Letters to the editor

Premier Christy Clark keeps saying there is no money to give us a raise, yet everyone around me is getting one.

My landlord of the mobile home park where I live can and has raised my rent 2% a year. My hydro has gone up, natural gas has gone up, fuel and insurance for my car has gone up.

Lets face it everything has gone up but not my wages!

In 1999, I was making $17.99 an hour, now in 2012 I make $19.68. In 13 years my wage has gone up $1.69. In this same time the minimum wage has gone up $3.00.

Do not get me wrong the minimum wage had to go up, but I have to ask why do I have to keep going backwards.

If you want to implement wage controls then why not price controls. Why are you allowing my landlord, BC Hydro, Fortis BC, ICBC, BC Transit, and let's face it, darn near everyone out there to raise their prices and I get squat.

Oh and let's not forget my municipal taxes.

We are all aware of the double digit raises that provincial and municipal politicians have received in the past few years. Okay maybe it wasn't you that asked for this increase but let's face it, you are enjoying the spoils aren't you?

I am well aware of the financial crisis happening in the world today and the need for restraint yet it seems that the only ones that are paying for it is the working class.

Don't you think it's time politicians stand up and face the music yourself? If you (the Liberals) want to even have a hope in the next election you better come up with something.

What I am saying is very simple if you can not raise our wages to keep in line with the cost of living then stop the capitalists from raising the cost of living.

You can not put it just on the backs of the workers.

                                                                  
Jim Van Der Lee