PAGE 8,ý WIITEE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20,1991 parisng lt tax il sas rovinciltaurer FEBRUARY IS Fitness Month for the Durham separate school board, and students are iparticipating in a swim for health. During the lesson the students wiil perform certa~in tasks and receive instruction from oerti- fied instructors. Above Philip Pen- rose has a heart to heart with Dr. Do It (Jane Smith) during a recent lesson at Iroquois Park. Chrlu Bovie photo By Mlke Kowalsld Ontarîo's New- Democratic Party government bas been accused of doing a «ffip-flop" on a controversini parking lot tax. Town council vote last -week to'remihd the governinent of its pre-election opposition te the Commercial Cncentration Tex imposed by- the formïer Lâiberal government. Council's action was pronjpted by a letter fromn Ontario Trea- surer Floyd Ltiughren stating' that the government bas, no plans to abolish the tax. Laughren's letter was in reponse to an earlier council' resolution asking the govern- ment to, kil the measure which led te the creation of free parking in downtown Whitby. A furious councillor Joe Bugelli said Laughren's letter represents a «complee about-face" bythe government. "Fm at a- loss of words te, explain why the treasurer of the province now supports something y(omer treasurer) Roberýi Nixon, when they 'previously foVtagainst it,» said Buelli. 9I'sfor reasons like this ýthat all politicians fal into disrepute obviously this is new-found wealth and they don't want te, give it back.» .Last November council called on the government te rescind that portion of the tex which, applies te municipal parking lots. The tax took effect ini Jenuery, 1990, as a way of paying for transportation improveifients in the Greater Toronte Area (GTA).' A part of the tax slaps a $1-per-sq.-ft. levy on municipal- parking lots in the GTA eech year. It would have cost the Town $165,000 in taxes for its six downtewn lots, but in order te, avoid paying, council waived parking fees since free lots are exempt from the tax. According te Leugbren's letter, the former Liberal governinent, unveiled a five -year, $2 billion capital program in the 1989 pro- The program was esteblished te improve road, "highway and public transportation facilities trughout Ontario and the tex is one of several revenue mea- sures designed te, achieve this objective. re tex is payable by owners of large commercial structures and commercial parking facilities located in the GTA. MunicipalI parking lots were included or reasons of competi- tive equity,» the letter states. "Municipal parking lots coni- pete directly with those run by piaeolerators. To exemp only uncipal .lots would be unarocommercial Parking lot operetors,» the letter adds. L This particular statement had «Nohin ismore 'inaccurate than when he speaks of inequityîê nothiznp could be further fronthe rsthsaid Bugelli. Accrding te Buglli,-munMci- palities have beenî orce t ro- vide pafking because the private sector is not doing the Job. «Mll were trying to do isreco- ver our costa. What, in God'se naineis he talkinig about munici- palities competing with private operetors?» Although cestigating the trea- surer for bis decision, Bugelli did commend local MPPs Druimmond White and Gord Milîs-for writing letters i support of Whitby's position. Councillor Marcel Brugnelle said Laughren's letter «strained» the government's credibility. Councillor Joe Drumm suppor- ,ted the resolution but laid coun- cil mede a mistake when it wai- ve2dwarkingfees.gtecaee erred in doing What -we did in- itially,» said Drumm'. Icouncil..had.«bit- the bullet and blamed -the Liberals»ý and not. imposed free parking, sub-ý sequent problems would not have occurred, faid Drumn.' Downtewn employeesand coni- muters were quick to take advantage of the all-day parking and no speces were left for shop- pers. Council responded bw,' *psn fines on vehîcles perkedminone spot for more than three hours and reinstituting leasedparking in some lots. However,. Drumm said he is still receiving complaints from downtewn workèe who mus t move their cars te avoid a ticket. «The systeni is driving me out of my mind. rîî be happy when we go back te the old 'way,» said Drumin. Council supported Bugelli's motion unanimousl y. Councillor Tom Edwards was absent from the meeting. Correction The telephone number for Dur- hain Tutors is 432-3683. An incorrect number appeared in a stor in the Jan. 30 edition. The Free Press apologizes for the error. esf Polonsky0to iscuss 'competitive advntge'ametn e 'a 97 Retl- Pson ComssinSae MSaiacto urne Durhamn College president Gary Polonsky will be- guest Attention Pmobsena M-esee Is tthe recession hurting your sales? U you have an easy rapport' w .th business.., owners and managers, and regard com- mission, flot as rut, but as an opportunity to mfaximize you r income, then the Whit- by Free Press would like to italk to you. Even in a reces- sion the suniivors keep ad-J vertising. Cail 668-611 Dpeaker at a meeting of' the Durham Region Manufacturers Association on Thursday, Feb. 28.' 'Achieving the Competitive AdvantAe in the World Market- place' will ibe the subject of the meeting. ABt guest panel will consist of Bent K.'ILarsen, vice president, meniber relations and services, of the Canadien Manufacturers' Association; Wayne ýStewart, vice president of* Dominion Bridge, Winnipeg- Alan Dickson, mena- gesunlier -quality assurance, GieneralMoters of Canada Ltd. The meeting will be beld at L.e Gal Conference and Banquet Centre, 65 Sunray St., Whitby. New numbers for SmallBusiness- Hotiue Anyoneà who,,bas questions answer questions about smnall business operators, and to provide abou ml busness cen reach business start-ups, rules and referrals to the'niinistry's loca the Small Business Hotline at two regulations afecting smnal small business services. new numbers. The new prôvice-wide toil- O V sE C rsd n free number is 1-800-5%7-2345. ReaïdentveofsTEDCOtpresident Mississauga, Brampton and area Durhami Regioqn economic Ontario -Industrial Development north and eatst of Toronto now developer commissioner Pat Council, is an independent asso- have their own number and can Olive was recently elected pre- ciation of persons engaged in cail 963-0050. aident of the Economic Develo- industrial and economnic develop-. The Small Business Hotline is s Counicil of 'Ontario Ime, ment. an information service ocffered by EDCO).Olvs terni le2resdent is for dur w 1 m