NORTH VANCOUVER-based Offshore Systems Lid. was recent- ly awarded a $1.6 million Department of Fisheries and Oceans contract to conduct sea trials to test locally-developed electronic chart technology for the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS).

Offshore Systems plans to deliver and install six clectronic chart systems on i2 ships, in- cluding tankers and ferries. The pilot project will include the par- ticipation of a number of Cana- dian Coast Guard and U.S. Coast Guard ships.

It will generate information to

Sunday, July 26, 1992 - North Shore News - 37

N. Van. firm to test electronic chart technology

Michael Becker ;

determine operational feasibility and global standards for the use of electronic charts as safe naviga- tional aids.

The elecirenic chart develop- ment program is a component of the federal environmental emergencies response stralegy an- nounced last year.

Development of the technology responds to recommendations made by a public review pane! on tanker safety and oil spill response.

The panel recommended that the CHS should fester the devel- opment of electronic charting technology and impicment reguia-

tions requiring the deployment of electronic charts on all vessels travelling within Canadian waters.

Said North Vancouver MP Chuck Cook, “This project, which is the largest test bed in the world, will give us the practical field experience needed to recom- mend international standards for the safety of navigation and the protection of our environment. Ic will also stifnulate the marketing of Canadian technology abroad.”’

Offshore Systems is 2 leading supplier of electronic chart systems and currently markets an electronic chart deemed to be closest to the requirements in-

HELP’S AT Hand, by North Shore Community Services (NSCS), is a forum for discussing government policies and pro- grams, benefits, consumer and legal tights, taxation and public

Aaswers are intended only as a general guide and should not be applied to individual cases without further consultation.

- - Question: My fntews wit] be visitiag from Evitsia this summer for about six weeks. They enjoy shoppiag while they sre here and will probably take kome quite a let of merchandise. I have beard that visitors do sot have to pzy the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Is this true, azd if so, how do they prove their exemption?

‘ Answer: As visitors to Canada, your in-laws will pay the tax on all GST taxable items at the time of purchase and some of the taxes paid will be refundable later. Meal and beverage and tobacco product taxes are not refundable. However, they will be eligible for a refund of the GST paid on cer- tain other goods taken out of the country.

if your reiatives are not staying with you, they can make a claim for tax paid on accommodation of Iess than one month per lodging establishment. ~ So, in order to benefit from the GST refund, your in-laws would

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need to stay in more than one ac- commeodation to break up their six-week stay.

The pamphlet entitled ‘Goods ard Services Tax: Tax Refund for Visitors’ is a useful guide telling you how to qualify. Goods qualify for a refund if the GST was paid at the time of purchase, if the goods were bought for use outside Canada and are taken out of Canada within 60 days of pur- chase.

Applicants must be non-resi- denis of Canada, have spcat $100 (Canadian) or more, and be abie to provide original receipts. Re- mind your in-laws to ask for a sales receipt because credit-card slips are not acceptabie.

You will find the pamphlet, which includes the application form required, at hotels, most department stores and tourist bureaus.

Refund claims can be made at duty-free shops if the refund will be less than $500. If the applica- tion is for more than that, it must be made by mail.

The method for calculating the tax refund on goods will depend on how the GST is shown on the receipts. See the information

“NORTH SHORE BUSINESS COLLEGE

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, INTRO TO LOS f A basic course in the operatinn of 4 computer and DOS § commands.

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pamphlet for further details.

Applicants have one year from the date of purchase to apply for the refund. Applications made by mail take approximately six to eight weeks to process. Refund cheques will be mailed oniy to the foreign address of the individual applying for ihe refund.

This column is prepared with financial assistance from the Notary Foundation. For more in- formation call NSCS at 985-7138.

dicated by international shipping organizations.

Over tke years, Offshore Systems has developed the cxper- Use to link precise positioning and radar overlay to electronic chart systems.

ft is believed that a number of oil spills caused by tanker acci- dents including the Exxon Valdez disaster — could have been avoided with his technology in place abuard ship.

The electronic chart eliminates the time-consuming and mistake-prone task of fixing a vessel's position, plotting the posi- tior, on a paper chart and then assessing the risks of ccentinuing the course of the ship as deter- mined.

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§ Jubilee Plymouth Chrysler is pleased 4 to announce the appointment of | MICHAEL LENZ as their new “Service Manager’. Michael has been a resident of the North Shore for the § past several years. He has extensive f background in the automotive service industry with Imports and Domestics.

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