WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1982, PAGE 17 Claringbold rejects local preference policy for tenders Whitby Town Council bas rejected a request from the Whitby Cham- ber of Commerce to give preference to local busi- nesses when awarding contracts for goods and services through the tendering process. In a letter to council, chamber president Howard Smith said that such a policy would be of great benefit to the town. "We strongly feel that where a local business has submitted a tender which is marginally higher than an 'outside' low bidder that the town should seriously consi- der awarding the con- tract to the local bid- der," Smith said. Saying that the cham- ber had considered the "ramifications" of adopting such a proce- dure," he believes that it would have more posi- tive than negative con- sequences. "Local business would be pleased with the support," Smith said. "It would be an additional selling point in your continuing ef- forts to attract new in- dustry and business to the town." "And last but not least, it does keep funds in town for the benefit of the town, the taxpayers and the business com- munity," he gdded. However, treasurer AI Claringbold told council in his response to the letter that the low- est price is only consi- dered after other fac- tors. "Council is . aware, that .the lowest price becomes the determin- ing factor in the pur- chase of goods and ser- vices only after three other aspects of the pur- chase have been review- ed, i.e., quality, service and availability," he said. Claringbold said that the tendering process allows qualified bidders to tender for capital works based on a set of stated specifications and under the same terms and conditions. "The Town of Whitby has previously found that some qualified con- tractors have been dis- couraged from tender- ing on a Town of Whitby contract due to price preferences given to a local qualified contract- or," Claringboldadded. "The present tender- ing policy was then put into place in an attempt to ensure that ail the ratepayers of Whitby would gain the advan- tage of receiving the lowest tender prices from qualified bidders," he continued. The treasurer also pointed out that council has a Canadian prefer- ence policy which allows a 10 per cent price performance for all Canadian manufact- ured goods and ser- vices. Bidders must cer- tify the Canadian con- tent of their tender prices," he said. To date, the policy has affected only one ten- der, that being for a compressor. The total cost differential to date is $321, Claringbold said. "A local preference policy could have great- er cost implications on the town's purchases," he reported. "A local preference policy, if implemented, should apply to all purchased goods and services and not be restricted to ten- dered needs." Firm charged wit violating sewer bylaw A Whitby firm has been charged by the Re- gion of Durham with 24 counts of violating the sewer use bylaw. According to Reino Kallio, a member of the region's legal depart- ment, Plastic Surface Finishers of Burns Street has been charged with three sets of eight charges under different sections of the bylaw. According to Kallio, regional works depar- tment crews made tests in the area during the month of March and found copper, nickel and chromium deposits had been discharged into the sewer system "in ex- cess of the permitted amount.". The company will ap- pear in Ajax Provincial Court on June 25 to an- swer to the charges. Under the bylaw, any- one convicted of an of- fense is liable to a fine of $1,000 for each charge. Report from Queen's Park G. By The Hon. George Ashe, MPP (PC - Durham West) Ontario Minister of Revenue In this week's report, I would like to discuss one of the change regarding retail sales tax, which was in- troduced by the treasurer in the 1982 Ontario Budget. Effective June 14, the tax rate of seven per cent will apply to all prepared foods whether consumed on or off the vendor's premises; the previous tax rate of 10 per cent on prepared meals over $6 will be discontinued. This change in taxation policy has caused some concern among religious, charitable and similarly benevolent organizations which provide meals 'of retail value less than $6. As such food was pre- viously not taxable, it was suggested that the budget measures would result in unfair and untenable price increases on prepared foods served by such organi- zations in the course of their charitable endeavours. It is legitimately argued that these increases will work to decrease sales, thereby reducing the total money collected, while in other cases the price hikes might often be borne directly by those least able to afford it. The government is aware of the significant im- portant charitable programs undertaken by church groups, service clubs and the like, and, as our track record demonstrates, every reasonable measure is taken to ensure that government policies do not jeo- pardize the success of their very valuable work. As Minister of Revenue, I have carefully review- ed this situation and would like to advise those in- volved in religious and charitable organizations of the regulations which may affect their activities: An exemption has been introduced on accommo- dation and prepared food served at summer camps operated by religious, charitable and benevolent organizations which provide this service for the dis- advantaged and which are not in direct competition with commercial summer camps. Existing regulations exempt charitable and chur- ch organizations from collecting retail sales tax Snsilation (Government grants avallable for homes bulit before 1971) USING GENUINE FIBERGLAS MATERIAL LICENSED CGI35 NO. ONT. 170 ALSO FINE CUSTOM MADE ALUMINUM PRODUCTS REPLACEMENT & STORM WINDOWS DOORS, AWNINGS, POmr-i ENCLOSURES FROM where the organization holds no more than four events a year with total taxable sales not in excess of 50,000. To compensate for the inclusion of prepared meals in the taxable area this minimum limit has now been raised to $75,000. Tax will still have to be paid on taxable items other than prepared food that an orgañization buys for sale at one of the events. The exemption will not apply to prepared food wfiere the organization performs a catering fune- tion; i.e. weddings, club dinners, etc. The exemption will not apply to an organization holding regularly scheduled weekly or monthly events. The exemption will not apply when the organiza- tion is selling prepared food in direct competition with commercial food operators on the same site, such as fairs and exhibitions. For further information about these changes and the application of sales tax on prepared food, please contact the Toronto Regional Retail Sales Tax office (487-7161 or Zenith 71850). Wu e55nivel quickare P Seri pplana eattmn ma&îde astnÞ-eat 04 pri<cr.Drpinoandtellus aWonu I\l RI 1N ILI S Osawa Te. - H 7232482 Uil1RS 218 H ARWOOD AVE. S., AJAX SHOPPING PLAZA TELEPHONE: 683- 1968 ITHE HAIR CENTIAE 555 Rossland Square Plaza (corner of Rossland a Wilson) UIE Oshawa Tel. - 723-2482 UIE "PERM" "HAIRCUT" SPECIAL SPECIAL I $60.0 $- 45.00 Men's - $6.50 I $55.0. 41 .25 Children's - $5.00 $5 0. -37.50 $45.00 - $33.75 WthThls Coupon. Open Tues.- Fri.- 9:00 a.m. -9:00 p.m. .- -m .- -. ... -m --m. .. --m SUPERIOR PROPANE LTD. CAN MAKE EVERY FATHER A GOURMET COOK WITH A PORTABLE PROPANE BARBECUE FOR FATHERS' DAY SUPERIOR HAS COOKED UP SOME SIZZLING SPECIAL PRICES ON THEIR FALCON BARBECUES. FATHER CAN DEMONSTRATE HIS TALENTS IMMEDIATELY AS ALL SUPERIOR BBQ'S ARE - FULLY ASSEMBLED - TEST FIRED - COMPLETE WITH FULL 20 LB. CYL. FALCON MARK V 5200 546 SQ. IN. COOKING AREA C/W PORCELAINIZED GRILLS ROTISSERIE & KEBOB SET FATHERS'DAY SPECIAL 4 WHEEL CART s450.00 2 WHEEL CART s420.00 505 VICTORIA ST. E. WHITBY 668-3328 SHOWROOM HRS. MON. - WED. 8 A.M. - 5 P.M. THURS.-FRI.8A.M.-6P.M. SAT. 8 A.M -1 P.M. FOR THOSE SPECIAL MENUS WE CARRY A-LARGEL SELECTION OF ACCESSORIES. POPULAR MODELS OF BROILMASTER AND CANADIANA ALSO AVAILABLE VICTORIA ST. E. OHO ROOM