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4 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, September 26, 1989 New tax to add $660 million on Ont. hydro bills Taxing electricity will cost On- tario's electricity consumers an additional $660 million a year, says the Municipal Electric Association (M.E.A.), a group representing Ontario's 316 municipal electric utilities. The group has asked the Federal Government to exclude electrici- ty from the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST). In a brief submitted to the Stan- ding Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, M.E.A. Chair- man Carl Anderson urged govern- ment to recognize that few goods and services will carry as heavy a tax burden as electricity. Even with the introduction of the GST, the elimination of ex- isting taxes for such goods and services as automobiles, furniture and telecommunications will result in a net tax cut of almost one per cent. But electricity will experience a net increase in tax- ation of approximately 8 per cent. The difference in tax burden bet- ween these commodities could be as much as 9 per cent, with the electricity industry being one of the most severely affected by the GST. Electricity has been exempted from federal taxation since the in- troduction of the manufacturere's sales tax in the early part of this century. Taxing it could affect the province's current high standard of living. "By continuing to provide for exemption, it seems clear that every federal government for the past 65 years has recognized the importance of electricity in the everyday lives of Canadians, as well as in the industrial section, and has seen fit to maintain a negligible level of taxation," said Mr. Anderson. v Mr. Anderson further warned that taxation at the federal level could set the stage for taxation by the provinces. "The M.E.A. is also concerned that the provinces will take the federal government position of taxing electricity as a precedent- -a dangerous one, in the M.E.A.'s view,"' noted the Chairman. In his submission, Chairman Anderson urged government to follow the lead of other countries that have provided special relief for electricity. Ireland zero-rates electricity with no strings attach- ed. Other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Norway and Sweden recognize that electricity is a special supply and afford it special treatment. Canada should follow suit, said Chairman Anderson. I satisfying Durham Region for 9 years specializing in VENETIAN, ROLLER & VERTICAL BLINDS FREE INSTALLATION 7. Daisy's o Fabrics > 985-3221 Associated with Nestleton Airtight Stoves Reach Industrial Park, Unit 4, Reg. Rd. 8 Allen's Aluminum Siding Bldg. Monday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM 385-0715 located in Luke's Conntry Store 201 (Iucen Street - Port Perry RENOVATOR TI ITTITY WITH OUR PRICES ... Some Days are Bigger Than Others! %» 1 LRA TELA kJ Port Perry High School Is working with the Community Memorial Hospital and the De- 2 partment of Health Services to organize a Health Fair on Sept. 29. The project was spear- headed by Pam Byers (second from the left), head of physical education at Port Perry High School. A committee of students Including (from left) Collette Bertrand, Sarah Douglas and Melissa Bramham are assisting in the project. For more details, please see story. Test your health at PPHS Port Perry High School, Com- munity Memorial Hospital and the Department of Health Ser- vices have combined efforts to organize a Health Fair. This event takes place on September 29th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the High School gymnasium. A Health Fair is an opportuni- ty for students and individuals in the community to discover facts about their own health and learn more about lifestyle issues. The key is participation! Come and have your blood pressure taken, find out your body frame size, or take a fitness test plus many more activities. Displays will be set up to answer questions about im- munization, substance abuse, sex- ually transmitted diseased in- cluding AIDS, rabies, and other important lifestyle issues. Pam Byers, Head of Physical Education at the high school is a key member of the planning com- mittee and is assisted by students Collette Bertrand, Sarah Douglas, and Melissa Bramham who are in charge of student volunteers. Other members of the committee include Pat Duchemin Phar- macist Community Memorial Hospital, Barb Wilson Public Health Nurse, and Judy Murray Public Nursing Supervisor. All in the community are welcome to join the students in learning about health and most of all to have fun in doing so. Health Durham 57 accident claims young couple A young Bowmanville couple died early Friday eve- ning in a two car collision on Durham Road 57 at the inter- section of Concession Six, north of Taunton Road. Durham Regional Police say Edward King, 23, and his wife Tina, also 23, were north- bound on the Durham Road 57 at 6:20 PM. Their vehicle was struck by a car driven by Morgan Switzer, 24, of Bancroft who was east- bound on the Concession Road. Switzer was rushed to Sun- nybrook Hospital in Toronto where he is in serious condition with major injuries. A spokesman for the Re- gional Police Department said Monday morning that the acci- dent remains under investiga- tion. 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