&~ North Shore News - Wednesday, Decernber 15, 1999

Col

VIEW POINT:

lic relief

nothing else, B.C.’s newest
.finance minister is adding to the
province’s seriously _ depleted
humour stockpile.
Pau! Ramsey was recently quoted in
- the daily press as advising Ottawa that
“it was ‘ime for tax relief for tie peo-
‘ ple who actually hctred build up
‘huge federal gaverermcnt surpleen.”
“That apparently nicans the meat-and-
‘potatoes folk currently with the most
exposed parts caught in government
. Ramsey’s government, of course, is
‘the. country’s. leading proponent of

“squeezing taxpayers, _ boosting debt |

‘and: otherwise, g the people’s
“Money away on ill-advised projects and

shalf-brained schemes. Along the way it -

‘has heiped reduce a once buoyant and
t economy: to basket-case status.

director of the Canadian Taxpayers
Federation, recently reported that real
disposable income for British
Columbians is now 4.3% lower than it
was in 1987, Meanwhile B.C.’s 1999-
2000 deficit is a staggering $1.5 bil-

‘lion and the province’s debt was last

seen heading for $35 billion.

Mr. Ramsey is right when he says-
middle-income earners in Canada need
a tax break. With the country estimat-
ed to be in line for a $95.5 billion sur-
plus over the next five years, taxpayers

here are. owed the return of
their share of that money.
would help the credibility
of his portfolio and his government by
putting our money where his mouth is
and providing provincial tax breaks to
British Columbians befere pointing -

weet nenirti ts

the finger to another level of govern-

i Fo example, Mark Milke, the B.C. mert.

a imply have
Me “more brute pesbsati than females.
-:~., En combat action brute
‘stil what wins battles,'So th
Secruit rest standards
‘tanget“shooting — — thanks
‘lobby and its 'soi ‘the.
‘Rights: Commission, means
le readiness itself has ‘diminished

- MUCH mirth was’ ‘generated on.
_. the columnist circuit last week
~ by the news that = *
“our ‘military i is”.
_ plagning to lace”
- more women into
- combat units by .
‘introducing unisex

“peak v volumes. In ‘1998 female volun. 7

teers for combat duty. numbered 400.

Only 90 persevered beyond the early ..
training stage ‘and, on
past experience, | less’
than half that number
are txpected to gradu-
cate. As well, accorditiz
‘0 National Post colum

Makes eminent good.
sense, of course, if. "|
women in combat anies :
“happen to turn you on.
Washrooms don’t co
any more tinisex than
cold, damp trench where
; ers at the enemy and dodeing his
: bullets aimed-at you — you're seized ©
with the ‘teed to relieve yourself. ; ~ washrooms in dugouts, tanks and othe
“\- ‘In that real-life military quaridary, - “ frondine scenarios... :
“Excuse m¢e, sarge, I-gotta to’ go to th i j ‘by.
D0 away from sucti silly, old- fehio J quate;-and :
* dices by forcing them to tise unisex’ politically correc! ‘bomict :
“washrooms in "the barracks. Then mascula! i ak
presto! They'll soon be
the boys in the real action, |
. Buns, gf rena
deficid |

- The theory. behind this :
; latest drive by army :<:-'
: raiss’ io catch up with the 1989’ Human
-: Rights Tribunal goal is thar a majo
,. problem ‘may be the:absence of sep ;
Jaugh ut what
id. armed

ut how, in ‘addition to’all the other . .
headaches preseni fired by our.”
armed forces, did this idiocy ever come
about in the first place? It’s the result of
“21989 gender-equity ruling by 2°
Canadian: Human Rights Tribunal w ‘h
‘ orderei en to be fully integrated.in

; les; incliding: combat units,” “

ingle except n

10 ye ears later, :
happen in che case of.
ly duc. to a lack:
s { fighting on.
“given ef men themselves.

“increase the. voter support «male recraits

‘ere 92 are

dt r tually. ho female, mee ruits' =

superior: ical sha
mo