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LETTER: Proposed agriculture tax structure more harm than good

A Ponoka News reader questions the benefits of the proposed agriculture tax structure
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Dear Editor,

After listening to news reports and listening to Prime Minister Trudeau and Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau speak, I truly believe they have no idea how severe the consequences will be with the proposed federal tax change.

Agriculture tax structure is totally different than other tax systems, and the government doesn’t seem to understand that. Currently the highest tax rate is 48 per cent in Alberta alone.

Basically, paying over half of our income in taxes, farmers will have less operating money to maintain their farms. Paying over half is unreasonable for anyone. This affects retirement and succession planning.

Small farms and small business will close their doors. It takes years of hard work to achieve your dreams and goals, it is devastating that the Canadian government has no qualms in ruining the lives of fellow Canadians, generations of small farms and small businesses will be lost.

You know the government is being devious, due to the fact they announced this change in the summer and talks end Oct. 2, while farmers are busy harvesting.

The debt deficit is so high, that the government is scrambling at raising more money at the benefit of middle class Canadians. Who will you go after, when you destroyed the lives of middle class Canadians?

Words can’t express the outrage I feel about our Federal Government for taking away the opportunities for the young people of today.

Sunny days no longer, storm clouds rolling in for all of Canada.

Patricia Weisgerber