Major earthquake THE NORTH Shore and south western B.C. are over- due for a mederate earthquake similar to the one that left car- nage and destruction in its wake near Los Angeles on Monday, according to North Shore Emergency Program coordinator Ross Peterson. He said we are also duce fora major earthquake. “The kind of problems they are experiencing (in the carthquake arca) —~ we know we will have all of those problems here.” said Peterson, _ He said-the problems include: disruption of bridges; natural gas and water line breakajes along with damage to other infrasiructures. Peterson said it’s likely North Shore rescue officials will go to California and study the situation after the dust clears, One of the things revealed now from the Califomia aftermath is that wood-frame buildings may give _ some people a false sense of securi- ly. Peterson said wood-frame huild- ings generally withstand earth- . quakes, : But wood-frame structures can stide off foundations or collapse in cases of poor foundation construc- fion as witnessed in California. Peterson said the challenge fol- lowing a moderate or major earth- quake involves coping with a lack of services such as electricity, nat- "ural gas, phones; water and sewer. Peterson said peuple should pre- pare for an earthquake by establish- ing alternate ways of heating homes ~ and cooking. Citizens should also have the skills to perform first aid. “People would be wise to sec what CNN (Cable News Netvork based in the United States) is show- ing us because we expect to have a similar thing here,” Petersen said. Utility companies and others give us the bad news. Electricity may be out for days. Water and sewer may be out because of — pipe breakage and low waler pressure, Natural gas may be lost becuse of problems with the Second Narrows Bridge. The line serv- ing the North Shore is carried on this bridge. Gas pipeline failures may occur anywhere on the North Shore. Telephone service will be lost duc to large call volume if aot from line failures. Regular transportation will be disrupted, Many bridges will be out of ser- vice in the Lower Mainland inelud- ing the two major harbor crossings. Perhaps several North Shore bridges will be out as well. Residents snay not be able to get out of theic own neighborhoods, Those caught over town may not be able to return home for some time, perhaps days. Even repairing these systems “and restoring normal service will be a lengthy task because of the num- ber of breakages that are likely to exist. throughout the Lower Mainiand, and because of the diffi. cullies caused by. access disruption and the availability of repair crews. Many of these losses would be mere inconveniences on their own, - hut the loss of all of them together will prove difficult to deal with Ted White, M.P. Suite 302. 1200 Lynn VaHey Ra. . North Vancouver WIS 2A2 Telephone: sas. 0585 Fax: 666. 0509 THE TAX Gras ee A businessman Lk got pret. anary recen! ile paying ; ys his smal home based business, ‘Out of six. cheques, five were for. various forms of taxation. Money had'to’ be sent:to: The Workers .. 4 Compsnsation Board, Revenue © ‘Canada. for: corporate’ tax, BC Government PST, .the municipality - “for; a business: license, and Revenue. Canada GST. in'smail businesses, taxes have. come’ a major. disincentive to expansion “and” job’ creation. -, Administration and tracking of the.” “taxes is. time-consuming ‘and com- plicated, and in low mark up indus- - ties the 14% total of PST and GST “is-often more than the gross profit _ eamed by the business. TAX SATURATION There is some evidence in fed- p eral-government statistics that the. - point of tax saturation has been reached, preventing governments - from obtaining more tax revenue despite growth i in the economy. » For example,’ Department of : "Finance figures list tax revenues for September 1992 ‘at $11.07 bil- -lion’and a year. later in September 4993: at $10.17 -billion, down ‘8.13%. Revenue for April. to ‘October of 1992 totalled $64.94 bil- » lion and for Apzil to October of 1993 totalled $61.22 billion, down - §.73% from a year earlier. -, These drops. are very serious because. the government can no , longer rely on higher taxes to fund expanded spending. The deficit simply ends $ UP. being higher than: pred icted.: WHAT ABOUT THE GST? . Recent figures. from the GST " Branch of Revenue Canada show “GST revenues in 1991/92 as $15.2 villion, dropping to $15.0 billion in 992/93. ‘Although GST collections have dropped slightly, the cost of admin- , istration increased by 25.4% in one -year .from $268.5 million in 1991/92 to $336.7 million in “1992/93. The number of GST employees also increased by ‘23.3% from 3,856 to 4,754 in one yeai! | wonder how many busi- nesses would deliberately increase their work force by 23% while rev- _enues were dropping? ° -BUDGET BLUES — Chances are that the federal - - budget for this year will include tax . increases “because there is no choice in view of the huge deficit legacy of the PCs.” Unfortunately the evidence at. this point suggests -:'that tax increases will just cause Greater erosion of revenues as more businesses go “underground”, , On your behalf; Reform “fiscal watchdogs” will be advocating lower taxes by asking the government “Who will pay for your programs and . why do we need them? Why can't you spend less and taxless?” © APOLOGY: Last week | wrote that John Fraser was defeated in the ' 1993 election. He actually chose not to run. Sorry John, !-knew better. | don't know how that one slipped through. - without some personal and family planing on the part of all. Residents will also lose access to hasic emergency services such as 66 Those caught over town may not be able to return home for some time, perhaps days, 99% fire, police and ambulance. Peterson said the normal munic- ipal emergency services may not be available for days. The bottom line is that foflow- EXERCISE Learn to Ride! fain our maming lessons at North Shore Equestrian Centre 1391 Lillooet Rd., N.Van. 988-5131 or 987-2028 ing a darge carthyuake in this area people will be on their own for per- haps 72 hours or even more. Said Peterson, “You will have to take care of all of your own needs, look after all of your own prob- lems, “This will take some organization and planning on behalf of you, the individual cit- izen, You will have to fake personal responsi- bility for your and your family’s safety and welfare,” he said. “Don't build your plan around the assumption that you will be there to take control. What are you prepared to teach your children when this happens?” Peterson asked, [EST ATES for your holidays Hawaii Mexico Caribbean 1126 Lonudale Aves, N.Van. 987-5244 Special Thanks To North Shore Neurosurgeon, Dr. Arian Hunt and B.C. M.O.A, President Heles Sileox (for left) plus cuordinators Danielle Shepherd and Carolyn Edwards, and N.S. M.O.A, Chapter #10, far all cheit help making che 1993 Whistler M.O.A. conferente a great success, Next M.O.A. meeting Feb. 10 -'7:30pm Lions Gate Hospital | ACCOUNTGETTINGA — ADDRESS? | if it’s time for an address change, th then maybe it’s time for a new relationship. DATELINE -1941 North Shere Credit Union begins an active and important role in the development of a growing community. 53 years and almost a half billion dollars in assets later, North Shore Credit Union continues to offer a complete range of financial services to a growing member base of 39,000 from every walk of life. Benefit fron member-first service through the « personal commitment and expertise of over 200 empioyees. Reap the rewards from first class financial products, services and rates, FULL SERWICE BRANCHES ATHs TELEPHONE BANKING MASTERCARD TEAM BEPOSIS ARSPs and RRIFs MUTUAL FUNDS GOLBEH 55 LOAS AUTO PLAN FIMANCING DIRECT DEPOSIT North Shore, Whistler, Burnaby, downtown Vancouver Interac access across Canada and the United States : 24 hr. access from home, office or cellular phone No fee card 30 days to 5 years at great rates Exclusive rate guarantees, options and self-directed plans Including the family of Ethical Funds Virtually eliminates all service charges Consumer, commercial, mortgages and lines of credit No down payment plan through NORCU insurance Payroll, pension, government and investment cheques | If an address change and new relationship is in your future, phone 986-4321 , for a branch near you. Lonsdale Branch 1100 Lonsdale Avenue North Vancouver.. .