Why student debtors and their allies should hold protests outside B.C. Liberal MLAs' offices

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      Finance Minister Mike de Jong has introduced a bill in the legislature with the innocuous-sounding name of Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2015.

      But it contains a rude surprise for some former students who rely on their vehicles for work.

      The Financial Administration Act is being changed so that those who haven't paid government debts, including court fines and student loans, can lose their driver's licence.

      Under the bill, de Jong can forward a notice to ICBC to take this action and revoke licence plates.

      The finance minister would be required to give the debtor 30 days' notice before any action is taken.

      There are a few caveats in the legislation. The driver's licence would not be cancelled if the limitation period for the government's claim has expired. A debtor could also keep a driver's licence if there's a "payment arrangement".

      There's also a provision that no action will occur if the finance minister "is satisfied that the debtor, without a driver's licence or licence and corresponding number plates for any motor vehicle or trailer...will experience great hardship or financial difficulty to such an extent that the debtor will be unable to pay the government claim in whole or in part".

      The move against debtors comes less than three months after Statistics Canada reported that household mortgage, consumer, and non-mortgage debt has reached 162.6 percent of disposable income. That's the highest it's ever been.

      Keep in mind that the B.C. Liberal government recorded a surplus of $879 million in its last fiscal year.

      What should people do about this?

      Whenever former premier Gordon Campbell introduced harsh measures, such as clawing back child-support payments to single parents or applying a two-year independence test for welfare, B.C. Liberals disregarded public protests.

      Campbell also ignored demonstrations about B.C. having the lowest minimum wage in Canada.

      Premier Christy Clark, on the other hand, has shown more flexibility in the face of public outrage.

      She oversaw the elimination of the harmonized sales tax after voters dumped it in an initiative.

      Before the last election, Clark raised the minimum wage and boosted corporate taxes after the NDP kept hammering away on these points.

      Most significantly, the B.C. Liberals eliminated Campbell's hated clawback of child-support payments to single parents on social assistance.

      Clark did this after a series of protests outside MLAs' offices and criticism from the NDP.

      Because Clark sometimes listens, it makes sense for people who oppose the crackdown on student debtors to think about taking similar action.

      No one in debt likes to admit that they haven't repaid their loans. The B.C. Liberals are probably counting on this to ensure they'll get away with yet another move to punish low-income British Columbians. The NDP also can't be expected to stand up in support of debtors.

      But if enough people make sufficient noise, this draconian measure could be repealed.

      Premier has shown disregard for higher education

      During their tenure, the B.C. Liberals have imposed massive tuition increases on postsecondary students.

      As premier, Clark has treated universities like footballs, kicking them around on funding and forcing them to amend their programs to meet her political objectives. If administrators don't bend to her government's questionable forecasts about the labour market—including its wildly optimistic forecasts on liquefied-natural gas—their institutions won't qualify for as much funding in the future.

      This move against debtors is really only the latest manifestation of the premier's troubling disregard for postsecondary students. There seems to be little acknowledgement on the premier's part that they are the key to our economic future in a knowledge-based economy.

      It's time for student debtors and their allies to rise up, create some placards, and fire up a social-media campaign. They can gather outside MLAs' offices on a weekly basis to let the premier know that she'll pay a political price for her ongoing contempt for advanced education.

      Sometimes, these protests get covered in community papers and on TV newscasts, particularly if they're held on slower news days, like Sundays.

      The demonstrations wouldn't have to focus exclusively on the debt issue, but could also raise concerns about funding cuts to postsecondary education and the long-term economic effects of this penny-wise, pound-foolish approach to governing.

      Protesters could also explain how the latest bill is part of the government's ongoing efforts to punish the poor and reward the rich.

      After all, the same premier who wants to take away student debtors' driver's licences also just eliminated a surtax on high-income earners.

      It's a pretty easy narrative for people to understand, especially when the premier's own child is enrolled in an elite private school.

      Comments

      12 Comments

      Lanny Francis

      Feb 27, 2015 at 9:56am

      More like the Premier's troubling disregard for anyone who is not from her "base" She is, if nothing else, an amazing study of the modern day politician, the way she never strayed from her message during the campaign and now consistently playing to her base. I would say the only diversion I have seen is her apparent "peace" with labour inions. Thanks Mr. Smith, I always enjoy reading you.

      ursa minor

      Feb 27, 2015 at 10:21am

      "I would say the only diversion I have seen is her apparent "peace" with labour inions."

      The BCTF could give you a pretty good idea of how "apparent" that peace is.

      Christy Clark, Fascist

      Feb 27, 2015 at 11:28am

      "Kid, we don't just own the note -- we own YOU."

      Good parenting 101

      Feb 27, 2015 at 12:08pm

      "It's a pretty easy narrative for people to understand, especially when the premier's own child is enrolled in an elite private school."

      The narrative is that she's obviously a good parent and getting the best education for her child that she can afford AND one that isn't going to be disrupted at least once, possibly twice, by strikes. Her son is also not going to be subjected to left wing propaganda regularly doled out in the classroom by BCTF members.

      It's her money and her child - and so it's none of your business. How much money do you make Charlie? Where do you live and how much is your house worth? What sort of car do you drive and how much did it cost? Where do you go for vacation and how much do you spend on it? You're a public figure (I've seen you on TV) so we have a right to know everything about you so we can judge you in public.

      Charlie Smith

      Feb 27, 2015 at 12:30pm

      Good parenting 101,

      If you're a government spin doctor, you're good at your job and you should ask for a raise.

      I've noticed that some p.r. people attack the messenger if they don't like the message. It's one way of changing the channel, so to speak.

      I'm not going to reveal my salary for a bunch of reasons, not the least of which is my publisher's competitive position in the market.

      I don't own a home. I rent a one-bedroom apartment.

      I drive a 2005 Toyota Echo. I bought it because it was the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid vehicle on the market at the time. Prior to that, I didn't own a vehicle for seven years and got around on transit and my bicycle.

      I'm not going to tell you where I go on vacation. It's none of your business. I can assure you that I take far fewer vacations than most people.

      I'm not a public figure like the premier, whose trips and salary are paid for by taxpayers.

      Just because I have the odd soundbite on TV doesn't make me a public figure like a person who seeks election and has a mandate to change laws that can have the effect of ruining people's lives.

      Now, are you going to ask for that raise?

      Christy Clark, Fascist

      Feb 27, 2015 at 12:37pm

      @ good parenting 101
      apropos of that....

      "You know, I take that as a compliment...you know, it's one of those things. Better a MILF than a cougar...so tell him I said thank you." (December, 2012)

      Good parenting 101

      Feb 28, 2015 at 8:07am

      Oh, of course I must be getting paid for disagreeing with Charlie Smith. There can be no other reason why I'd be taking exception to his attacks on a single mother.

      The truth is that you've made many, many negative comments in the past highlighting Christy Clark's decision on how SHE chooses to raise her child. Since your daddy was a public school teacher you led a charge against her on a personal level during the strike. You purposely made her son a target for something that is none of your business and I find you creepy as hell.

      And yes you are a public figure. Your Twitter feed and numerous media appearances point out that fact you make your living by having a public profile that you continually build upon. Don't try to hide behind the journalist shield because the vast majority of your self-advertising is through commentary, not reporting. As a public figure we have a right to know how much you make.

      Neo Con Bots

      Feb 28, 2015 at 9:22am

      @Good Parenting 101

      It's always entertaining to point out the facts to Neo Con Bots.

      The Straight is a Private Company, Mr. Smith is a Private Sector employee.

      You certainly don't have any "right" to know any Private sector employees Salary.

      On the other hand any Politician feeding at the Public Trough is both subject to Transparency Rules and to criticism.

      As for Private vs Public Schools the Governments especially Neo Con far Right Wing Texas Republican style ones of the Christy variety love to undermine and systematically De-fund Public Institutions.

      So that they than can later claim that only the "Private" sector knows how to effectively run this or other Institutions e.g., (Education & Healthcare).

      All the while Conservative Governments across Canada like the BC Liberals dole out massive Corporate Welfare subsidies whether to LNG (good luck with that lame non economic project), Canadian Banks, Big Oil and Big Auto Corporations.

      I guess Conservatives only believe in the Free Market when there is Profit to be made but when faced with losses they step in and interfere in the Free Market doling out massive Corporate Welfare.

      Also"Private" schools get large subsidies aka Corporate Welfare from the BC Tax payer via government.

      Source BC (lying) Government : http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=699A7E1C76EF494D9918D067921A86F1

      Policy in full
      Grants to Group 1 and 2 Schools
      Only Group 1 and 2 independent schools are eligible to receive government grants.

      The designated percentages are as follows:
      Group 1 = 50 percent of the local district's per-student grant amount
      Group 2 = 35 percent of the local district's per-student grant amount

      The group designation is determined by the comparison of the independent school's average per student operating costs with the local school district's average per student operating grant amount. If the independent school's per student operating costs exceeds the district's per student grant amount, then the school is designated Group 2.

      Each independent school's grant is calculated by multiplying as follows:
      (LOCAL DISTRICT'S GRANT AMOUNT) X (NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS ENROLLED) X (DESIGNATED PERCENTAGE)

      KDC4

      Feb 28, 2015 at 10:40am

      You are very confused. You only have a right to know how much he makes if he is being paid in public money. Nobody else thinks that journalists should reveal salaries. People who put their kids in private schools attack the social compact that has made Canada successful. They pursue individual gain at the expense of others and are a threat to our social order. Do you think private schools dole out less pernicious free-market propaganda than public schools do for the left? She's a "single mother" who was married to a wealthy political hack and energy resource industry figure - and I guarantee you he still pays for that kid's education.

      KDC4

      Feb 28, 2015 at 10:44am

      As for the proposed law, this is another piece of legislation designed to punish those least able to afford it. It interferes with their freedom of mobility, it has no rational connection to the measure and is typical of Christy and her neo-conservative jackbooted thugs who want to ensure the highways remain free for the super-rich and to force the working poor onto the overcrowded buses and into the gutter. If they are still alive, perhaps her prep-school son can employ them later for the lowest minimum wage in the country.