dollars or more to cruise the lake for one weekend?
I’m sure if these folks are prepared to spend $1,000-plus for a weekend of cruising they can afford a bump in tax.
The price as quoted was offered to me by a gentleman who has just off-loaded his 32-foot boat. The past two years have been difficult times for all of us. It seems Mr. Brassard would rather dig into the pockets of we lesser folk who don’t own large watercraft or expensive vehicles.
Mr. Brassard, perhaps you should focus on those of us trying to cope with the huge cost increases we have seen in basic foods, fuel and housing rather than offer tears to the folks who are quite content to spend hundreds and thousand of dollars to cruise our local lakes. Consider the huge profits that our food retailers, fuel providers and other large businesses are making.
According to a document recently offered, it shows a 70 per cent increase in corporate profit, and little being spread around for the minions who provide these profits.
Mr. Brassard, we are the folks that have paid the bills for the upper few percentile, but it does seem obvious that we are less important than the folks who attend $1,000-per-plate fundraisers. Don’t you think it’s about time that your focus shifts to we lesser beings?
I am simply appalled that you, our representative, would put forth a whine about luxury taxes. Perhaps you should work a week or two at a local food bank or actually speak with we common folk. In my opinion, you should be ashamed.
Gordon H. Crawford
Innisfil
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