6 - Friday, March 2, 1984 - North Shore News

BES editorial page Pierre’s legacy

ne thing can be said with cer- tainty of Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. will be remembered long after the names of most contemporary Cana- dian politicians have faded

oblivion.

The memories differ widely and, will reflect one of his sadder legacies. The unhappy, sometimes even bitter of his 16-year regime . throughout most of the West — con- trasting with sentiments

memories

He Yet

into

Quebec

from grudging admiration to genuine

affection in the East and in his native Quebec — mark his failure to unite the country as a truly national leader. Instead, the Liberals were reduced, during his reign, to a largely regional

party.

His other great failure was his evi- dent boredom with economics, which has left Canada with major bread-. and-butter problems that may take

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1139 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 Publisher Peter Speck

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years to rectify. Foremost among them, high unemployment and a crushing financial deficit.

in other fields his achievements assure him a lasting and honored place in Canadian history. He succeeded in keeping in Confederation and banishing for the foreseeable future the spectre of French separatism. After 115 years he finally gave Canada her own constitution. And

serene aitead, wot lay thee eek hie stature i abroad, not least through is closing peace initiative.

Above all, the Trudeau years were EXCITING years. He brought Cana- dians, friends and foes alike, a new awareness of themselves and, in this

way, he may have contributed much

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more to our nationhood than we can immediately measure. Whatever his shortcomings, he had great class. We wish him well.

HELP FOR RETIREMENT YEARS

Some good news on RRSPs

TTAWA HAS TACKLED the pension issue and the results are encouraging, if not

perfect.

Indeed, the revamped system of allowing tax breaks for Canadians tucking away money for their retirement years.goes a long way toward eliminating the unfair treat- ment that entrepreneurs, professionals, farmers, fishermen, the self-employed and individuals without for- mal pension plans have suf- fered for years.

And after the long, intense debate on the issue, one can only say, it’s about time.

Oddly enough, two changes that were widely pro- posed, but not made, are standouts: Ottawa didn’t force a doubling of Canada Pension Plan contributions, nor did the federal govern- ment climinate the Registered Retirement Savings Plans

By W. ROGER WORTH

(RRSPs) that are so crucial to the nation’s self-employed risk takers and those with few other available pension choices.

It helped, perhaps, that or- ganizations such as the Cana- dian Federation of Indepen- dent Business were adamant- ly opposed to such action.

The changes that were made proved positive and far-reaching. Consider just a few:

*Canadians operating smaller firms have learned they'll be able to ‘‘save up”’ RRSP credits. In other words, they can postpone RRSP or pension contribu- tions in poor financial years,

making up for the shortfall in good years or when they sell the business.

In the past, such in- dividuals unfairly lost their

entitlement to make _ con- tributions in. a_ particular year, and in the small

business arena, where there are enormous fluctuations in earnings, that was a disaster. ®The self-employed are also getting a much-needed boost in the amount of money they are allowed to contribute to RRSPs. In 1985, the limit will be raised to $10,000 from the present $5,500, increasing pro- gressively to $15,500 by 1988, with all Canadians enjoying the same tax-free retirement contribution ceiling.

Since the upward RRSP limit hasn’t been changed since 1976, inflation has eroded its value by a whopp- ing 90 per cent, so the in- crease is welcome.

they’ve made

Farmers who sell their properties will be allowed a $10,000 tax-free gain for every year they’ve farmed the property between 1972 and 1983, less any contributions to pension plans or RRSPs. The taxable half of the gain could be con- tributed to an RRSP.

The change is important because for many farmers, the farm investment may in fact constitute the family’s total retirement savings.

While these are only a few of the changes included in what is an extremely broad and all-inclusive pension re- form program, they seem to indicate the country’s movers and shakers now have a bet- ter understanding of the pro- blems faced by en- trepreneurs, professionals, farmers, fishermen and the self-employed. Let’s hope they continue on the same track.

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Pe Ga Se b »

New.act kills free speech

Dear Editor

The National Citizens Coalition is mght) — the new Elections Act of Canada cf fectively precludes indepen dent free speech during the election on the platform of any party This is so because only advertising approved by the party may be circulated. it wall curtail anyone talking about the party or the clec tion unless they are approved by one of the three or four participants for this reason the three Canadian partics in Ottawa all agreed to support the bill in October, 1983

This as a typically ( ana dian solution chimuinate any real controversy Give the al lusion of debate while totally gontrolling the substance in Ouawa they have a totally superian atutude to the pro ple governed, whom they

regard as too stupid to be un- controlled, during elections So the Conservatives, liberals, and NDP (all cosy) fmends) agreed on a comfortable Canadian solu tion Make real competition impossible The same Parthia ment who give 50 many ad vantages to the five mayor banks have now endowed us with the three major parties, themsclves

In fact | see no reason with this legislation why letters to the editor advocating onc party or one candidate should be allowed cither Ac cording to Marc du Hamel, the Chief Blectoral Officer speaking in Calgary, you can speak about the issues as long as you don’t name a party or a candidate Mow many Iet ters to the editor do that’ What about editonal col umas which say one party of

another stinks, and names the candidate? How 1s that hot unauthorized advertising?

The Ottawa government has given us one more ample demonstration of its com- plete corruption. It is a bas- tion of patronage, a home of

arrogance and conceit, a comfortable pensioned paradise for any Consetr- vative, Liberal of Sociahst

who wants to lve free on the public purse and has the glib tongue to say as little as possible in a nice voice

The real and only solution for the people of Western Canada 1s (to separate from this bastion of privilege which everyday cntrenches its selfish power and to build a

new nation of Western Canada powerful, pro sperous and tree, where referendum, inttiative and

recall in our own constitu- tion, written in English will give power to the people and equal rights for ail.

Douglas Christie Victorna

Remove

Dear Editor

Re the coyotes on the North Shore. | have lived for many years in close contact with coyotes on our farm and have never lost any small animal Once a wild animal gcts the taste for domestic prey there ts no stopping ut The marauder has to be kill eds and quickly

1} suggest that af peopic

White garbage!

Dear Editor

White's the colour!

How about white as the colour of bags to be distributed to North Van couver district residents for recyclable newspapers? tt would stand out and be casily deciphcrable from big, black garbage bags As well as be

ing a colour that wouldn't contribute to ‘‘visual pollu- tion. White would be clean and uncluttered looking when (hopefully) seen in clusters. And, after all, the colour white docs represent a fresh, new beginning.

Karen Kraushaar North Vancouver

the coyotes

have seen six coyotes there are at least sianty in the arca Only one ot two will have the taste for domestic animals, but the majority of them will have to be removed It ts a yob for a professional and moncy collected to offer a bounty should attract: some one who is capable

No adult should have to worry or be fearful, but small children could be in danger

from several animals tf they go to protect their pet.

! am sorry at the Game Department’s rules. History shows that when officialdom will not protect its taxpayers people usually protect them. scives and it should not have to come to that It's too dangerous

Denham Week, CL U Nocth Vancouver