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THE HERALD Wednesday May 24 IKS Page Important choices made in Ontarios new budget Walt Elliot Halton North The duty of government is tc make choices Choices between conflicting ideas and conflicting priorities As a small reform liberal as well as a member of On s Liberal government I am pleased with the choices that are reflected in the recent Throne Speech and Budget These two have clearly establish education health care en Turner dissects budget Although Region federal MP Garth Turner applauded the environmental aspects of the re cent provincial budget he said other parts of it would have a detrimental effect on the Region Mr Turner said the budget was anticars during a presentation given to the members of the Halton Chamber of Commerce May at Sacre Coeur auditorium in Georgetown He said the car related increased taxes would negatively affect the Region because it has no mass transit system The province has to realize Halton is not Toronto we don have a subway system Mr Turner said As a result of the new budget gasoline and fuel will rise one cent immediately and another cent January 1 1990 Starting July new fuel inefficient cars will be taxed anywhere between and 500 Vehicle licence fees will in crease and effective June 1 a tax be added to new pneumatic tires Mr Turner also expressed dif with the new direct levy tax on commercial space in the Toron to area because he pointed out the Region along with those of Peel and Durham comes under the defined area He used the increased land transfer taxes and the introduction of lot levies as two examples of the budget that now make it more flcult for Ontarians to buy a home Moral outrage was expressed on the part of Mr Turner over the new employers payroll tax that is to replace Medicare premiums He explained as the federal govern is one of the largest employers in Ontario and its payroll is funded partly by Ontario taxpayers the provincial govern is in effect taxing tax dollars something he finds unac However Mr Turner commend ed provincial Finance Minister Robert Nixon for taking steps to increase the scope of the pro vinces environmental concerns A five cent disposable charge on nonreturnable wine and liquor containers and the new pneumatic tire and inefficient fuel new car tax will be allocated for en vironmental research vironmental protection and justice for the less fortunate as my government s top priorities the areas of public policy that we believe should shape the future These priorities have been set within a framework of financial responsibility which has given On tano a budget operating surplus of 6 billion and reduced deficit for capital spending of million the lowest in years Indeed the deficit in Ontario has steadily declining from billion in 198384 to million in this new budget It is interesting that this borrowed money will only be used to purchase capital goods such as schools and hospitals and that the government yearly programs are now on a pay as you go basis Like any business the Government is borrowing to ex its plant public facilities such as hospitals schools and the transportation network while pay ing for its normal expenses from its normal revenues It should be noted that part of these revenues are derived from a provincial personal income tax that is the third lowest in Canada The mam effect of this budget for average is the billion tax break for individuals due to the removal of OHIP Ontario Hospital Insurance Plan premiums The new employer health levy of 1 per cent of payroll will redress the unevenness to business of OHIP premiums Some companies paid all of the premiums Some companies paid part of the premiums Some companies paid none of the premiums Regardless of tlys all companies benefited from our health care system and now all will pay a share Small businesses because of their post tion will only pay a half rate levy The budget allocated million for home care assistance million for community mental health programs and million for alcohol and drug dependency programs In total 3 billion has been allocated for community and personal health programs The state of the province transportation system has long been a concern of the government In response to this concern my government has committed an ex Ira 2 billion over five years to sup port highway capital projects GO Transit and municipal roads and transit Some of these funds will have direct and visible benefits to Milton and Halton Hills with addi tional GO service In an effort to address the problems being ex penenced by school boards the Treasurer has announced that million in provincial capital fun ding for 199091 projects will be ad this fiscal year Ministry of Education will also make available a further 60 million in capital to be pro vided over a fiveyear period for the renewal of technological education in secondary schools The Ontario government has since 1985 made the environment one its top priorities In 198990 capital outlays by the Ministry of the Environment will increase by per cent over last year The province will make available million in loan guarantees under the loans for en vironmental defence initiative This program provides loan guarantees for vital pollution abatement equipment The government has also decided to tax new fuel inefficient cars sold in On tano No budget can address everyone s wants or concerns No one wants to pay more taxes I believe this budget is an honest compromise between the conflic ting demands for enhanced pro grams and fiscal responsibility CRAFT SHOP JC MAIN STREET SOUTH IT ACTON 853 3949 Sears Agency smith addons 133WyndhamSL Downtown 8217490 ValuMlnEHKtFiwn Turn MaflltaSaUMyl7 YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT GROCER WIN A FREEZER FULL OF FOOD ENTER OUR DRAW For A WOODS FREEZER Stocked With Frozen Foods 12 Cubic Food Freezer Plus Selected Grocery and Meat Products Estimated Value Compliments Of Goodleti Furniture and Georgetown Food Maskgtl WE OFFER HOME DELIVERY 3 WEDNESDAY IS SENIORS DAY 5 Discount on Your Grocery Order PATIO SET WINNER Bill WINNER OF THE WEEK ROSANNE FILTER BIODEGRADABLE PRODUCTS TRASH BAGS Draw Sung 199 COUPON Canada Grade A LARGE EGGS 30 Coupon Special Price Without Coupon 29 Cut From Canadas Finest Grade A Beef BLADE STEAK 159 Kg Visit Our Cardan Centra BEDDING PLANTS Assorted Also Available PLANTS BULBS PEAT MOSS VEGETABLE SEEDS MANURE ft TOP SOIL KINSMEN BBQ SATURDAY MAY 27 GEORGETOWN FOOD MARKET 8733963 Moore Park Plaza Georgetown MondayFriday HOURS- Saurd HOURS 8 00 a 9 m 8 a m 6 CLOSED-