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Do you think the 12 year prison term for Karla Teale‘s role in the slayings of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy was too lenient? Yes: 41 No:1 Robert Glasbey Advertising Director Norman Alexander Editor Geoff Hill Circulation Director Teri Casas Office Manager Tim Coles Production Manager Ian Oliver Publisher In choosing to avoid this issue in his tax reform policies, Jelinek folâ€" lowed a conservative economic policy that swells the coffers but illâ€" serves Canadians. No doubt our MP thought his tax initiatives were in the best interest of all Canadians. He was wrong. If Jelinek wanted a fairer tax system, he would have done well to start revamping the Income Tax Act to give traditional families a tax~break. But that, it seems, would have been too much to ask. And after all, where would Mr. Jelinek find the millions of dollars lost in making the Act more fair? Typically, the lawyer who represented the federal Attorney General during the proceedings had a very prejudiced view of nomenclature. Paul Malette was quoted as saying "distinctions do not necessarily amount to discrimination." So much for fair play. The bottom line is this: married couples are discriminated against when it comes to taxes and that‘s simply not right. Period. Married men with nonâ€"working wives see common law couples gain tax advantages they don‘t enjoy and there‘s no justification for it. Any rightâ€"thinking person would conclude that this is unfair...and it is. And this is where we get into law versus reality. The theory might be right but in practice, the theory falls apart. In the case of Elaine Schactschneider, the woman claimed she was disâ€" criminated against because she paid about $1,200 more in taxes on 1989 income than if she had been living with her husband out of marriage. For the judges, in dismissing the appeal by a Hamilton woman, said those seeking a discrimination claim have to show they are members of a group that has historically suffered discrimination or has suffered prejuâ€" dice due to their membership in a specific group. Given this criteria, it‘s clear that married couples fall into that category when it comes to the Income Tax Act. This week the Federal Court of Appeal ruled 3â€"0 that there is no disâ€" crimination under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms against married couples who pay higher taxes than their commonâ€"law counterparts. The tricky bit here is that law and common sense are not equal and that‘s where legislation and not the law, must come into play. And what‘s more, an attempt to change things through the court system has also failed. There are countless areas of tax law that don‘t normally concern the average Canadian but there are several very important areas that do and no changes have been made to make these sections of the Income Tax Act more equitable. former Revenue Minister Otto Jelinek should have been rememâ€" bered for income tax reform. For it was Jelinek who wanted to bring forth a more equitable tax sysâ€" tem for all Canadians. Well, that didn‘t happen and now we‘ll all have to look for changes put forth by new Revenue Minister Garth Turner. fi side from the Goods and Services Tax, Oakville Milton MP and Unfair verdict _ RESULTS OF LAST WEEK‘S POL! 467 Speers Road, Oakville, Ont. L6K 3S4 Classified Advertising: 845â€"2809 Circulation: 845â€"9742 or 845â€"9743 Results of the poll will be published in the next Friday edition of the Oakville Beaver. Do you think the ‘Smithâ€"Triller Viaduct‘ is a good name for the new Upper Middle Road bridge that will officially open next month? Cast your ballot by calling 845â€"5585, box 5008 to vote. Callers have until 12 noon Thursday to register their vote. The Oakville Beaver, published every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, at 467 My wife and I are dismayed to see how our tax dollars are squandered. We have attended almost all the Budget Committee Meetings of 1992 and 1993, and find it depressing to witness the lack of interest Dear Sir: May I respond to Mr. Frederick C. Duffey‘s letter in your July 7th edition. Yes, during the last municiâ€" pal election I did consider running as a Councillor at the suggestion of Mayor Mulvale. She came to our home, and suggested that I would be a good and useâ€" ful candidate. However, since I am retired and in my seventies, I did not want another fullâ€"time career. Apathy during budget debate appalling The pending bicycle helmet legislation is bad law: one can, from an enforcement standpoint, see problems, right through ‘to the parents of children who cannot afford to buy (especially in these hard times) a helmet for a child or children. As your editorial amply illustrates, this legislaâ€" tion is aimed at children â€" you quote the OLD Shame on you! In short order, people with your attitude would turn Ontario and Canada into another Singapore. Heéelmet law an attempt to legislate behaviour Dear Sir: Re: Letter concerning the wearing of bicycle helâ€" mets by adults. Signed : I. L. DAVIES dated Friday, July 9th. Dear I. L. Davies: One day driving home form work I noticed a man on a motorized bike wearing a construction helâ€" met. I laughed to myself of the foolishness of this man to think he would actually be protected should Dear Sir: What an editorial "Wear a helmet" (July 9th) â€" it trots out all the old shibboleths used by those who want to legislate behavior in our society. Bicycle accidents also happen to adults The Oakville Beaver welcomes your comments. All letters must be signed and include the writer‘s address and phone number. Letters should be typed, doubleâ€"spaced and addressed to: Letters to the Editor, The Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, Ont. L6K 3S4 on the part of the Oakville taxpayers. Apart from several ratepayer groups, and a few other individuals like ourselves, there is a disturbing apathy by our citâ€" izens. Their absence at these important Budget Meetings is appalling, as was the voter turnout at the last Election â€" under twenty five per cent. It is comâ€" forting to know that our own effort is not wasted, since we receive many compliments on the letters and questions we have posed. With no responses or even denials from the Council, this would indicate that our facts are correct. ; The thrust of my argument is that we cannot continue to legislate behavior that parents should control... we have travelled too far down this road already. This many probably had the same attitude towards helmets as yourself. Accidents happen to adults too! You are setting an example for our sociâ€" ety‘s children â€" use your head while you still have one!!! Have we not seen already the essential fabric of our society diminished in the way that our schools have... in great part, become glorified social agencies for children. statistics to prove it â€" but you avoid the central issue that this kind of legislation weakens even further the need for parental responsibility. there be an accident. One week later, in the Oakville Beaver, I noticed he had been in an accident and sufâ€" fered an injury. It is, as I say, BAD LAW. """""" Peter A. Dooly I. L. Davies Leslie Scott