Blossoms may be bursting out on cherry trees and daffodils blooming on boulevards, but April is still the cruellest month when it comes to rate increases on a whole slew of costs borne by average citizens. And those are just the latest increases - piled on top of others that already took effect.
Among some examples, Hydro rates went up nine per cent this week - the beginning of a planned 28 per cent increase over the next several years. Unless you have access to taxpayer-funded vacations to warmer climes - as some members of the legislature evidently do - avoiding Hydro bills isn't an option for most people, who will feel the increase acutely next winter.
We'd also better hope the hit to the thermostat won't result in people getting sick. Medical premiums also went up again this year.
Of course, Hydro and MSP increases also have direct effects on the bottom lines of other institutions - like schools, also funded by, guess who? Taxpayers!
B.C. Ferries fares also went up again, co-ordinating with decreases to service expected to continue for several years. But ferries apparently aren't part of the highway system, like they used to be. Upgrades to highways are now reserved for getting wealthy people to their second homes in Whistler.
Also going up? The cost of post-secondary tuition, ICBC rates and even the cost to mail a letter - which now costs $1. That's an amazing number of increases for a government that prides itself on balancing the budget without adding "taxes."
Unfortunately, the increases are still coming from the same place - your wallet.
And that's no April Fool's joke.
