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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-05-28, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28,1997 C itizenTheNorthHuron P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil PAIO The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $27.00/year ($25.24 + $1.76 G.S.T.) in Canada; $62.00/year in U.S.A, and $75.00/year In other foreign countries. 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 © Copyright. Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 Behind the charm The most important story, as Canadians head toward the June 2 election campaign, has been the re-emergence of the Progressive Conservative party as a national force. E ditorial i............:.... :j Led by the most charming, and youngest, leader among the major parties, the Tories seem on the path back from their disaster of the 1993 election when they were reduced to two seats after one of the largest majorities in history. The reemergence of a truly national party as an alternative to the Liberals, is important to the country. While it’s unlikely to happen in this election, the Liberals must someday be replaced, and when the time comes a truly national alternative is needed. Of the existing parties, the Tories seem likely to be that alternative. Just like the Bloc Quebecois, Reform is a party of protest Bom in western alienation, it must gain in Ontario to become a national force. But it is using anger and alienation as its keys to win votes here: anger with Quebec, anger against immigrants, anger against anything that can't be controlled. In the long run, this is not the way to build a country. The NDP could be a force for unity but it has never caught on in Quebec or the Maritimes. Charest offers the only national hope, and as such has been getting glowing reviews in the media. But those reviews haven’t delved behind the charming face to look at the Charest platform. Do Ontario voters, for instance, really want to copy the policies of the provincial Harris government at the federal level? Much of the federal PC team is made up of the people who helped Harris get elected. Like Harris, Charest is promising tax cuts. But Ontario voters have seen how expensive those tax cuts can be to many of the programs they hold dear. Do farmers, for instance, really want to see Agriculture Canada disappear, merged with the departments of Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries and Oceans to create a Department of Sustainable Resources? In a time when 30 seconds on television influences the way people vote, the fresh face of Charest is an inviting alternative to the other leaders. Too bad he didn’t have inviting policies to go with it — KR Photo by Jeannette McNeil Reflections of spring Less is less If it seems that candidates in the upcoming federal election don’t seem to have much new to say, there are probably some good reasons. Traditionally, those seeking office have tried to attract our support by promising the government will give us more. In the past, parties were able to dangle enticing policies like medicare or CPP. But the debt crisis and our support of the Mulroney government’s free trade initiative in 1988, effectively changed all that, probably forever. Not only can a debt-ridden country not afford new programs, but free trade means governments must be less interventionist. Some of the things that governments could do to try to help create jobs in the past are illegal under international trade rules now. So the philosophy is that the only way to create jobs is to make the conditions inviting for entrepreneurs to start new enterprises. Given that the government cannot promise us more, some parties have taken to promising us less. The idea is that by promising us a tax cut, we will have more money in our pockets which we will spend on things and by spending, we will create jobs. But this idea already failed in the 1980s in the U.S. under Ronald Reagan’s infamous “trickle down” theory. And as we’ve found out in Ontario, though most of us complain about how much we pay in taxes, when we get some of that money back, it looks pretty tiny. In fact, most ordinary people have ended up with less money because user fees quickly gobbled up the money in the tax cut The only people who really gain with these tax cuts are the people who pay a lot of tax. The unfortunate part is that the money they save usually isn’t used to buy things made in Canada to create jobs here, it’s spent investing in luxuries, most often made elsewhere, or in investments in Third World countries that show a higher rate of return than can be found in Canada. As a result, after four years of Liberal government policies catering to business, after two years of provincial Conservative policies catering to the well-to-do, we still have near-record unemployment and a sense of hopelessness for many Canadians. Government now can’t be what it once was for Canadians — a force to improve our lives. — KR Letters THE EDITOR, As a representative of MADD Huron/Bruce (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), I have received many comments, mostly negative, regarding the ongoing telephone solicitation being carried on nation- wide by MADD Canada, our "parent" organization with headquarters in Mississauga. We have had reports of harassment and demands for minimum donations by these telephone solicitors, who are not MADD volunteers but rather employees of Rees Brothers Ltd., a telemarketing company contracted by MADD Canada to raise funds. While we, as a chapter, recognize the need for professional fundraising at a national level, we do not agree with the manner in which this particular campaign is being carried out. We have spoken to the MADD Canada people at length about our concerns that the campaign is perceived by many people to be a definite nuisance and that it is insensitive to the MADD V-P speaks against policy individual circumstances of people contacted by the telemarketers. To date nothing has been done to address our concerns and the campaign continues. We wish to disassociate the Huron/Bruce Chapter of MADD Canada from this telephone solicitation campaign. If you wish, you may have your name removed from the telemarketing company's computer database by simply asking firmly that this be done. You can do this with any telephone solicitation, not just MADD Canada's. They must remove your name if requested! This stated, we encourage support of MADD Canada at every level. The national organization does a wonderful job and needs your help to continue to fight against impaired driving. We will attend the National Conference in Mississauga next week and again bring to their attention our concerns regarding the telemarketing campaign. Thanks to all the individuals, organizations, and businesses that have supported our chapter in our first two years. Sincerely, in the interest of savings lives, Dr. David Magee, Vice President MADD Huron/Bruce. THE EDITOR, This past long weekend is usually the sign of the beginning of summer. Unfortunately some people were upset at this weekend. When we were gone for the weekend, we got a call from a concerned neighbours that something had happened to our place. It was not a good sight to see that eggs had been thrown at the siding on the house. Also, the flowers and the bulbs were pulled out. There was another time that the wishing well was deliberately pushed down and the flowers were ruined. We are a family of four who has lived in Brussels for 11 years. We thought this place would be a quiet atmosphere in which to raise children. We usually try to keep our property presentable and clean. Now, we feel that we can't put anything suitable outside without it getting damaged. The people who enjoy vandalism must be gratified that our values are lost because they had nothing else to do or they were bored. Society should be aware of the destruction. Margaret Roetclsoender.