Dear Editor,
As the provincial Liberal government imposes another annual increase to Medical Service Plan (MSP) premiums, it is again time to remind British Columbians that this is probably the most regressive tax in Canada.
A family of two with an MSP-adjusted net income of $31,000 will pay $1,566 annually, or about five per cent of their income for MSP premiums.
With a net income of $50,000 these premiums will be approximately three per cent, and at $80,000 they will be about two per cent.
This tax destined for general revenue belies the government’s statement that B.C. has the lowest provincial income tax rate.
MSP premiums are an unfair tax, inefficiently collected for general revenue by a managing bureaucracy. Considering all the public sector employees and union members who benefit, don’t expect any change, as no politician of any stripes will address this issue.
The most one can hope for is that both the annual increases and rhetoric about the lowest income tax rate will cease.
Robert Robinson, Langley