Name the groups/amounts. Let's analyze the payments and see how it affected you?

All the anti-vaxxers got paid to sit at home collecting cheques while raging on the internet too. I'm not very happy about that.

Is not that hard to understand when you see standing members of the Conservative party being a part of bullshit like this. You know, like the interim leader until a little less than a week ago?
Like I said, get rid of this fucking useless bullshit social conservatism and base it around economic policy with an acceptance of non Christian values and I’m good. Mix it up, I don’t give a shit, as long as it’s not at the expense of minority groups, women and the poor.
I will not accept a party who allows any single member of it to actively pursue the rollback of gay rights, abortion rights, etc.
It has no place in an educated society, and goes against the bullshit “freedom” angle they try to push to trick libertarian voters into thinking they are their party.

Basically, yeah. I'm not getting any boosters at this point and I'm not an anti-vaxxer. Most people I know who got the first two shots aren't getting it either, so it's not like it's a bunch of crazies who don't believe in vaccines, they just don't think it's necessary anymore.

The only way that we're going to improve the public heathcare situtation, or the crime rate is through increased taxes and funding. That's it. That is the ONLY solution to our problem.

This idea that we can somehow "find more efficiencies, or trim fat", magically waving a wand on the existing system is fucking mythical BS. Sorry, but some mythical magic bullet unicorn fix for these things just doesn't exist, and only morons think it does.

So if that's really your main concern, then you need to vote for the party that says they're going to do just this.

If paying more taxes actually meant improved services I’d be all for it. As I’ve said in the past if they could guarantee they could clean up homelessness I’d gladly pay another $500 a year in taxes, absolutely.

But the govt. at all levels is so incompetent I have zero faith more taxes would achieve anything other than stimulate an already bloated system.

In you’re asking for these special interest groups that effect my well being, we can start with a very recent example of Justin’s billion dollar loan to the First Nations to build high end condos in an area no one will ever be able to afford. As a tax paying citizen of Vancouver that effects me. But hey, it’s in the name of reconciliation so it’s all G my friend

Like Kenny giving over a billion dollars to a us company for a pipe that Biden said was never going to be built? Or given harpers son a cushy 6 figure job right out of school.

And that's exactly the kind of bullshit argument people like you try to make and why nothing gets better.
So really, you're admitting that you don't really care about those issues.

I get it. I don't want to pay more taxes either, but at least I'm not lying to myself that I'm not part of the problem

This exactly. I've had my two doses, many friends are in the same ballpark, stopping at their second of third.

Even most nurses or others within the hospitals have stopped their doses at the third one.

I never get my flu vaccine and haven't had the flu in over a decade, nothing against people who do. It's silly to demonize anyone who isn't planning or haven't gotten their subsequent COVID vaccines at this point, ultimately who cares?

We're planning to visit the Philippines next year (they require a third dosage) and that's the only reason I'd get another one at this point.

When has paying more taxes improved services? Actually improved in a tangible, measurable way? Especially with healthcare etc.

Since I moved to Vancouver I’ve had 4 increase in what I pay for garbage and recycling collection. Recycling and green bin is now contracted out and it’s missed a third of the time, sweet. That was definitely worth the increase

I think the COV is an example of one of the worst perpetrators of tax wasting. Remember mid pandemic when they spent 300k on office chairs, yet every time those fucks are in some sort of meeting that’s broadcast it’s a zoom meeting. Cause covid isn’t an issue for other people but it’s too scary for our valuable city council to risk.

I suppose you think costs to provide services, such as fuel, wages etc remain fixed for years at a time?

It sure sounds like you do, but I thought you were smarter than that.

You're not going to save the healthcare system or improving crime by buying cheaper office chairs. Come on.

Also in this same vein, I already pay my fair share of taxes. Outside of this discussion I -never- complain about taxes etc.

If you want to try and attack me for not wanting to pay more and more taxes I think we can start looking at the “students” driving aventadors and G wagons living in 10 million dollar homes paying literally nothing in taxes as to a reason why I feel like why should I pay even MORE than my fair share when others are paying nothing.

Peons like myself who are just getting ground down with additional costs and taxes aren’t the reason why there isn’t funding for things.

Yeah I get that, but it’s a pretty reasonable example of wastefulness by the COV. Kennedy Stewart isn’t in charge of healthcare in this province regardless.

I know I always may come off as some contrarian ass hole but I think it makes it sound more like that typing it out in a discussion like this.

I’m not so close minded I can’t take in an opinion and take something from it and Westopher I appreciate your input and fully agree about the concern about peoples rights being clawed back which is definitely not what I want.

The current state of Canada and the world can cause some frustration and at the end of the day I should be happy with what I have when I have more than most. I think most people here are fairly moderate in their political stance as I think I am. It’s a shame we’re in this situation where we have to forcibly pick between the best of garbage.

Ah the other BS argument: "Why should I pay more? tax those other people more!"

We'll have to accept that EVERYONE is going to have to pay more for things to get better. Simple as that.

But many people who should be paying a lot are paying nothing..

Reform that system.

This is like a race to the bottom mentality of destroying peoples wealth for the sake of people who are substantially more wealthy..

You and me really want the same things at the end of the day
I want the government to leave me alone as much as reasonably possible
I’m cool with taxes but I want accountability
I want people to pay their fair fucking share
I want religion out of politics
I want people to do what they want for happiness as long as it doesn’t negatively affect other people
I don’t honestly believe at all that the cons will accomplish any of those things. They might lower some taxes and give people some pp bucks a la early 2000s Alberta, but at the expense of all of those other things I want.

Back to that "magic bullet" of finding this "fair share" which doesn't exist. So nothing will change and quit bitching.

I wish we could all sit down on a patio with some beers lol be funny to actually see people's faces and find out how much we all have in common.

What you're saying is common knowledge, but literally the problem is the wealthy are the ones making the rules. Or they buy out the people making the rules.

Look at the US. Republicans have systematically raped the system so that uneducated white people living in rural areas have been brainwashed to think they are victims in some huge conspiracy. And voting anything but conservative is literally satanic. Then they put people in power who continue this cycle, while they become worse off and the rich get richer. People who give a fuck somewhat and try to make things better for everyone, are mostly/all Democrats. Millions of 'murricans are constantly voting against their own interest because they don't have the intellectual capacity to think critically. And that's why being republican has become synonymous with Trump-ism.

And the rest of the population, including the more coherent conservatives, are being dragged down by the lowest IQ'ed portion of the population - albeit far less in Canada than down south.

Ahhhh the unreasonable expectation of people like our former finance minister to not “forget” about their French villa when come tax time. Such an absurd concept.

That's a big topic that doesn't get enough attention. There certainly is a "class" of people in this city that do everything they can to circumvent paying taxes and juking the system, importing their elderly family members to bog down the health system while living in million dollar homes and declaring their income as negligible.

It would be quite interesting to know how much tax fraud is being perpetuated within this city here, the stories I've heard frankly blow my mind.

That's why the NDP and Libs worked together to put in place a 20% luxury tax. That's the first thing that's going to go under PP. Also, everyone pays taxes even children.

I'm curious why you think the Cons will do something to fix that when a lot of them are the ones not paying anything.