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www.100milefreepress.net
Thursday, February 4, 2016 100 Mile Free Press
Perspectives
Publisher Martina Dopf • Editor Ken Alexander
Published by Black Press Ltd. #3-536 Horse Lake Rd., 100 Mile House, B.C., V0K 2E0
Enjoy Family Day
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Pot not the golden goose
ourteen years ago, B.C. Marijuana Party candidate Joshua McKenzie ran in the staunchly conservative provincial riding of Fort Langley-Aldergrove. He spent a memorable all-candidates meeting answering every question with one sentence: “If government legalized and taxed marijuana, there would be plenty of money for health care, education and other priorities.” By the end of the meeting, people were chanting his answer along with him. McKenzie only drew 674 votes, but the belief that legalizing and taxing marijuana could pay for everything has only grown since 2001. The examples south of the border, however, seem to suggest that the truth is very different. With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s campaign promise to “design a new system of strict marijuana sales and distribution,
with appropriate federal considering the federal and provincial excise taxes government is projecting applied,” Canada is closer to collect $290 billion than ever before to seeing in revenue this year, the what kind of tax money additional cash from can be wrung out of the pot marijuana would amount to industry. an increase of 0.22 per cent. A 2012 study Marijuana estimated legalization national advocates often marijuana sales argue that at $4.6 billion enforcement per year. That’s costs will dip, too. total revenue, However, that not potential isn’t the case thus taxes. Indeed, the far in Colorado, taxes generated as police there from marijuana have asked for Jordan are likely to be more resources Bateman far less than to try to stamp suggested in out the organized recent years. crime networks In Colorado, the first that controlled marijuana United States state to production and sales for legalize pot, tax revenue decades. Further, the black from marijuana is on pace market is still in operation to hit $126 million this as people seek cheaper, taxyear on $923 million worth free marijuana. of sales. If Canada used a And that’s the real Catchsimilar tax rate, it would 22. How do you regulate generate $628 million in and tax marijuana when the taxes per year. black market can provide it That might sound so much cheaper? like a lot of money, but If you push marijuana
GUEST SHOT
ritish Columbians will be celebrating Family Day this coming weekend (Feb. 6-8). B.C. started celebrating Family Day on the second Monday in February in 2013. It was a bit of a catchup to other provinces in the country that already celebrated Family Day, so the B.C. Liberal government declared the second Monday of the month as Family Day. The idea was to give British Columbians another long weekend, so they could spend more time with their families. It would give families another day to travel to visit their relatives. That’s great if they live in B.C. because Albertans celebrate Family Day on the third Monday of February. Apparently, the B.C. Liberals wanted to have a special Family Day in B.C. that we wouldn’t have to share with the other provinces, which have their Family Day long weekend a week later. Being resilient, we British Columbians soon adapted to our special long weekend by celebrating our families in our own communities. We started slowly with a few gatherings that could be enjoyed by our families. Some of the events were new and remain with us today. Others are long-standing events that have been tweaked a bit to add some family flavour that entices parents and grandparents to try something with their loved ones. Such is the case in the South Cariboo and here in 100 Mile House. Here are some of the things our families can do together this coming long weekend. On Feb. 6, we could take family fishing at the Deka Lake & District Volunteer Fire Department’s annual Ice-Fishing Derby. Fishing is a great family event and something children remember for the rest of their lives. The 100 Mile Nordics Ski Society is inviting everyone to come up to the 99 Mile Trails and check out a couple of free events – skiing or snowshoeing – and they have rentals on Feb. 6 and 8. For a bit of a blast to the past, the Third Annual Interlakes Outhouse Races are going at the Interlakes Service Centre on Highway 24 on Feb. 7. On Feb. 7, The Green Lake Snowmobile Club is hosting its annual Snowarama Poker Ride at the clubhouse (176 Green Lake South Rd.) with registration at 10 a.m. and the first sled out at 10:30. On Feb. 8, celebrate Family Day on the slopes at the Mt. Timothy Ski Area with 50 per cent off lift tickets for all ages, or enjoy Family Day at the Lake Of The Trees Bible Camp from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Take the family out to a hockey game and watch the 100 Mile House Wranglers host the Kamloops Storm at the arena on Feb. 8, with the puck dropping at 4 p.m. On Feb. 8, there will be a Family Skate at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre from noon to 1 p.m. Admittance is by donation to Kindergym. Check out the details on pages B3 and B3 in this edition of the 100 Mile House Free Press, and take a day off to have fun with your family.
Published and printed by Martina Dopf Ken Alexander Chris Nickless Gaven Crites
Publisher Editor
Sales
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Carole Rooney Deb Theoret
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taxes to tobacco levels, will you keep people buying contraband? Would a critical mass of people pay a premium for pot when they can get it the old fashioned way at much lower prices? Marijuana is – and would remain – the same, unless the price of the legal product was lower than the black market price, which would only happen if the government decided to forgo some of its potential tax revenue. Marijuana legalization is coming, thanks to newly elected Prime Minister Trudeau. It will be a fascinating experiment in public safety and taxation policy, one that will be studied for decades to come. But no politician should start writing cheques until they see how many zeros marijuana taxes actually produce. Jordan Bateman is the B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
The 100 Mile House Free Press is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province's newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both Nikki Reynolds the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does Reception not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent within 45 days to: B.C. Press Council, PO Box 1356, Ladysmith,B.C. V9G 1A9. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org.