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Your source for local sports, news, weather and entertainment! >> www.burnabynow.com BUSINESS OWNER OUTRAGED
‘Crushing’ tax hike of 24 per cent
Oh, Canada! Doggone fun:
From left, Staff Sergeant Andy LeClair, Lorne Lopetinski and Superintendent Stephan Drolet and Stefaniya with Marko the dog at the Canada Day celebrations and grand opening of the new Edmonds Community Centre on July 1. The centre at 7433 Edmonds St. held events from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., including guided tours, a ribbon cutting ceremony and activities for all ages.
Stefania Seccia staff reporter
Justin Williams opened his property tax bill for his family-owned business and was dumbfounded to see it increased by a whopping 24 per cent, and with a tax credit cut on the horizon – he’s worried about his company’s future. The provincial government will be phasing out its school tax credits for businesses in the light industry sector in the next two years, and doubled with higher taxes – manufacturers in Burnaby are feeling the crunch. Williams co-owns Burnaby’s Williams and White Inc. with his brother, which manufactures specialized grinding equipment used in the machine and cutting tool industry. “This is unheard of,” he said. “They are trying to crush small business.” Williams said his company tries to be a good neighbour and build the economy in the city, but it needs all the help it can get. “It’s tens of thousands of dollars in one year, and somehow we have to magically find it,” he said. “How do you just, boom, adjust your budget? Everyone on my street is freaking out.” Although the company has survived the tough economic climate so far, Williams said business continues to be a competitive enterprise. “We’re going to have to cut investment,” he said. “We’ll have to find ways to cut costs. How else do you save money in a business? We’re not going to be able to reinvest, not going to be able to stay competitive worldwide and that’s what it’s going to come back to. “It’s already a tough go out there, where the economy is at is very tumultuous still.”
For more photos of the centre’s opening, scan with
Larry Wright/ burnaby now
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