Tax cuts, health bucks don’t impress MP Scott

CLAIMS THAT the aver age Canadian will get a break on taxes in this ycar’s federal budget don’t add up, says Skeena MP Mike Scott,

Finance tinister Paul pared to what was taken oul, -vative government, — is Pistol Grip Grease Gun. Martin’s budget last week = “‘He’s taken 20 bill out of eliminated as of July 1. Includes an 18° whip hose with hydraulic coupler. used a hefty surplus to put health care over the last 5 Buta five percent surtax — ULT79033.

money back into health care transfers, pay down the na- tional debt and ease back on iticome tax revenue,

‘But Scott said the reality”

is that most people will pay nore because of dramatical-

‘ly rising Canada Pensi ing i aking less th: i y 8 G ada Pension spending in olher.areas. _ ‘making less than $20,000 a 3-way Flex Handle

an opremivins and a He noted grants, subsidies year, Unique flex handle with 1/4”, 3/8” ane 1/2" drives phenomenon © known as and loans to corporations = That’s being extended to , ULT 06813

bracket creep, - :

That’s when salaries that rise to keep up with infla- tion end up putting a worker into a higher tax bracket be- cause the federal govern-

inet several years ago partment of Fisheries and $6,794 of camings this year, immediate reduction of “ ULT 83070 - Stopped indexing income Oceans in Oltawa, where going up to $7,131 in future surgery waiting fists. as

tax brackets, ©). ° there are no fish,” years,

“It results in-people whose @ Personal side @ Health care Pacific

salaries are basically just LAST YEAR it was low ine ALL PROVINCIAL PNG |Site

keeping up with the cost of _ living losing more and amore to taxes over time.

‘While there’s been a slight reduction on income tax, you’re paying more in CPP contributions, so the net effect is you’re paying a

: little bit more,” Scott said.

“Canadians ‘actually pay

. Slightly more, in taxes in 1999 than in 1998,’” he said, “He just is not being level and = square | with “Cana- dians.”’ fe ee

Firms |

busted 28

TWO TERRACE janitorial

bringing in. $60,000

firms have been busted for

faking their records to help employees defraud the employment insurance sys- - tem. . One of the companies was, fined $8,000 for issuing a false record of employment. 1_.Humaii-Resourees- Devel~ » opment Canada investigator ~ Vince Heslenfeld said it was’ ‘determined a. man per formed the work, but . the record of employment and “payroll was’ all done in the “name of his wife — who “was nore likely to be in a

‘ position to collect employ-.

ment “insurance benefits down the road, The woman was also fined and ordered to pay back benefits.

A ‘second case involved another Terrace janitorial firm that had. doctored payroll and employment _Tecords to grossly inflate the

‘amount of work actually ‘

‘done by an employee who - later claimed for El,

Heslenfeld said the com- pany was fined $3,000 and the employee’s claim for ‘benefits was rejected and a - fine was issued.

The violations were ‘among nearly 90 cases of fraud that were cracked by . investigators from. October to December 1998.

Officers uncovered. a total ‘of $488,578 in EI benefits overpayments, although the -amjorily.. of. the | 418 Claimants involved weren't ‘involved in deliberate fraud.

“Only 88 of them were

Scott said the infusion of $11.5 billion back into provincial health care col- fers by 2004 is encouraging but still small potatoes com-

years,’’ Scott said. “This minister has balauced - the federal budget on the backs of the health care system,”?

Meanwhile, Scott said, the

Liberals Serious

laken reduce

have not efforls to

‘atid businesses, have. not

been cut or reduced. Nor, he says, has the vast bureaucracy in Ottawa. “There are still 1,100 people working for the De-

come carmers getting tax relief but this year, it’s the turn of middle income eamiers,

Generally speaking, two- eamiers Bringing in a com- bined $50,000 as part of a family of four can expect savings ‘of $556 this tax year, according to finance ministry documents.

That rises to $620 based on two income carers for a family of four. me

The three percent surtax on individuals making more than $50,000 — first intro- duced by the Brian Mul- roney Progressive Conser-

‘starting for those carning $65,000 or more will con- tinue. te Last year federal finance

minister Paul Martin in-

ercased (he basic personal excmption by $500 for those

all income earners this year and, as of July 1, gets in- creased by ‘an additional $175.

In effect, no income lax will be paid ‘for the first

governments will get more money for health care, reflecting growing criticism that federal citts in this area of past years were simply too much,

For B.C, that means money for. more - hospital beds and surgical proce- dures, the lack of which has been a target of those op- posed to the NDP govem- ment. :

As it is, the province has .- _- already said it'll spend $50. -

PONTIAC

AS = Mike Scott million to hire another 1,000

nurses and, last week, an- nounced $10 million for an

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Meating of Shareholders of Pacific Northern Gas Ltd, will be heid in the Cypress Room of the Hyatt Regency Vancouver Hotel, 655 Burrard Street, in the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, on Thursday, April 22, 1999 al 10:00 am. .

David G. Unruh Secretary

Vancouver, B.C., February 5, 1999

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 24, 1999 - AY

TOOL

& LIGHT ZW,

PRICES

Professional Quality oe

measurement, Ineh/metiic ¢

AUTOMOTIVE & INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY AUTO PARTS & SERVICE CENTRE 4641 Keith Avenue, Terrace, B.C. + 149B City Centra, Kitimat, B.C. <

635-6334 632-2224

1999 SUNFIRE SEDAN

LOOK HOW SUNFIRE COMPARES.

Sunfire Sedan

“Corolla VE

Engine

2.2L L4

1.8L L4

Horsepower

115hp @ 5000 rpm

120hp @ EG00/pm

‘really ina fraud situation,’” WITH ITS SPORTY LOOKS, THE tome ; _ 136 lb-ft @ 3600rpm 122Ib-{t @ 4400 rpm -Hrslenfeld said. ‘The rest Next Generation dual front air bags Included Standard ; of them are overpayments, © 4-Wheel anti-lock braking system © <8 > Included Nol available :errors, mistakes or situations Thelt-deterrent systems eo. 2. Included Option ‘where we just give the per- 4- DOOR SUNFIRE IS BY FAR THE Battery run-down protection systam..- - Inchaded Opticon son the benefit of the Engine block heater ee Included -. Option ‘doubt.”’ Rear Spoiler - Included "- Ontion:

-All the people involved have to repay the overpay- ments. ;

But those judged to have

MOST EXCITING IN ITS CATEGORY

Lease Rate

1.9%

68%

SMARTLEASE Options fh GRADUATE. Downpayment Monthly Payment

PROGRAM [ES $245 a | 000 $1,000 $216 $8,776 a $1,500 $202 $8,772

$1,000 Graduate Rebata Available

cacied fraudulently also get _ fined extra amounts, effec-

‘tively doubling or tripling © how much moncy they have ‘to repay.

A total of $699,611 in fines and overpayments will ‘have to be repaid. -*The overall. level of

employment insurance fraud ‘is around three per cent of total benefits paid, Heslen- ‘feldsaid, 200. . ‘Failure to declare carnings ‘from employment continues ‘to be the most common type. “of EI abuse, he added.

. Investigators check out “suspicious-looking claim -fonns,, bit’ they ‘also get “Many tips:-from: employers -and olbers. ws ;

Total Obligatlon $6,820

19*="16,498

LEASE RATE UP TO PURCHASE PRICE INCLUDES FREIGHT AND PDI 36 MONTHS

fy WITH SMARTLEASE FOR 36 MONTHS

. DOWNPAYMENT $1,999 ~ SECURITY DEPOSIT $00

ONLY AT YOUR BC PONTIAC BUICK GMC DEALER. McEwan GM in Terrace 635-4941...

We'd like you to know more: For velicle selection or the location of the nearest dealer cell 1-800-GM-DRIVE or visit our wabsite at yrwegmennoda.com. "Based on 0 36 manth ledge tor 1999 Sunfire Sedan R7Z equipped a4 described, A dovm payment or trade of $1,999 and$300 securty deposil Is méquired. Total obligation Is 86.767. Annual kilomaterlimil 20,G0Gkm, $0.12 par excass kiloratar, Other faose options avallabla, {Freight included. Licensé, idauronea, air cancitloning excise lox and taxes not included, Dealer may sell or tease for leas, Olfers apply ta 1999 naw or demonstrator models of vehicles ‘aqulpped oe duserbad and

applies to qualified ratall cuidtorhere in B.C. only. Dealer order er trade may be necessary. Limited time offara which may nal bo combined with other offers. Greduate frogrem subject to ulag. Bee your dealers) far conditions ond detolla. 2Aa advertised on dan, 2st, CToyotd web site) 1999. Term 24 ~ 48 months. Dealer may lease fer less, seensameonada.com Is 6 trademark of General Motors Corporation. -