Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-03-04, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1992. E ditorial There's only one taxpayer Finance Minister Don Mazankowski brought down his first budget last week and spent a lot of time reminding people that "there is only one taxpayer". He's right, of course, but it's loo bad he wouldn't heed his own advice instead of passing the tax bill on to other levels of government. Ontario Premier Bob Rae was one of those who was offended by the Finance Minister's warning that the provinces shouldn't increase taxes. Mr. Mazankowski and his predecessor Michael Wilson made it virtually impossible for provinces not to increase their taxes by passing them responsibility for some of the most expensive programs in government. Education and health care are two items that eat up the largest portion of the budget and the feds had capped contributions, leaving it to the provinces to try to figure out where the extra money is coming from. In addition, at the start of one of the most severe recessions in living memory, the federal government revamped the Unemployment Insurance system so that people had to work longer to win benefits, then lost the benefits earlier if they were unemployed. With 1.5 million people out of work, many people have exhausted their benefits and have nowhere to turn but the welfare rolls, further burdening the provincial budget. Of course Mr. Rae's government has been expert in this passing-the- bill technique too. Municipalities, the governments with the fewest options in ways of raising money, have had a lot of extra costs dumped in their laps. The province, for instance, will cut money to Huron County roads this year, making it hard for the county to hold the line. Already the county's 20 per cent share of welfare costs mean a tax increase is unavoidable. Welfare costs were hiked even more because the provincial government brought in new regulations last fall that meant literally thousands more people are eligible to welfare, even if they're working. The province has passed along the federal government's cuts to education by giving only one per cent increase in funding to local board of education. Those boards, however, must still try to deal with teachers' unions that in many areas of the province have indicated they still expect to get 5-6 per cent pay increases. Unlike federal and provincial governments, school boards have no ability to legislate their employees back to work, meaning the bargaining power is almost completely on the side of the union. Finance ministers keep telling people they will have to take more personal responsibility but they don't practice what they preach by cutting their own costs. The politicians instead have learned the pleasures of passing along costs, then delivering lectures as well. Rules, rules, rules There may be a shortage of a lot of things in the recession the country is suffering through, but there doesn't seem to be any shortage of new laws. The provincial NDP government seems determined to prove it can do things, even if the majority of the population doesn't want it done. It is shown a total determination to pass new labour legislation even though a strong business lobby is warning it will mean a loss of thousands of more jobs in Ontario. There is a line-up of new environmental and social legislation being prepared for debate. But the legislation that may be the most foolishly out of proportion is new conflict of interest legislation the province would force on local municipalities. Local councillors are up in arms over the plan that would force complicated disclosure procedures on councillors and their families. Some councillors are threatening to quit politics if the legislation comes in. There's no argument that ordinary citizens need protection from people who may go into politics to fatten their own purses by awarding themselves contracts. The fact is, however, that there is already legislation in place that does a pretty good job in making sure politicians can't feather their own nests. It's perhaps possible that politicians could still get away with helping themselves with government contracts to companies in which they had secret holdings but it's hardly likely. At the local level, being in politics is sort of like showering in a phone booth: there isn't much chance to hide something. If a politician doesn't declare a conflict of interest, people are likely to soon pick up the deception. There may be people who manage to slip one through on an unsuspecting public but the question needs to be asked, is all the fuss and bother worth it for the small improvement that might be made? Is it worth losing a lot of good politicians to stop one or two bad ones? Looking Back Through the YearsLooking Back Through the Years ONE YEAR AGO March 6,1991 The Blyth Festival of the Arts received the Toronto Drama Bench Award in recognition of its distin­ guished contribution to Canadian Theatre. The four Artistic Directors of Blyth Festival, past and present, Peter Smith, James Roy, Janet Amos and Katherine Kaszas, were all on hand for the presentation. It was the first time in its history that the award was given to an organi­ zation. The Ministry of Natural Resources announced it would spend $565,200 on seven public works projects in the Parkhill, Grand Bend and Goderich areas in the spring. The projects were undertaken to enhance local forests and watersheds, and to maintain and repair public structures and facilities. The Public Speaking Contest between Grey Central Public School and Brussels Public School was held at the Brussels Legion. Winning the senior division was Darrell Uhler of Grey, and the junior division was Bradley Willis, also of Grey. THREE YEARS AGO March 1,1989 Blyth Festival activities received a long-awaited provincial grant of $900,000 for their expansions, which included an addition to the theatre building as well as renova­ tions of nearby offices and the completion of a large new complex of shops on Dinsley Street. Creditors for the bankrupt Brus­ sels Stockyards Limited received cheques covering up to 84 per cent of their losses. FIVE YEARS AGO March 4,1987 Sarah Jean Allan of Blyth placed first in the junior division of both the Branch Level and the Zone Level of the Royal Canadian Legion's annual Remembrance Day Literary Contest. Ontario Provincial Police were called to quell a fight between hockey fans during the third period of a playoff game between the Brussels Bulls and the Mitchell Juniors. An eyewitness reported that about 50 fans from both sides were involved in the disturbance, but all was quiet by the time police arrived. No charges were laid. A fourth generation of the Bain­ ton family took over the Bainton Old Mill Ltd., retail operation. Franklin, Jayne, Amanda and Richard Snell, great-grandchildren of the company's co-founder Allen Bert Bainton, have taken over the retail operations. CitizenTheNorthHuron P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable In advance at a rate of $20.50/year ($19.16 plus $1.34 G.S.T.) for local; $41.73/year ($39.00 plus $2.73 G.S.T.) for local letter carrier in Goderich, Hanover, Listowel, etc. and out-of-area (40 miles from Brussels); $60.00/year for U.S.A, and Foreign. Advertising is accepted on the condition that In the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copywright. Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Sales Representatives, Sue Wilson and Jeannette McNeil Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 Serving Blyth, Brussels, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and the surrounding townships.