The Saint John Police Association with help from CUPE and the Transit workers union are distributing a pamphlet throughout the city to every home and business in Saint John.
The purpose of the mail drop is to provide residents in Saint John the facts about how taxpayers are subsidizing heavy industry.
SJPA President Duane Squires says the cuts in services proposed by the mayor and council would not be needed if heavy industry paid the proper amount of municipal taxes.
“The residents and small business in Saint John will not have the heavy tax burden lifted off of their shoulders unless they understand the real cause of the unfair municipal taxation situation and elect politicians who are really going to bring tax reform for heavy industry,” Squires said.
The SJPA says the Regional hospital pays $4.5 million in municipal taxes while the Irving Oil Refinery pays $2.6 million.
The Saint John Police Association hosting a news conference on the release of this leaflet to every household and business in Saint John. pic.twitter.com/GrDwQsHMqV
— Tamara Steele (she/her) 🇨🇦 (@tamarasteele1) March 3, 2020
Bob Davidson of the SJPA is not comforted by hearing the Higgs government has promised tax reform in 2022.
“If they think a little comment from Mr. Higgs is going to get tax reform. There is no trust in this minority government. I mean, look what happened with the hospitals,” Davidson said.
He was asked about anger on social media surrounding the distribution of these leaflets and responded by saying the criticism was from Saint John Mayor Don Darling’s supporters.
“If I don’t like the message, I attack the messenger. That’s an old tactic, an old tactic from years and years. These are the facts. These facts are contained in all of those areas we just explained. Go on and check the assessments. Go on and check the record of Blaine Higgs. It’s all there,” Davidson said.
Davidson was asked while the pamphlet did not attribute the “tax facts” to those distributing it.
He said the next time they release a flyer; they will include who the information is coming from.
