6 — Friday, March 17, 1989 - North Shore News ‘Right, M INSIGHT ke — but keep away from my backyard! “SEVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT IT, but nobody does anything about it,’ complained Mark Twain. Rather than the weather, he might well have been commenting on our $30 billion federal deficit. It has finally become a hot topic during the past few weeks, as Fi- nance Minister Michael Wilson prepares to wield the axe. And public debate is invariably domi- nated by a financial version of the NIMBY syndrome. Everyone agrees that spending cuts and/or tax hikes are inevitable — but “Not In My Back Yard!’’ Anywhere poor Mr. Wilson turns, he finds himself between a rock and a hard place. With the economy showing signs of levelling out in the next year, higher taxes of any kind could turn a slowdown into a recession — which is just the time when government spending has to rise. Politically, the finance minister is picking his way through a minefield, although protests by the business sector against being con- scripted as deficit fighters could at times be slightly tongue-in-cheek. A cerporate tax hike might restrict some expansion projects but, in general, corporations are well used to passing on increased costs to the public in higher prices. Ditto provincial governments — crying foul at suggested transfer payment cuts. If those come, it’s still the ordinary British Colum- bian, Manitoban or Nova Scotian who'll pick up the tab in higher provincial taxes and medicare charges. At the individual level we're talking about millions of votes which, even though four years down the road, no government dares to ignure. The mere hint of tampering with the ‘‘sacred trust’’ of old age pensions brought the roof down on Mr. Wilson in 1985 MICHAEL WILSON ...budget minefield. and he hastily backed off. The same with child allowances, on which millions of middie- and lower-income families depend. UI benefits are a somewhat more promising field for axe-wielding — but even here we’re talking about up to two million votes when dependents of the jobless are in- cluded. And so it goes on. Meanwhile, Mr. Wilson must find at least $6 billion this year in cuts, more taxes, or both, MERE- LY in order to slow down a little the rate at which we're sinking into the glue. We'll go right on sinking until Ottawa finally spends less money than it receives each year. Every annual deficit is added to the national debt, now over $300 billion, and therefore adds to in- Heritage input ONCERN OVER the fate of Lower Lonsdale is finally seeping down to the community’s ts. grassroo! And all wko consider the area as something unique and worth saving can only hope that such concern overcomes the (traditional apathy most North Van- couver City residents have for the political and physi- cal makeop of their municipality. Demolition of the St. Alice Hotel, though carried out gredually over the past few weeks, hes suddenly raised resident awareness of what the removai of a major landmark can do to the overall character of what they have come to consider their hometown. When plans to repiace the 77-year-old hotel with a 2%-storey highrise tower were first publicized, outcry was minimal. But those whe considered the hotel of some histori- cai asd architectural importance and perhaps even those who considered the hotel a dispensable centre for problem drinkers can now see how much the building connected the city to its past. The recently-formed Citizen’s Action Group for Lower Lonsdale has scheduled a forum Sunday at North Shore Neighbourhood House to invite public input into Lower Lousdale’s future. Ia the face of ever-itcreasing development pressures it is up to everybody w2o considers the area and its character worth saving to provide city council with the vision it needs to develop Lower Lonsdale in a way the majority of its residents want it developed before loug-range plans are made. terest costs. So even when the def- icit starts to come down, debt and interest payments — which alone already swallow over 30¢ of every tax dollar — will continue to grow until all red ink is permanently erased. Anyone ready to help poor Mike save us from an even worse plight? Did I hear voices out there crying “*De-index my pension ... Trim my UI benefits ... Welcome, the new National Sales Tax? Or do we lock our backyard gates and wait for Canada to even- tually join the basket cases like Brazil and Argentina? eee WRAP-UP: Native Affairs Minister Jack Weisgerber and MLA Johu Reynolds have an- nounced a $75,000 First Citizens loan to the Squamish Indian Band to improve and expand Mosquito Creek marina ... David Thompson Secondary in Vancouver is still seeking missing 1969 grads for the 20-year class reunion celebrations April 14-15 — contact Glenda Carson, 941-2430, if you fit ... And it’s not too soon to call 984- 4251 or 984-9449 and grab your ticket ($3) for Cedarview Lodge’s April 2 fashion shows featuring designer labels at discount prices. The fundraisers at 8560 Fraser overtown are in aid of Cedarview’s $40,009 project to build a special accident-proof garden for their long-term care residents. ene WRIGHT OR WRONG: Happy 17th of Ireland — and remember what the wise old leprechaun said: “The world is full of lies, Paddy m'boy, and the trouble is that half of them are true.”’ Peter Speck Managing Editor Barrett Fisher Associate Editor Noel Wright Advertising Director Linda Stewart North Shore News, faunded in Tus as atlineependent SUbUIDEN TeewSpUpe and Gualiived Unde! Sobeduie Tot Patagrager WG. 1 vie Tas ACE iS Dublistiets each Z Sunday by North Shore Free eed to Gvery dour on the Norn » Mall Aegisitabon tumber sas Net Vancouver, $25 pet year Mailing tates 4 a eguest Submiscers ane welcome pul ae 6 ACCED! fespontatatsty "Gs ungoboited matenal mcluding manusenpts and pictures, which should be accompanied by a Stamped, adder enutute: Publisher ber rie 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 59,170 (average. Wednesday Friday & Sunday) a SDA DIVISION CES phote Mike Watetiatd PAINLESS GIFT OF LIFE...Janice Bennie takes bleed frem Heather Wood (foreground) at the recent Cap Mall biced Gener citwic. The Red Cross can never have too many domors — expecisily befere botiday weekends. Display Advertsing Classified Advertsing Newsroom Distribution Subsernptions Fax North Share owned and managed Entire contents ©) 1989 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved.