Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 3, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press thursday August 3, 2006 a9 Canada tax credit around parents demand Why just sports Ottawa strikes panel to Rule on which activities qualify by Carly weeks o Ottawa ? the Federal government is being swamped with pleas from Canadian parents who want to make sure their children a sport qualifies for the new fitness tax credit requests that Are Likely to Only increase in the next few months. The $500 tax credit which comes into effect Jan. 1, will go to parents ? who have children under 16 enrolled in sports ? to offset registration fees for activities that meaningfully contribute to their children a fitness level. But some parents and sport groups Are concerned certain activities will be left out. They re eager to find out if a child who does Ballet or runs with a local group will get the same treatment As someone on an organized hockey or soccer team. I think if they re trying to encourage kids to get More activity they also need to encourage kids to do other things As Well said sue Oddy who lives in pick ering ont. With her two children. Oddy said her son likes to play Badminton an activity she a not sure would qualify for the tax credit. She a eager to see How restrictive the government will be when they unveil the eligibility criteria in the coming months. At least for now they re not ruling out anything. Neither of my kids Are very athletic and i think they the government has formed a three member panel i Don to think anyone should feel excluded at this should be Able to get the same kind of Benefit As the kids to review the definition of physical activity and pro Point in time Leitch said. We re very open to All Par who Are said Oddy whose children Are Active in music. Vide advice on whether eligible programs must include ends and organizations approaching its important for the government to make the tax supervision or instruction from a coach. One person has started an online petition to ask the credit As Broad As possible so parents Are aware of it the panel has been instructed to report to the finance government to extend the tax credit to include arts and use it said Paul Melia president and ceo of the minister by oct. 6. Programs As Well As sports. Canadian Centre for ethics in sport. I think that it the panel which was appointed on monday has heard parents who choose to spend their Money on devel would have to be As expansive As possible he scores of parents who want to know if they will Oping the aesthetic cultural and artistic gifts of their Melia said he a concerned certain Community base Benefit from the sport tax credit. ? we be been con children should not be discriminated against in favour sports that Arent formally organized such As cycling acted by Many Canadian parents which i think is spec of parents who choose to support their children Sath groups or running clubs could be excluded from Theta Cular said or. Kellie Leitch panel chair and chair Letic abilities says the petition which can be found tax credit program which May defeat the purpose of of paediatric surgery at the Schulich school of Medicine at www.petitiononline.com/dbs201bl/. The initiative. And dentistry at the University of Western Ontario. So far nearly 35,000 people have signed the petition i would hate to see those kinds of activities missed she said the panel is eager to hear from Many groups including Oddy who said some children Arent athletic out he said. And individuals who think a certain activity must be Cally inclined but should still be eligible for the tax eligible for the tax credit and emphasized the fact that credit if they engage in other activities. ? can West news service Young kids greatest victims of Domestic violence and up to 362,000 live in Canada Indi Dren who witness Domestic violence Are for every 100 Homes where Domestic by misty Harris Cates the joint report by Unicof the More Likely to be affected by violence violence occurs children Are present in secretariat for the United nations Sec later in life ? whether As victims or per-60 of some of the greatest victims of domes rotary general a study on violence Petratos of it says the report released the new study estimates the number tic violence Are also the smallest Sug against children and the body shop. Today As a preview of findings being pre of Canadian children who Are directly gets the first global study to document these victims May experience seated at the in general Assembly later or indirectly affected by Domestic Vio the nature prevalence and Impact of this increased difficulty learning suffer this year. Lence to be Between 85,000 and 362,000. Type of abuse on Young people. From depression or severe anxiety have the rates of exposure Are extreme in developed countries numbers Are As Many As 275 million children world limited social skills and exhibit violently similar regardless of the Region you re pegged somewhere Between 4.6 and 11.3 wide have been exposed to physical sex or delinquent behaviour. In or the country says Lisa Wolff adv million. Ual or psychological attacks in the Home additionally evidence suggests Chil Cacy specialist with Unicof Canada. ? can West news service Canada lumber execs called Vancouver ? International Trade minister David Emerson has invited some of Canadas top lumber executives to a meeting in Toronto next week in Hopes he can convince them to accept a softwood lumber agreement with the United states. The meeting will Likely also include a Blunt warning that Ottawa will Wash its hands of the longstanding Trade Dis Pute unless the Forest Industry signs onto the Deal. Seal Hunt a Success Summerside . ? despite fierce clashes Between sealers and protesters and humanitarian appeals from High profile celebrities this years East coast was the most lucrative on record Federal fisheries officials said yesterday. Chief will be missed sept Iles que. ? friends and col leagues say the sudden death of Ben Michel the Leader of labradors inn nation represents a major setback for the regions aboriginal Community. Michel 53, died tuesday of an apparent heart attack while taking part in negotiations concerning mining rights at a Reserve in Eastern Quebec. Calgary rent rising Calgary ? with Calgary a vacancy rate nearing Zero renters fortunate enough to already have a Home Are bracing themselves for hikes. For senior Norman Burke its a jaw dropping increase of nearly $1,000 a month. This week the 70-year-old received a letter from his new land lords stating the rent for his duplex would go to $1,800 from the $850 he pays now. Burke said he lives off his Canada pension and investments and suffers severe Back and hip problems. Toronto sweltering Toronto ? Ontario residents kept their air conditioners cranked yester Day As a third Day of oppressive heat blanketed much of the province and further strained the Power Grid. The skyrocketing demand prompted Ontario a Independent electricity sys tem operator to Issue another Call for people to reduce Energy use. ? from the news services ;