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BT Fh a A eT mre ps SHOOTIN A TR --_---- 4 - PORT PERRY "WEEKEND STAR" -- nT -- FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2000 Durham MP hosts analysis meeting Tax~-cutting budget meets with praise, criticism By Chris Hall Port Perry Star The latest federal budget received as much criticism as applause Tuesday morning during a breakfast meeting hosted by Durham MP Alex Shepherd. . A day after Finance Minister Paul Martin outlined Canada's financial path for 2000 and beyond, a large crowd gathered at the Garnet B. Rickard complex in Bowmanville to hear Mr. Shepherd's thoughts on the bud- get and an analysis by local accountants, and to pose their questions and offer their comments to their Member of Parliament. Highlights from the Feb. 28 budget announcement included personal and corporate tax cuts by at least $58 billion over the next five years; social transfer payments to the provinces being increased by $2.5 billion over the next four years; personal income taxes fully indexed to inflation; and a Canadian Child Tax Benefit increase in July to a maximum of $2,056 for a first child and to $2,400 by 2004. Other highlights included reducing the corporate tax rate to 21 per cent from 28 per cent over the next five years; doubling matemity or parental leave under the " ORDER NOW! 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The federal debt is slated to decrease by $15 billion in the next five years, and Mr. Martin announced $13.3 billion in new spending in the next two years, aimed at health, education, the environment, defence, innova- tion and research, defence, and crime fighting. As of July 1, the middle-income tax rate will drop from 26 per cent to 24 per cent -- the first cut in an income-tax rate in 12 years -- with the promise of a further | per cent cut later. Middle-income earners will see the top end of their tax bracket threshold rise from $60,000 to $70,000. As well, Alex'Shepherd those earning more than $85,000 a year and paying an additional 5 per cent surtax will see that tax dropped by 2004. Accountant Peter Hobb, a partner with the firm of Hobb, Bergin, Bakker, Hill, said "this is a good news bud- get... the government has loosened the purse strings, and there are a lot of goodies in this budget." Upon completion of the presentation, Mr. Shepherd took to the floor where he defended his government's budget, particularly what some critics see as a lack of funding for health care. "Everybody's a critic... we've put more into health care than ever before, but we have to change the ways we offer health care," said Mr. Shepherd. He said upcoming talks between provincial and feder- al health ministers should be aimed at using new tech- nology to make health care faster, better, and cheaper. "We don't administer the health care system; we just write the cheques, we can't change it," he said. Mr. Shepherd also fielded questions about the Canadian Pension Plan, unemployment insurance, and the GST. Scugog councillors gave themselves a pat on the You'd really have to graph out Scugog budget on target, says Gadsden back during Monday's preliminary budget meeting after figures showed that the township nearly hit its projected budget for 1999. A report on the township's financial picture during a finance committee meeting showed that Scugog had overspent its '99 budget by $27,143 or approximately 0.57 per cent more than projected. "Less than | per cent over, we should be giving con- gratulations rather than whining about the difference. The bottom line is quite good," said Regional Councillor Ken Gadsden, who chairs the finance com- mittee. . Added Mayor Doug Moffatt: "We budgeted what... $5.5 million and we got that close? That's incredible. the whole budget and use a micrometer to see where the (overspent) money went. "If the province (budgeted like we did) they wouldn't be $120 million in debt and if the federal government did they wouldn't be $652 million in debt. We don't have debt," he said. Earlier updates on the town- ship's financial status put Scugog more than $100,000 in the hole, thanks mostly to the purchase of a parcel of land in Nestleton for use as a sports park. Ken Gadsden LAKERIDGE HEALTH CORP. PORT PERRY HOSPITAL AUXILIARY AVVLUN BLO BN DF RR AY BI DAA DLN FEBRUARY WINNERS $100. Draw Diane Leggat, Prince Albert $30. Draw Gwen Mulholland, Port Perry Dave Noble, Port Perry $20. Draw Geof Taylor Bev Baxter Barb Harder Lea-Anne Williamson Laurie Cooper Mr. Christopher DeCorreille Jim & Linda Muzik Mike Keegan Cacelia Bucknell Mrs. M. Mowat June Harding Joan Smith George Bryant, Blackstock Patricia Sleep, Nestleton John Higgins Doug Farndale Donna Baker Norman Meek Edward Davis Lynn Loughlin E. Gammage Eileen Male Ron Vokins G.S. Huestis Johnathan Dowson Richard Oldham CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS DRAW WAS CONDUCTED AT PORT PERRY HOSPITAL NEXT DRAW, THURSDAY, MARCH 30 AT 1:00 P.M. 220 Queen St. Port Perry (D053) Y83-8406=