Dear Editor
Re: MLA Jane Shin's housing crisis, Burnaby NOW, Feb. 27.
The recent article by Ms. Moreau is unbelievable. If MLA Jane Shin's housing crisis was made into a motion picture, it would open with "loosely based on a true story." First, did she ever want to live in Burnaby to begin with? Second, we are paying this MLA over $100,000 in base salary, plus pension and benefits, and in 2014 she expensed more than $30,000 for mileage, meals, airfare and hotels plus friends' travel costs.
We are on the hook for more than $130,000 for an MLA that does not represent the constituents of Burnaby-Lougheed, and she can't afford a house here because of student debt? Maybe she should talk to people in her riding who make less than half as much as she does and have had to rent and/or make tough choices for a long time. Perhaps her issue is more like wasteful spending (like that of her close friends at Burnaby City Hall).
She should help set up a public meeting and discuss openly the continuously rising living costs, including property taxes, in Burnaby (always taking in more than needed). Renters and homeowners, all residents, have real financial burdens with Burnaby's significant annual tax increase.
Many of her constituents may not have the luxury to simply buy multiple properties all over the Lower Mainland and expense all of their mileage to and from work. If she sold all of her properties, cut back on spending, consolidated her debt (like others are forced to do), she would be able to afford to stay in Burnaby-Lougheed area at least until she gets her next year's property tax and utility bills. The issue might be of political allegiance and short-term thinking, since she was barely elected in a riding where she did not live in last provincial election.
Lastly, I really like her idea of moving out of Burnaby and handing in her resignation; and when she does we can elect a representative MLA who lives, knows, and can really represent Burnaby-Lougheed residents in a byelection.
Linda Hancott, Burnaby
