Victoria: The BC division of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation today pointed out that tax cuts over the past year have given a doctor with a $150,000 taxable income almost 5,700 extra dollars every year. A doctor with a taxable income of $100,000 per year would take home over $3,300 extra per year due to recent tax relief.

"The class warfare attack on doctors from some is misplaced," said CTF-BC director Mark Milke. "But that doesn't mean taxpayers have an unlimited ability to pay. While many health care workers seem intent on getting wage parity with Alberta, it should be remembered that BC's per capita economy is only two-thirds that of Alberta. It's time for realism in the health care sector but not only from doctors."

Milke noted that February's tax increase of $758 million went largely to fund compensation increases in the health care sector, including $392 million for doctors, $164 million for nurses, $161 million for paramedicals for a total of $717 million - or 95% of the February tax increases.