6 - Sunday, November 19, 1989 - North Shore News Taxes feed a deficit — only an axe can cut it SELDOM IF ever has any move by Ottawa unleashed such a mass public protest as the Goods & Services Tax — op- posed in the latest poll by 80 per cent of Canadians, with 11 per cent undecided and only nine per cent in favor. The gut reason for this deafen- ing ‘‘no’’ has little to do with the level and mechanics of the GST, hotly debated though these are too. It stems from the simple, tough truth known to every indi- vidual and business taxpayer. If you’re deep in the glue, the only way out is to start living within your income by cutting your spending FAST — and regardless of how much it hurts. Canadians presently see no sign of the Mulroney government doing anything of the kind to slash its annual $30 billion-plus deficit and curb its ever mounting debt of al- ready $321 billion. And their in- stinct tells them that any additional taxation will only be used by Ot- tawa to continue avoiding the kind of spending cuts that are essential. Essential because the alternative — since we’re already taxed close to the point of diminishing returns — is eventual Third World-style bankruptcy. A deficit is like an octopus and it feeds on taxes. The only way to cut it before it strangles you is with an axe. Tory tax hucksters boast soothingly about spending down bs one billion here, ‘up by only 3.5 per cent’’ there. But instinct tells the peasants on the barricades that much more radical action is needed. Like, for example, HALVING the 1989-90 deficit of $30.5 billion within the next !2 months and thereafter balancing the budget permanently by March 1991, Brian Mulroney, Michael Wilson and their spendthrift cabinet bud- dies will, no doubt, laugh the idea to scorn as a pathetic example of peasant ignorance. But in fact, and although politically painful, it is perfectly possible. Alberta Report publisher Link Byfield has proposed one way of tackling the job — spending by PRIORITIES. He lists five in de- scending order of importance: 1. Items that MUST be paid: debt servicing, pensions, etc. 2. Institutions vital for life and liberty: Parliament, the forces, prisons, courts. Maybe trimmed eanteer. Rental crisis couver Disirict councils have moved in the right Nees VANCOUVER City and North Van- direction by freezing rental suite demolitions in their municipalities. But while the moratoriums are in effect, the councils must take a second look at what they can do to ease the rental housing crisis as well as increasing pressure on Victoria and Ottawa to impose Iegislation to im- prove the housing situation. in North Vancouver City alone there has been no new rental housing construction since 1980, even though 64 per cent of the City’s inhabitants are renters. The two other North Shore municipalities face similar shortages. But all three levels of government can do their share to solve the problem. On the municipal level, councils need to stop the phase-out of iflegal suites. Secondary suites not oniy create housing but make the municipalities affordable for middle income home- owners. Councils must also create property tax breaks for local landlords to keep rental housing an attractive investment. On the federal and provincial levels, more money must be made available to build lower and middle in- come housing. Tax credits and development initiatives to build rental suites need to be introduced. Funds must be found to build more co-op housing. And also on the provincial level, the rentalsman has to be re- established; rent controls must be considered. The cost of these initiatives, no doubt, will be great — but the alternative is grim. A healthy society needs affordable housing. Governments must face the prob- fem now before the social costs become intoterable. INSIGHTS somewhat, but only if or where possible. 3. Non-essential departments: the Secretary of State, public works, communications, etc. To be slashed, abolished or privatized. 4. Functions properly belonging to the provinces: energy, resources, agriculture, fisheries. To be abol- ished federally and transferred. 5. Sacred cows: foreign aid, arts, the CBC, etc. No tax levy but in- terested taxpayers would be invited to make a suggested donation if they wished. That’s the REAL world with which family budget-keepers have to cope daily. On Wednesday we'll crunch a few actual numbers to help the Mulroncyites understand it. kkk TAILPIECES: Honored earlier this month at a thank-you recep- tion by the Greater Vancouver Regional District were North Van’s Harry and Jean Parrins — together with sons Brian, 9, and Mark, 5 — for their work this year as volunteers at special events pro- grams in regional parks ... Gearing up for next year's Miss Teen Van- couver Pageant is North Van's time-proof Gertie Todd, just start- ing her 39th year in the pageant business. Her Miss Teen Van- couver committee, now forming and open to new members, meets 7 p.m. each Tuesday at 124 West 16th — call 985-0555 for info ... Tickets for the Christmas Fashion Show and crafts sale Tuesday, Nov. 21, at St. Pius X parish hall, 1150 Mt. Seymour Road include wine, refreshments and door prize draws galore — call Maureen MeNéeii, 929-1729 ... And birthday greetings tomorrow, Monday, Nov. 20, to West Van’s Ethane Wardell — a happy answer to ail those things some folk tell you about Scorpios! ® sunday brunch ¢ tae WRIGHT OR WRONG: Then there was the fellow who dreamt that his ship came in and the first person down the gangplank was a man from Revenue Canada. submitted PARK LOVERS REWARDED...the Parrins family — (left to right) Jean, Mark, Brian and Harry — with West Yan Mayor Don Lanskail, GVRD Parks Committee chairman. THE HOUSING SITUATIO 8 RUN SOBA ff LN —s ae | | : rk . \ \\ = YOURE LUCKY...1'M) ON THE WAITING Publisher . oo Managing Editor. . Associate Editor Mating rales avaiable on request envelope . .Peter Speck . Barrett Fisher - Noel Wright Advertising Director . Linda Stewart North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent subutban newspaper and qualiied under Schedule 111, Parag*aph IU of the Excise Tax Act, 15 published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday by North Shote Free Press Lid. and distributed lo every door on the Nortn Shore Second Class Mail Registration Number 3885 Subscriptions Worth and West Vancouver, 325 per year Submussions are weicome but we carfiat accept responsibuity for UNsohcited maternal including Manuscepts and pictures which Should be accompanied by 4 stamped, addressed Sear aemesisenan mmreecrmirer xmmass Display Advertising 980-0511 Classitied Advertising 986-6222 Newsroom 985-2131 Distribution 986-1337 baal . Subscriptions 986-1337 SUNDAY « WEDNESDAY /FHIDAY Fax 985-3227 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C. MEMBER aan V7M 2H4 59,170 (average, Wednesday Friday & Sunday) ws Sib DIVISION Entire contents © 1989 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved. sx. G North Shore owned and inanaged