Eight per cent adds up

To the Editor:

When the present government was elected, it promised to remove the provincial tax from home heating oil.

It did this, but now, after a year, it has reneged on its promise and is now charging tax on people who own what it calls “resource property.”

There are 40,000 properties in Nova Scotia that have been dropped. If we own resource property we now have to pay the eight per cent provincial tax and apply for a refund. If you qualify for it, the wait is four to six weeks.

Many of these customers are seniors, widows, unemployed or on a fixed income, such as welfare, and have to pay an extra $30 to $40 up front when they get a delivery of oil. This can make the difference between keeping warm and eating.

We are being penalized for owning a few acres of land. Any of you who own resource land and get your oil tank filled, be prepared to pay an extra eight per cent in tax at time of delivery.

This was done in a very sneaky and underhanded way; the only way you found out is when you got oil. Check your delivery slip.

There are 40,000 of us who own resource property and that could count up to more than 40,000 votes at the next election. It would appear our premier will promise anything to get elected, but not keep it afterwards.

Let’s all make it clear to our MLAs we are not going to take this kind of discrimination by showing our dissatisfaction at the polls.

Murray Salsman,

Grafton