By ROSS MEEK DESPITE opposition from aldermen, North Vancouver District became partners with the provincial gov- ernment in a tax incentive deal intended to attract new industry to the municipality. Council members were less than enthusiastic about the program, but voted in favor of the partnership. Budget From Page 1 Added to the numerical increase in prescriptions is. the increased average cost of each prescription which Bor- thwick said went up from an average of $12.43 in 1984 to $13.71 in 1985. Meanwhile, the total number of surgical cases completed has continued to climb despite cuts in elective , Surgery budgets. AXE FELL “When the axe fell in June 1982 it was feared that our elective surgery waiting list would soon reach into the stratosphere,’’ Bor- thwick said. ‘‘But this has not happened. Each | year the total number — of. surgical cases completed has been greater than .the.. previous year. “Despite having. fewer | beds we have been admitting Under the program, municipalities can offer a 50 per cent tax savings to new or expanding industry which is matched by an equal reduction in the provincial school tax. Against the agreement was Ald. Ernie Crist, who said: “The provincial government has produced a mouse and a sick one at that."’ The partnership program is ‘‘just a shifting of taxes on to the backs of the residents,” he said. But Crist agreed to sign the agreement hecause he didn’t want to appear against local industry. In accepting the provinces joint tax incentive plan for industry, Mayor Marilyn Baker said: ‘‘Personally 1 think it’s a poor pian, but it has no negative impacts.”” The program won’t help attract new industry to the Strain at LGH more patients and we have done more surgery "each year,’” he said. Borthwick added that quality of care ‘‘is not known to be: lower and is believed to be better.” _ Still, he described the in- creased costs as an ‘‘expan- ding intracranial lesion in- side the fixed body crani- um.” “There has been an explo- sion in knowledge and technology, but their associated costs are impossi- ble to confine in a fixed giobal budget ’’ Borthwick told his staff. — “I think we can feel very good about the high quality of service being provided. Our only problem is to find the money to keep up the pace,’” Speaking from Victoria, health ministry information officer Terry Moran said Thursday: ‘‘When there’s a problem meeting the care objective due to a lack of money, there’s a flexibility in the system with quarterly reviews, and hospitals can be retroactively reimbursed.”’ Moran said Vancouver General Hospital has had similar budget concerns as LGH. ; “And if in fact it is a legitimate concern,’’ Moran said about LGH’s increased operating costs, ‘‘the statistics will bear it out. The budget will reflect it.” Commenting Thursday, Borthwick ‘said the letter he addressed to his staff was an internal communication. ‘We're just pointing out -these increases,’’ Borthwick said. ‘‘As a result of much more sophisticated drugs, we have to be very careful.’’ North Shore because it is high land prices — not high taxes — that as keeping in- dustry out, Baker said. Ald. Joan Gadsby thought it a poorly thought out pro- gram, but she said it was hard not to support it. 11 - Friday, September 13, 1985 - North Shore News Partnership agreement keeps industry happy The one benefit Gadsby saw was the provision in the agreement for provincial help in development and economic strategy. “There is no existing economic strategy here and I hope this program will help AY HNN\\ a us develop one,’’ Gadsby said. Ald. Craig Clark said he was surprised to see anyone speak against jobs, because he said the program won't increase the tax burden on focal residents. By ELBEE ESTATES | Near Crescent Beach, 2 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, fireplace, storage and utility rooms. Recrea- tion Centre, New Home Warranty and much much more. FOR INFORMATION CALL 538-2255 24 HRS. THIS {§ NOT AN OFFERING FOR SALE Black Forest Ham AQC 1/4 ib.