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Saturday, January 25, 1992 @

Government hiding real

truth behind

Kevin Avram
CANADIAN TAXPAYERS FEDERATION

Dr. Chris Gerrard, the Chief Economist for
the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, says that
politicians are not telling us the whole story
when they say that a particular grant to some
business created 50 or 100 jobs.

“According to the politicians and bureau-
crats who pass out money to private business-
es, government grants are supposed to gener-
ate investment and create jobs that would oth-
erwise not exist,” Gerrard says, “but such is not
the case.

“For instance, while a grant receiving com-
pany almost always claims that a particular
grant was necessary, that company may in fact
have been prepared to make the investment
themselves, had they not received money from

the taxpayer.”

‘...the inevitable results of govern-
ment grants to business, is that the
government is now in a position of
determining who will be rich.’
: Fi — Dr. Chris Gerrard

On the other hand, Gerrard says that even if
that particular company hadn’t been prepared
to make the investment, another company in
that same type of business might have, but be-
cause of the grant to a competitor, it was crowd-
ed out of the market place.

also argues that government grants
are costly.

He says that the real costs of giving away
money to businesses can only be determined if
the cost of expensive bureaucracies are consid-
ered too, and if the real cost to the business
community for chasing grants is also consid-
ered.

He cites a major study undertaken at
Queens University which estimated that for ev-
ery dollar given away on grants to businesses,
the bureaucratic infrastructure needed to sup-
port the giveaway cost 15.4 cents per dollar giv-

job creation

en away. That same study also concluded that
the cost to the actual business to receive a grant.
was 7.7 cents for every dollar received, or a
combined total of 23.1 cents.

Other costs which are very significant but
are generally not considered include decisions
by other companies to reduee their investment
in that particular industry, or perhaps even de-
cisions by other companies not to invest in that
industry at all.

Gerrard says that by looking at the complete
picture, the benefits of government grants
rarely, if ever, exceed the costs. In the Queens
University study, 40 per cent of the business-
es receiving grants, received grants that repre-
sented at least 50 per cent of their net worth,
and 20 per cent of the businesses who received
grants, more than 175 per cent of their net
worth!. :

“In other words,” he says, “the inevitable re-
sults of government grants to business, is that
the government i is now in a position of deter-
mining who will be rich.”

After I read Gerrard’s statements about
these handouts, I hauled out a research pro-
ject that the Taxpayers Association had done
on business grants to see if what he said made
sense. ;

Manitoba Printmakers Ltd. received near-
ly $70,000 from the taxpayer, Schmidtke Mill-
work received $38,500 and Midland Concrete
picked up $83,125. Dave’s Pizza got a federal
grant of $7,470, Daishowa Canada picked up
nearly $10 million, and Esso Chemical, Cana-
da received $213,750.

The Drummond Brewing Company collect-
ed over $300,000, Parrish & Heimbecker col-
lected over $130,000 and Pinocchio Italian Ice
Cream Ltd. got over $18,000.

We the taxpayers haye paid for not only
these handouts, but a whole lot more as well.

If we hadn’t given these millions away,
would we all be so much worse off, or would we
perhaps be a lot better off?

On the other side of the coin how would you
like to be a business whose major competitor
just picked up a big fat cheque from the gov-

Low interest rates
Causes dip in starts

December’s housing starts dropped marginally to a sea-
sonally adjusted annual rate of 173,000 units, according to
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Starts were three per cent lower than the revised season-
ally adjusted rate of 179,000 units in November.

“While this is a stronger rate of house construction than
experienced earlier in 1991, basic weakness still remains in
many parts of the country,” said Gilles Proulx, Chief
Economist in CMHC's Market Analysis Centre.

“Lower interest rates can be expected to have a positive
influence, but the level of consumer confidence remains too
low to help housing starts.

“Therefore, we expect a lower level of starts in the first
quarter of 1992. Until the economy improves, the housing
market will not fully recover,” he added.

Single family and multiple unit construction both posted
slight declines. Urban single detached starts decreased sev-
en per cent to 67,000 units while multiple construction
dropped only one per cent to. 71, 000 units, seasonally ad-
justed.

- Starts activity in British Columbia remained the major
source of strength. Seasonally adjusted, B.C. starts were up
due to increased condominium production which offset a de-
cline in single detached starts.

- Quebec starts also remained high, as the final homes
started under the provincial home ownership program were

recorded in December. With the end of the program, a low- |

er level of starts can be expected over the next several
months. -

Ontario starts declined dramatically in both social hous-
ing and single detached, private market units. Starts fig-
ures have been dropping in Ontario since July as the econ-
omy and consumer confidence remain weak.

Markets in the Atlantic and Prairie provinces continue to
be feeble. Starts levels in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and
Manitoba remained the same as in November. In P.E.I.,
Saskatchewan and Alberta, starts dipped somewhat and in
New Brunswick, they increased slightly.

There's something
for everyone!

365-2212

PUBLIC NOTICE

CASTLEGAR SLO-PITCH

ANNUAL GENERAL

MEETING

Tuesday, January 28

7 p.m.

Castlegar Community Complex

IF NOT ENOUGH INTEREST
IS SHOWN, THE LEAGUE
| WILL CEASE TO EXIST IN 1992.

LOAN-OUT CAMERA

The Castlegar News has two simple-to-operate loan-
out cameras (complete with film) which it is pleased to allow
groups to use for taking pictures for usé by the Castlegar
News.

Arrangements for the use.of these cameras should
be made through our News Department at 365-3517.

STEVE
WHITTLETON

Sales Representative

2649 Fourth Avenue

Castlegar, B.C. ViN 281
365:3563

@ Saturday, January 25, 1992

ActionADS

Action Ad Deadline For Saturday 5 p.m., Wednesday
Display Ad Deadline For Saturday. 5 p.m., Wednesday
Action Ad Deadline for Wednesday 5 p.m., Monday
Display Ad Deadline For Wednesday 5 p.m., Friday

ACTION ADS — 365-2212

VV ANNOUNCEMENTS
17 Notices

AQUARIUM OWNERS -
Interested in forming a club? Call
Lyn Dodds. 365-6046. (4/4)

18 Coming Events

WANTED
asin OKER PLAYERS

— Upstairs vet ak Centre Square
ost Buy-in Table. stakes
Open 7 p.m. Sun., Tues., Thurs. & Fri.

Support Your Lung Association

CLASSIFIED RATES

AND INFORMATION
. RATES

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Additional Words 30¢

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Special Reduced Rates for 13X,
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SPECIAL RATES ARE FOR
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LEGAL ADS
Word ads: 28¢ per word for one insertion;
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Minimum charge is for 20 words.

PAYMENT POLICY

Payment may be made by cash, cheque
or Visa and MasterCard credit cards. It is
not advisable to send cash through the
mail. Classified Ads may be charged, but
a $2 billing charge will be made if the ad
is not paid for seven days after it first
appears. (This $2 charge does NOT apply
to Visa and MasterCard charges.)

ORDER BY MAIL
Print Your Action Ad on a separate piece
of paper and mail to:
ACTION ADS, Box 3007
Castlegar, B.C. V1N 3H4
The Castlegar News reserves the right to
classify ads under appropri: headings

In Memoriam

a loving memory of my parents
and our grandparents William and
Mary Popoff who passed away
January 27 and February 24,
1990.
We watched you suffer
We watched you sigh,
But all we could do
Was just stand by.
When the time came,
We suffered too.
For you never deserved
What you went through.
God took your hand and
We had to part,
Eased your pain,
But broke our hearts.
if you could have spoken,
Before you died
These are the words
Your would of replied.
/ ’ "This life for me
Has truly past
1! loved you all,
To the very last.
Weep not for.me
But courage take

Vv CHILDREN
73 Childcare Available

THE FAR SIDE By GARY LARSON

MATURE woman available to
babysit in her home.Reasonable
rates, references provided. Phone
365-6646. (tfn/93)

= EMPLOYMENT
Help Wanted

WaeD: 89 overweight people.
Lose 10-29 Ibs. per month. 100%
natural, doctor recommended: We
pay you. Serious callers ONLY.
533-5576. (4/6)

REQUIRED one or two assistant
managers (lady or man).
Remuneration while in training,
rapid advancement. Call personnel
365-8431. (4/4)

LICENCED General Insurance
salesman with Autoplan and
personal lines experience required
in local Nelson office. Please send

resume to P.O. Box 3007H,

Castlegar, B.C. V1N 3H4. (5/4)

And love one
For my sake"
Always remembered by daughter
Martha and Sid and grandsons
Gordon (Sharilyn) and Donald
Grieves. (/07)

33 Lost

126 Work Wanted

EARL'S CARPENTRY — Houses,
renovations, concrete, painting,
swimming pools, liners, chemicals,
spas — reasonable — work
guaranteed. 365-8355. (tfn/98)

“t hate ‘em. They mess on the stools, they attack the
; mirror — and, of course, they drink like birds.”

49 piece Craftsman set lost Jan.
22 on 6th Avenue between
Complex and Arrow Bldg.
Supplies. Ph. 365-2765. (2/7)

36 Found

BIRTH certificate, Certificate of
Apprenticeship (carpentry), and
WHMIS Worker Education card
found near Bank of Montreal on
Jan. 22. Owner may identify at
Castlegar News. (3/7)

TIMEX watch found at Rec.
Complex. Owner may identify by
calling 365-5394. (3/7)

On 1st Street one girl’s mountain
bike. Phone 365-3609. (3/6)
FEMALE kitten, approx. 2 months
old, grey tabby, injured at Selkirk
College. 365-8261. (3/6)

V SERVICE GUIDE

Florists

FLORAL CO.

301-11th Ave., Downtown Castlegar - 965-5191
OPEN MONDAYS

OUR ACTION AD PHONE
NUMBER IS 365-2212

VERY affectionate kitten, 9th Ave.
approx. 5 months old. Needs
home out of the cold. 365-8270.
(3/05)

and to determine page location.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACT
All advertisements such as Help Wanted
must comply with the British Columbia
Human Rights Act. This Act states no
advertisement may state or imply a
1, OF on
the basis of an applicant's race, religion,
colour, marital status, ancestry, place of
origin, age, sex (unless the matter relates
to the maintenance of public decency
AND prior approval has been obtained
through the Human Rights Branch).

42 Personal

ALCOHOLICS Anonymous and Al-
Anon. Phone 365-3663. (104/91)

CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY.
In memoriam donations
information: Box 3292, Castlegar,
B.C. V1N 3H6, 365-5167. (104/2)

CASTLEGAR GRIEF SUPPORT
MEETINGS — Home Support office
7 p.m. on the 3rd Monday,
monthly. 365-2148 or 365-6883.
All in grief welcome. (104/4)

235 Insurance

INSURANCE SERVICE IN YOUR
HOME OR AT YOUR BUSINESS

For ALL Your Insurance
BUSINESS ¢ HOME ¢ RVs
LIFE ¢ BOAT INS. NEEDS, CONTACT

Peter Majesgey

Home 365-5386
Office 364-1285

Secure Companies, Competitive Rates
CHECK WITH

PETER MAJESGEY &
CURRIERS INSURANCE LTD.

1331 Bay Ave., Trail

268 Plumbing, Htg. & Air Cond. ‘v MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

Valhalla Hz AniiquSs
Piambing

- 24-HOUR
EMERGENCY
SERVICE
Please Call

355-2301

E]JUST ARRIVED!

Good selection of
quality furniture

292 Tree Services

901-11TH AVE, CASTLEGAR + LOCATED IN TULIPS.

BRANCHING OUT
SERVICE. 362-5076. (tfn/80)

TREE 373 Appliances
RE-CONDITIONED fridges,

Vv PETS & LIVESTOCK

stoves, washers, dryers,
dishwashers. Call collect — Apple

Livestock City Furniture, Kelowna, 862-5103.

Free weekly delivery to the

WEINER pigs for sale. 2-1/2 Kootenays. (tfn.59)

months old, Yorkshire and Chester
white. $35 (509) 684-6908. (4/6) 376

Auctions

BUY or SELL sy AUCTION

BANKRUPTCIES, ESTATES, CONSIGN,

To Advertise in OUTRIGHT PURCHASES
this Section, USSELL —— openMon.-set. 9-5
Call us today! PAverion een
365-521 0 382 Building Supplies
The Néw BEACH oil furnace for mobile

home, down-draft c/w
tank/chimney $250. 365-6698.
(tfin/46)

v ANNOUNCEMENTS
is.

& Placing

.--.Refrigeration
Roofing

388 .........! Clothing, Furs & Jewels « Ci
C

C. Sports & imports

Driving greasy

Ed eeeon

.....Office L
WRENTALS S27. -Garartrucks For Lease/Rent | -

Sand, Gravel & Topsoil
larm Systems

Septic Tanks
reo/TV Service

Tree Service

&
inancial Services

295 UpholsieryiFurn. Refinishing
Vacuums

Florista_

298.
VW PETS & LIVESTOCK
330

i ceestatieie
126 seesacerenreeeeernsneenes Work Wanted
Vv SERVICE GUIDE
160

eu Trades/Technical ‘Home

Feed & Hay

soveeee AN SUTBNCE
-Kitchen Cabinets

s-vewe---Kennels:
ns/Training

New Car Dealers
Olf-Road Vehicles.
‘Towing
Trucks & Vans

Repairs Masoniy ‘

151 .--seeesrseocnereseeserennnsenooronn WINNOTS:
v GHiLDREN
Baby Ite:

166 .........Beauty/Health/Services

Blinds & Drapery

Misc. Services
Moving & Storage

Boats for Sale

Big MERCHAND. FOR feat

Wanted

Trucking

/wsseesssorenes Of fice Services Antiques

Antique Cars and Trucks

-w1sieAuto Accessories Vv LEGALS

pied

250.........Painting &

Auto Financing
Auto Parte/Services

..Daycare Centres

v EMPLOYMENT
<=. Business Opportunities

essoeesene- Cleaning Services

y Rental 262

ueChimney Services 265.

Paving bE Ty
Bicycles

FBO on nneenenseeseeesseeneee Legal Notices

Services 271

DOB ssascscessss ..Plumbing & Heating
ressure Washing