@ www.theotherpress.ca News British Columbians support tax hike: study Majority supports tax hikes on corporations and higher incomes By Dylan Hackett, News Editor NO opinion survey conducted earlier this year and released last Thursday shows that a majority of British Columbians support an increased income tax rate on incomes over $100k, a higher corporate tax rate, and a slight tax height on their own incomes if certain favoured policy changes were made in Victoria. The majority was held amongst participants who identified as voters of all major BC political parties. The survey conducted by Environics Research for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives collected online data from 1,023 British Columbians and nine group interviews across the province studied BC residents’ beliefs on who should pay more taxes in society and the likelihood of accepting trade-offs in tax increases in return for 66 Some of the most popular policy trade-offs highlighted in the 23-page report were expanded senior care, which 69 per cent of participants would pay more taxes to sustain, elimination of MSP premiums, and greater protections elimination of MSP premiums, and greater protections extended to BC forests. The study concluded that a majority of British Columbians supported these policy ideas. “We've had this idea that tax increases extended to BC forests. policy implementation that better quality of life. Some of the most popular policy trade- offs highlighted in the 23-page report were expanded senior care, which 69 per cent of participants would pay more taxes to sustain, are a no-go zone in BC,” said study leader Shannon Daub, Director of Communication with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ BC Office. “But public opinion is shifting, and if anything our political leaders are behind the curve. Not only do most British Columbians want to see tax increases at the higher end of the income ladder, they are prepared to pitch in themselves—if they know the money will support concrete changes, and if we do tax policy in a transparent way.” Without being proposed the idea of higher taxes for preferred policies, 71 per cent of British Columbians held the belief that they currently pay too much income tax. Only three per cent of those Coquitlam councillors eyes on Victoria Robinson and Reimer to run in neighbouring districts By Anne Marie Abraham, Contributor s of late November, two Coquitlam city councillors are aiming for a legislative seat in the provincial election next spring. Both candidates are currently in their second term on council, having run for council at the same time in October of last year. Councillor Selina Robinson is the NDP candidate looking to run in a seat currently held by fellow NDP incumbent of the Coquitlam-Maillardville electoral district, Diane Thorne. Robinson made the announcement to run for provincial politics in September soon after Thorne announced that she would retire at the end of her term. On November 25, Robinson was acclaimed as the candidate for the 2013 provincial election. “My job is to convince the people of Coquitlam- Maillardville that I can best represent them and their concerns and their needs in Victoria better than anyone else,” Robinson told The Now. Councillor Linda Reimer announced recently that she would seek the Liberal nomination in Port Moody-Coquitlam, trusting that her chance of victory in the riding was worthwhile. Her decision was made after being approached last month by the BC Liberal party to put her name forward. She is set to run against NDP MLA, Joe Trasolini, the victor in the riding’s April by-election and former Port Moody mayor. Reimer told The Tri- City News that she thinks her chances against the incumbent MLA and NDP Critic for Housing, Construction and Business Investment are good. Instead of explaining what her job entails upon her announcement, Reimer shared her intended goals in the chance that she is elected and is the first of the two to do so. Reimer expressed her concern for the economy, suggesting that the Liberals will help in strengthening and stabilizing the economy. She also claims that she will prioritize education and health care. Barrie Lynch, a former Coquitlam councillor is also a contender to run for MLA of Coquitlam-Burke Mountain under the NDP. Also seeking to run under for the NDP in the riding against BC Liberal incumbent Douglas Horne are Joe Keithley of punk group DOA, surveyed said they don’t pay enough income tax. The only major demographic variation on this belief was with age—younger British Columbians (those under the age of 45) were more willing to pay higher income tax. The study also found that a majority of British Columbians underestimate the extent of income inequality. In BC, the top 20 per cent of earners make 44 per cent of income wealth. Those surveyed guessed the number to be 34 per cent. The CCPA’s funding for the survey was provided by individual donors and the BC Government & Service Employees’ Union, BC Teachers’ Federation, Canadian Federation of Students, and other major public sector unions. Vincent Wu, a failed Coquitlam City Council candidate, and former Olympic wrestler Chris Wilson. If either or both Reimer and Robinson win the provincial races in May 2013, Coquitlam residents would be looking at a by-election to fill the vacated council seats. The last by-election occurred in May 2010 and cost around $125, 000. Another by-election is expected to cost Coquitlam taxpayers roughly the same amount.