Harry Stemp June 6, 2009
Harry Stemp was born in Uxbridge in 1934. He started his career with the Uxbridge Times-Journal as an apprentice typesetter at age 14. He soon began writing sports for the Times-Journal and eventually owned 10 community newspapers in central Ontario including the Times-Journal. He started writing his award-winning Stemp’s Stew in 1965. The column came to an end shortly after he sold his newspaper chain in 1989, but was rejuvenated in 2006 when Harry became a regular contributor to The Cosmos.
Previous
Blended tax
?One thing that amazes me is the lack of interest in the fact that the HST or “blended tax” could soon be law in Ontario. Hard to understand how this announcement has slipped by without a ripple, and yet when you talk to people about the impact and what it will cost them, they go into shock.
The stated purpose is to blend the GST and the PST into one tax. This will cut down the paperwork burden for Ontario businesses and, in theory, lessen staff by merging both departments. This could be a noble attempt to cut costs. There is just one problem. Rather than just blending the products and services that now charge both taxes, the provincial government has decided that it will apply this new tax to almost all goods and services that you do not pay PST on now!
In my opinion, we are about to become victims of the largest tax hike in history and we are sitting back, shrugging our shoulders and saying “so”.
If you want to know how this move will affect you let's take a look at just a few of the items on which you will pay an extra 8% once the plan is approved.
Gasoline, home heating fuel, water, hydro, used cars, government and city services, lawyer's fees, real estate commissions, accountant's fees and any service you now use for your home or business such as repairs, other professional services not now eligible, construction materials. These are just a few.
Actually almost everything currently without PST in your life except children's clothing, prescriptions, diapers, and feminine hygiene products will now cost you 8% more. Oh and here is a kicker. The fuel tax will slide with the increasing cost of that fuel.
Premier McGuinty and his finance minister are counting on taxpayers to do what they always do when a new tax is added. Nothing! It is very important that you start to research and discuss this with your friends and family. It is not too late to stop this if you are willing to do something about it.
Send an e-mail to the premier - www.premier.gov.on.ca/feedback/fee - asking him to either stop the tax grab altogether or, failing that, do what was originally intended and blend the tax on the products that now have both taxes and not to extend the new tax to everything else.
If you just sit there, remember, you lose the right to complain about this tax ever again. Get out and start telling everyone about this injustice and we can stop this today.
Don't think your email won't count. Most MP's, if they get 10 emails on one subject, consider it a catastrophe!
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One sees a lot of nature around the community from time to time, but I wasn't quite prepared for a brush with nature that happened on the south course of Foxbridge Golf Course recently.
Playing in the weekly Legion League with buddies Keith Stewart and Gary Jackson, we were on the 4th hole. I had just played my second shot and looked up to follow the flight of the ball when, out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a strange movement.
What a shock to see a mature Black Bear running along only a few feet from the green and about 40 feet from the three of us.
We stopped our game and watched with interest as the bear took off across an open area and into the thickness of the bush.
Later I read of bear sightings in the Sandy Hook area and other parts of our community. We can add this one to the list. ---------------------
Unfortunately we are still suffering from destructive acts of vandals throughout the community. Inconsiderate acts that not only spoil the beauty of Uxbridge but also cost every resident as numerous tax dollars are spent to clean up their mess.
Well, if information I have received is true, there could be a light at the end of the tunnel on apprehending some of these jerks. First, there was the report of a large reward of $5,000 leading to an arrest and conviction. Also work is being carried out on creating an “Eyes Of The Community” organization wherein residents would be constantly on the alert to what is happening in their neighborhood and on their street.
Now, sources tell me that some residents caught vandals in the act the other night and took up a chase managing to catch up to them. While one resident held one of the vandals, his neighbor took a full-face photo, which is being turned over to the police.
Stay tuned. I'm sure there will be more reported on this episode and, hopefully, charges will be laid. Maybe this will be the start of ridding our community of this blight.
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Not every week I get to write about a nephew who will be celebrating his 40th birthday on Friday, June 12.
But that's the case as I offer my nephew, Cory Stemp, congratulations on reaching this milestone and hope he gets to celebrate many more.
Friends of Cory are planning a special night to mark the occasion and they ask friends to drop in to the clubrooms (downstairs) at the Uxbridge Legion Hall on Franklin Street on June 12 to say hello to Cory and wish him a Happy 40th.
Party time starts at 7 p.m. No gifts please. Best wishes and your company are all that is necessary.
