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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2013
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Underground economy By Jackie Lieuwen Houston Today
HEALTHY Action
Jackie Lieuwen/Houston Today
Sally Sullivan and Dawn Potvin are co-chairs of the Action Changes Things (ACT) Committee, which is working pro-actively towards a healthier Houston community by promoting an active local lifestyle. See below for more on what the ACT Committee is planning for Houston.
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Dealing in cash or trading goods and services are often part of the illegal, underground economy. Two Canadian Revenue Agency representatives came to Houston last week Tuesday to talk about the underground economy. The underground economy is any business activity that is unreported or under-reported for tax purposes, and all business conducted with cash or otherwise needs to be reported on a tax return. Business done “under the table” is not covered by WorkSafe B.C. If you pay cash you have no warranty, no recourse for poor workmanship, and the added risk of liability if an injury takes place on your property, said
a CRA informational pamphlet. The underground economy also undermines the principles of fairness and equity and puts legitimate business at a disadvantage to competitors that do not comply with the law. All Canadians should pay their fair share of taxes - no more, no less - and the underground economy robs the tax base of needed funds for things like schools and hospitals. The CRA states that they fight the underground economy through education and through enforcement. To educate about the underground economy, the CRA does community visits, presentations at schools, colleges and universities, as well as seminars for trade and business groups. See CRA on Page 3
Taking action to promote a healthy active lifestyle By Jackie Lieuwen Houston Today
Coordinating events and promoting active lifestyle is what the Houston ACT Committee is all about. Formed last November, Action Changes Things (ACT) has already made a mark on
the community through ‘This is Our Town - Houston,’ a subcommittee focused on beautifying the town. C o m m i t t e e Co-chair and Houston Council Representative Dawn Potvin says they have just got started. The committee is currently readying
“It’s meeting people where they’re at, before they get chronic disease.”
a website to go live m i d - N o v e m b e r, which will promote and coordinate all
- Sally Sullivan
local events and clubs and help people find ways to get involved.
ACT’s big focus this winter is coordinating a community-wide WinterFest on the Family Day long weekend, where they hope to engage every demographic and include events from every club and community group they can. ACT was an initiative through
Northern Health, funded through a $20,000 Healthier Communities Grant. The goal is upstream, preventative health action, said Potvin. “We want to reach the people who are borderline diabetic, or who have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, because if they live
a healthier lifestyle, then they can prevent chronic illness,” she said. “Basically it’s meeting people where they’re at, meeting their needs before they get chronic disease,” said Sally Sullivan, Committee Co-chair and Northern Health representative. See ACT on Page 2
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