6 — Friday, February 19, 1999 — North Shore News Martin AUL Martin is tiptoeing towards tax relief when the country needs to be raking real meaningful steps to return what the government continues to plunder from taxpayers’ wallets. For example, even though this year’s projected budget surplus is approxi- mately $12 billion, the finance minis- ter’s budget provides tax cuts to Canadians that add up to a scant $1.13 per day for an average family of four. It also applies a paltry $3 billion to paying down the country’s massive $580 billion debt. There is $11.5 billion in increased health care spending, which is hard to argue with: the country’s aging demo- graphics point to overwhelming sup- port for more investment in health care. The cynic might consider increased health. spending to be more a north shore news VIEWPOINT i7e a political investment than anything else. And while the Liberals deserve cred- it for delivering the first back-to-back balanced budgets in Canada since 1951-52, the tederal budget surplus is due far more to buoyant economic times and cuts in such expenditures as provincial transfer payments than it is to any meaningful efficiencies made in government operations. And while the tax cuts included in Martin’s budget will be welcome they’re not enough. Canadians must still work until June 26 every year to pay the total tax bill levied upon them by all levels of gov- ernment. That burden remains the biggest hindrance to stimulating the country’s economy and ensuring that Canadian talent and intelicctual capital stay in the country. The Liberals did little to remove that burden. i DEMAND OF THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT MY OWN INPEVENDENT OR ! WILE BECOME THE COUNTRY BANE OF A THEIR EXISTENCE AND MAKE EVERY- GET IN LINE, Bozo... one’s LiFe A LivinG HELL! MP White calls for Lions Gate protest Dear Editor: : As 1 listened to the news last Friday night and learned that the Lions Gate Bridge ‘iad been closed because of high winds, I began thinking about the recently announced plan of the provincial government to refurbish that ailing and overloaded structure. This in turn led me to predict an outcome with respect to the long awaited overhaul, based mainly on the proven ability of the government to turn every major project under its care into a horror story of delays, cost overruns, and scandals. My prediction: within a few weeks of work commenc- ing, the contractors will announce that corrosion and cable deterioration is much worse than earlicr predicted, and that costs for the project will rise to a little over $100 mil- ion. A month or wo later the public will learn that previ- ously undetected hairline cracks and aging effects will add several months and at least another $89 million to the total pill, In the end, after a series of scandals, and the firings of chief executive officers and ministers of the Crown, the final price will top out at more than twice the cost of a brand new six-lane suspension bridge. An often quoted definition of insane is repeating the same action over and over while expecting a difterent result. If we, as North Shore residents, are prepared to let the provincial government repeat an all-too familiar pat- tern with respect to the Lions Gate Bridge, and to deliver a sow’s ear for the price of a silk purse, then let’s do noth- ing, and simply celebrate our insanity. If, on the other hand, we want to control the outcome this time around, it’s time to start a public protest move- ment before we reach the point of no return. Ted White, MP North Vancouver north: shore “ North S&ore Saws, founded mt 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and qua.tied undes Schedule 111, Paragraph 111 of the Excise Tax Act, is pubtstd each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday by North Shore Free Press, Ld. and cistnbuted to every door on the Morin Shore. Canata Post Canadan Pubicabons Mad Sikes Fioduct Agreement No. 0087238 Ege Sis"s Barbara Emo Distribution Manager 986-1337 (128) Jonathan Ball Creative Services Manager 985-2131 (127) 61,582 {average orculation, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday} WHEN I phoned Maggie Pappas she said she had heard that I might not be “terribly on side with this (West Vancouver) arts centre concept.” Well, reader, [ was neither on side nor of F side before E talked to Ms. Pappas. But after listening to her —~ and I write this with no joy at all — sim- ple honesty requires me to state: I now think the con- cept, as expressed to me, is so far in left field that Babe Ruth and Mark McGwire together could never hit one _ over thar distant wall. Fam trying to be scrupulously fair. Ms. Pappas unquestionably is acting, as she told me with some heat toward the end of the generously long interview she gave me, “out of good will for my community and out of passion.” As chairwoman of the non-profit West Vancouver Arts Centre ‘Trust, Ms. Pappas has laboured and lobbied mightily to get this building. That's in the face ofa municipal coun- cil that stated in no uncertain terms that West Van will donate the site if the trust can raise the money for construction — and, as Ms. Pappas repeatedly emphasized to me, the centre absolutely would not ask the teavn for operating or other finan- cial help. And she exudes confidence — she exudes stunningly, with the verbal flow of a skilled promoter — that the trust can raise the $15 million that the centre PETER SPECK poug Fea Comptrolier 985-2131 (133) Human Resources Manager igh Publisher a5-2131 17] 985-2137 (101) east Valerie Gtephensoa Classified Manager 963-6222 {2112} Terry . Photography Manager 985-2131 (160) Entire contents © 1997 North Shore Free Press Ltd. Alt rights reserved. would cost. She already has a conditional pledge of St million from a long-standing West Vancouver philanthropist who wishes to remain anonymous, Ms. Pappas says three other citizens have made similar $1 million pledges. And she declares that the arts centre would begin life with an unprecedented $1 million endowment fund. “The easiest thing is to get the money,” she assured me. “The hard- est thing is to get the site.” That site, as reported, could well be on the Ambleside Park soccer field, with the soccer association willing to move if it Bets a satisfactory replacement. (Ms. Pappas said that issue has come out in the press as if it’s a crisis, “and it’s not a crisis ar all.”) Now, space (for me) and time (for you) are short. But this must be said: In my slender view, Ms. Pappas grand- ly overestimates the unslaked hunger for the arts in this, and perhaps any, commu- nity. She appears to not only believe that there isa huge appetite in West Vancouver for the song, dance, theatre, ete. that the arts centre would satis#,. She also believes that the classes, rentals, ticket sales (for performances at an integrated 400-seat theatre), and arts video conferencing that - she envisions would pay their own way. But here’s the rub. She says she “con- servatively” estimates the economic impact on the community — the value of gures don't add up all goods and services — of $10.6 million “in the first vear.” Let’s look az that. I did, with Ms. Pappas — comparing it with the 1999 projections of the warld- renowned Shakespeare Festival in Strattord, Ont. This year the festival’s budget is $29,553,000. Its ticker sales will cover about $23 million (77.8%). The shortfall is made up of government grants (5.3%) and fund-raising (16.9%). Stratford employs 467 year-round staff. (Ms. Pappas estimates her centre would have several management and four or five staff people.) Its three. theatres will stage 590 performances (top seats, $69) with total projected attendance of 478,000. Visitors will spend 100,000 per- son-nights in its accomodations. With all thar — built on 46 years of existence (and I saw a play there in its sec- ond year when it was just a tent) — Stiattord’s estimated economic benefit for all goods and services is $125 million. Get it? Based on Ms. Pappas’ figuee of $10.6 million, the economic inipact of Stratford, Canada’s biggest annual arts industry, is only 12 times that of her pro- jected West Vancouver arts centre, which would be a dot on the national arts. scene’s radar. -. Believe that, and [ have a nice B.C. - Ferry catamaran to sell you. a 290Q Speaking of theatre: Some of the humourless, politically correct (i.¢., incore rect) crew for North Shore Light Opera’s: , A Fanny Thing Happened On the Way to ~ the Forum, March 12-27 at Centennial Theatre, pouted and withdrew services, It’s sexist, you see. LETTERS 10 THE EDITOR Letters must inctude your name, full address & telephone number. VIA e-mail: trenshaw @ direct.ca Managing Editor S8S-213% (116) Trisi Agrios Promotions Manager 985-2131 (218) 980-0511 (367) Acting Display Manager General Gtfice Manager SS-2131 (105) internet: attp//wrew.azacws.com Micheal Becker - News Editor 985-2131 (114) : Andraw McCredie - Sports/Community Editor 985-2131 (147)