PAGL 8, WEDNESDAY,N MAY 27, 19)81, WHITBY FREI IPRESS Budget "realistie and courageous" but won't aid the economy, Ashe says By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff QUEEN'S PARK - The budget that was handed down in the Ontario legislature last week has been called "realistic and courageous" by Durham West MPP George Ashe. "It is a realistic and courageous budget and will help in the right direction," the Tory MPP said. Ashe also serves as On- tario Minister of Revenue and in that past he will be responsible for carrying•out the budget policies and the tax increases that were the result. Ontario Treasurer Frank Miller's budget, handed TYPEWRITERS REPAIRS & SERVICE AýL MAKES DANFORTH TYPEWRITER Rentals, Sales & Service 408 Dundlas Street West 2940 Darnforth Ave Weîrtby Torontýý 665-1131 est 1o0698-.589 down two months to the day after the provincial election, is literally fully of tax in- creases. Miller will raise the per- sonal income tax rates to 48 per cent of the basic federal tax rate by 1982. Those who smoke and enjoy a drink of either beer or liquor have already faced price in- creases. The government has also raised the tax on gasoline and diesal fuel by one cent a litre. Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) premiums were upped by 15 per cent to $552 a year for family and $276 for single subscribers. The budget left corporate income and capital taxes unchanged and increased the fee for driver's licences from $9 to $15. However, the government has removed the seven per cent sales tax from kits used to convert automobiles from gasoline to alternate fuels. The budget will also give larger transfer payments to the municipalities and also provides for $3 million to be spent purchasing bullet- proof vests for all police of- ficers. Ashe defended his gover- nment's budget saying that an increase in taxes was necessary in order to pay for the greater demand for government services. He was also quick to point out that during the last government, taxes were not raised and that this budget will hold the provincial deficit to under $1 billion. The minister also defen- ded the government's decision not to increase cor- porate income and capital tax rates saying that "we income tax rates and will "be getting hit like everyone else." Farming counts for a lot of the picture. George A she June 3 is Census Day, and it's a day that really counts for farming. Census information is vital to the growth of agriculture. It helps us build markets here and abroad. It lets us plan new programs for the improvement of Canadian farming. It even shows farmers how their farms compare with others in the area. It's not difficult. Every farmer will receive a Census of Agriculture and a Census of Population questionnaire to fill in on June 3. These will be picked up shortly after Census Day, If you do not receive your questionnaires by June 1, or if you have any problems completing them, just call the Operator and ask for Zenith 0-1981. It's between you and us. A census is so important to Canada's future that, by law, you must participate. This same law guarantees that the information you supply is kept completely confidential. Census employees - and only census employees - have access to it. lit's your future. Remember, the Census of Agriculture helps us paint the future of farming in Canada. And we need your help to make the picture perfect. "à ' 1981 Census of Canada Recensement du Canada de 1981 (the government) want to in every way possible to make our industry competitive, to keep them in Ontario and to attract new industry to On- tario." Ashe claimed that the competition for industrial growth was fierce and that keeping their tax rates stable would help attract them to this province. He also pointed out that the senior levels of cor- porate management will have to pay the increased The tax increases in gasoline and diesel fuel will affect only the transpor- tation sector Ashe said and will not affect items such as home heating fuel. "We're not taxing that part of the barrel at all," he said adding that the larger part of the crude oil barrel was used for non- transportation purposes. In the telephone interview from his Queen's Park of- CONT'h ON PG. 9 June 3 is Census Day. ount vourseif l