Responding to the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance

[Tibor Egervari]

Dear Dr. Kirkley

Since, without wanting to impose your political perspective on us, you 
have shared your views with the list, I feel compelled to ask you a few 
questions.

 1)     Why do you think that spending money earned by your fellow 
citizens is better employed according to your choices rather than to 
their own? 

2)     Have you thought that those citizens might spend those extra 
dollars to go to the theatre that became more and more expensive in 
spite of subsidies? (Remember, the original purpose of subsidies was to 
allow for more, less wealthy people to attend. Nowadays, a normal ticket 
price in any legitimate theatre in the country is almost a day's salary 
at minimum wage.)

3)     Has it occurred to you that today's children will become 
tomorrow's "individuals making very poor consumer choices"?

4)     Finally, don't you think that the vast majority of parents do 
care for their children and are quite capable of making responsible 
choices regarding their future?

Yours truly,

Tibor Egervari
Professor emeritus
Theatre
University of Ottawa

 



Bruce Kirkley wrote:

>Dear Friends:
>
>Following up on the recent CCA Bulletin, I would just like to encourage
>you to respond to the government's economic update by using the ministry
>of finance's online consultations link (copied below) to make sure your
>voice is heard. I've copied my own response below, just as a suggestion
>(I'm certainly not wanting to impose my political perspective on
>anyone).
>
>http://www.fin.gc.ca/activty/consult/advant_e.html 
>
>Take care all,
>Bruce
>
>To the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance:
> 
>Our country needs to invest in the future by increasing funding to
>valuable educational, health and cultural programs. The debt and deficit
>are clearly well under control, and have been for several years now.
>Surpluses should be distributed in a balanced way, with some money going
>to debt reduction, and some to new program spending. Tax breaks have an
>easy appeal to voters. But this money is not reinvested in bettering the
>future of our country. To the contrary, it is pilfered away by myriads
>of individuals making very poor consumer choices that waste the planet's
>resources and undermine the future of our children.
> 
>Respectfully,
>Dr. Richard Bruce Kirkley
>
>Dr. Bruce Kirkley
>Theatre Department
>University College of the Fraser Valley
>45635 Yale Road
>Chilliwack BC  V2P 6T4
>(604)702-2613 office
>(604)792-2615 fax
>  
>
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