PAGE 4,WEDNESDA Y, APRIL 30.1980. WHITBY FREE PRESS whitby rbihdevr ensa by M.I.m. Publishing and Photography Inc. Phone 668-6111 Thte Free Press Buildin Voice of the County Town Michael Ian Burgess, Publisher- Managing Editor 131 Brock reet orth The only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitby residents. Communhty Editor * Mike Knil Production Manager Advertlsing Manager g. it. ol'k""N 4 k t,'lil ' o o, Tax reform needed now This may not come as a surprise, but property taxes for Durham Board of Education purposes have been Increased by 12.45 per cent this year. It could have been worse, 17.45 per cent, in fact, if the province has not kicked In an additional $1.7 million in grants to offset their new 1980 equalization factors. Every year at about this time most Canadians in this country are faced with an increase in taxes just a general hassle concerning them. Same time, every year, Canadians dutifully fill in their income tax returns and send them off to Ot- tawa so that the federal and provincial governmen- ts can get their share of our incomes. During the same time frame, municipal governments set their budgets and propose tax increases on the only real assets most of us have - our homes. The major problem of government today, whether It là the Durham Board of Education or the Dominion Parliament is the broad scope of their power to tax. There is nothing that the taxman does nottouch. The dilemma that we face is the fact that we want government to provide what we consider to be essential services, and every level of government has claimed that it is not overspending and that there is no fat in the budget. The reason that there is no fat In the budget is that almost every service provided by government is wanted by some sector of our society. One essential service that deserves recognition and support is education. But honestjy, does it have to cost so much? Unfortunately, the answer is yes because the taxpayer has generally expected a high level of ser- vice to be provided. And yet, on the other hand, we have generally demanded that government reduce or at least hold the line on taxes while providing the same level of service. The taxpayer cannot have it both ways. The only way to effectively reduce taxes and government spending is to reduce the demand that the taxpayer puts on government to provide ser- vices. It is, however, not entirely the taxpayers fault for the substantial increases in taxes that we are presently suffering. Government at whatever level tends to spend money on what it preceives to be the needs of our society. At the same time, there is no control over the government's power to tax. In this country, gover- nment has unlimited taxation power whether that government be the Durham Board of Education or the Dominion Parliament. What, then is the solution to this ongoing problem of government? Any solution must contain many factors. Firstly, the taxpayer should reduce his demands for gover- nment provided services. A way must be found to control government spending. Reducing our demands is the first way, but politicians should take it upon themselves to exercise more control over what they do. Perhaps the most important way to control government spending and reduce taxes is through tax reform. A new method of raising revenue must be found. There are too many kinds of taxes and too many levles of authority have the power to tax. However, unless the taxpayer makes it clear to government that such reforms are necessary they shall never corne to pass. To reduce taxes and control government spen- ding, tax reform Is needed now. . Report from Queen's Park ~-44 - çr~ç w By GEORGE ASHE, MPP (PC-DURHAM WEST) Government brmgs in new mcentives Four years ago, the Government of Ontario embarked upon an ambitious program of fiscal restructuring based on the fundamental principles of self-reliance and mutual respect. This same spirit underlines the provinical government's energetic new approach to assisting small businesses. Recently the Ministry of Industry and Tourism released a report called "A Small Business Development Policy for On- tario". The report first of all identifies the areas where small businesses can be helped to develop their full potential, and then provides an outline of the programs the Government of Ontario is undertaking to help local entrepreneurs reach their full potential. Highlights of the new initiatives include: - direct financial assistance to small businesses for the preparation of marketing materials, with the Government of Ontario paying 75 per cent of the cost, to a maximum of'$7,500 per firm; - Ministry of Industry and Tourism consulting services to assist small businesses to develop marketing plans and im- prove marketing skills; - direct financial assistance to establish local Boards of Directors comprised of successful business people from the community. This will allow small businesses to get the guidance and direction available to large corporations through their Boards; - development of an information exchange system so that the capital requirements of small businesses can be matched to registered Small Business Development Corporations; - increased financial planning support for local enterprises through computor planning; - submission of a Small Business Annual Report to the federal government, highlighting Ontario's concerns and in- cluding recommendations for programs, services and policies with respect to the small business community. A major part of the new program involves support for small businesses wanted to seil to government. The Government of Ontario is already purchasing goods and services from thousands of local entrepreneurs, but small businesses must be encouraged and assisted to sell more effectively. The Ministry of Industry and Tourism has set up a "Marketing to Government" unit, with two specialized consultants whose job it is to work with individual firms, helping them identify specific marketing opportunities, and to meet the purchasing requirements of provincial ministries and agencies. The ministry has alos prepared a directory providing information on how to sell to government, which is available upon request from the field services office at 491-7680. The foregoing are just a few of the new initiatives being taken by the Government of.Ontario to help meet the unique needs of small businesses. They were developed through lengthy, detailed consultation and dialogue with local business people throughout Ontario...and they underline the Gover- nment of Ontario's comniitment to this vibrant and vital sec- tor of our economy. If you would like a copy of "A Small Business Development Policy for Ontario", or information on any of the programs, please call my Constituency Office at 683-6707 in Ajax. Judy or June would be pleased to fill your requests, or forward the in- formation along to me. Reader thankful for our help in45 Dear Sir: Sunday April 15, 1945 the Germans have left the town of Sneek, The Netherlands in the morning. In church the minister cuts the ser- mon short and advises the people to go home because there is a rumor that the bridges may be blown up. Everybody is getting excited it is said the Canadians are only twenty f ive miles away from town. Some people round up their flags which they have not been able to fly for five years and stick them out their win- dows. At seven o'clock seven Canadian tanks roll in to town, what a sight; nobody stays in- side; everybody is out on the street to greet our allies who have liberated us after five years of occupation. No more eight o'clock curfew, we can sing our own songs without being shot at, young men come out of hiding who were forced to work in German fac- tories but refused and went underground. It is ail over or is it; seems so hard to believe after f ive years. That was thirty five years ago. I was fifteen years of age. In 1952 we came to Canada as a family; our English was CONT DON PG. 6 .Karn Thofpsof 1--- - @ - }