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UPDATE:
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Oct. 15, 2003 - According to the Georgia Straight, BC's Deputy Minister
of Provincial Revenue, Chris Trumpy, called the Straight's publisher, Dan McLeod, to
tell him he didn't have to pay the tax bill on that day's deadline.
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The Georgia Straight
Under the gun
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In what seems like another strategic maneuver to squash
anything and
anyone deviating from mediocrity, the provincial government has
recently determined that under provincial sales tax legislation, the
Georgia Straight is not a newspaper.
The determination was made by the BC Liberal government
that the Straight no longer qualifies under the Social Service Tax Act.
Since this is
the Act which enables publications such as the Vancouver Courier,
the North Shore News, the Richmond News and others, to not pay sales
tax on their printing costs, it's a near death sentence for any publication
to be axed under this Act.
The Straight has been assessed fines and penalties
that will total more than one million dollars by
year's end. According to the newspaper, "[...] this fine
must be paid immediately and can only be reversed through a diffcult and
expensive appeal process that could tie us up in court for several
years to come." Since none of the Straight's competitors have been
singled out, it's almost a surefire way to
shut down an active voice with the hefty "$250,000 or more per year"
that the Georgia Straight will now have to pay.
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True to its nature, the government continues to systematically
disadvantage those who do not represent the majority: The poor, the
sick, the elderly and the 'unique'.
The Georgia Straight,
as well as other lesser known publications, is among the dimishing
few who openly critize Premier Campbell and the Liberal government.
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Other groups who have criticized the provincial
government have been traumatized too: One very vocal group for
Vancouver's poor,
The End Legislated Poverty group, are trying
to raise $25,000 to keep their operations going after a Liberal government
slicing. With the Georgia Straight's 36 year history of reporting on the arts scene, and
almost anything "Vancouverish", the Georgia Straight is
integral to shaping our cultural awareness. |
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The paper provides a honing ground
for arts organizations to reach the public effectively and meaningfully.
The Straight has kept alive the voices for those of us who choose
to exercise an unabashed perspective. The paper hasn't slumped
into the practice of regurgitating reader content into
palatable middleclass fodder.
According to the Straight, "[...] The need to fight this battle
would stop now if we were to abandon our Time Out Listings guide."
In effect, remove the free public service which lists events and
happenings around the city, as well as the Straight's
editorials in the form of 'Best Picks and Choices' because the BC Liberal
government views this bit of philanthropy as "advertising". It's perhaps
no small coincidence that most of those who list their events, have been
through the budget chopping block too.
What's left to squeeze out, Premier?
BY Felicia
More ...
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