Dear Editor: How would Canadian consumers feel if they knew that hundreds of mil- lions of dollars of GST they pay each year at the till was not getting to Ottawa? I would expect the response to be an outrage that would force the Liberals to again look at rheir “Scrap the GST” pledge they made during the 1993 election. Here are the facts: Who Pays The GS1T? The GST is predominantly a con- sumer tax that individual Canadians pay every time’ they consume goods and services. Some GST is paid by exempt enterprises (Healtheare, Financial Services, Residential Rentals, Non-Profit Organizations — and Governments) that in a very compli- cated fashion pay some GST and can- not claim it all back, What Happens to the GST? . The GST is a complicated multi- level value-added tax that in theory completes its cycle when the consumer buys goods and services and pays the GST. It is important to remember that business (except for exempt entities} does not pay a nickel of GST but only accounts for ic during the multi-stage business cycle. Ottawa is already short- changed on the GST even: before. Canadians dutifully step up to the till and pay it. Safety council head corrects local bike heimet numbers Dear Editor: _ Arecent letter from me to the Hon. Lois Boone, MLA, re:-final exemptions to the bicycle helmet requirements was incorrectly printed, and consequently the impact of the numbers I was trying to give was lost. We have not taught bicycle helmet use to only 3,000 chil- dren over 13 years, but to over 3,000 children per year. That is almost 40,000 children, and that was the whole point. Most of the children were taught, through programs funded by provincial Government Grants. Stuart A. Lawson President, North Shore Safety Council VAD SET PALME NAN MLN RDS LOE RET AT Nad UA BLES Ope Here are some reasons: a) Over 2% anillion businesses and exempt enterprises are registered with Revenue Canada and account for the multi-level GST. b) The vast majority of these enter- prises do not rate their accounting skills as their No. 1 attribute and because the GST is very complicated, the dollar loss to Ottawa because of unintentional interpretational-errors is significant, ¢) The opportunities wo make intentional errors are too numerous to mention. GST reports contain only three fines, There are only 8,000 GST auditors to audit over 2% million filers. Some GST returns are filed monthly. d) There are registered filers that sal] have nor sent in their first ceturn, There are enterprises that charge GST and are not registered. There are busi- nesses that go out of business taking the GST with them, ¢) Whar about the underground economy that is thriving in the GST environment? The underground écon- omy does not report transactions and is depriving Ortawa of billions of dol- lars in both GST and income tax. Where is the Liberal government Taking the GST? To keep its 1993 election promise the Liberal govern- ment is “hell-bent” on pushing through a 15% BST (Blended Single Tax) from coast to coast, Dear Editor: The directors of the West Vancouver Citizens for Good Government have the follow- ing process. They volunteer to join the organization but are not required to be non-partisan nor to reveal! any conflicts of interest. They have no formal printed criteria and would not give any out to candidates. Quebee and three of the four Auantic provinces are in the bag. If Ontario can abo be “bribed” the deed is done because the other provinces will have no choice but to “harmo- nize” with the majority. There are other negative conse- quences of a GST/BST: a) Because of growing numbers of GST registrants and the potential dol- lar losses to Ottawa, more GST audi- tors must be hired not only to audit but to process low income and other complicated credits. 6} To counter the underground cconomy Ottawa is instituting more Rig Brother initiatives such as a central collection agency, more reporting requirements from business and “snitch” lines such as Ontario's [-888- TIP-INFO, c) The cost to businesses in caflect- ing and administering the GST is in the billions of dollars. Paper-shuffling costs of the worst kind, d) Cross-border shopping will be worse than in 1991 with both a 15% hidden BST and the recent increase in the value of the Loonie. When will the Liberal government keep its “real” election promise? Canadians cannot count on opposi- tion parties to “serap" the GST. In 1993 the Liberals were very oppor- tunistic in destroying the PC party over the GST. mostly by candidates, their supporters, and friends who were urged to join that night. The directors make their rec- ommendations for a slate on voting night but the votes determine the final slate. The voting changed the slate. Wouldn’r it be more valu- able to the electorate to set out the criteria then evaluate They held an Cet. 17 all-can- didates For Councillor District of West Vancouver * Demonstrated Commitment * Time & Energy * Fiscal Responsibilicy ¢ Enhancement of the West Vancouver way of life mecting, attended Yared Se Cogs % Tete EF This time Canadians have to do the job themselves, Canadians have to realize the GST is netting Ottawa bil- ions of dollars less than the old Manufacturers Sales Tax that it replaced, Individual Canadians must put pressure on their MPs to serap the GST. When this happens Canada will finally have its version of the Boston Tea Party. Why is the Liberal Government Clinging to the GST/BST? Unfor- tunately, big business, bureaucrats and the Canadian “elite” love the GST /BST. The GST, being a consumer tax, takes the pressure off the elite for higher income taxes. What next? Our organization (GST WAR2) has begun a research study in getting some hard numbers to support our positon and at the same time come up with acceptable alternatives to the GST/BST. However, we are counting on Canadians to immediately start a cam- Paign targeting all MPs to get the job done. Let’s give our politicians the incen- tive to serap the GST, Ace Cetinski, C.A., MBA Chairman, GST WAR2 Phone Toll Free 1-888-GST-WAR2 Sherwood Park, Alberta WV candidate slate questioned all 18 candidates and let vot- ers chovuse, mixing and matching skills and points of view they want to see on council? Questions regarding the process do not necessarily mean those chosen are not good candidates. . Carolanne Reynolds West Vancouver Bell tolls for North Van District Dear Editor: I would like to take this opportunity to say how honored and privileged | feel to be assuniing the mayor’s position again in North Vancouver District... This current council T have been a member -of lias begun a number of new ini- tiatives during the last three years to improve the quali- ty, cost-effectiveness and openness of our local guv- ernment. I intend to con- tinue with and build upon many of these progressive actions and policies togeth- er with your new council. 1 would also like to express my appreciation to retiring Mayur Murray Dykeman for his many years of dedicated service to this community. Thanks also to retiring Coun, Pam Goldsmith- - Jones who has been a most diligent and effective mem- ber of our council... Finally, I would like to” say how, much 1 have appre-" ciated and respect the ser-: vice and commitment: of | Coun, Pat Munroe. I: feel recent “outside” appraisals of his efforts have focused more on his style rather than the positive substance of his contribution to coun- cil. I have found Pat to be an honest, capable and hard-working — councillor - and will be voting for Pat to return to counci Don Bell _ Councillor (Mayor-Elect). Sheila & Basi! 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