Dear Editor,
Is it just because it is an election year, that the government is showing some action?
It is a well-established fact that developers, foreign investors, house-flippers and real estate brokers (not all, but most of the ones encouraging speculation) have turned Richmond into a highrise jungle with monster homes no ordinary Canadian can afford.
The uncontrolled development is not benefitting working families in Richmond, most of those have moved out further to Langley, etc.
At the same time, the city and province are overdosing on the tax and permit dollars that have been flowing in.
What is the government going to feed on when the real estate dollars stop flowing in by the billions?
Are they going to increase our property taxes to support their tax habit?
Even the school board takes in significant revenue from foreign students, who are sometimes occupying seats that should be available to Canadian children.
What about birth tourism at Richmond Hospital?
Should local moms-to-be, be denied bed access because a paying customer is occupying a much-needed hospital bed?
How is this in keeping with Canadian values?
Canada is an open, welcoming society, with a compassionate and rewarding heart.
However, do not think for a moment that this means we do not know when we are being taken advantage of.
Our seniors, who largely contributed to the very fabric of Canada, are having to make serious choices between food, medicine and shelter, while some non-residents freely abuse our social services and tax laws.
What happened to the classic immigrant who left their home country to build a better life in Canada, worked hard, raised a family, absorbed Canadian values, contributed to their own culture and to our diverse heritage, and became a solid citizen?
I ask you, what do we envision as our Canadian future — a well-integrated, lawful society that works hard, pays taxes and gives back to the new country of adoption — or a society that treats Canada as a resource mine, excavating the profits and leaving a skeleton?
Rustom Dubash
Richmond
