This letter is in response to Mike Zane’s letter in the April 11 Pique, “Whistler should increase tax for Non-Canadians.”
A 20-per-cent tax increase for non-Canadians. Let’s look at the other side of the coin. Mr. Zane’s letter takes the view that some neighbourhoods have been transformed into empty streets filled with non-Canadian owned houses. Non-residents “use our roads, infrastructure, and public services without contributing.”
When these “empty houses” pay their property taxes, they are paying the same taxes as Canadian-owned properties, (school, hospital, municipal finance, sewer, water). They are gladly paying a full share for services they use on a nominal basis. In other words, they underutilize all the services used by their Canadian neighbours.
These empty houses contribute to the community in other ways, not the least of which is hiring many local people (snow clearing, landscaping, chimney cleaning, window washing, contractors, plumbers, electricians, hot tub services), and purchasing from local businesses like Whistler Glass, Shaw Carpet, and the hardware stores.
My non-Canadian family has owned and lived part-time in a home in Whistler for almost 30 years. We gladly support this community and our Canadian neighbours through our taxes.
