sia Saba cakes ee pr meres : “NEWS VIEWPOINT Yebt dopes pots RS, io. ROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT ears Y obviously need a sound flushing out . with: seme high-volume province- wide protest. * _ Because | the politicians in : Victoria just ~ don't seem to be getting it. Take Tuesday’s, budget. “We: needed leadership; we got abdication of duty “We needed economic stimulation; we got taxes on success and enterprise. “We: demanded - _ Spending cuis and a ‘big er, ‘debt, Al, ‘of the’ above: comes at a time when : govt nament: debts . ‘and deficits are eating great ‘acidic holes in. the machinery of our economy. B.C.’s_ total accumulated debt is ex- pected to hit $26.4 hillion by 1994, up $3.1 billion over the 1993 forecast of $23.3 billion and up, $8 billiom since the NDP was elected in October 1991, . ; The NDP’s pathetic ‘assault ‘on. B.C.’s. deficit this time around was a paltry $415 million cut, leaving it at $1. 535 billion for the new fiscal year, ‘Big deal. : Big trouble for the B. ron economy. ; Big reason to demand some real ‘action to save this province from debtor's purgatory. “LETTER OF THE DAY - Episode shows need for meaningful records cords of decisions be kept. This may be appropriate for a strata council, but it is ludicrous when multi-million-dollar decisions are being made. ‘Dea! Editor: _ Congratulations for the way - you | {reported the confrontation between; NVD Coun. Ernie Crist and \ Mayor Dykeman ‘‘Coun., mayor. lock horns over ‘false’ Without commenting on the debate’s issues, | particularly ap- preciated the way you contrasted the minuted version of the discus- sion with reporting of the event. This episode points up the need for meaningful records. Existing legislation requires only that re- Roff Johnson West Vancouver | Can ever eras B.C. ALWAYS TRAILS Ontario — long the nation’s powerhouse until Bob Rae’s NDP wrecking crew took over in 1990. Which gave B.C. its turn to become Canada’s economic dynamo for a season. Last week Ontario's premier fi- nally summoned up courage to tell his union and public sector pals that the party was over. Spending must be cut before the moneylenders blew the game-over whistle. This week B.C.'s Mike Har- court and Glen Clark told labor boss Ken Georgettl and govern- ment ernployces leader John Shields the precise opposite. For unionized workers, public employees and the rest of the NDP constituency the party was stil} on — with spending as usual and the huge eventual bills to be dumped on our unborn children, That’s what the NDP’s 1993 budget is al] about. For weeks Mikey and Glen had been warning of the tough new raids on our pocketbooks they were planning. “Challenges’’ and ‘‘choices,”’ they told us, were the watchwords for digging B.C. our of the glue. So Tuesday afternoon brought _almost a sense of relief. The sales tax increase to 7%, higher gasoline prices and medicare premiums, and added ‘*sin’’ taxes on tobacco and liquor hit virtually everyone, of course. Meanwhile, surtaxes on incomes over $60,000 and luxury cars,’ together with the phase-out of the homeowner grant for properties worth $400,000 upward made Joe Lunchbucket feel much better. And at least we were all in it together, weren’t we — sacrificing individually in the noble cause of - wrestling B.C.’s debt to the ground? Proudly accepting — . challenges and making the right choices. Dream on! Behind the govern-. ‘ment’s inspirational smoke and mirrors there’s not the slightest sign of any genuine spending cuts.: Its recent sweetheart deal with the health-care unions could cost. almost half a billion over the next ' three years, The public sector budget gets another healthy hike. And now, the jiggery-pokery of the ‘*BC21”’ program which lets . ° Victoria borrow freely for high- way and construction projects without it ever showing in the an- nual deficit. In short, the Harcourt govern- ment has not the least intention of seriously attacking the growing provincial debt. The sole purpose of the $643 HITHER AND YON million in new taxation is simply to allow il to spend as before ~ especially in areas where the NDP votes are —~ while piling up ever more long-term debt hidden behind the ‘*BC2)°* smokescreen. “We've tried procrastination, : massive borrowing, almost ' everything except living within our means,’’ moaned New Zealatd’s prime minister following the 1984 collapse of his country’s socialist economy. : But living within one’ 's means is an idea no socialists —- whether in B.C., Ontario, eastern Europe or: anywhere else in the world — have ever ‘grasped. For socialists, ’ debt and income ar¢ the same. ~ thing. _SIGN-OFF: North Shore bus drivers enjoyed a special coffee break recently, provided by . members of the North Shore. . Association for the’ Mentally | - Handicapped — ‘a thank-you to: the drivers for their care and con cern shown to mentaily handi-- "capped passengers .... Help, Cersan . Graham senior band and choir, get to Portland for a musical ex-: i change by letting them shampoo your chariot tomorrow,’ Saturday, April 3, at their Edgemont’ Chevron station carwash (their . ; earlier carwash two weeks ago was - rained out) ... And aspiring lawn: bowlers are invited to drop by on... ' Sunday, April 4, at North Van Lawn Bowling Club, 2160 Lons-. dale, to register as new members: for the 1993 season. - ~ minutes, March 14/93). Display Advertising 980-0511 Distribution 986-1337 Real Estate Advertising 985-6982 Subscriptions 986-1337 Classified Advertising 986-6222 Fax 985-3227 Bia 10% recycled Newsroom Peter Speck . Timothy Renshaw Noel Wright Publisher .: Managing Editor . Associate Editor Sales & Marketing Director. . Linda Stewart Comptroller .. .. Doug Foot North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent. suburban newspaper and qualified under Schedule 111, Paragraph ll of the Excise Tax Act, is published each Wednesday, Friday and Surday by North, Shore Free Press Ltd. and distributed to every door on the North Shore, Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 0087238, Mailing rates available cn request. Submissions ere welcome bul we cannol accept responsibility for unsolicited material including manuscripts and pictures which ‘should be accompanied bys a slamped, addressed envelope: ts Printed on 985-2131 Administeation 985-2131 Bpedy newsprint North Shore managed MEMBER =~ SR’ . NEWS photo Mike Waketletd COFFEE ANG home-baked goodies for transit drivers and workers -: at North Vancouver transit office ... a special thank-you from. members of the North Shore Association for the Menvally Handi- cappe' 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, | North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 : Entire contents © 1993 North Shore Free Press Ltd. Alt rights reserved. 61,582 (average circulation, Wednesday. Friday & Sunday)