Report from Queen 's Park By GEORGE ASHE, MPP (PC-DURHAM WEST) January through April is tax filing time, and many bOn- tario residents are anxious to complete their returns and become eligible to share in the estimated $455 million available through the Ontario Government Tax Credits program for the 1979 taxation year. Although Ontario Tax Credits have been in effect for seven years, current inflationary trends make this assistance in paying school and municipal taxes more essential today than ever before. Through the Ontario Tax Credit System, residents of Ontario may be eligible to claim any or all of the four tax credits available...the Property Tax Credit, the Sales Tax Credit, the Pensioner Tax Credit and/or the Political Contribution Tax Credit. The Property Tax Credit was first introduced in 1972 to WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1980, PAGE 25 It's tax time again, and some rulies have changed lessen the burden of rent and property taxes on tenants and homeowners with low or moderate incomes. In 1973, the Sales Tax Credit and the Pensioner Tax Credit were brought in by the Government of Ontario to give additional tax relief. The Political Contribution Tax Credit was in- troduced in 1975 to encourage public participation in provincial politics. Ontario residents 16 years of age and older may qualify for Ontario Tax Credits. For married couples, however, the Property and Pensioner Tax Credits must be claimed by the spouse with the higher taxable income. You may even claim the Property, Sales and Pensioner Tax Credits if you have no income tax to pay. But to claim you must file an in- come tax return. Receipts are not necessary for the Property Tax Credit, but you should hold on to them in case proof of your claim is required. A receipt is necessary to claim a Political Con- L~J. ...:. -I Corridor Capers By MARY MCEACHERN K-MART PLAZA - STONE MONUMENT A representative of Devon Enterprises, J. P. Van Haastrecht, has recently informed the Town of Whitby that - "they will undertake to leave the the cairn they did not fully understand the significance of the stone cairn or the many concerns of Whitby residents. This is certainly welcome news. Hopefully this will be the last testimony of the Dr. Robert Thornton monument, may it now rest in peace. Now, of additional accesses to the K-Mart property would proceed frorn Nicol Avenue it would be clear sailing for the expansion. The residents of Kendalwood Road have had enough disturbance without adding a second entrance - especially those adjacent to the proposed new road access, deserve consideration. CORRIDOR CAPERS DANCE Just a little over a week left to reserve your tickets. The 10th anniversary dance will be held at Heydenshore Pavillion on Saturday, February 23 from 8:30 to 1:00 p.m. A special donation will be made to the Cardiac Rehabilitation Association during the evening. Tickets are $9.00 a couple. Sales have been brisk, so call early before all the tickets are depleted. Members of the executive all have tickets. Some are sold out, but a few are still available. See you at the dance. FEDERAL ELECTION The Federal election is just days away. All the volunteers workers have been phone canvassing (we've had calls from all three major parties) for weeks. General enthusiasm for a winter election, especially one forced upon us so soon after the last Federal election, is drastically reduced. However, be it as it may, we still need to get out there and exercise our franchise. It is up to you, the public, to deter- mine who will make the best decisions for Canada. On February the 18, vote for the candidate of your choice. Call 725-8967 with news items for the column. TYPEWRITERS RENT-1T E LEC-TRIC •LATEST MODELS •'au: •lBM S-ELECTRIC• CORRECTORS • OLYMPIA •ADDING MACHINES • UINDERWOOD •ELECTRONIC CALCULA TORS • SMITH CORONA •DICT ATION UNITS • TELEPHONE ANSWERING MACHINES DAINFORTH TYPEWRITER i408 Dundas Stree"t West 2940 Danfor th Ave' ýWhit by T oot 666-1131 Sales & Service 698-2589o est,"1930. tribution Tax Credit. These must be obtained from a registered Ontario political party, a constituency association or candidate in an Ontario provincial election. You can even claim for previous taxation years, as long as you attach receipts and file within four years of the time your claim refers. For instance, this year you may still claim Property Sales and Pension Tax Credits back to the 1976 taxation year. It is very easy to claim the Ontario Tax Credits. Com- plete the mauve coloured form which is included in the federal income tax package and mail them together to Ot- tawa. Although these credits are from provincial funds, the administration is handled by Ottawa so that you and I, as taxpayers, do not pay for duplicate administration costs. If you are entitled to an Ontario Tax Credit refund, a cheque will be mailed to you with your federal notice of assessment. Many people do have difficulty completing their own returns without assistance, and therefore miss out on their Ontario Tax Credits. For this reason, the Ministry of Revenue maintains a telephone information centre offering toll-free assistance in eighteen different languages. In the Metro-Toronto dialing zone call 965-8470. Outside the Metro zone, dial 1-800-268-7121. As well, my constituency office has two brochures designed to assist you in filing, one called "Ontario Tax Credits 1979" and the other "Ontario Tax Credits Guide 1979". These are available upon request from Judy or June at 683-6707 in Ajax.