If what you and Minister Hansen say is true (and even previous Liberal Minister Christy Clark is having trouble swallowing this line) and you didn’t think about the idea of the HST until the election was over, I’d like to suggest that you and your Minister not think about a few other things. I’d ask you to not think about raising that pesky minimum wage as BC now has the lowest minimum wage in the whole damn country. It would be great if you’d not think about that Gord. This is an embarrassment. And your rationale of a higher minimum wage negatively affecting the provincial economy – I think you’ve already taken care of that as the provincial economy seems to be in a bit of a mess without that raised wage.

And while you’re not thinking about stuff, how about not thinking about dealing with that annoying 24% child poverty rate? Seeing as how BC still holds the shameful gold medal on this embarrassing issue, your non-consideration would be appreciated. And, one more thing if you have the time – please don’t think about that MSP tax that you raised when you did think about it a few years ago, and just raised again in your budget update. Only BC taxes its citizens like this. (I know you don’t have to pay it with your benefits, but a lot of BC citizens do have to pay it and it’s unacceptable.) Every other province seems to be able to offer quality health care without this odious additional tax grab that isn’t even tax deductible!

But now there is something I do want you to think about. This unbelievably disgusting money grab that your government has just sleazed into with the raising of the limit on on-line gambling - going from $120/week to $9,999/week. Really good way to make money off people with addiction issues!

C’mon Mr. Premier, the fact that the government of BC is actually one of the biggest sources of gambling in Canada is discomforting enough! The fact that your government has to rely on the proceeds from individuals with addiction issues (booze, tobacco and gambling) should embarrass you into dealing with your government’s own obvious addiction to gambling money. Do you remember when gambling and lotteries used to be illegal in Canada? Interesting how morals fly out the window when cash is involved, eh?

And that whole thing about gambling revenues - I recall that the intent was to support community and arts groups with those questionable proceeds. Seems that intent has been modified to say the least. Nice to see that Mr. Coleman decided to reinstate the grants that had already been approved with a signed contract at the same time some of these community groups were exploring the option of suing your government for breach of contract. I see that he magically found the money in a contingency fund. Such a happy coincidence! But many other groups have been cut off from their funding.

And Mr. Premier, it’s apparent that with another four years on the legislative throne that you and your government are feeling invulnerable and imposing your financial and ideological decisions on the citizens of BC. But to cheerfully announce, with that endearing smile, that you intend to run again at the end of this term and impose your rule for another four years - that almost sent me out for a case of highly taxed BC wine!

I do however hope that you stay around long enough to find those missing emails. That has to be a worry. And that pesky BC Rail scandal that has been trapped in the court system for seven years now - hopefully soon you won’t be able to use that multi-tasking excuse that you, “can’t talk about it because it’s in front of the courts”.

I’m also surprised that the cost overruns for the Vancouver Conference Centre, the cost of the Sea to Sky pathway to the Olympics, and the other costs of these games of the gods themselves have not yet come back to haunt you. When I hear how provincial revenues have been less than expected and how bare the provincial cupboard is, I wonder about the billions that have gone into the games. I seem to get some sense of who was in the cupboard and where the money went. Seems to me as guardians of the economy, blaming the current recession rather than bad planning and incompetence is at the very least, disingenuous. Maybe somebody else should handle the books from now on. There are non-profit groups (assuming they still have their gaming funding) that help people get out of debt. I could send you some contact information if you’d like.