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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1985-04-24, Page 3Luciurow Sentinel, Wednesday, April. 24, 1985 -Page 3 Candidates debate hospital care, abortion... from page 1 buyers from purchasing prime farm land, Mr. Elston said the liberals are against • non-resident, foreign purchasers. He sug- gested buyers only be allowed to purchase a set amount of acres if they intend to remain non-residents. Mr. Snobelen said he understands why farmers woWd be tempted to sell to foreign buyers, in fact he said he sold a farm to a foreign interest. Even though the concerns in the farming community are valid, Mr. Snobelen said he feels the situation is starting to correct itself. Farms are starting to come back on the market and often at, a reduced price. The NDP would "legislate an end go non-resident and foreign ownership as it killing the family," said Mrs. Peterson. • Hospital Care "What is your stand on local hospitals?" Mr. Snobelen was asked, in a question which alluded to Premier Frank Miller's fight over the closing of local hospital beds several years ago when he was health: minister. Mr. Snobelen said he believes the hospital system in the province today is a favorable one and he would not be in favor of closing treatment beds. Mr. Elston said he fears the "touch of Frank Miller" and predicted more hospital bed closures in the. next two years. Mrs. Peterson's biggest concern with. the health care system today in the Board supports brief... from page 1 1 and critical information, respecting the development nature of the learner. "One of the primary functions of educa- tion," says the brief, "is to assist the development of the, whole person, free from . prejudice and ignorance through factual knowledge and compassionate understanding, fostering character devel- opment, assisting the student to learn what it is to be truly human and caring in a global village." Such instruction, says the commission, should be carried on in a non-sectarian, non -dogmatic atmosphere. "There should be a .willingness for both . teacher and student to look, to see, to listen and to consider. The commission believes the multicult- ural nature of society must be fully recognized and affirmed with the commit- ment by the Ministry of Education to promote understanding and harmony among the multi -faceted faith groupings in the larger community through an integrat- ed educational process. The commission believes all students should have the right to learn to think religiously as well as logically, objectively and scientifically. Students should be free to become familiar with various points of view that are sincerely held and to under- stand why people hold these views. This should be done in an atmosphere free from indoctrination and as accurately as pos- sible. Students should be assisted with the natural search for meaning raised by such questions as Who Am I?. What is this life all about? Is death the end? Students should be free to talk about life's problems and should be encouraged to try to see the religious dimension under- neath the surface in the` light of the religious heritage of humanity. Thebrief goes on to say the study of Judaeo-Christian religious knowledge, other world religions as well as various cultural backgrounds and moral values and principles should spring out of their own concern, their own personal quest for meaning. Students should be free to study at the appropriate level the whole range of factual material about the beginnings of religion, the place of religion in our culture, the varioS religious phenomena they will meet an'other religious groups. Students should be free to explore what are called the ultimate questions and to see what sort of answers people have suggest- ed. They should also be free to be shown what is a profitable line of enquiry and . what is not, and to understand something of the language which religions have used. i.e. symbols, pictures. Students need something to think about and something to think with. Agricultural initiatives no help... from page 1 a position where he must liquidate. The bank sells the livestock, machinery ani feed to realize the unguaranteed portion of the loan and then collects the guaran- teed portion from the province. The premier has said nothing about changing Section C, he says. Theprovincial government' has made a commitment to agriculture says Robertson but the missing factor is when will they follow through? Agriculture minister Philip Andrewes has promised the province will implement a bipartite stabilization pro- gram if the federal tripartite program is not forthcoming, but when he asks? Andrewes is committed, but so what,,says Robertson. Robertson says he doesn't anticipate the crop development fund which will see $2 million allocated for research into crops not commonly grown in Ontario, to benefit local farmers. There may be an avenue for farmers experimenting with winter canola or rape which has caused a lot of grief, Robertson says. 'But it's a pretty broad statement." He says he doesn't know' at crops the program will apply to. And he says he also doesn't know what/process a farmer is going to have to go through to ensure he qualifies for the program for this planting season. "It's three weeks before seeding, - will a farmer have to work through six months of bureaucracy in three weeks to get funding for this year? It's a program which may have some merit for the future but the tim- ing is off." / The biggest challenge for an Ontario government as Robertson sees 'it, is the development of credible programs to salvage the big producers in the province who are the major producers and produce the greater percentage of the food: They are the ones with a millstone around their necks, he says. The farmer who is not in risk of losing his farm is „probably ultra small "c" con- servative and does not create any amount of production, he says. The farmer who took the initiative and expanded to increase their production are the farmers in trouble. And Robertson wonders what the likelihood is that a farmer who is not innovative will sud- denly become progressive and increase their food production.' Robertson says he has no quarrel with the Rural Employment Assistance Program an- nounced by Miller. The program provides young people with job training and work ex- perience or apprenticeship in agricultural related positions. 7 "But why create a cuversion into agriculture expertise when the whole in- dustry is at risk?" Robertson says he is con' cerned that farmers looking for jobs off the farm to supplement their farm incomes will not find work. Employers can hire young people whose wages will be supplemented Tum to page 14 Robbers arrested Two Hamilton men are in custody in connection with the March 22 robbery of the Royal Bank in Ripley, according to the Kincardine detachment of the OPP. A total of $10,000 in cash was stolen in the robbery, police said. The arrests conclude a one month invest- igation by the OP1"1• Criminal lnvestiga- tion Squad in Mount Forest who arrested the men April 20, police said. Charged are James Robert Smith, 28, and Donald William Greenaway, 26, of Hamilton. province is "U.S. companies running our hospitals for profit, not people". She also said she would be in favor of expanded funding for home -care programs. Mr. Elston was asked how he could criticize gas prices in Ontario when they are ."the fault, of the former federal liberals". The .MPP replied he feels perfectly justified in critizing the Ontario govern- ment's ad valorum gas tax policy, espec-' ially since the provincial tax increased to 37 cents per gallon in 1984, from 19 cents in 1981. Mr. Snobelen said he sees no reason why the provincial gas tax should not be ad valorum, that is, increase automatically whenever the price of gasoline increases. The NDP opposes automatic increases in government tax, said Mrs. Peterson, and that includes the ad valorum tax on gas. In answer to a question about the closure of the Ripley high school during Mr. Snobelen's term on the Bruce County Board of ` Education, he defended the decision because with 120 students the board could not justify keeping the school open. Abortion The abortion issue was raised at the meeting and each of the candidates outlined his or her views on the matter. Mr. Snobelen declared he is "pro-life", while Mrs. Peterson said she supports the right of the individual to make "a private, moral decision" on the matter. Mr. Elston said abortion cannot be used as a method of birth control, but it should be the decision of a woman and her doctor in the case of rade or if it threatens the life of the mother. "I am opposed to the establishment of free standingabortion clinics," said Mr. Elston. "Do you support alcohol sold from local stores?" the candidates were asked. Mr. Snobelen replied, "Absolutely not." The liberal party has Dome out in favor of selling domestically produced wine and beer from local stores, said Mr. Elston, but. it would draw the line at hard liquor. The people selling the wine and beer would be licensed under liquor Control Board of Ontario guidelines regarding the selling of spirits. Mrs. Peterson saidshe personally is not in favor of selling alcohol from corner stores as some data released by the LCBO recently claims . it could contribute to alcoholism. ELECTED BRANDS MPORTED Quality Wallcoverings lrlytIrl :-ari'/rojrtdll cvci%�h' .y)Jhw/ ' voiraws CANADIAN SAT9NESQUE DESIGNER SUPPLEMENT • Qhafeau update " 1:14110 MULTIPLE CHOICE oak. SAVE ZU 0/0 OFF PR cEs Special Discounts On Al in Stock Wol coverings Prices in effect until May 15,1985 CARPETING CUSNIONFLOR AND LINOLEUM rut 11 :Y (P TT H)WE ULMMTi\G (t'.tHt DRAPER IFS FINIPAY DECORATORS Lucic„o.., Ontario WALLPAPER AND'C I L PAINTS Phone %11.1.14