HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1990-06-20, Page 7THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1990. PAGE 7.
Wilson says farmers will gain under GST
Getting ready
Finance Minister Michael Wilson adjusts his microphone
during a taped interview held at CKNX last Thursday. Mr.
Wilsonwho was visiting the Huron riding discussed briefly the
impact the GST would have on agriculture.
Continued from page 1
ture under the GST includes: farm
tractors over 100 horsepower; pull
type and self-propelled combines,
swathers and windrowers and att
achments; hay and forage equip
ment; field and row crop cultivat
More provinces might
bring less trouble
Continued from page 5
ment should be closer to the
people. If so, then why not go all
the way? A province made up of
southwestern Ontario would be a
lot closer to you and me than the
huge monstrosity that is now
Ontario. Quebecers in the Gaspe
could get a government that rep
presents them more truly than one
centred in the metropolitan areas
ors; discs, weeders and plows over
10 feet wide; air seeders, grain and
seed drills over 10 feet wide; row
crop and tool bar seeders and
planters; rock and stone pickers;
bulk milk coolers and tanks; mar
keting board production quotas;
like Quebec City and Montreal.
There’s one problem with the
idea of course: it’s 123 years too
late. Maybe even more than that.
Politicians who have power will
never give it up and today’s
premiers would never dream of
giving up the huge clout they have
today, even if it did make the
country work better.
seed; livestock feed and feed
supplements of over 50 lbs.; bulk
fertilizer purchases over half a
ton.
Huron-Bruce MP Murray Car
diff, the Assistant Secretary to the
Minister of Agriculture, who was
present for the taping with Mr.
Wilson, pointed out that this is only
a proposed preliminary list. It has
he said, been based on conversa
tions with people in the industry
and could still see some change.
Services not exempt include
commission sales, for which the
agent would pay and custom kiling,
a service that would be rebatable.
With so many exemptions dictat
ed by size, power, or weight many
wondered if it would not be easier
to simply exempt bona fide farmers
from the tax. Mr. Wilson explained
that while this had been looked
into, it only shifted the complexity
from one industry to others. “We
are trying to address the point,’’ he
said. “We have spent a great deal
of time listening to farmers’ con
cerns.’’ He went on to explain that
decisions have been made only
after consultations with farmers
that resulted in changes in the final
structure of the GST. “We are
making changes where we can in
response to comments.”
Mr. Wilson also mentioned that
there has been some training
available to farmers through semi
nars and as part of the registration
process. “Once a farmer is regis
tered with us we begin to send
them information on the tax.”
Mr. Wilson gave no guarantees
that the GST would not increase
through time. “I’m no different
than anyone. I want taxes down,
but we have got to deal with our
deficit.” He stated that of the 43
countries that have had the GST or
WANTADS
ALL THE TIME’
OUR COUNTRY IS TOO
IMPORTANT TO LOSE
TO THE POLITICIANS!!
Strong stuff, we know. Sometimes you just get to
the point where almostanything makes more sense
than what’s been going on in the country in the last
little while.
We are not rocket scientists. We publish weekly
newspapers in Ontario. Like you we just get up in
the morning, go to work and try to make a living,
keep our heads down and save enough money to
takeafewweeksoff in the summer. Our beat is
Town Council, not the House of Commons.
When the Directors of the Ontario Community
Newspapers Association met recently in Belleville,
it was plain to see how much we love Canada, and
how deeply upset we are that our nation is being
violated.
We believe it might be time to take it out of the
hands of our politicians. We think it makes sense to
Send to:
OCNA ACCORD
P.O. Box 451
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 5A8
Further comments are invited.
Please print or write clearly on
separate sheet.
A statement issued by The Board of
Directors of The Ontario Community
Newspapers Association and endorsed
by this newspaper.
a tax similar for many years, 18
have changed. “But, you can’t
generalize. There are no guaran
tees. It is your responsibility as
taxpayers and ours as a govern
ment to control spending.”
In other industries, Mr. Wilson
says the exemptions are not as
numerous as they might seem.
Food is exempt unless offered as a
service. For example, the tin of
caviar you purchase in a neighbour
hood grocery will be exempt, while
in a restaurant the same caviar will
be taxed.
All basic grocery items are
tax-free with the exception of snack
foods like chocolate bars. Also
lower income families will be
expected to pay less.
In reference to the down swing in
the economy that has been happen
ing recently, Mr. Wilson said the
slow down was “healthy”. While
he feels that making decisions to
purchase major items at this time is
up to the individual, he recom
mended caution, suggesting that
consumers look closely before buy
ing a house or car to make sure
they can handle the payments.
“It’s time for us to look at what
we’re doing and not stretch our
selves too far. We are trying to take
action before a major inflationary
problem occurs.”
Mr. Wilson went on to say that
the economy still “has some steam
in it. Housing starts were up two
percent this past month. It’s the
cost pressures in economy that are
.O, THE TOWNSHIP OF GREY
® OF
THE COUNTY OF HURON
Invite the residents of the Township of Grey to the dedication and
re-opening of the Cranbrook Branch of the Huron County Library.
The ceremonies will commence at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 22nd in
the Cranbrook Community Centre. Refreshments will be served after
the dedication. Please attend and view the new facilities.
elect a fresh group of people from across the
country, whose only mandate is to settle the
constitutional issues of this country, and not to get
elected again. In short, a constitutional
convention.
Thisgroupmightmeetfora month, orayear. But
they wouldn't stop until there was something to put
before the people of Canada. After all, that’s how
the Constitution of the United States was written.
If this matter is left in the hands of our politicians,
whether or not Meech passes, the future seems to
be pointing towards the slow disintegration of
Canada. If we are not careful this will be our legacy
to our children.
If you think we are on to something, let us know.
You can reach usat the OCNA Box 451, Oakville,
Ont. L6J 5A8. Fax (416) 844-2769.
pushing everything up.”
He does not see Free Trade as
having a negative impact on in
dustry in Canada, saying that there
are as many new industries starting
as there are industries shutting
down, but maintains that we don’t
hear about them. Mr. Wilson
stated that increase in business
investment is presently at record
levels in the country. “What we
want in Canada is net positive
value and we have that. Chrysler,
Ford, Dupont are all increasing.
They are seeing opportunities here
that they don’t see in the interna
tional market.”
The uncertainty surrounding
Meech Lake is, of course, going to
have an effect on things. “When
you have an important constitu
tional agreement and there is an
uncertainty about the outcome it
will show in the markets.” He
believes strongly in the bill and in
the fact that it will be passed on
schedule.
Following his talk the Finance
Minister was scheduled to speak to
the Chamber of Commerce in
Goderich.
WINGHAM AND DISTRICT
HOSPITAL CORPORATION
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Wingham and
District Hospital Corporation will be held in the Nursing Assistants
Training Centre, Catherine St., Wingham, Ontario on Thursday, June
21,1990, at the hour of eight o’clock p.m., for the revision of bylaws;
forthe election of Governors; for the appointment of Auditors; and for
the transaction of such other things as may properly come before the
meeting.
Copies of the Annual Report and Hospital Financial Statements may
be obtained at the front desk of the Wingham and District Hospital
prior to three o’clock p.m., Thursday, June 21,1990. Said documents
will also be available at the Annual Meeting.
Memberships granting voting privileges may be purchased at the
front desk of the hospital for one dollar [$1.00] prior to five o’clock
p.m., Wednesday, June6,1990. No membership sold after that time,
on that date, will entitle the purchaser to a vote.
Dated at Wingham, Ontario, this fourteenth day of May, 1990.
By Order of the Board of Governors.
N. M. Hayes,
Secretary