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UBCM MEMBERS

Richard Taylor, Executive Director
January 31, 1990

URGENT - RADIO LICENCE FEES

Local Government has until FEBRUARY 6, 1990 to iet the federal government
know that we are concemed about the increase in radio licence fees imposed on it
without any consuitation.

We would suggest that your staff contact your district office of the Federal
Deparment of Communications to find out what your increase in fees will be for
your fire department, public works and other emergency services. The payment
date for the new radio licence fees has been set at March 31, 1991: we would
suggest that you delay payment until there has been an opportunity to fully discuss
thi, issue with the federal government,

An example of some of the cost increases that local governments wild be faced with
are:
1989 1999 % Increase

1,035%
Nozth Cowichan 1,741%
Prince Ru 1,144%
Chetwyn 612%
Kelowna 1,621%
North Vancouver District 1,093%
Surrey 3,035%
Chilliwack 976%

The UBCM would suggest that in your response you may wish to stress some cf
the following points:

Solden

« Governments at all levels should be committed to consultation and
coordination of their actions to serve the public,
The federal government should give adequate notice and should consult on

legislation and other changes that affect local government,
The fea increase represents a tax on the provision of services for public safety
and the proposed increases are unreasonable.
Local government should continue to be charged a flat fee, as tha service
rovided is essential to public safety - fire, emergency gervices, etc,
services in question are essential public services and cannot be treated in
the same way as private enterprises,

If you share our concer, please write and fax your concems about the radio Hcence
fees and the lack of consultation by the federal government: oa thig issue to your
jocal member of parliament and to:

Honourable Marcel Massa
Minister of Communications
House of Comunons

Ottawa, ON

KIA 0A6

Honourable Jim McDermid
Minister of State (Privatization
and Regulatory Affaire)
House of Commons

Ottawa, ON

KIA 0A6

FAX: (613) 952-2429 FAX: (613) 987-3489
R.W. Jones

Director General

Radio Regulatory Branch

Department of Communications

Journal Tower North

Ottawa, ON

KIA 0C8

FAX: (613) 952-1231

Please forward a copy of your responss to:
UBCM - FAX: (604) 660-2271

For further information contact: Ken Vance (604) 270-8276

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