SO: Deer Editor: Re: Lionel Lewis’ recent West Vancouver Citizens for Good Government (WVCGG) letrer. Tam a new inember of this Organization and, like Mr. Lewis, attended their recent annual general meeting. Mr. Lewis spoke to his personal view about how such non- profit organization should be run, His letter to you describes his view as the “correct way.” This reflects cither arrogance or limited understanding of the various ways such organi- zations operate. | Over the last 30 years I have been involved in organi- zations that operate as Mr. Lewis. suggests. “I have also beén involved in others, such as the WVCGG, whose con- stitution requires that the cur- rent board propose a group of candidates for the new board. * These organizations (and - the Wwv¥CGG) also invite ations fiom the. floor. rsa proposed by the board. jose nominated from the. floor are then voted on by the members. - When:Mr. Lewis objected CGG’s process, he a: he ar Hdtor: free zones; “pet:stores too large; brin SPCA. before . council; are. the Monday night arth: Vancouver north shere news MAIL Box Good government group defended changed if the membeiship passed a motion te that effect af an annual mecting such as he was then attending. For reasons known only to Mr. Lewis, he declined to make such 2 motion so that the democratic process he val- ues could be applied to his personal view, Given he made ac effort to initiate a change within the organization, his public com- plaint is puzzting. He also criticizes the WVCGG's process of endors- ing certain candidates run- ning for the various municipal offices. He calls the members of the WVCGG = “kingmak- crs.” Aside from using a politi- cally incorrect. term, Mr. Lewis demeans West Van vot- The WVCGG process involves some residents exam- ining candidates more thor- oughly than is usually possible for most residents at all-can- didate mectings and through the media. This “extra” effort results in the WVCGG endorsing certain candidates. If resi- dents vote for those WVCGG . endorses, and I am told that is hot F always the case, no one is common’ sense individuals. 1 encourage district voters to check out all candidates, incumbents, included and act appropriately. Jeremy Dalton of Information call 904-0907 Ask Jor’ Beatrice or Siefan Bex Art GALLERY INC. - 3053 Highland Boulevard, North Van il: bela rejected foremg them to. It is the resi- “eudorsed” dents, in the privacy of the voting booth, who “make” our leaders. If voters regularly ted white, m.p. those would change. have not, may indicate voters value the work of th WVCGG. K. D. Halliday West Vancouver who | are the — process That voters advertorial, October 20/1999 WHO PAYS THOSE TAXES? hough most residents of the Federa!) riding of North Vancouver gen- erally seem to hold fiscally conserva- tive views, | do occasionally receive calls and ietters from dedicated social- ists trying to bring me around to their way of thinking. A common theme In thelr letters is that Income redisiribu- ticn from the ‘ich to the poor should be higher on the Government's agenda, and that this goal sheuld be accom- plished by Increasing taxes on the “rich.” They usually allege that weaithy Canadians do act pay their "fair share" of taxes, and that the bulk of the tax burden falls on the "werking poor." However, these claims are not support- ed by the facts. PERSONAL INCOME TAX According to Federal and Provincial Govemment statistics, the fop 30% of income earners: in Canada ey more: - than 68% of tha persenal income taxog,. and this has remained roughly constant for more than 20 years. In 1976, for example, the bottom 30% of income earers paid 3.2% of the total personal income taxes collected, the middle 40% of eamers paid 29.5%, and the top 30% paid 68.1%.~ In 1988, the bottom 30% paid 3.1%, the mid- dle 40% paid 27.5%, and the top 30% paid 69.4% - so in fact, far from WOT paying thelr falr share, wealthy Canadians are actually paying a disproportionetaly. “high share’ of a, : Mauea, and a “ghouldering a slightly targer proportion ~ of. the burden than they were 20 years. ago. (It is important to note that a person would be included in the top 30% of eam- - fS for 1998. when his or her income reached: only, $60, 113° * hardly : “tich" In the \KE FROM THE RICH | “Another erroneous : claim’ ‘frequently made by advocates for higher taxes on the : wealthy is that poverty in Canada could be ‘wiped out by simply increasing taxes on. the highest inéome eamers, and distribut- ing that money to the poorest in society. art 2 Fall choral exiravaganza The Bachelor of Music Transfer program presents its annual choral extravaganza on Saturday, October 3C at 3 p.m. in the Capilano College Performing Arts Theatre. Conducted by Lars Kaario, the Capilano College Community Choir, Capilano College Singers and the Cecilia Ensemble Women's Choir will perform a mixed repertoire including music for Halloween. Admission is by donation. For tickets and information, call 984-4951. politics and - history lectures The Koerner lecture series kicks offon . Tuesday, November 9 ar - 7:30 p.m. in the Library building, 90m 322: John Keune, a 'Polities professor at the | ~- University of = Westminster, will lecture on the Political Tragedy of Vaclav Havel. ~ Recently ranked by. . The Times of London as -_ one of Britain's leading political thinkers and * writers, John has written |; 10 books, including The Media and Democracy. Admission i is free. ® Feeling bohemtan? : Enjuy an evening of _ poetry and blues on -*. business compa diploma program “training in networking, - networking programming = and database =. °° Management, Work towards high-demand. » Microsoft and Novell ” certifications, . Classes