& VOICE OF NORTH AMD WEST VANCOUVER Aprit 7, 1993 72 pages iF WV MAYOR fark Sager... pressuring Ciark to bring back the basic homeowner’s grant. A TAX battle erupted Monday between two North Shore MLAs and West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager. By Surj Rattan News Reporter ‘Sager had visited Finance Minister Glen Clark’s office on Monday to hear Clark tell reporters that the provincial gov- ernment will cancel the implemen- tation of a proposed property sur- tax. Clark had introduced the surtax when he delivered the govern- ment’s new budget last week. The tax levy would have applied to homes valued at $500,000 or more, Clark said Monday that he was removing the property surtax because ‘‘clearly there have been sume unintended consequences from the property surtax.”’ The property surtax, said Clark, was designed as a progressive tax to ensure that wealthy residents pay their fair share. it would have generated an estimated $37 million in tax reve- nues. Clark cancelled the proposed property surtax, but said he will stand behind his decision to elim- inate the provincial homeowner's grant ($470 for non-seniors, $745 for seniors) for anyone owning a house worth $447,000 or more. Sager blasted Clark's budget, saying it will hit homeowners in his municipality hard, especially seniors living on fixed incomes. Removal of the homeowner's grant will have a direct impact on approximately 1,800 West Van- couver seniors and approximately 6,300 homeowners in thre 3, Nea by REE ee Office, Editorial 985-2131 PERSPECTIVE Was the Vancouver Summit just a very successful exercise in excess or did we gain something from it? Display Advertising 980-0511 e agal 25 Classifieds 986-6222 News' reviews this week include Cafe Norte and the Playhouse production of Death and The Maideu. Distribution 986-1337 NEWS photos Terry Paters FINANCE MINISTER Glen Clark said Monday that he was removing the controversial surtax on properties because ‘‘clearly there have been some unintended consequences from the property surtax.’” NEWS TAX-REVOLT LINE: IF YOU are ticked off over taxes, call us. The North Shore News wants to hear your comments on Mike Harcourt’s second provincial budget. Call our Talkback line at 980-5437 and let us know what you think. The News will publish a municipality alone. West Vancouver has therefore called an emergency town hall meeting on the budget for tonight, April 7, at Irwin Park elementary school, 2455 Haywood Ave., West Vancouver, starting at 7:30 p.m. But on Monday, Sager was crit- icized by North Van- couver-Lonsdale NDP MLA David Schreck for comments Sager made to reporters while ut Clark’s office. Schreck accused Sager “practising partisan politics.”’ But Sager said he criticized Clark’s budget because West Vun- couver had a ‘genuine emergen- cy.” “We're acting in the best inter- ests of our community. You don't need to be directly affected by this budget to feel its pain,’ said Sager. He added that his council will continue to pul pressure on Clark to bring back the basic homeown- er’s grant, Also on Monday, Schreck and West Vancouver-Garibaldi MLA David Mitchell locked horns in a debate over the budget in the legislature. “7 cannot think of a precedent of Ree rat REACHING EVERY compilation of comments received. where a finanace minister has brought in a major budget and then a few days later has backed down from it. “This gevernament has not thought through what it is do- ing,” said Mitchell. But Schreck told the legislature that his government had the courage to back down on the im- plementation of the property sur- fax, ‘‘} was speaking to a reporter from the North Shore News earlier today, and that reporter said to me. ‘David, is it a sign of weakness, is ita sign of a mistake for the minister of finance to stand up and say: ‘We've listened to the people and have changed our direction?’ ‘Honorable Speaker, 1 say to you, as I suid to that reporter, that it lakes courage for a gov- PTS Ta pat aren Wisco snes ernment to be open and honest and to listen, that it shows com- mitment to doing what is right,” said Schreck, But Mitchell criticized Schreck for calling Clark’s document a “‘sreat budget.”’ He added that Schreck’s con- stituents will vote him out of of- fice as a result of the budget. ‘|... He’s so out of touch with opinion on the North Shore that he should hang his head in shame. “There's no question that this member for North Vancouver- Lonsdale is a one-term member.” Mitchell said so many people in his constituency are worried about the budget'’s impact that he has organized another town hall meeting on the issue: Wednesday, Aprit 21, at the West Vancouver United Church, 2062 Esquimalt Ave., starting at 7:30 p.m. index @ Budget Beaters . Business ...... I Doug Collins... Comics... §8 Editorial Page ... 4 Frugal Gourmet Bob Hunter. fi Inquiring Reporter ...42 Lifestyles 3 Mailbox . BB North Shore Now... Ri Sports. ..... TV Listings What's Going On....24 Weather Thursday and Friday, periods of rain. Highs 14°C. Lows 6°C. Canadian Pubhications Mail Sales Product Agreement Number 0087238 ee Sey