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TH E O A K V IL LE BEAVER F in a n c ia l c o lu m n is t te lls C h a m b e r C an ad a's p ro b lem s n o t fatal to eco n o m y By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER E xcept for a few homegrown problems, Canada's econo my is in fine shape to keep up with changing global trends. That, according to Diane Francis, financial colum nist with the National Post, among other publi cations, and author o f several books on Canada's economic and political systems. Francis was the guest speaker at the O akville Cham ber of Commerce's Small Business Week celebrations, held at Le Dome Wednesday night. `T h e problems in Canada are the best of all to have -- self-made problems that can be changed." She cited the "bloated public sector" and "third-rate politicians" whose ideologies are outdated and entrenched, as areas which need to be overhauled. "If not, we're sunk," she added. Com paring taxation levies between the U.S. (20% of its GDP is taxed versus 36% in Canada) Francis said the extra money siphoned off Canadians is not rep resented in increased social spend ing, but frittered away by "layers of waste and duplication in govern ment." (From the taxes collected the U.S. designates 7% to health care and the same to education, as does Canada). But our saving grace will be our ingrained culture of risk and indi vidualism which spawns inventive ness and discovery, Francis says -- necessary assets toward creating jobs and wealth in this country. Wealth sharing is an idea Francis latched on to early, when a prosperous antique collector informed an 18-year-old Francis that "getting rich is easy, all you have to do is devise something that makes everyone you deal with richer. If you make them money, you will get richer too." Francis outlined three areas of change which will enhance suc cessful global economies: Voice recognition computeri zation, which will do for technolo(See `Internet1 page 7) Diane Francis S e le c t E n e rg y Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. Over 40 Locations + 21 Years In Business An B R I D G E Company Choose Any 4 FREE Choices ·Pillow Cases ·Bed Fram e ·M attress Pad ·Bed R ails ·Sheet Straps ·Layaway ·Pillow ·Set-up ·Disposal of Old Set ·Pillow Protector ·Local Delivery w i n t e r 's ic.v ft W ARRANTY rin iv i cnnnni L iL llii W ARRANTY E X T R AF I R M H oimnnDT I III 1 1 1 L o o k to th e e x p e r ts fo r a ll y o u r h o m e n e e d s ... C O M F O R T SLEEP O R T H O P E D IC O R T H O P R A C T IC POCKET C O IL S/E Single Mattress D O U BLE Q UEEN K IN G *179 Sets319 219 SET 389 279 SET 479 46 9 SET 779 Single Mattress D O U BLE QUEEN K IN G 219 Set *369 269 329 509 SET 439 SET 499 SET 799 Single Mattress DOUBLE QUEEN K IN G 8 h e a tin g 259 299 SET 499 389 SET 549 539 SET 869 Single Mattress DOUBLE QUEEN K IN G *369 Set`539 459 559 689 SET 649 SET 749 SET 1029 Set`429 Superior service on all makes and models Sales and installation at com petitive rates ' 24-hour/7-day Call Centre Licensed m a n ufa ctu re rtra in e d te ch n ic ia n s a s p e ' ^ z Drawers can 1 - 8 0 0 - 2 6 6 - 3 9 3 9 N o w E a rn AIR MILES® rew ard m iles -- t h e ----------------------------- S leep F actory · · · · FREE Layaway Disposal of old mattress available We accept all forms of payment Senior Citizen Discount l* | p iW ' visit rn- tmhHd a t ,\« ,v.* kvpi.'H.hdy.ih in Carrier C ow f o r t in q lc e r i ii · We make any size of mattress · Delivery and set-up available · Over 25,000 sq. ft. of factory · Financing Available 4460 Fairview St., BURLINGTON www. enbridgeser vices, com ·TM ' Trademarks of AIR MILES International Holdings N.V. Used under license by Loyalty Management Group Canada, Inc. and Enbridge Services Inc. Houis: Mon.-Wed. 10-6 p.m., Thurs.-Fri. 10-9 pjn., Saturday 9-6 p.m., Sunday 11-5 p.m 6 8 1 -9 0 2 0 Behind M cD onald's p lc v rft v k if o»|f w ly M fr ' a ! Ri'm e m be r, w e are the factory vyMvA toiyumi