HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-01-22, Page 5Wednesday, January 22, 2014 • News Record 5
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Reader disagrees with local MP's assessment of the nation
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trademark is the affordability of medicines, due
to Canadian legislation on generic drugs.
Europe is full of major pharmaceutical compa-
nies that want this protective legislation gone.
CETA will take this away.
When this happens the provincial govern-
ments will receive extra funding from the fed-
eral government (our tax dollars subsidizing
drug companies, in effect.) The dream of a
potential National Pharmacare program, long
espoused by progressives, would be lost
forever.
Economists have predicted that the easiest
way to ensure Canadians are ready financially
for retirement is to enhance the Canada Pen-
sion Plan. The Harper government has dug its
heels in on this. Ben Lobb calls it a "payroll
tax" Well my friends, pension funds are not a
payroll tax. They are a type of insurance plan
and the money individuals put into that fund,
plus accrued interest, belongs totally to them
when they choose to retire. I would beg to dif-
fer that folks who are 20 and folks who are 60
cannot both enhance their pensions. Young
people, of all Canadians, need especially to
have the pension system solidified for their
benefit so that this important social net will
continue into the future.
Lobb also talks about "shrinking the size of
government to make it more nimble and quick
and efficient." Well, let's take a look at this. The
government consists of the people we elect and
of a hired civil service.
While Harper has increased the elected
number for the 2015 election by over 30, he has
been launching an attack on the civil service to
reduce their numbers and their pay and bene-
fit packages.
What Lobb doesn't mention, is that the
Harper government has the largest "shadow
civil service" of any Canadian mandate to date.
These are partisan advisors, and privatized
consulting firms paid more expensive rates to
basically do the job that the civil service was
created to do in the first place!
The Toronto Star reported on Dec. 3 that the
Conservatives spend about $10 billion annu-
ally on outside services - a 27.8% increase over
2006.
Since assuming power they have spent $67
billion on such services with more than $40 bil-
lion of that in the last four years - which coinci-
dentally coincides with their push to cut the
civil service. So billions per year of our
entrusted Canadian tax dollars go to these pri-
vatized interests just so the Prime Minister can
hear what he wants to hear.
Lobb also mentions the economic downturn
and how well Canada has fared throughout
this time due to our protective economic legis-
lations and policies. Steven Harper is also very
quick to take the credit for this, when in reality,
his original agenda was to dismantle many of
these same policies and to espouse the market
driven economics preferred by corporate cro-
nies. Lucky for us the downtum got in the way
of his plans.
While getting back to a balanced budget is
certainly commendable, the Harper govern-
ment's approach borders on the ridiculous. He
is nickel-and-diming some sectors - particu-
larly environmental research -while spending
billions on economic action plan advertis-
ing. The pillaging and destruction of a hundred
years of scientific research - the life's work of
many Canadian scientists- in order to save
$400 000 dollars in the budget, never mind the
closing of research stations such as the world
renowned Experimental Lakes (at a cost of
$600,000) are examples of where Harper's eco-
nomic priorities are all wrong.
Lobb concludes, "we are still moving in the
right direction." Well, moving in the direction
of the right perhaps. The truth is that Harper's
policies on the environment - what should be
one of our most important priorities right now -
have caused international derision and frustra-
tion during climate talks.
His exploit -the -resources -as -fast -as -you -
can -before -no -one -wants -them -anymore
agenda proves that Harper has his head stuck
in the "oil" sands with total disregard for the
concerns of the environment and its cham-
pion, the aboriginal people.
Water, a dwindling resource, is allowed to be
wasted, polluted and filled with toxins in this
rush to produce unsustainable resources. Are
17 gallons of water really worth 1 gallon of oil?
Canadian institutions, like our national
broadcaster, have fallen prey to budget cuts to
the point that they are no longer competitive in
bidding for sports broadcasting, they no longer
can provide regional news, and they have had
to cut their platforms, and their viewing areas.
Meantime, a right wing news outlet has been
allowed to loom its head in cable package
offerings. And why? Because the CBC is
obliged to be non-partisan and has been quick
to report on things the PM would prefer went
under the radar. CT V has been feeling the
snub too, ever since they broke the Senate
scandal.
Harper wants us to be more like our Ameri-
can counterparts. His law and order agenda,
his building of new mega prisons when crime
is at an all time low, his crackdown on immi-
gration, all reflect this. Privatizing the prisons,
an invitation into corruption, cannot be far
behind.
What Harper has done in a hurry, in what I
suspect is his last mandate, is to dismantle as
much as he can of what makes us distinctly
Canadian, so we can never go back So no, Mr.
Lobb, Canada is not heading in the right direc-
tion. And election year 2015 cannot come soon
enough for Canadians.
Wilhelmina Laurie
Clinton
Walk for memories, walk for hope
When I was little, my grandmother was my
best friend.
Back then it was common for us to spend
our Saturday nights watching TV, usually
Murder She Wrote or Burke's Law, while eat-
ing those infamous tin roof sundaes, riding
the sugar high all the way to church the next
morning.
To me, she was one of a kind.
My grandmother: the wisest, funniest,
classiest woman in the world.
Everything about her exuded perfection, from the way
her shoes always matched her purse, to the delicate way
her homemade pie crust melted in your mouth.
When I first found out she had been diagnosed with
Alzheimer's, it hit me pretty hard.
Was she going to forget who I was?
What was going to happen to her personality?
Column
Whitney South
Who was she going to become?
Like most people, I knew little to nothing
about the disease and immediately started to
research. What I found out surprised me.
Alzheimer's disease is more than just a loss
of memory and is not a normal part of aging.
It's a fatal, progressive and degenerative dis-
ease that actually destroys brain cells and is
the most common form of dementia,
accounting for 64 per cent of all dementias in
Canada.
Symptoms include far more than just having difficulty
remembering things. Those with the disease regularly
encounter problems making decisions and even perform-
ing everyday activities.
For my grandmother, being diagnosed with this disease
meant she was no longer able to live on her own, some-
thing that affected her deeply.
A once charismatic, outgoing and fiercely independent
woman, she put on a brave face whenever we'd come to
visit, but it was easy to see Alzheimer's had taken far more
from her than just her memories.
As the years went on, my grandmother became increas-
ingly frail but never lost her sense of humour. She also
never once forgot my name, and for that I will always be
grateful.
When she lost her battle with Alzheimer's on Oct. 24,
2011, a part of me left with her.
For several years, my family and I have participated in
the annual Alzheimer Society Walk for Memories, an event
meant to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care,
support and education. The walk takes place in over 65
communities across Ontario, including Seaforth.
On Saturday, Jan. 25, I will once again take part, this time
right here in Huron County, in hopes the money we raise
will help researchers on the way to finding a cure. My hope
is that everyone will find a way to help, either by donating
to the cause, or by simply giving their time.
For more information or to make a donation, please visit
www.walkformemories.ca.
LET'S MAKE CANCER HISTORY
For information about cancer,
services or to make a donation P888•939•3333 • 1 ww.cancenca
Canadian
Cancer
Society
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dm cancer