Dear Editor,
Public consultations about high-speed train, costing Albertans between 3 and 20 billion dollars will take place later this month. In order to have a say in what Redford’s government decides, you will have to attend meetings. As most people are too busy working to attend meetings and little is reported in newspapers, radio & TV news, but the Conservatives consider this “democratic” and letting Albertans having their say.
Of course, meetings can be “stacked” with people of one opinion or another and if government decides, there is a decision to build it; the issue is at rest once and for all. In other words, all Albertans will not have a voting say in spending their hard-earned dollars to build a rail system.
Why is the government subsidizing rail systems? Do we also subsidize airplanes and buses? Commuter trains between Calgary and Edmonton were previously discontinued due to the high rate of accidents over all the level crossings. We just finished bailing out everybody from the flood with billions of dollars, spent billions of dollars for carbon capture for the oil companies and now they want to have a high-speed rail which will probably favor business travelers and not the ordinary person. You pay whether you use it or not! Of course, no one mentions over-runs and things never cost what they are predicted to cost; they always go over. No mention of upkeep or which corporations are pushing for this.
I know. Increase corporate tax to fully cover the cost of high speed rail.
If you are against paying for a high-speed rail system, call your government representative now. Send an email- quick, easy and it’s documented in writing. Or next year, you’ll see your personal income taxes go way up, while you pay for up to a 20 billion dollar train between Calgary and Edmonton. Check out high speed rail comments made by Transportation Minister, Rick McIvor this week.
I am against putting my tax dollars towards a high-speed train and would much rather see another highway lane put on Highway 2 between Calgary and Edmonton with proper road sanding and clearing when required. Also upgrade secondary highways with the increased population that Alberta has seen since 1960! Let’s help all Albertans! Put it to a vote for next public elections.
Debbie Newbery