1.   Replacement or Reform of GST

        MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
        SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,
             WHEREAS the  Federal Government has indicated  that it intends
        to harmonize the GST with the PST; and

             WHEREAS municipalities currently pay  7% GST on all purchases,
        but  receive a rebate  of 57.14% based  on the  principle that they
        should  carry no  greater burden  under  GST than  they experienced
        under the previous Municipalities Sales Tax;

             BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED:

             (a)  THAT  Vancouver  communicate immediately  with Prime
                  Minister  Jean  ChrÇtien,   Finance  Minister   Paul
                  Martin,  and  local  Members of  Parliament  to seek
                  assurance that  the municipal governments  will have
                  no greater Federal and Provincial tax burden imposed
                  on them through replacement or reform of the GST.

             (b)  THAT  Vancouver  communicate  immediately  with  the
                  Provincial  Premier to seek assurance that municipal
                  governments  will   have  no  greater   Federal  and
                  Provincial  tax  burden  imposed  on   them  through
                  replacement or reform of the GST.

             (c)  THAT Vancouver use all  means available to highlight
                  to the local  media that they  are calling upon  the
                  Federal, Provincial, and Territorial  Governments to
                  ensure that  no greater  federal and provincial  tax
                  burden  is imposed  on  municipal  governments,  and
                  hence  property  taxpayers  through  replacement  or
                  reform of the GST.