Spec Online

Beating the HST?

Torstar News Service Robert Benzies reports:

'Book soon and “beat the tax.”

That’s the advice of Revenue Minister John Wilkinson to anyone making recreational plans for the summer.

“Flights within Canada, services like gym memberships, landscaping and … theatre tickets” will be cheaper if purchased Thursday or Friday, Wilkinson told the Star.

With the transition toward the harmonized sales tax starting Saturday, Ontarians should brace for levies on numerous goods and services to rise from either 5 per cent or 8 per cent to 13 per cent.

But Wilkinson said Wednesday that consumers – most of whom are receiving “transition” cheques of up to $1,000 per family starting in June—could get a tax break on many things by shopping early.

“Some businesses are having ‘beat the tax sales.’ The rules are very clear,” the minister said, referring to the transition regimen announced last Oct. 15 to relatively little fanfare. There was no further announcement from the provincial government.

Because of the lack of media coverage on the phase-in, many Ontarians are likely unaware that as of Saturday, they will begin being charged the full 13 per cent HST on anything to be used after July 1.

That means, for example, that a flight from Toronto to Vancouver booked within the next two days for travel anytime after Canada Day would be taxed at a lower rate than one purchased this weekend or later.

Theatre tickets bought after this Saturday for an August performance of, say, As You Like It at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival would be more expensive than those picked up beforehand.'

Are you making purchases now, or prior to July 1, to beat the tax? Do you believe the economists and experts who say the benefits of the HST to business will eventually pay off for consumers?

Playing with the boys

The Spec's Scott Radley reports:

'With few exceptions, girls who have wanted to play high school sports in Ontario over the years have had to do so on girls' teams, if one was available.

No more.

As of last week, girls now have carte blanche to play on boys' teams if they can make it. Even when a girls' team is available.

The decision stems from the case of a Waterloo high school student who filed a human rights complaint recently after her demand to play on the boys' soccer team was denied. As the process rolled on, Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations lawyers decided they were going to lose the fight, so the organization relented before legal precedent was set. A negotiated settlement allowed it to write its own policy rather than being force-fed the wording.

"Absolutely I see this as a good thing," says the girl's lawyer, Grace Vaccarelli. "I don't think a woman should be told she can't play on a team because of her gender."

While others will join her in seeing this as a tremendous victory for women, not everyone's celebrating.

OFSAA's executive director Doug Gellatly says the new policy -- which he was against -- raises a number of issues.

Start with the obvious question before it's even asked: No, Gellatly says, if a girl takes a boys' spot on a team, a boy can't try out for a girls' squad in return.

If he requests the chance and is denied, he'd almost certainly be wasting his time launching a human rights case of his own.'

What do you think?

Tories take a stand on abortion

Torstar News Service reports:

'OTTAWA — The Conservative government has declared that it will not support foreign-aid projects that include abortion.

“Canada’s contribution to maternal and child health may involve various interventions, including family planning, which includes the use of contraceptive methods. The details remain to be determined; however, Canada’s contribution will not include funding of abortions,” Bev Oda, the federal minister of international co-operation told reporters in Halifax Monday after she arrived for a meeting of G8 development ministers.

Her comments followed a similar statement by Conservative MP Jim Abbott, her parliamentary secretary, in the Commons.

“Canada's contribution to maternal and child health may include family planning. However, Canada's contribution will not include funding abortion.” MP Jim Abbott, parliamentary secretary for international development, announced in the Commons on Monday.'

What do you think?

Walking the walk on organ donation

A new study ways that while 90 per cent of Ontarians say they support organ donation, only 17 per cent have registered their intent to donate. The regional variation seen in Ontario, where rural communities are more likely to have higher registration rates, mirror patterns in other jurisdictions, including many American states.

What's the disconnect? What are your views? Are you registered?

Civility

It has been our policy to moderate only when absolutely necessary, but that isn't working toward the objective of having robust discussion and debate without it becoming personal and nasty. From this point forward, we will decline to publish posts that are nothing other than personal attacks. There is an element of subjectivity in making those calls, but given the deteriorating environment, which I have to take responsibility for, bloggers here will have to live with that.

Howard Elliott

Managing Editor

Shopping all day, every day

Toronto city council is close to approving changes that would allow retailers to open for business any time, including on the nine statutory holidays —   New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Easter Sunday and Family Day.

Supporters argue it levels the playing field, since businesses in designated tourist areas can already do this, and also that it's fair for people who don't celebrate religious and other Western holidays. Critics cite quality of life issues, such as the right of workers to have some days off during the year, and also the perceive need to maintain traditional Canadian values.

There is no indication Hamilton would go in this direction, but if it happens in Toronto, the idea is bound to surface in other jurisdictions. What do you think?

Former Tory MP Rahim Jaffer is in the crosshairs of all parties, with the Conservatives charging he has sullied them all.

"Do you believe and understand that your actions have tarnished the reputation of politicians from all parties -- do you get that?" Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski asked Jaffer at the end of the grueling committee session yesterday.

'I'm quite surprised and shocked that I'm sort of being treated in this capacity," said Jaffer, who was the one-time Conservative caucus chair.

Jaffer reminded Lukiwski that he, Jaffer, had ridden to power in Ottawa with the rest of the Harper team on a vow to clean up politics.

But Jaffer was repeatedly blasted as he sought to defuse the controversy that erupted around him and Guergis after a Toronto Star article on Jaffer in early April painted a picture of alleged cocaine use, parties with hookers and ties to people engaged in questionable business practices.

What do you think? Does this growing scandal stain the Harper Conservatives, or is it an isolated incident?

Vancouver bans the butts

Smokers will have one last summer to take a puff in city parks.

The Vancouver Park Board has voted unanimously to ban smoking in more than 200 city parks and on all city beaches.

An education campaign will precede the September 1 ban, but critics are already questioning how the measure will be enforced.

The B.C. Civil Liberties Association says the move ignores the rights of smokers and – if cigarette butts are the issue, the city should enforce existing littering bylaws.

What do you think? Should Hamilton consider a similar ban? Or is this too far overboard?

Sewage sludge standoff

The Spec's Meredith MacLeod reports:

'Hamilton will need to build its own $65-million sludge incinerator after rejecting a partnership proposal from a private company.

The decision at yesterday's public works committee meeting raises the possibility of two incinerators burning sewage sludge in Hamilton, because that company, Liberty Energy, vows to continue with its plan to build a plant on Strathearne Avenue and truck in sludge from other municipalities.

"This will happen whether Hamilton is a partner or not," said Liberty controller Peter Bloom.

"The question is whether you want one incinerator or two in Hamilton. (The Liberty partnership) is much healthier than us importing biosolids while you burn down the street."

The city needs to do something to deal with its sewage sludge because legislation is coming that will prohibit spreading it on farm fields.

The prospect of two incinerators being built in the city's northeast didn't sit well with residents.

James Howlett, president of the Hamilton Beach Community Council, urged public works committee members to go with Liberty.

He said the company exceeds environmental standards and has a proven track record, and that the proposed plant "will clean up part of an industrial ghetto" and create private-sector jobs.

A neighbourhood group opposes the city's proposed sludge incinerator at its Woodward Avenue waste water treatment plant.

"The only thing worse in this town than having one burner would be having two," Howlett said.'

What do you think? Should the city keep working at the private-sector partnership with Liberty, or go on its own and build a city-owned incinerator to burn sludge?

Pay up, crash victims

Don't get in an accident in Burlington, where the fire department has started billing residents involved in motor vehicle accidents, regardless of who is at fault.

The new bill-everyone policy means a $350 flat rate will be divided equally among all drivers involved in accidents in which the fire department responds.

A tab for materials used to handle the incident will be added to the cost, to be split equally between all motorists involved. That includes $200 per pail for the absorbent material for containing fluid spills, $150-$175 per pail for the foam used for smothering fuel- or oil-based fires, and $50-$250 for each of the special brooms used to absorb oil.

For a total bill of $750 for absorbent material and foam in a two-vehicle collision, the cost is now $362.50 per driver.

What do you think?