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Home My WebLink AboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-03-26, Page 19Pal 4— q}'•`Q" 7? 1. 28, garvfooC n. do deeper into underground economy By W. Roger Worth Cold, hard cash. That's the method of payment many Canadians use to thwart the tax collector as well' as fel- low Canadians who have to make up the shortfall. Indeed, the so-called un derground economy has ex panded to such a degree tha some respected economist; believe at least $50-billior worth of untaxed income is funnelled through the sys- tem. The question is why? Why do normally upstanding waiters and waitresses ac- cept the risk of heavy penal- ties when they don't report the full extent of their tips? Why do plumbers, carpen- ters, mechanics and other tradespeople who moonlight at after-hours jobs not report the additional they earn? Is it simple greed, or are there other reasons? The answer is not simple. There's the point, for ex- ample, that Canadians now pay a phenomenal 40 per cent of the money they earn in taxes, either up-fiont or hidden. That includes in- come tax, customs duties, federal sales tax, provincial sales tax, property tax and capital gains tax, as well as a lot of the money spent on lot- tery tickets, bingo, and even speeding and parking tick- ets, to mention just a few of the government's fund rai- sers. That 40 per cent tax rate, of course, is a lot of cash for someone' earning $20,000 a year or less, particularly if the individual is concerned that the money going to gov- ernments is not being spent properly. Consider, for example, such a person's reaction to reports by our provincial and federal auditors. The horror stories about mindless gov- ernment waste are myriad, yet nothing seems to be cor- rected. Our leaders pour hard- earned cash into losing bail- outs of big companies such as Maislin Transport; and ~many of the Crown co ra- tions chalk up heavy losses, all paid for by ordinary tax- payers. Canadians also hear about cushy public sector labor contracts where govern- ment -related employees, such as the postal workers, earn $25,000 per year or so to walk a mail route. Mean- while, Ottawa allows its workers raises of 6 and 5 per cent over two years while a lot of non-government work- ers are actually taking pay cuts to help keep their com- panies in business and save their jobs. The politicians, of course, have already voted themsel- ves million -dollar pension plans, with ordinary taxpay- er contributing_a _lot of the funding. What's sad is that the vol- untary tax reporting system seems to be breaking down. Instead of paying their fair share of taxes and trusting governments to use the money wisely, many Cana- dians are simply not paying tax on some of their income. Of course these individuals ,are wrong, and they're breaking the law: but the more money we have to pay in tax, the more cheaters there will undoubtedly be, and growth in the under- ground economy will contin- ue. HAVE YOU 'HEARD. THE ONE ABOUT THE GUY WHO DOVE INTO THE EMPTY SAG POOL? WEHAVE CANADIAN PARAPLEGIC ASSOCIATION G �• v • 411011niM 3 CENTRE PORTION 3 RIB PORTION 3 TENDERLOIN PORTION 9 VARIETIES CHOICEST FRESH 3.95/kg FRESH PORK LOIN "CENTRE CUT" ROAST OR CHOPS C.O5 1.29 /kg OD lb. SCHNEIDERS "SIZZLE & SERVE" SLICED PREVIOUSLY FROZEN SCHNEIDERS FAST FRY CENTRE CUT PORK LOIN CHOPS 4.�9 � �� /kg I. Ib. COUNTRY .STYLE Ria PORTION PORK LOIN 3. /kg 1.59b. Ib. SNOPSYS CNN STYLE OLD VIENNA SALAMI 500 g 2.09 SCHNEIDERS FAMILY PACK BEEF BURGERS 1 Kg SLICED REGULAR OR ALL BEEF COUNTRY GOLD BEEF LIVER '.9/kg 6 89� ID. IAT THE "COUNTRY OVEN' COUNTRY OVEN TANGY CHUNKY 450 g r f.3 9 CHEESE BREAD COUNTRY OVEN Q9r1EIFETEOFROUNifSTE1k FRESH BAKED WT. Z &: W CRUSTY _ __ __-. ,_ROLLS ,t�• ACH 0A PASTRAMI POTATO & EGG, MIXED BEAN. OR VEG. JELLY SHOPSY'S SALADS 375 g 1,49 PKG. Z & W PORK & BEEF BREAKFAST LINK SAUSAGES 3.73f.6, /kg• Ib. MAPLE LEAF SMOKED FULLY COOKED COTTAGE ROLLS 5.49/kg 2.491b. MAPLE LEAF PARA BABY BAG REG. OR ALL BEEF BOLOGNA CHUBS 3.28/kg 1.491b. NO NAME SLICED 2.49 COOKED .NAM,: 375 • PKG. COUNTRY OVEN . SPICY, FRESH 8's HOT CROSS BUNS 1.25 `f:'?::�',vc:�!�:cs.:it•'.I,V,L;;,T,.i tai^R ,,�,..;�: AU Special Prices in Effect 9 a.m. Wed. March 28 Until Closing Saturday March 31, 1984 We Reserve the Right to Limit Purchases to Reasonable Weekly Family Requirements PRODUCT OF U.S.A. CANADA NO. 1 GRADE HEAPING MIT BOX PRODUCT OF U.S.A. FROM FLORIDA CANADA NO. 1 GRADE NEW POTATOES 866/Kg PRODUCT OF U.S.A. CALIFORNIA LARGE NevEi ORANGES SIZE 113 PRODUCT OF U.S.A. FRESH, CRIS CALIFORNIA _ BROCCOLI PER BUNCH PRODUCT OF CANADA N0. 1 GRADE nNTegUg CARROTS 9 DOZEN PRODUCT OF U.S.A CANADA N0. 1 PRODUCT OF CAN. ONTARIO FANCY PRODUCT OF MEXICO CANADA NO. 1 GREEN PEPPERS 99f PRODUCT OF CHILE CANADA NO. 1 CAN ASSIST THE ORGANIZATION OF YOUR CHOICE ASK OUR MANAGER OR CASHIERS FOR DETAILS FOR YOUR GROUP PRODUCT OF CAN. ONTARIO GROWN BEAN Isom SPROUTS 59tg START SAVING OUR TAPES TO -DAY PRODUCT OF CALIFORNIA CELERY STALKS EACH 99# PRODUCT OF CALIFORNIA U.S. FRESH SIZE 140 LEMONS 3/49# "CANCER SOCIETY DAFFODIL DAYS MARCH 30TH AND MARCH 31ST"