British Columbia currently has a debt of about $1.5 billion.
On Nov. 30, Global reported that if B.C. were to build all the hospitals it currently needs by 2020, that is, in the next seven years, the cost would be about $80 billion.
The news reporter questioned how anyone could imagine the B.C. government acquiring enough money to pay for it all.
I think I can answer the question.
The government needs to cultivate, sell and tax marijuana.
They should raise the taxes on tobacco and alcohol, then start a distillery to make cheap liquor for poor people. The rich people would not mind paying the extra tax, because buying government liquor would have a stigma attached to it.
The government should also allow gambling on individual sports games and tax that spending/winning.
I think my ideas would raise the necessary funds to build those hospitals. They might also lower the crime rate and would keep money out of the hands of the criminal gangs that currently collect all the cash.
Allmen Quester,
Kelowna