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Times Advocate, 1991-01-09, Page 1T -A Classifieds They really pay Call _235-1331— Serving 235 -1331 --. at Gaiser-Kneale Insurance Call us for it Compnhonslva titivo HOMEOWNERS 235-2420 • Serving South Huron North Middlesex & Lambton 75 cents s Insides A time for snow Band First meeting prepared page 2 R2000 Energy -efficiency comes of age page 5 Ski No shortage of trails page 10 Expansion Playhouse gets drama classroom page 20 Board searching for. new Huron teachers CLINTON - The Huron County Board of Education is looking for new recruits. Board administrators in coopera- tion with Learning Research Centre staff have compiled a five-minute video in an attempt to attract.teach- ers to the area. Board administrators will be vis- iting a number of University cam- puses including Western and the University of Windsor, to set up promotional displays in workfairs and interview applicants. A French teacher was hired by the board last week and the hiring process is expected to take several weeks overall. New tax hits T -A subscribers Snowman - Mike Wilhelm, Paul Gregus, Lawrence Cole, Brad Tieman and Brendan Kraftcheck, got together to to build a snowman in sub -zero temperatures, Tuesday. Coach prospects uncertain HENSALL - Although all 91 General Coach employees were called back to work on Monday, how long they'll be there is Aues- tionable according to United Broth- erhood of Carpenters & Joiners lo- cal 3054 . representative 'Ken Fenwick. Fenwick will be talking to Gener- al Coach president and general manager Andy Imanse in attempt to form a collective agreement this week. The workers have been with- out a contract since November 22 and were in a legal strike/lockout position when they were laid off. "We had no intentions of going on strike and at the time they laid us off knowing that," said Fenwick. He believes laying off the work- ers was better financially because it EXETER - Both annual sub- scriptions and single copies of the Times -Advocate are subject to the Goods and Services Tax which became effective January The yearly rate for Canadi- an subscribers is $27.00 plus $1.89 GST. Those renew- ing subscrip- tions are asked to enclose their cheque for $28.69. allowed them to collect unemploy- ment benefits, but he has reserva- tions about the company's future. Currently, General Coach man- agement has plans to build a differ- ent sort of cottage -type model ' the market. Fenwick "aid- the 'rno- tors are in the plant and the models are ready to be built, but he has no estimate on how much work there will be for the employees. Fenwick confirmed the workers would be building models for an upcom ing recreational -vehicle show. "They need show models," said Fenwick. "There may be a few or- ders on hand." Fenwick says the company has been facing increasingly strong competition from the United States sigce 1988, partly due to the effects orFree Trade, and the results have not been good for the Hensall plant. Fenwick said in 1988, 22 percent of trailer -home sales were lost to thetlnited States and presently that figure is in the 50 percent range. "I beliele his (Imanse's) hands arc tied because of the big, flux of American units into Canada," he said, adding Imanse has been nego- tiating in good faith and so far, no lawyers have been necessary in the talks. "Things are tough right now," he conceded. Both Imanse and production manager Prakash Malik were una- vailable for comment. Council drops sewage charges for southwest County takes over IndfiII GRAND BEND - The price of garbage is going up inirand Bend. On January 1, Lambton County officially, took over the landfill just south of the village, but it could become very expen- sive for Grand Bend to cart away their garbage. As soon as the landfill is filled, the village will have to have its garbage ha ed to Warwick Township olia. (Depend- ing on wh isposal company is doing it.) "If we're lucky. We'll get through this year. It could be closed as early as June," said councillor Dennis Snider. He is 'the chairman of the vil- lage's new Waste Management Committee which meets tonight. One of the topics on their agenda will be the new expense. "None of it's a secret. There is just so much too look at. We could end up cutting a check for $100,000 above what we're pay- ing now," said Snidcr. He said that it will cost about $370 a load to transport garbage to Petrolia or Warwick. Right now it costs them nothing. Snider said that in the busy summer months EXETER - Ratepayers in the southwest corner of town won their battle with council Monday evening to keep a sewage sur- charge off their utility bills until they can be connected to the sys- tem some three years from now. The residents are in the area slat- ed by council far service upgrades under a PRIDE project. Council had hoped to cover the municipal costs of the upgraded project by increasing the sewage surcharge on town utility bilis to $13.20 per month and to extend it to those households in the PRIDE area - those who would eventually bene- fit from the new sewage lines. A more modest proposal consid- ered in September was to have cost only $450,000, with approxi- mately 50 percent provincial fund- ing, but an improved project pro- posal will add about $200,000 to its price tag. Administrator Rick Hundey told the crowded council gallery the plan is to build the main sewer line and build a new sewage pumping station in the first two years, with service lines and con- nections installed in late 1993. When asked if road paving was in- cluded in the project, Hundey said no - that it was, covered under dif- ferent provincial funding. "The cost is the big factor," said Hundey. "It is not.scheduled at all under the current proposal." "As Rick said, we've got two ministries to work with, and one is more generous than the other right now," agreed mayor Bruce Shaw, who hinted that the Mill Street area may be on the town's priority list in the next few years. Councillor Bert Hoogenboom warned there were no guarantees that Mill Street would be paved any time soon, but joked "If you guys keep filling the galleries like this we'll have it paved in no time." Hundey was asked if sidewalks were really necessary in that area of town, and he said there was lit- tle doubt they were a necessity on Huron Street, and offered added safety for children on the others, but he suggested some negotiations with the neighbours might be possi- ble once. the PRIDE project was un- der way. One bit of news which calmed some at the meeting was that under a recently revised bylaw, individual homeowners would not have to contribute to PRIDE sidewalks con- structed on their streets. But by far the main concern of the evening was the question of the sewage surcharge. "I think it's kind of hard to make us pay for sewers we haven't got," complained Jane Boyle. "I don't think it's fair to pay $500 over three years." Hundey explained that council's reasoning was to pay for the up- graded sewage program through the • surcharge, but had considered it un- fair to make most of the town pay it while leaving those who will even- tually benefit from the project un- touched by the rate. "Other people are receiving no benefit at all. explained Shaw. "It's a tax, it's a uniform tax," Shaw continued, who agreed it wasn't fair. "But somebody's got to pay for this." Shaw did say the PRIDE project would not affect town taxes. "I understand sewers were prom- ised 20 years ago west of the tracks," said one man, who wanted a guarantee he wouldn't be paying the surcharge without sewers year after year. "Well, those guys have probably died,' said Shaw, who assured the project would be completed on time. When the question . of the sur- charge returned to the floor, Hoo- genboom told Boyle it was consid- ered a fairer way to distribute the project costs. But Doyle said she still has to pay for septic tank maintenance in those three years. "Why don't we pay the $13 and you - guys empty out our septic tanks for the next three years," came a comment which created a brief lighter moment to the pro- ceedings. Council was surprised, however, by one woman who said she rents an apartment in the PRIDE zone and is now expected to pay the sur- charge even though she is not the property owner. "I don't think this was fully thought through on ,that respect," she said, angered at having to pay the s harge on her utility bill along with hydro rate increases and the GST. Shaw agreed council may not have been aware there were four Please turn to page 3 there could be as many as 20 trips per week. That's why he's hoping they can use their own landfill un- til the fall. "We don't want to be caught in July and all; of a sudden find we have to cart it," said Snider. That is why he and the village are stressing the importance of re- cycling, so . their landfill doesn't become full too early. Snider added that although it will be costly to transport the gar- bagat least the village won't - haxe c xppeense of operating their own 1 dfill. Environment minister confirns grant for Lucan LUCAN - Lucan council recent- ly received written confirmation from environment minister Ruth Greer that recycling grants ap- proved by the Liberal government would be honoured. The grants fund one-third of the blue boxes cost and cover the vil- lage's share of the operating costs with London Township, Lobo and A look at the new GST tax . West Nissouri. Village clerk Ed Melanson ,said 750 blue boxes have been ordered and composterslw4ll also be made available to residents. Council plans to officially start the recycling program on March 1 - a month later than planned due to the change in provincial govern- ments and the paperwork involved, Seven percent increaseon just about everyrning By Fred Groves EXETER - Wcicbmc to 1991 and the Goods and Services Tax. A hundred years from now when our great, great grandchildren are reading th6(r history books, they'll -- renfember Janu- ary 1991 as the month of confusion in Canada. The first day of the new year meant an increase on almost everything we buy. Real estate, stamps, newspapers and even rec- reation programs now cost seven percent more, it means those copper pennies sitting on your dresser in that big glass jar now mean something. -h' also means we as Canadians are going to have to tighten our belts a little more. Note, it costs the Cana- dian Mint moire than one cant to make a penny. Although seven percent is the number to remember when talking about the GSA, the number $30,000 is also very important. Example, if you go and get your hair cut and your hairdresser makes less than $30,000 per year, you don't have to pay the GST. .Entertainment will cost you sev- en percent" more at; well. Karen Monk at Oscar's Videorin Exeter said GST won't be added to her vid- eo cntals until February. She said she has not been told by her ac- countant whether or not video ren- tals are subject to the new tax. "As far as I know there will be GST on the rentals. We put a sign up saying well pay the GST this month," said Monk. One of the few things that won't cost you seven percent more is food essentials. There is no GST on medical or 4ental but it's going to cost you more to die; funerals are taxable. if you go in and buy your grocer- ies, essentials will be exempt from the GST but that bag of chips and bottle of pop will cost you more. Business sales are divided into three categories; taxable, exempt and zero-rated. Zero-rated means' sales arc taxed at a zero percentage, but you are still entitled to claim an input tax credit on the GST paid on your pur- chases. Groceries, prescription drugs and exports all fall into the zero-rated category. Recreation: if you plan on join- ing a program through the South Huron Recreation Centre, _,p!T- pared to pay a little more. Joanne Fields says that both the rental fee for ice and the hills have gone up as well as the cost for all programs. But the method in which you pay the two are different. "1 put a sign up that says GST is included in our programs, but not in our rentals." Meaning that the rental for the ice for example is $62 dollars and that the seven percent is added on top. On the. sitter hand, programs have simply been bumped up three dollars to $43. She added programs for children under 14, like gymna.stics, do not have the GST added on. Fields said it will be a lot of ex- tra work for her. "it's like everything else. Once you get us&i to jt, it will be fine. The first month will be hard.' Stamps: Canadians were hit twice at the post office last week. Not only did the price .45kr stamps jump from 39 to 40 cents,'hut now there is an additional three cents GST. ' Exeter Postmaster Keith Ahrens says for one tiling, it will mean Canada Post will be handling a lot re pennies. When you buy the stamp it will say 40 cents on it. "People don't understand it's (GST) above the 40 cents; said Ahrens. For those who have got 39 cent stamps tucked away in your pock- ets, don't despair. Ahrens says that in order to mail that letter, go in and get a one cent stamp to go with the old one and since there is no GST on one cent, you've al- ready beaten the GST. Newspapers: Just like everything else, the price of a newspaper has gone up. When you go into your to cal convenience store and pickup a paper, don't forget to dig "out a few extra cents for the GST. The Ontario Community News- papers Association sen c$ut a letter to its members, including the Times -Advocate in' December out- lining an interesting point about the GST. It stated that while the federal government and its crown corpora- tions would be paying the GST on its advertising, provincial • bodies would be filing exempt,lQn and it should be honoured. `�► Real estate: Large purchases bring up the question about the old 13rcent manufacturing tax. Heather Rogers, a real estate agent with Estate, attended a semi" nar about the GST and explained, as far as' real estate is concerned what is subject to the new tax. "If you btiy a used house,Iou do not have to pay GST on it.41f you , buy a new home you do," said Rog- ers. She said that when a builder con- structs a new home, they will be charging the seven percent GST but says it is up,to them to remove the old13 percent manufacturers tax. "You have to ask each and every individual (builder) if they've re- movedit." As an agent, she has to charge her customers seven percent GST on her commission. So a $100,000 home. means Rogers gets her $6,000 commission and has to charge you $420 GST. ` She noted however that sbme dIswhich began in 1990, and ha 't closed yet, don't have ,to pay that $420. Lots of calls: There were an esti- mated 15,000 phone calls to the GST information center in Ottawa as 150 people manned the lines for 16 hour9. The hotline isn't just a short term service as it will be in effect until December 31, 1991. ••