Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - April 12, 2005, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press tuesday april 12, 2005 City / District b5 arts groups Challenge tax City councillors to face questions the last of the to Birds makes one final flight touchdown in the rain yesterday by Josiah Thiessen afternoon after flying in from the aerospace engineering test its the end of an Era for the to establishment Pete in cold Bird. Lake Alta. The last of a Fleet of five jets its a real pilots air plane used in special training opera said capt. Greg Castagner who a tons by the Royal Canadian air spent about 600 hours at the con Force stopped briefly in win tools of this aircraft. You be Nipes yesterday to refuel in gotta know the air plane. Every route to a hangar in Mountain thing from take off to Landing is View ont. Controlled by the the ct-133an Silver Star t-33, for 20 years to Birds were the better known As a to Bird is retire primary training Fleet for the ing after 47 years of service. Craf until the planes lost their the Small red and White Jet Job to a More Cost effective Fleet with its tandem Glass Bubble of ct-114 Tutor jets the same air cockpit made its final Winnipeg Craft that make up the Snow Birds precision flying team. After that the Pete used the to Birds to test radar defence sys tems fire experimental ejection seats and Tow styrofoam targets for pilots to practice shooting at. This Jet will Likely find a retire ment Home in a museum a Pri vate collection or end up mounted on a Pedestal like the one on the South Side of Portage Avenue at Sturgeon Creek. By Patti Edgar m usic and theatre groups Are lining up to question City councillors today on a review of the entertainment tax that could see the Winnipeg fringe festival and the Winnipeg chamber music society tapped for a surcharge for the first time. A new City report recommends several additions to the list of entertainment events subject to a special 10 per cent tax because they Don to meet exemption rules. Those rules include having 60 per cent Winnipeg Content and being a local not for profit or athletic organization. City tax manager Bob Weselowski said the additions Are the result of a review by his department into who was paying the tax and who want. The Issue has also worked its Way into an otherwise Low key councillor by election in St. Norbert. Candidate Rick Thiessen who organizes Trade shows that can be subject to the tax held a press conference yesterday calling on the City to raise the ceiling for exemption above $5 to protect events like the fringe and smaller Trade shows from the tax. Arts groups have Long lob bied against the tax saying it can Force ticket prices higher and discourage some acts from visiting the City. Events denied exceptions from the entertainment tax this year by City staff include. The Winnipeg chamber music society a 2004 and 2005 season since the group Only recently applied for exemption. They will be exempt in the future. Five events this year held Dur ing the Agassiz summer Cham Ber music festival that Don to have enough local performers. Beethoven est and 10 of 12 More events with few local performers put on by virtuoso concert inc. Driving miss Daisy at the Manitoba theatre Centre because the play is co produced with a touring califor Nia production company. The Winnipeg fringe Festi Val and the Winnipeg master playwright festival although individual performances could be exempt if they meet the rules. Legals the Winnipeg school division invitation to bid for parking lot resurfacing at Sisler High school sealed bids will be received at the office of the Secretary treasurer of the Winnipeg school division 1577 Wall Street East Winnipeg Manitoba before 2 00 00 p.m., thursday april 21, 2005, for parking lot resurfacing at Sisler High school. Time shall be As indicated on the clock located in the general office of the Secretary treasurers department. Instructions to bidders specifications and bid forms May be obtained from the building department at 1395 Spruce Street Winnipeg Manitoba Call Pat at 786-0338. Also available on the Merx a electronic tendering system. Visit them on the web phone them at 1-800-964-6379 or email at bids shall be accompanied either by a bid Bond in the amount of 10% of the bid Price or by certified Cheque payable at Par to the order of the Winnipeg school division for 10% of the amount of the bid. The successful bidder shall be required to furnish an approved surety company performance Bond for 50% of the contract Price and an approved surety company labour and material payment Bond for 50% of the contract Price. In addition to the above the successful bidder must provide liability insurance coverage for a minimum of $5,000,000.00 inclusive limits prior to Start of work. Lowest or any bid not necessarily accepted. . Bell . Secretary treasurer the Winnipeg school division tenders ;