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.. .. . ..... POSl-poning the inevitable By Terry O'Shaughnessy On the surface, it would appear that it's business as usual at the post office this summer. Colorful postcards of beaches and mounitains and other tourist destinations are busy travelling back and forth across the country amongst the usual batch of bis, letters and junk mail. Even the posties themselves are adding a festive air to the proceedings in their new candystriped shirts. It's summer time and, at the post office, the living looks easy. But, of course, much must be going on behind the scenes. For one thing, Canada Post's annual announicement of new rates, a regular feature of the dog days of summer, has not been seen yet. And there has been virtually no information released about how the pro- posed 7 per cent Goods and Services Tax is going to affect post office rates and services if and when the GST is implemented (Jan. 1, 1991 is the scheduled implementation date of the hotly contentious tax). What is certain is that the price of a stamp will definitely be affected by the 7 per cent GST But when and how the tax will apply is anyone's guess at the moment. And when the Canadian Federation of Inde- pendent_ Business requested some answers on how the so- called "consumer savings" were to be passed on to the public via the GST, the response was far from clear. Says CFIB's Director of National Affairs, Bill Parsons, Canada Post's delay of the new rates has already started to create n)rob- lems for small businesses. "It's very difficult for small business owners to plan ahead, when they don't know what the new postal rates will be," says Parsons, "or how the proposed GST will effect those new rates. Further delay of the announce- ment means even more con- fusion as businesses try to guess what the projected cost of postal service will be, post-GST." Just about the only thing we've heard this summer from the folks at Canada Post con- cerns the new service called "Confirmation Post". For an extra 190 cents (on top of the price of the stamp) customers can now confirm what the 39-cent stamp promises-to deliver the mail properly. The extra 90 cents entitles any cus- tomer to phone a "toll-free" number one day after the letter was to have been delivered to dîscover whether it reached a letter carrier. The service does not guarantee that the letter has been delivered, it simply ensures the customerthat the letter has reached the appropriate mail bag. Small business owners across the country are either bowling with laughter or ragîng at the absurdity of this latest gimmick: charging extra to ensure that a paid-for service was actually performed seems to point to a question within Canada Post itself as to the adequacy of its service. As the owner of any small business can tell you: healthy competition guarantees a superior product-something Canada Post has neyer had to deal with. CFIB Peature Service FLOWERS PLUS F LO WERS GIFTS and CRAFTS 29 Kng Street East Newcastle, Ontario 987-1500 Betty Lycett 983-5908 WiIda Mlddleton 983-9819 MacGREGOR AUCTION SERVICES ESTATES, CONSIGNMENTS, HOUSEHOLDS BANKRUPTCIES, FARMS SOLD AT YOUR LOCATION OR AT OURS, STRAGE AND TRUCKING AVAl LABLE Cail for a FREE Confidential Consultation Mike MacGregor 416-987-5402 Junior West 416-983-5556 T ENDsER SEALED TENDERS, Clearly marked as to con- tents, for the CoftraCt isted below addressed to the Corporation of the Town of Newcastle, 40 TemperanCe Street, Bowmanville, Ontario LiC 3A6, wiIl be received on the forms and in the enivelope provided until the speCified closing tîme and date. Tender documents may be reCieved from the Purchasing Office at the above address. Tender NW90-33- Painting Interior Darlington Sports Centre Closing Time and Date: 12:00 Noon (Local Time) Friday, August 10, 1990 The Iowest or any tender flot necessarily accepted ~ Mrs. Lou Ann Birkett Iycc~ Ife4 Purchasing and Supply Agent 'A"'O Telephone (416> 623-3379 ex. 267 Date of Publication August 1, 1990 P.O. No. 3830 TENDER SEALED TENDERS, clearly marked as to contents, for the contracts listed below, addressed to the Corpora- tion of the Town of Newcastle, 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanvil1le, Ontario Li C 3A6, wiI11 be received on the forms and in the envelopes' provided until the specified closing time and date. Tender documents may be obtained from the Pur- chasing Office et the above address. Tender NW90-31 - Demnolition Memorial Arena Tender NW90-32 - Upgrading of Heating System Newcastle VillageTown Hall Closing Time and Date: 12:00 Noon (local time> Friday, August 10, 1990 The lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. Date ot Publication August 1, 1990 Mrs. Lou Ann Birkett Purchasina and Supolv Agent Telephone: (416) 623-3. G79 ex. 267 P.O. No. 3827 Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, August 1, 199-il The CATERING CONNECTION ON THE SPOT CATERING Weddings - Anniversarles - Ail Banquets CHEESE TRAYS - MEAT PLATTERS - SALADS Fred& Patricia Storsbergen Orono 983-9679 MERVYN B. KELLY Barrister and Solicitor * LAW OFFICE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE - REASONABI.E RATES,'* Free Initial Consultation 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 623-4444 Evening and Week-end Appointments Available Corner Church and Trmperance Sts., Bowmanviîîe COMPLETE CAR& TRUCK REPAIMS, DIESEL ENGINES - CUMMINS, DETROIT & CAT RADIO OISPATCHED TOW TRUCKS MOBILE MECHANICAL SERVICE TRUCK R.R. 1 ORONO. ONTARIO 4 MILES NORTH 0F 401 LOB 1 MO ON HWY. 115&35 PHONE (416) 983-9151 ,~ X~N.d4~.ESTABLISH£D 1881' 4 DIVISION ST., 623-540 BOWMANVILLE OFF STREET PARKING AREA PRE-ARRANGED AND PREPAID FUNERAL SERVICES AVAILABLE ROKA LUMBER & FIREWOOD CENTER 0 KITCHEN CABINETS MILL YARD 0 CEDAR POSTS * SUARED TIMBERS 705-277-3381 0:1BUILDING SUPPLY 0 BARN STEEL ON HWY. 35 - 1 MI LE SOUTH 0F- PONTYPOOL Authorized-,Dealer Lifetime Warranty for as longas you own your car MANGAR'S AUTO CENTRE' ORONO MILL STREET NORTH USED CAR SALES ,Radiators - Air Conditioners - Mufflers - Brakes - Body Work: Tune.-Up Electronlo Ignitions - Fuel Injection Systems Propane Conversion and Inspection - Rebuilt Engines andý' ýCyI[nder Heads Safety Inspection Station - Guaranteed Service Lic. CI. A., B, H, 3P, SI6A, S6B Cal.1,Mike .. . 983-5130 or 983-5487 Mill 1 l'la