Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior, is hosting a public forum with Seth Klein, BC Director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), a public policy research institute committed to social, economic and environmental justice. The free event will take place on Sunday, April 27 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Brilliant Cultural Centre.
Seth has been a social activist for over 30 years. He is the co-chair of the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition and on the Advisory Committee of the Metro Vancouver Living Wage for Families campaign. His research deals primarily with welfare policy, poverty, inequality and economic security.
In a 2013 report prepared by the CCPA, Seth and his co-author Iglika Ivanova maintain that there is a clear need to raise more tax revenues in BC, that there is considerable room to do so and that the options for doing so are many. The report presents a menu of possible tax options that would increase BC’s fiscal capacity, create budgetary room to meet our most pressing needs and reduce income inequality.
Joining in the discussion will be local panelists Regina Day, BC Retired Teachers’ Association board member; Dr. Rebecca McDonnell, community liaison and environmental director, Blueberry Creek Community School Hub; and Jan Morton, Executive Director of The Skills Centre, Trail.
“We need to have this conversation,” said Atamanenko. “Taxes are an investment in our future and corporations and the wealthy need to pay their fair share. A fair tax system, both federal and provincial, would ensure strong public health care and education systems, universal childcare, top-quality seniors’ care and adequate funding for infrastructure,” said the NDP MP.
Katrine Conroy, MLA for Kootenay West, agrees with Atamanenko. “This is such an important conversation to have. We need to collectively discuss how we can work together to strengthen our communities and our province. There are so many social and environmental needs and we have to have the dialogue about how we can meet those needs. Having a fair and progressive tax policy will create the resources to make the needed changes. If we all pay our fair share we will all gain.”
Seth will also speak at the Nelson United Church that Sunday evening at 7 p.m., sponsored by the Council of Canadians. For more information contact Alex Atamanenko’s constituency office, 250-365-2792; alex.atamanenko.c1@parl.gc.ca.