A4 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 4, 1998 TERRACE: STANDARD ESTABLISHED APRIL 27, 1988 PUBLISHER: ROD LINK ADDRESS: 3210 Clinton Street Terrace, B.C. * V8G 5R2 TELEPHONE: (250) 638-7283 * FAX: (250) 638-8432 EMAIL: standard@kermoce.net Cut taxes IT’S THE TIME of year when the great majority of Canadians are in financial turmoil — trying to figure out how to pay for Christmas at the same times as puzzling out how to invest in some sort of RRSP. For those many, it may not be exactly a joyous occasion. But things are much different in Ottawa where the topic is not about paying but about spending. Spending, that is, the anticipated surpluses now that the federal government is on the verge of wiping out its annual budget deficit. There are three areas in which this spending could take place — on new government pro- grams, on reducing the accumulated debt of $600 million or on reducing the existing corporate and personal tax bite. Most experts believe the surplus will be divvied up through a combination of the above. But each political party gives each of the three a different weight, depending upon the philosophical bent of that party. Liberals, for instance, lean toward increasing government spending. And that should be bad news for everybody because their government has mostly conquered the deficit by increasing taxes and not by cutting spending. To spend more just because you have it is not a good eco- nomic philosophy. The Reform party advocates cutting taxes, an always popular move. But it’s regarded with some suspicion because less government spend- ing is equated with fewer government services such as health and education. But there is one suggestion in the package of proposals being pushed by the Reform party which makes good sense and is not that ex- pensive. And this is to eliminate income taxes for people who earn less than $15,000. In B.C. that’s more or less the equivalent of the mini- “mum wage. The tax savings would ¢be: about $1,364 if that $15,000 was earned by a single women with one child. The Reform argument is simple — why tax people who don’t earn a fot in the first place. It only puts them in the position of depending more heavily on government programs which they fi- nance anyway by paying taxes, Cutting out the middleman leaves the money where it does the most good. And that’s with the person who earned it. He’s in trouble STILL WITH taxes, all indications are that Premier Glen Clark will cut the provincial ones for people and corporations to counteract the growing belief his government is responsible for the sluggish economy. While that’s good news the bad news is that the provincial deficit will increase and that will in turn lead to higher costs because that money will have to be borrowed and then paid back. So while the federal Liberals may defend them- selves by saying that higher taxes helped eliminate their deficit, Mr. Clark is dragging around an anchor of high taxes and a high deficit. a PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Rod Link ADVERTISING MANAGER: Brian Lindenbach PRODUCTION MANAGER: Edouard Credgeur NEWS Jeff Nagel > NEWS SPORTS: Dave Taylor NEWS COMMUNITY: Cris Leykauf OFFICE MANAGER: Sheila Sandover-Sly ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS: Sam Collier, Janet Viveiros TELEMARKETER: Patticia Schubrink ADVERTISING ASSISTANT: Kelly Jean TYPESETTING: Sylvana Broman DARKROOM: Susan Credgeur CIRCULATION MANAGER: Karen Brunette SUBSCRIPTION RATES BY MAIL: 7 ( : 74! waar THE HECK a PRESIDENTS PRESIDENTS... il Give the Peace a chance VICTORIA — Farming is more than just a way of life in Peace River country. It’s a Slice of the history that shaped this northeastem part of British Columbia, Farming has been part of the Peace River region for as long as some of the towns’ names have becn on the map. Dawson Creek, Pouce Coupe, Taylor, Hudson’s Hope, Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, places where, as one former premier once said, the real British Columbians live. I say that with apologies to British Columbians who live in the south, because it is the south to which Peace River farmers are appealing for help. It is the south thal houses the powers that be, the powers that can help them overcome a crisis not of their making. _, Farming in the Peace is un-. der siege. After two years of disastrous wealber resulting in less than marginal crops or no crops at all, Peace River farm- ers have their backs against the wall, And the sharks, in banks’ clothing, are ready to close in for the kill. To put it bluntly, untess some iminediate government help is forthcoming, many Peace River farmers will be FROM-THEGAPITAL: HUBERT BEYER out of business. And the towns which are already reeling un- der the effects of an inadequate tax base will slide into further decay. The problem began with an unusually cold and wet spring in 1996 that caused farmers to “miss their sceding deadlines. The same happened in 1997. In both’ years, harvesting the crop was difficult, in many cases impossible, Some farmers couldn’t get heavy equipment on the fields until the ground froze, Some were trying to harvest at 20 de- grees below zero and in snow. The marginal crops that were salvaged turned out to be of such poor quality and con- laminated from wild animal excreta that may were rejected at the elevators. As [ write this, five ships loaded with substan- dard grain harvested in the Peace last year are being re- jected in Japan, Korea and Saudi Arabia. I can’t remember Peace River farmers ever complain- ing or asking for handouts from government. Peace River folks come from self-reliant stock. Nor do they want band- outs now. But they need help badly, And the government in Victoria is the only one that can provide help. The Peace River Farm Crisis Committee estimates thal an immediate infusion of $20 mil- lion will put the farming com- munity back on its feet, The farmers aren’t asking for a gift but for government-guaranteed loans, interest-free for two with caucus and agriculture minister Corky Evans. One farmer even took his combine ox an epic journey all the way from the Peace to Victoria., If I know Corky, he will sup- port the farmers. The problem will be convincing his cabinct colleagues, particularly Premier Glen Clark that help- ing out the Peace River farm- ers to the tune of $20 million is a good investment. ; Assuming that Evans will go to bat for the farmers at the cabinet table, ] would like to add my small vaice to his: Listen up, premier, You:gave the go-ahead to the Skeena deal, You are giving the forest industry a huge bredk by reducing stumpage fees, Ex- tend that same largesse {fo the Peace River farmers.‘ Not only is it the right thing years and pegged at seven-per ~to'do. It is the necessary thing _ cent interest after that. A farm-help package put to- gether by goverment a few months back, the farmers say, addresses long-range prob- lems, but not the immediate crisis. , To impress on the govern- ment in Victoria just bow perilous the situation is, a bus- load of farmers showed up in the capital city for meetings to dosBritish Columbia-rannot afford to lose any of iti farm production, The fewer: farms we have, the more we will have to rely on impork. We don’t need that. We don’t want thal. You got thal? Beyer can be reached at: Tel: (250) 920-9300; Fax: (250) 385-6783; E-mail: hubert@coelcom.com } a a Have combine, will travel BRITISH COLUMBIANS up- set with government fight back in diverse ways: A mental health advocate zipped himself into a sleeping bag toa fast through the Christ- mas holiday on the doorstep of his MLA’s office. Prince George and Skeena - consliluents chose recall. And a Dawson Creck farmer drove his combine to Victoria to highlight the plight of Peace River farmers after two years of crop losses caused by ex- cessive moisture, Nick Parsons made the 16 day trek — maximum speed 25 kph — in his Madel 860 Mas- scy Ferguson. His only com- fort was a specially fitted heater to warm the bird’s-eye- view cab. He was given a cell phone, but it failed to work. Along the way, truckers shared their cell phones with him. In addition to ‘Wide Load’ warning signs, he marked the outer limits of his 14-foot-wide combine with flags — a Cana- dian ensign, a B.C. standard, and a Dawson Creek banner. No polka dot bandanas or THROUGH BiFOCALS: CLAUDETTE SANDECKI crumples of red plastic for this mission! Iu case of snow, he fitted the wheels of his machine with chains, and installed extra fuel tanks in the hopper. And to cope with any breakdown of his 17-year- old harvester, he took along a generator, a welder, an air compressor, and all his tools, Except for two days, in Mackenzie Junction waiting for parts to replace the starter, Parsons succeeded in keeping to his iravel schedule. His tires were slashed at 70 Mile House. And he was fined for being on the road after dark while replacing other tires that had gone flat. In Cache Creek he was slopped by officials who didn’t want him driving his extra wide combine through the Fraser Canyon and along the busy Trans-Canada Highway. They advised him to drive over steep mountain roads through Lillooct and past the ski resort of Whistler. When he reached Pemberton, however, because heavy traffic was anticipated on the Squamish highway in conjunc- tion with a skiing event being held at Whistler, he was told to truck his combine to Horse- shoe Bay. The haul — using a flat deck and two pilot cars — cost him $800. When he left his farm the moming of Jan. 10, the temperature was - 40°C. When he arrived in Victoria Jan, 26 the city was basking in temperatures 20 degrees higher than normal, Though Parsons made the trip alone — al the last minute a companion was unable to go along — a group of Peace River farmers was waiting. to back him up when he paiked his combine in front of the legislature. Agriculture minis- ter Corky Evans Listened to the group’s complaints about -in- adequate government com- pensation for the disaster of flooded owl crops over twa SeASOIS. How well the NDP govem- ment responds to the fanners’ plight only time will tell, Par- sons has said, if need be, hel drive his combine to the steps of Parliament inOttawa, The communities of Farmington and Rolla held dances and auctions to fund the expenses for Parsons and his neighbours to make the Vie- toria trip. Dawson Creck businesses gave cash. Some $18,000 was raised, . If Premier Clark doesn't respond the way Dawson Creek hopes, Ottawa drunks may well wake to see a Mas- sey Ferguson combine rum-; bling past. Parsons is a man of. action, $53.50 per year; Seniors $48.15; Out of Province $60.99 — Acthe fi CARE fOR SOME “a+ had been her “}) Csigh) THANKS, BUT NoT daar ae By i seers | ie ie, | Rae, | aeek tear a . , 0 e co IND... MEMBER OF ne the liqdor cabinet ahd Filled her with mistrust, : ; Ne GO UP TOTHE LOFT.. B,C, AND YUKON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS ASSOCIATION, Wen the handsome CANADIAN COMMUNITY riled ASSOCIATION ANI DA, $0 she replied sae " BOYCHA reais rita comer Serving the Terrace and Thornhill area. Published on Wednesday of each week at 5210 Clinton Street, Terace, British Columbia, V6 5R2. Slortes, photographs, illustrations, designs and typestyfes in the Teraca Standard are the proparty of the copyright holdera, including Cariboo Prass (1969) Ltd, tts Itlustration repro services. and advertising agencies, Rleproduction in whole of in part, withoul written permission, is spactiically protibited. Authorized as second-class mall pending the Post Office Copartment, for payment of postage in cash. Special thanks to all aur contributors and correspondents for thelr tima and talents B.C. PRESS COUNCIL to el i i etn _Meaadierae