British Columbia

Residents gouged for education

costs, COPE tax study finds

A study that reveals a five-year property tax break for Vancouver-based corpora- tions while residential taxes have skyrock- eted shows that taxing powers should be returned to local school boards, the Com- mittee of Progressive Electors asserts.

COPE candidates for the Vancouver school board staged a brief demonstration outside Molson Breweries on Burrard Street to make that point Wednesday.

Trustee candidate Chris Allnutt authored the report that shows the giant Canadian corporation paid 69 per cent less property tax this year than it did in 1984. The study identifies five major companies which received large property tax cuts in the five- year period.

“The average decline in school taxes in the five large commercial-industrial proper- ties studied was over 50 per cent (while) the average single family homeowner in Van- couver saw school property taxes rise over 200 per cent,” Allnutt said.

He charged that the dominant Non- Partisan Association trustees have remained silent on the issue, and has dropped the former COPE board’s policy of starting a province-wide campaign for tax reform.

An attempt by COPE trustee Phil Ran-

Tory Cook

challenged on FTA

North Vancouver Communist Party candidate Betty Griffin has chal- lenged incumbent Tory MP Chuck Cook to defend his government’s free trade deal, at a public meeting or on community TV.

“Obviously, the refusal of (Prime Minister Brian) Mulroney and his candidates to debate the issue proves they are afraid that the truth will come out — that this is a disaster for our country,” Griffin charged.

The Conservative leader has agreed to three-hour televised debates in Eng- lish and French with Ed Broadbent of the New Democrats and Liberal leader John Turner. But he has refused opposition calls to devote an hour specifically to the Free Trade Agreement.

“Because your party’s trade deal initiative with the United States is the pivotal issue in this federal election, I propose that a full and free debate be held in our North Vancouver consti- tuency,” Griffin wrote Cook Oct. 10. At press time, no reply had been received.

The CP candidate has frequently tackled Cook on peace issues, and helped organize a successful seniors’ protest against pension de-indexing with a demonstration at Cook’s office.

Griffin said that one section of the free trade pact proves claims that U.S. markets will open up for Canadian goods are false.

Article 1902, Section 1 states that “Each party reserves the right to apply its anti-dumping law and coun- tervailing duty law to goods imported from the territory of the other party.”

“In other words, our exporters will still be subject to U.S. trade-remedy laws and will have no more secure access to U.S. markets than they have at present,” Griffin said.

kin to have the board adopt.a recent study by the Greater Vancouver regional district study showing the area receives little in pro- vincial municipal and education grants died without a seconder.

The return of authority to tax industrial and commercial properties has been an issue among progressive trustee candidates around the province since those powers were seized from school districts by former premier Bill Bennett’s Social Credit govern-

‘ment in 1982. The province also seized resi-

dential taxing powers in a move that accompanied the Socred restraint program and which drew the wrath of the B.C. School Trustees Association.

Two years ago the current Socred government returned residential taxing powers while retaining the industrial tax base. The move was widely condemned as it forced trustees to make up disastrous shor- tages in provincial education funding by imposing high taxes on local residents.

While some communities with few indus- trial sites were not adversely affected, for several, the presence of a large mill or factory within the boundaries of school districts meant a steady source of education revenue.

Retaining industrial and commercial property taxing authority has also allowed the Socreds to give corporations hefty tax breaks. The COPE trustee candidates note that the 1985 provincial budget reduced property taxes on corporations by $84 mil- lion. By 1987, that figure had reached $250

Surrey group hits service sell-offs

Surrey trade unionists and residents plan to make privatization and free trade the focus of political debate during the federal and municipal election campaigns.

The Surrey-White Rock Council for Pub- lic Services decided at its Oct. 6 meeting to send speakers to all-candidates meetings, spokesman Steve Gidora said.

The council, initiated with the approval of the Surrey Teachers Association, has placed advertisements in local newspapers calling for mass opposition to privatization since its formation last spring. The council has received some editorial support.

The ads tell readers that “privatization is not for you” and warn against the takeover of health, education, public utilities, and transportation and communication net-

million.

According to the COPE study, five major. companies received tax breaks as follows: a

@ Molson Breweries, whose Burrard Street property generated almost $637,000 in tax revenue for school purposes in 1984, and only $200,000 in 1988, for a reduction of 69 per cent.

e B.C. Sugar, whose refinery was worth close to $550,000 in 1984 taxes, arid which paid slightly less than $240,000 this year, for a tax break of 56 per cent.

@ Pacific Press, which publishes The Vancouver Sun and The Province, with nearly $572,000 in 1984 and only $271,000 in 1987, a 52 per cent reduction.

@ Alberta Wheat Pool, with grain eleva- tors and other items paying $900,000, now generating $497,000, or 44 per cent less.

@ Carling O’Keefe Breweries, whose Kitsilano plant brought in $394,000 then and $223,000 currently: 43 per cent less.

All companies benefitted from the elimi- nation of industrial machinery tax for schools in 1985.

During the same period ‘the average assessed value on single-family homes rose to $107,655 from $89,770, the study reported. The school tax rate was increased so that, with the homeowner grant sub- tracted, net school taxes rose to $285 from $93 — a tax hike of 207 per cent. ~

The provincial government claims it compensates for the cuts with additional funding, “but we know different,” Allnutt

works by private, predominantly U.S., cor- porations.

“We make the link between privatization and the Free Trade Agreement,” Gidora said.

“We pledge to make this the issue at all public candidates’ debates.”

Last summer the group attempted to address Surrey Municipal Council, but their delegation was rejected when seven right- wing aldermen voted against a motion by Mayor Bob Bose and Ald. Gary Robinson to hear speakers. Gidora called the refusal “despotic.”

The more than 20 member organizations include locals of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Surrey Teachers Association, Surrey Fire Fighters, B.C.

CHRIS ALLNUTT

said.

The study observed that two months after the 1985 reduction was implement the provincial government fired the COPE run Vancouver school board when ! refused to adopt a tax bylaw implementif that year’s education cutbacks. (In.a subs quent by-election which followed months° demonstrations against the undemocratlé firing, COPE captured all nine seats on the board.)

Allnutt said the tax proposal is the “fit step” in a campaign to press for a complet! overhaul of the education funding formull and the tax system.

COPE school trustees will raise the iss! with other trustees in the province throu, the BCSTA, he said.

COPE’s school board candidates in tht Nov. 19 election are Allnutt — formé chair of the board’s finance committee — former chairman Pauline Weinstein, ail former trustees John Church, Sadie Kueh! and Gary Onstad.

Nurses, the B.C. Government Employ&)

yee Union, the B.C. Old Age Pensioners, End Legislated Poverty and several local phys cians.

Surrey has already been hit by privatiZ#’ tion, Gidora noted, pointing to the recell! processing of taped records from Surreé} Memorial Hospital by a Washington stal? private firm, and the placing of BU Hydro’s research facility up. for sale. Ht noted that several municipal and schoo) board services have been contracted out although several times public workers ha had to repair work done by private firms:

BCGEU became involved with the thre! of privatized liquor stores, he said. z z

With federal and municipal elec- tions breathing down our necks, one might think this is a heck of a time to launch a subscription drive.

Actually, though, we were here first.

This is the regular time that the Pacific Tribune makes its appeal to readers and supporters to get yet more readers and supporters to help spread the news about the dangers of privatization and the Free Trade Agreement.

So you see, selling subs at a time of heavy political involvement isn’t contradictory — it’s complementary.

When you’re out there on the hust- ings helping your favourite candidate bring a worker and community voice

- While on the election beat

onto municipal council or into Parli- ament, you can help get the message across by introducing new readers to the Tribune.

There are political rewards to be | reaped. And to make the process a — little easier, we have some modest material rewards as well.

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2 « Pacific Tribune, October 17, 1988