HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1989-04-19, Page 5FC critic expresses concern
on high levels of violent crime
'''0 THE EDITOR
To the Editor:
Crime: A Problem
Liberals Won't Address
Over the last year, as P.C. Critic for the
Ministry of the Solicitor General, I have
been very concerned about the high levels
of violent crime in Ontario and the
devastating effects it has on the people of
this province.
I have been particularly interested in
issues such as the release 'of dangerous
psychiatric patients on Lieutenant Gover-
nor's Warrants, the declining support for
our police by the Liberal government, the
disturbing presence of drug abuse and
drug related crimes and the increased in-
cidence of, and viciousness by, youth
street gangs.
In each of these areas, I believe the
government has failed to show the courage
and leadership necessary in a contem-
porary, growing province. I have question-
ed the Solicitor General about these and
other problems that the government has
refused to address.
I am appalled by the odd attitude of the
Solicitor General regarding law enforce-
ment in Ontario. Consistently, she has fail-
ed to support police officers across this
-province_fortheeeffective j b they do for us
on a daily basis. On a number of occasions,
police officers have been injured or wound-
ed while on duty and it has been the Pro-
gressive Conservative party, rather than
the Solicitor General or any member of the
Liberal government, who has risen in the
House to acknowledge and applaud these
life-threatening eforts.
The recent prominence of vicious street
gangs in Metro Toronto provides an il-
lustrative example of the problems police
face in the administration of justice in On-
tario. While the number of murder convic-
tions in Toronto declined from 58 to 51 bet-
ween 1987 and 1988, other convictions, such
as assault, robbery and weapons posses-
sion, increased dramatically.
In this environment, police clearly need
increased support from the Ontario
government. However, that support has
been slow to arrive and, as a result, many
poeple in Ontario - particularly Metro
Toronto - needlessly live in fear, while the
Solicitor General refuses to provide ade-
quate moral or financial support for our
police. While changes in the Young Of-
fenders' Act would certainly make violent
young people more accountable for their
actions, legal reforms are not enough. The
Liberal government must regain the
respect of the police after months of
treating them like second class citizens.
In a civilized society, criminals must be
punished and lawlessness and intimidation
cannot be ignored. Police are doing their
best to protect the law abiding citizens of
Ontario. The time has come for the govern-
ment to support them in these efforts,
rather than leaving them, and the people
of this province, in an intolerable state of
insecurity and uncertainty.
Yours Sincerely,
Bob Runciman, M.P.P.
P.C. Critic for the
Mininstry of the
Solicitor General
-Seorp�o
.not nice people??
• from page 4
aid. I may not need others, but when others
need me, I am usally there. Well, that's a
pretty good trait for one to have.
Fellow Scorpions - do you think the per-
son that wrote this nonsense was judging
all Scorpions by a few personal en-
counters? As far as I am concerned, we
are loving, witty, selfless, big-hearted,
kind, generous, charming people, with
perhaps a couple of bad traits thrown in -
just to prove no one is perfect, but we come
close to it!
Have a good laugh and a good week !
P.S. In last week's column I neglected to
mention "Indiana" Jones Junior,who
assisted his dad and Missy Jones who serv-
ed refreshments to Number One Son dur-
ing his predicament. Thanks kids!
Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, April 19,1989—Page 5
ATTENTION: UWO STUDENTS
IMPROVE YOUR LEARNING, RESEARCH
AND ESSAY WRITING SKILLS
Library Research and Essay Writing Workshop
Learn to use a Targe research library to prepare for research papers. Overcome your anxiety
about essay writing.
Saturday, May 13, 1989, 9 am - 3 pm Fee: 530
Learning Skills Workshop
Improve your lecture and note -taking techniques and develop strategies for exam preparation.
Saturday, May 13, 1989, 9 am - 3 pm Fee $30
The above workshops are designed specifically for part-time and mature students.
For registration information call:
(519) 681-3631
The University of Western Ontario
Faculty of Part -Time and Continuing Education
Room 23, Stevenson -Lawson Building
London, Ontario N6A 5B8
MEMORIALS OF DISTINCTION
For friendly counsel without obligation,
We invite you tosee about the
selection of a family monument.
For more information call
;flan. Design*,
Cim or Grant at 881-0234
INDOOR SHOWROOM
WALKERTON
About 250 members of the Canadian Diabetes Association (Ontario Division) held their
annual general meeting in London March 31 to April 2. Clarence Webb, Barbara Major-
McEwan and Teresa Courtney of the Huron -Bruce Branch presented a cheque for $4000
for the Charles H. Best Fund to Morse Silden, immediate past president of the national
Canadian Diabetes Association, and Charles Parson, president of the CDA, Ontario Divi-
sion. The fund, which was established in 1975 in honor of the co -discover of insulin, will
provide $4.1 million in 1989/90 to support 102 reserach projects in Canada.
Illegal h u n ting nets X500 fine
On Apr. 10, at Walkerton Provincial Of-
fences Court, a Kinloss resident pleaded
guilty -to unlawful possession of eer un er
the Game and Fish Act and was fined $500.
The venison was forfeited to the Crown.
On November 6, 1988, Conservation Of-
ficers from Wingham District responded
to a report of an illegal deer kill at a
residence' in Kinloss Township, Bruce
County. The deer, which had been cut up
into eight pieces and -hung in a shed, was
seized. The damage to the rib cage in-
dicated that the deer had been shot by a
gun rather than a crossbow as the accused
had originally stated.
The Centre of Forensic Sciences in
Toronto analyzed the wound and confirm-
ed the officer's suspicions by finding a lead
fragment in the wound area.
The five day rifle and shotgun season in
southern Bruce County commenced on
November 7, 1988.
The deer population in, the Wingham
District and most of Ontario is rapidly ex-
panding and the ministry expects that il-
legal hunting activity will increase as well.
The Ministry of Natural Resource says it
provides liberal hunting seasons for both
- uurrandarchery hunters: he deerpopula=
tions must be protected at other times in
other to sustain or increase the herds.
Dr. Colin Campbell
to speak in Lucknow
Dr. Colin Campbell of The Interna-
tional Order of St. Luke will be at St.
Peter's Anglican Church, Lucknow, on
April 22, at 1 p.m., to speak on Divine
Healing.
Dr. Campbell is the Canadian Board
Member of this International Order,
well-known in Canada and throughout
the world.
His program is a three part series on
healing that includes - scientific vs
spiritual, suffering and answered
prayer, and practice which offers an op-
portunity for personal healing prayer.
This is a non -denominational meeting
and all are welcome to attend.
For Your .FERTILIZER and CHEMICAL needs
call
CARGILL FERTILIZER
(formerly Cyanamid Farm Supply)
233-3423
INCOME TAX RETURNS
PROFESSIONALL Y PREPARED
WATSON AND SCHMIDT
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
970 Queen St., Kincardine
39639P5
OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE -
Financial Statement Preparation
Personal Financial Planning
Business Services
Income Tax Planning
Auditing
STEVEN D. WATSON, CA
BARRY W. SST, CA