G6 — Sunday, Aprit 25, 1999 — North Shore News Lu OOSING the local economy by increasing tourism and attract- ing new business to North Vancouver District sounds like a good thing, doesn’t it. Pardon us for being cynical, but fet’s hope the long-suffering taxpayer is not going to get plucked in the process endorsed by district council last week. Two new staff positions are to be created: an economic and business development coordinator, and a tourism, arts and culture development coordinator whose combined salaries will be in the $140,000 range. The additions to municipal bureau- cracy come after council authorized a $33,000 consultant’s report on an Economic Development Strategy. It’s a basic fact of life that if you want to expand civil service in a time of north shore news VIEWPOINT icipal growl fies expansion. Not surprisingly, the report recommended hiring ane eco- nomic development manager. Attracting a new film studio, pursu- ing trade relations with China, nurtur- ing local high-tech business, securing university status for Capilano College are some of the opportunities to be pursued. All worthy. But are two new managers necessary to enact a vision that is not exactly new? And what of the district’s finan- cial support of the chamber of com- merce and North Shore tourism? Is that to continue? And what of the Arts Commission? Wasn’t it supposed to be doing much of the arts planning? The council members who voted to spend your tax money on these geese are betting on a more golden econom- ic future than the colour of yolk on their faces. recession you need a report that justi- you said it I really believe that if we come up with an effective quality of life index it will help us to spend the money where it will make people happicsi, where it does the most good,” North Vancouver District Coun. Trevor Carolan, on the need for the municipaliry to define its level of happiness. (From an April 23 News story.) ooo “The Jonger you leave a fire, the worse it gets.” West Varicouver firefighters’ spokesman Jay Brownlee, on the need for the municipaliry to have a working aerial ladder . truck available for first response to fires. (From an April 21 News story.) . ago “That kid had obviously not consented to be in that picture. It’s not like taking a picture of an AIDS patient or elephants mating or whatever else Benetton thinks they're clever about.” . North Vancouver neurologist Dr. Vance Makin, on the cover photogra h of the magazine Colors. The cover includ- ed a photograph of a naked boy crying and urinating. (From an April 21 News story.) ocaa “It’s throwing money at the problem to create the impression that we're doing something positive as a local yvernment. There’s potential for a costly Sureaucratic ocndoggle.” North Vancouver District Coun. Janice Harris, opposing a council decision to create two new contract management positions in rhe areas of economic development and arts and tourism development. (From an April 18 News story.) : aca “As a byproduct they learn how io plan a big wed- ding. Then I recommend to them that they don’t ever do ih cause they'll end up fried before their wedding night. Teacher Al Klatt, on the annual Celebration of Marriage organized by the Family Manageinent 12 class at Carson Graham secondary school. (From an April 16 News story.) North Sbere News, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and quabfied under Schedule 112, Paragraph 111 cf the [saige Tax Act, és published each Wednesday, ‘day and Sunday by North Shore Free Press Ltd. and distributed to every doot on the Korth ‘Shore. Canada Post Canadian Publications Mav! Sales Product Agreement No. 0087238. REMOVE BLOOPSTAI ws | Tax and squander pols must go JUST six days left to get your 1998 income tax return into the mail — and more than another 10 weeks before you’ ll get to keep a single cent of your 1999 earn- ings for yourself. Canadians are among the most overtaxed peo- ple in che western world. Federal and provincial income tax, the GST, provincial sales taxes, property taxes and gov- ernment fees-for-service cat up more than half the average Canadian’s income. What this is now doing to us as a nation is scary. . More and more wealthy individuals are taking up officially permanent resi- dence in oftshore and European tax havens, while still remaining eligible to live in Canada for 180 days a year as non- residents. Nor are their tax havens any longer contined to lush islands like Bermuda. They now include Ireland, Britain, the Channel Islands, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg. So much for the retired and semi- retired tycoons enjoying their mint juleps in the sun or Napoleon cognac in top European resorts. Far more serious, how- ever, is the brain drain southward. Ever more mid-size companies arc relocating in the U.S. So are increasing numbers of skilled professicnals and information-age technicians. In 1996 (the latest figures available) PETER SPE Publisher 985-2131 (191 Jonathan Beit Distribution Manager 966-1237 (124) 965-2131 (127) ‘61.582 (average citeutation, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday) Entire contents © 1999 Nosth Shove Free Press Ltd. Al! rights reserved. er Speck, fr 23,000 Canadians were enrolled in US universities — up trom 10,000 in 1986 and most of them unlikely ever to return. Allin all, the latest US Census figures show just over three-quarters ofa million Canadians, roughly equal ty the population ot New Brunswick, liv- ing permanently in the US. Some 73% have high school diplomas and 22% have degrees — the latter higher than the American national average. Some 40% of ail Canadian immigrants are in managerial posi- tions and a further one- third in technical positions. It’s hardly surprising, therefore, that the median yearly income for a family headed by a Canadian is $39,995 com- pared to the national average of $35,225. Meanwhile, even the above figures fail to give the full picture of Canada’s losses. The children of Canadian immigrants, born as Americans, are almost certainly lost to Canada forever as future taxpayers. Add an unknown number of Canadians living part time in che States, and the total drain on our human resources could end up in the millions. Yet the ultimate answer is simple. Peter Macdonald, former leader of the BC Conservative Party has been promot- ing it for years under the tithe TAXCAP. Elsewhere it is known as TELs (Tax and Expenditure Limit legislation). Whatever the name, the basic principles are the same. Politicians must balance budgets. They cannot balance them by raising , Noel Wrist bither and yon taxes without approval by a referendum. In some versions any increase in spending also requires a referendum. TELs exist in most U.S. states. A ver- sion has also been adopted in Manitoba (where cabinet ministers are fined if they fail to balance departmental budgets). Gordon Campbell promises to bring in balanced budget legislation if the Liberals win the next B.C. election. All that’s needed is the WILL. Mark you, that means the will of the voters, not just the government. Given Ottawa's $600 billion debt costing over $40 billion in year in interest payments alone, TELs would impose tough choices and sacrifices every year on electorate and politicians alike until fiscal sanity was restored, In B.C., brought to the brink of ruin by Glen Clark, the short-term outlook would be even tougher. But if an independent Canada — with a diminishing workfor.: ad aging popu- lation — is to survive, TFs followed by | a major decrease in the tax burden is the only possible answer. Canada can no longer afford to risk its future by losing more and more of its best and brightest because of the undisci- plined tax-and-squander politicians we’ve tolerated far too long. o09g0 HAPPY ANZAC DAY today, April 25, to all from Down Under ... And many happy returns of Tuesday, April 27, to West Van artist Myrtle Mayall. o00 WRIGHT OR WRONG: Power must be confined to men who are not in love with it (Plato). LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters must include your name, {ull address & telephone number. 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