A nation ANYONE for horsewhipping the Taxman? If you're up for that you might want to save a few licks of the lash for your friendly neighbourhood politician too. Maybe more chan a few. This tape-loop might be getting a hittle tiresome for some, but, as we approach the annual climax of tax-pay- ing time across Canada, the tune remains the same: politi- cians are ignoring public tax- ation exasperation. The Taxman of course couldn’t care jess. He will get his pound of flesh no matter what, But Canada’s tax bite is starting to inflict deep injury in the country’s psy he. Consider, for example, the recent cross-Canada poll pub- lished in the National Post. For a start, 80% of its respondents said tax levels had harmed their quality of life. Conducted for the news- paper by COMFAS Inc., the survey also revealed that 85% of those polled were upset with the amount of taxes they paid compared with the value of government services they received. ; What the other 15% are smoking, I hesitate to guess. Are they happy to be pay- ing close to 50% of every- thing they carn in assorted taxes? Are they happy to be working more and getting less? Are they happy to be funding the vote-gathering misadventures and misdirect- ed campaign promises of career politicians? We are all losing the of taxation exasperation yarns struggle to retain a reason- able amount of the money we earn and that is slowly suffo- cating the country’s spirit. The ambitious and the tal- ented are being driven south toa country where tax loads are lighter and top end tax rates kick in at $225,000 instead of $70,900. According to the latest Fraser Institute Fraser Forum, the total eax bill for the average Canadian family has increased an astonishing 1,286% since 1961. So the average taxpayer now has about $26,000 left from his $50,000 salary after taxes and a paltry $10,000 left after the basics of fife have been taken care of. Singied out for special penalty are such core picces of the country’s social fabric as the traditional Canadian family of a single wage earner with children and one stay-at- home parent. It pays more taxes than families with two working parents. Day care, you see, is tax deductible; parental care is not. Such are the skewed fami- ly values of your federal gov- ernment. As to government action to remove the tax anchor from around Canadian necks: while it provided for increased spending of $14 billion over the next four vears the latest federal budget tossed Canadian citizens nickels and dimes in tax cuts that added up to a pathetic $150 per year for the average taxpayer — this even though the country enjoyed a budget surplus anticipated to hit $14.7 bil- lion. Of course, the B.C. gov- ernment is so out to lunch it believes that increasing the province's debt te $34.7 bil- lion and running a deficit of $1.5 billion is the way out of the economic quagmire it has created in this province. Littke wonder that British Columbians are the most upset of all those surveyed in the COMPAS poll — regis- tering the highest provincial percentage of respondents that are “extremely upset” with tax levels. How far off the rails is the country’s tax system? Consider this: the COMPAS survey shows that 63% of respondents in the 18 to 29 age group said they would con:ider cheating on paying taxes. Respect for the faw is a proud Canadian tradition, bur even Canadian thresholds of tax pain can be breached. The ingrained resentment towards the system of Canada’s new generation of taxpayers bodes ill for the country’s future. Already, Canada and its provinces are losing a report- ed $12 billion to tax cheats. Most Canadians, I'd wager, don’t begrudge hav- When this? egendary rock group ing tO pay taxes tO support the quality of life they cur- rently enjoy and to eliminate the debt they have helped create, but there is a limit two how much they can endure under a thriftless government spending regime. When there is no indication from the top that fiscal pain is going to be shared equally, the game is done before it starts. For example, most of the increased revenues in Canada in the current cconomy have come from the pocketbooks of taxpayers, not from any effi- ciencies made by government. Even conservative savings- savvy Canadians are running out of steam, RRSP contribu- tions are down by an estimat- ed 30% because Canadians don’t have anything left to save. The country is losing its homegrown talent and its innovative entrepreneurs to countries that reward rather than penalize those qualities. The underground economy is booming because the tax sys- tem is so complex and inequitable that its legions of accountants and collectors have become an occupying army. The message from the street is simple: cut taxes, cut government expenditures, simplify the tax system, give us reasonable tax rates and let private enterprise and Canadian initiative revitalize the country. There will be more than a horsewhipping in store for politicians if that message continues to be ignored. — trenshaw@direct.ra stayed at oughotel, they came for something é they couldn't det anywhere else. Satisfaction. in fact, satisfaction is what all our guests can expect when they stay at the a Hotel Georgia. Located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, the Hotel Georgia has been magnificently restored, recapturing all of the charm and character that has welcomed celebrities the wor. uver since the 1920s. “And all of this at rates that will give you a great deal of, well, satisfaction. For informatian or reservations catl: 1-800-663-1711. Stay before April 30 and enter to win a 2 year lease on a BMW. HOTEL GEORGIA A Legend Reborn. Police department criticism countered Dear Editor: Ex-Vancouver police offi- cer Leo Knight appears to have some old grudges to set- tlhe. How else to account for his latest in a number of arti- cles concerning issues, real or imagined, within the depart- ment (Pettiness and police politics, March 24 News)? There’s no doubt about it. Change has been a constant within the Vancouver Police for the past decade, starting long before the current chief constable arrived in 1997, Change can be difficult and few organizations manage it to every individual’s satisfac- tion. Yet through all this change the vast majority of Vancouver Police members, sworn offi- cers and civilians alike, report- ed in a survey conducted last November that they enjoy their work, value their col- leagues and feel they have the independence they need to do All sorvices their jobs. The survey did identify recognition, promo- tion and communication as arcas needing review, As a columnist, ex-officer Knight has the freedom to put forward his opinions on issues and individuals, sublimely unburdened by the need to balance the information or to even speak to all sides on an issuc. He certainly did not feel the need to speak to me in the preparation of his article, even though I am referred to with the pejorative “spin doctor.” Given the tone of his latest missive, who's spinning what, and for what reason? One must also wonder if North Shore residents actual- ly get any value out of his cso- teric musings on the Vancouver Police. Ken Hardie, Communication Director Vancouver Police Department Oll, Lube & Fitter " - fully warranty. 21 pt. Safety check, 15 minutes - FAST! approved Includes up to 5 lites of 10w30 Quakerstate 1362 Marine Drive 980-9115 Mon-Sat 8:00am-6:00pm, Sun 9:00arn-5:00pm Spires May 5/99 S=S.LAURSEN & SON draperies & blinds Itd. 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