News

TheReview

Wednesday, January 9,1991 — Ad

, Cosumers bearing up under goods and services tax

Consumers hate it but they’re
resigned to the new goods and
services tax, local merchants say
after the first few days of the
federal tax.

“They're never going to vote
Conservative again,” said Sidney
book store owner Clive Tanner,
whose stock of books suddenly
became taxable January 1.

But customers are not berating
store staff about increased costs,
Tanner said. Instead they are
grumbling about the government
that imposed the tax.

“People have been very good.”

At Sidney Natural Foods, owner
Cy Relph says his customers have
been very understanding about the

confusion caused by the new tax.

His business handles both taxed
and untaxed items. In many cases
the store is taking the loss on the
tax until prices are changed or the
difference between taxed and
untaxed items is Clarified.

“It’s just hellish,” Relph said.
He cited a few examples: popcom
kemels are not taxed, popped pop-
corn is taxed; three donuts are
taxed, six donuts are not taxed: a
hot barbecue chicken is taxed, a
cold chicken is not taxed: a single
container of yogurt is taxed, three
containers of yogurt fastened
together are not taxed.

The situation is more compli-
cated in B.C. since the provincial

INTO THE DRINK, 20-year-old Byron Knight of Saanichton
camies an unwilling Michelle Hrybko, 16, of Campbell River
into Elk Lake for a quick dunking during the annual polar
bear swim at the lake January 1. Other participants in the
chilly event cheer the new arrivals.

sales tax cannot be charged on the
goods and services tax, Relph said.

“The public are being very
understanding about it, despite the
difficulties,” he said.

Gary Bentham of the Central
Saanich Business Association
expects the tax may be discussed
at the group’s Jan. 22 meeting.

Sidney Association of Mer-
chants president Chris Dysart said
members have not yet discussed
the issue.

Customers of her Sidney Florist
store seem resigned to the tax and,
Dysart said, will probably cease
noticing the additional charge in a
few weeks.

“People buy what they need
regardless,” she said. Some of her
questions about the tax were not
answered until the last minute but
new cash registers, installed to
handle the tax, have made the
transition easier.

“T's going to be an administra-
tive hassle for reporting,” she said.

Tanner spent $3,000 for new
cash registers which made the
transition “remarkably simple,”
he said. The registers can be
written off as a business expense
in the first year, he added.

Saanich Peninsula Chamber of
Cammerce manager Manlyn Lee
said members have discussed the
tax informally.

“People are imitated about the
implementation but resigned to the
fact,” she said.

“Tm impressed with the atti-
tude of business people in this
community. They sort of grit their
teeth and do what has to be done.”

She has noted a few price reduc-
tion and some creative marketing

around the tax by local businesses.
Sidney-based Touch of Class

Ladies Wear is not charging the —

tax on merchandise.
Owner Derek Ford said the tax
was implemented during a major

~ store wide sale.

Unable to justify price increases

in the midst of the sale, he decided
the company would cover the tax
during the sale.

When the company does start
charging the tax, Ford expects he
will have to hire a full-tume book-
keeper.

PENINSULA TRACK AND FIELD CLUB

Registration for 1991

will be held January 14 and 17 at 6:00 at Parkland
High School. The club is involved in the Island
Cross Country and Road Running Series, as well
as multiple track and field events throughout the
spring and summer. Practices are held every
Monday and Thursday at the Parkland Track
throughout most of the year. For further information
contact Yolande Marshall, club registrar. 744-1045.

SEWING
BOUTIQUE
655-4432

Eee

60%
Bei AL L

Jewellery FASHION FABRICS

25 to 70% ot

Classes start
Jan. 17/91