Dear Editor:
Why is federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau so intent on committing political suicide for himself and the Liberal Party of Canada? Doesn’t he realize that in Canada, elections are not won because people vote for a party? Governments in Canada change mostly when the ruling party gets so arrogant, out of touch and self-serving that swing voters vote against it. Goodbye, Stephen Harper. Goodbye, Christy Clark. Goodbye, Jean Chretien. The Trudeau Liberals are getting there in record time.
Every party has its devoted followers, but election results are determined by the minority who change their vote according to circumstances. It is these “swing voters” who put the Liberals into power in 2015 and a significant percentage of them were small business owners. Why, Bill, would you betray these people after they voted for you?
Swing voters can get used to strange policies like legalizing marijuana. But when you mess with their paycheques, they will never vote for you again. Have the Liberals forgotten about (Pierre) Trudeau’s National Energy Policy in 1980? Because the people of Alberta haven’t. They haven’t voted for a Liberal since. And you can be sure that if the proposed tax changes are implemented, there will be a small business ballot box backlash that ensures (the younger) Trudeau’s government is a one-hit wonder.
Starting a business involves a huge amount of risk. The majority of small business owners work long hours, struggle financially and often fail. Most fall into the “middle-class” that Trudeau promised to protect in his election 2015 platform. Surely those who do succeed deserve to reap some benefits given the significant employment and economic contribution they provide.
And please, don’t talk to me about fairness. Anyone who is wealthy enough to hire KPMG can circumvent taxes using an Isle of Man investment or similar tax dodge. This is not an option for 98 per cent of small business owners.
Fortunately, it’s only two years until the next election when we get the chance to let Bill Morneau know how we really feel.
Andrew Barber-Starkey
North Vancouver
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