Georgia Straight update....Libs Back down

I kind of had forgotten about it as I have not been able to pick up a Georgia Straight in the last week. But here is the end result in a press release the CAJ sent me. I think htis release made Gordo and his boys look a little too nice.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


The CAJ applauds BC Government decision to withdraw demand of $1-million
from the Georgia Straight newspaper


(Vancouver) October 16, 2003 - The Canadian Association of Journalists
welcomes a move by the BC government to reverse a decision that would have
forced The Georgia Straight Newspaper to pay over $1-million dollars in
sales tax.


Last week, it was revealed that the B.C. government had decided The
Georgia Straight was no longer qualified to call itself a "newspaper."


The government claimed newspapers must have at least 25 per cent editorial
content, and that The Georgia Straight does not meet this requirement.
Because of this re-interpretation of the rule's application, the government
told The Straight it must pay sales tax under the Social Service Tax Act -
a tax that newspapers are exempt from paying. The government added that
its decision
was retroactive, so The Straight in fact owed four years' worth of taxes,
to the tune of over $1-million dollars.


"This financial hardship would cripple Vancouver's flagship independent
newspaper," said National Director (B.C.) Erica Johnson. "Vancouver is a
city where both major dailies and a number of TV and radio stations - are
owned by
one company. Moves by government to cause financial hardship have the
effect of weakening the diversity of voices in Vancouver's media."


The Georgia Straight said paying hefty taxes would be financially
devastating and urged the provincial government to reconsider its decision.
The following day, the B.C. government decided the 36-year old Georgia
Straight is, in fact, a newspaper. It reversed the $1-million dollar tax
assessment levied against the paper.


The Canadian Association of Journalists has given awards to the Georgia
Straight for its investigative journalism numerous times, including last
year. "Some of Canada's strongest print journalists write for The
Straight," said Johnson. "We would like to see that continue."


The CAJ is Canada's largest professional organization for journalists, with
about 1,300 members across Canada. The CAJ's primary roles are to provide
advocacy and professional development for its members, and public-interest
advocacy.

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