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FReport from-0 Q ueen'9 s Park By THE lION. GEORGE ASHE, MPP (PC - Durham West) Ontario Minister of Revenuej George Ashe On Friday, April 10, 1 began thý day as MPP for Durham West and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy. By 12 noon I had been sworn in as Ontario's new Revenue Minister with a staff of some 4,000 people located in Toronto head office and 64 field offices scattered throughout thé, province. It had been an exciting, eventful day and one which I am sure will remain as one of the high points of my poliical career. But as must always happen when one is the centre of such momentous events, the smoke eventually clears. Reality beckons. Things settle down again. I had been appointed the Ontario Minister of Revenue and I knew I must now take stock of this and set about to take charge of this challenging and diverse portfolio. For most people, Ontario's Revenue Ministry conjures up familiar images of taxes, taxes and more taxes - the prover- bial hand in the pocket. Well, certainly that's part of it ... but only part of it, remember. My ministry administers nine of WIIITBY FR11 PRE SS, WEDLNESDAY. APRII 29,1981, PAGE 13 Tax collection a s mail part of new minis ter of revenue' s daily job P c~J. Classified ads seli Cali 668-6111 "Ballycliffe Lodge"5 Conveniently located in the heart of Ajax, 2 min. walk 27 ta shopping plaza, GO Transit, post office, library, etc. 45 luxurious suites on one floor for easy evacuation in an emergency. Central dining room, beauty salon& snack bar. Modemn lounges, T.V., games, crafts, par- ties & dances. Ail modemn facilities with heat & smoke --- detectors & direct hook-up ta the f ire station. 24 hr. at- tendant. Short term occupancy available._ For further inquiries Please contact. Mrs. Row.na Kerr R.N. Ballyclff Lodge Ltd. 70 Station St. Ajax 683-7321_ planning of our head office move, the opening of a new session of the legislature, the ongoing, daily programs of tax collection and assessment. It is for ail of us a time of ex- citement and challenge and as Ontario's new minister of revenue I can say, most sincerely, that I arn looking forward to it very much. BREAK AWAY TO FUN IN THE. SUN! THEN BRING YOUR FILMS TO M.B.M., FOR QUALITY RESULTS moments on film, and here ai M. B. M. we offer you quality Ben- jamin phoiofinishing to give you the besi resulîs possible! BENJAM IN FiLM LABORATORIES LTD. M.B. M. Photography 1.31 BrockSi. .' WItiîbvý 66Ã"8-6111I Vii,- F. 9ain <jfl- MaSi.i(hn - -n Ontario's major taxing statutes, including tobacco tax, gasoline tax and the well-known retail sales tax and cor- porations tax. On a daily basis, revenue takes in somewhere in the vicinity of $25 million. Annual retail sales tax revenue borders on the $3 billion mark. So, certainly, revenue collec- tion is a prime function of my portfolio and one which must be administered equitably and without interruption. But just as my ministry collects money, so do we return it in no small amount to the taxpayer through four key income redistribution and benefit programns. The Ontario Tax Gran- ts for Seniors program, introduced last year, provides an an- nual property tax grant of up to $500 to eligible Ontario residents aged 65 or over, as well as an automatic $50 sales tax grant. As well, revenue is responsible for Ontario's Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) for seniors and the Ontario Tax Credit program, comprising four credits claimed by filling out the necessary forms included with your federal income tax return. The Small Business Development Corporations program provides monetary, technical and business advisory assistance to Ontario's small business community. But a large portion of the Ministry of Revenue has really no direct connection with money at ail. The property assessment program, administered regionally through 31 Ontario offices, is responsible for the assessment of all real property in the Province for the purposes of municipal property taxation (your office, for example, is located in Whitby). As well, this Programn conducts the annual municipal enumeration process each September. And finally, the Province of Ontario Savings Office operates 21 savings offices across southern Ontario. These offices function very much like banks, offering many of the same benefits and services with the exclusion of lbans. The money on deposit (presently about $630 million) is "loaned"' to the Treasurer of Ontario at less than prevailing interest rates - a considerable dollar saving for the taxpayer, and yet at the same time pays an excellent rate to the depositor. Revenue, then, is quite a diversified ministry. In addition to the ï,cur major areas just outlined, there exists also a large support staff of computer, communications, personnel and financial experts responsible- for public communication and the internal operation of our organization. An important event facing us ail in the months ahead will be the relocation of revenue's head office function to Oshawa. As many 0f you will know, our new building at the corner of King and Centre Streets in downtown Oshawa is now well on its way and we should be able to move in during the spring and summer of 1982. So, there is a lot happening at revenue these days - the The u'arnz weaî ber is arriving, and that means family get- toget bers, barbecues, long weekends and vacations! You,l wanî Io record these ire asured APRIL 30 TH is INCOME'TAX. DEADLIMEN