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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1975-02-27, Page 23*irt'4 • Tax time again Ontario tax credits explained by Minister Once again it's income, tax filing time and for many Ontario residents it's time t� claim their 1974 Ontario tax credits. "The Ontario tax credit system is a program designed to contribute greatr fairness to provincial and municipal taxation," Arth r Meen, Minister of Revenue, coni- mented this'morn ng. "OTC, as we call 'it, relates tax credits to an individual's ability to pay,taxes. This year we expect to return about $375 million dollars to Ontario taxpayers by means of this systeni of tax credit. That's about $75 million more than last year," the Revenue Minister noted. The Ontario tax credit system (OTC) • consists of three credits: 1. Property tax credit — This credit may be claimed by most homeowners, tenants, roomers, and boarders. 2. Sales tax credit — Any Ontario tax filer over age 16 on December 31, 1974, may claim this credit if he or she is, not claimed as a dependent on the income tax return of any other Ontario resident. 3. Pensioner tax credit — Most residents 65 years of age and older can claim this credit which amounts to $110 ---forTh married couple and the same for a single person. pleted and mailed together, in the pre -addressed envelope provided,, to the federal government's taxation data centre in Ottawa. The Ontario tax credit form is simple to complete and the calculations required are not difficult. When a person has determined those credits for which he qualifies, he adds them up and deducts 2 per cent of his taxable income from, that totalp arrive at his net Ontario tax k•edits. "If people have questions" about Ontario tax credits, I urge them.to call us. Last year, my staff answered over 40,000 inquiries and the same service is available this ye*r," Mr. Meen said. Outside Metropolitan Toronlo, the tax credit in- formation centre at the Ministry of Revenue can be reached free -of -charge by dialing "0" and asking the operator for Zenith 8-2000. In the Metropolitan Toronto local calling area, the number is 965-8470. Letters should be addressed to: Guaranteed Income and Tax Credit Branch, Ministry of Revenue, Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M7A 2G1. For . further information: Mrs. E: Jordan: 965-8480. Income fax tips In order to claim Ontario is a regular weekly' feature • tax credits, an Ontario resident must file the federal• income tax return, even if the of this newspaper individual has no taxable income. The. Ontario tax creait form is attached to a federal income tax return and both forms must be com- . • Nee beginning this week d fencing standards W. K. BILANSKI SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH . • Most farmers are faced with the problem of putting up a good fepce which will be sturdy for many years and yet • be reasonably economical. This problem of fencing becomes much more acute when a right - of -Way, expropriation, or severed portion of land is in- volved, especially if this in- volves replacing ' a section of. 'fencing as part of the deal. . Those of you who have had this experience may have found that the fencing provided deteriorated within a , few years. The fence sagged, the posts leaned, and in general, it became apparent that what had been accepted as a satisfactory fence proved to be a second - rate job. This problem is -due mainly to the fact' that in Canada there is no cornprehensive'standard for the building of a farm fence. So, when the farmer is told that a satisfactory fence will be put up, he has had no standard to put forth to ensure quality work. Furthermore, since these fencing jobs are usually awarded to a low bidder, the tendency is to. cut corners (and, consequently, quality) to keep the cost down. If the fence looks good immediately after' co - struction, the farmer genera accepts it, thereby accepting the responsibility of future Upkeep, little realizing that the 'future' may be only a year away. • Is there any way thae a farmer - can protect himself from getting stuck with poor n,uality fencing? Although there is no official fencing standard •in Canada, a very reliable one has been put forth by the American • Society of Agricultural Engineers anti may be , found in the Agricultural Engineers' YearbOok under "Specification for Farm Fence Construction". Materials, aSsemblies, con- struction, and grounding wire fencing are covered on three pages of spec ificatiials and diagrams. it covers such details as the top diarneter and length of the posts and of the fencepats; the depth to which the posts should be set, the dimensions and spacing of the bracing for the anchor post, minimum weight of coating on zinc -coated Wire, etc. P If a fai'mer is having a fence installed, especially by an outside , agency forcing itself upon his property (in which case they usually must restore his fence) the farmer would be well advised to • request the ASAE fencing standards and insist 'in a signed agreement that the ;fencing will be in• stalled accordingly. If tbeTence proves to -be of poor quality, the farmer will be able to go to court, charging that the standardslie specified were not met, and he will stand a reasonably good chance of winning his case. However, in all likelihood, the problem will not arise because once the contractors see what the standards are,to be they can bid accordingly, adjusting their figures to the quality specified. Among the other points which must be considered is proper grounding of the fences, Many., cattle have been killed when lightning struck one part of a fence which was not properly grounded. At what intervals should a fence be grounded? .Tife ASAE Standard states that all wires of 'the fence shall be securely fastened, with galvanized wire ties, to fence grounding electrodes at in- tervals of not more than 150 feet for normally dry, rocky Soil, and not more than 300 feet for normally moist ot damp soils. (Fences built with metal posts set in earth are, as safe from lightning as it is practical to make them, especially if the electrical continuity is broken.) Electrodes shall be driven into firm earth a minimum depth of three feet and shall be either a standard galvanized steel post or a three -quarter -inch galvanized steel ' pipe. The bontinuity of wire, fences shall be broken at maximum in- tervals of 1,000 feet by a wooden gate, wooden panel section, insulating material, or by Wood strips. (ThASAE specifications for 'fern fence construction may be obtained from the author on request.) • DON'T BE, SHY_ COME JOIN US! Aka •Is% *4.4 BE A +BLOOD DONOR ot, or, ' 4 4:1 Present Raithby trophy Winners of the Raithby Trophy for Free Style 'Pairs at. the Goderich Figure Skating Club competition Saturday were (left to right) Michelle Harris and Tracy.MacEwan, second; Lori Feagan and Connie deHaas, first; Cheryl Feagan, presenting trophy;. and Brenda Love and George Dierolf, third. (staff - photo) TO GUARANTEED INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES VICTORIA & GREY TRUST CITY SAVINGS & TRUST STANDARD TRUST CANADA PERMANENT TRUST Bryce Erskine 86 North. St. Phone 524-9555 1 5e, SPANISH 3 PIECE BEDROOM SUITE SUGG. LIST 638.00 Cash & Carry MODERN •• 3pIECE SUITE WITH FRAMEDMIRROR SUG.G. LIST 169.95 ,-“199.95 Irs • ANDREW MALCOLM FRENCH PROVINCIAL STYLE • 3 PIECE SUITE , • SUGG. LIST sg95.00 .„. 44, N., (-) • SPECIAL, REDUCTIONS 014 1tERY:'surrE-IN THE:STORE: styles, finishes, prices for everyone PIZICED FROM $ 2 59 5° UP • 4 KROEHLER 4 PIECE SUITE • COLONIAL STYLE SUGG. • LIST s NEW LOOK 4 PIECE DISTRESSED PINE • SUGG. S675.00 LIST $549 50 • MEDITERRANEAN 4 PIECE SUITE TRIPLE DRESSER, CHEST, HEADBOARD, NIGHT TABLE SUGG. $79620 • LIST $499 00. " • DISTINCTIVE Stt CS) Our targe • Selection • Of BOUDOIR , LAMPS, "VIC ART" 4 PIECE SUITE, PECAN WITI1 BAMBOO TRIM TRIPLE DRESSER, HEADBOARD,' CHEST AND NIGHT TABLE SUGG. LIST $699.00 Furhiture • WEST ST.,. GODERICH ' • . ,t3 41 18 - • e, •