Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2009-11-04, Page 5Opinion The Huron Expositor •.November 4, 2009 Page 5 Huron -Bruce MP's mailouts charging taxpayers for Tory literature lb the Editor, Another week. Another piece of , Zbry election material masquerad- ing as an MP message. If the MP's mail -out contained sig- nificant information for constituents I wouldn't begrudge the money spent to produce and deliver it. Our former MP sent constituents a useful book- let of information on programs that were available, current bills and is- sues in Parliament, as well as what he had been working on in his role in Ottawa. But these flyers are electioneering tools. They advertise only three bul- lets of information — cutting personal income tax, increasing the age credit amount for seniors, and the home renovation and first-time home -buy- er's tax credits. These . are listed as the "Conser- vative" government's plan - not the "Canadian" government's plan. We are well aware that in a minor- ity government the Conservatives cannot take ownership for what passes through the House. A signifi- cant number of members from other parties have to vote for these items to get through third reading and the Senate. In fact, without NDP and Bloc sup- port, the home renovation tax credit and the current government would not exist today. At the bottom of these one-page flyers is a mail -back section that is a blatant attempt to ' garner names of Conservative supporters in the period between elections. You can check off Stephen Harper's name in a questionable pseudo -survey. Our MP doesn't wantour answers or ideas. Bannockburn River is heading for ruins To the Editor, We consider ourselves lucky to be living in a country setting in the Mu- nicipality of Huron East. However, that setting has changed over the past three weeks. There is a small stream called the Bannockburn River, which is a feeder stream of the Bayfield Riv• - er flowing by on the north side of our property within easy walking distance of our home. The Bannockburn River is a healthy stream sup- porting spring runs of Lake Huron fish such as suckers and rainbow trout as well as a fall run of Chinook salmon. I am concerned that this all may be in jeopardy as this little stream has been turned into a froth- ing, blackened, smelly eye sore. The con- tamination is coming from a drainage ditch upstream of our property which the Ministry of Environment and the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority are aware of. Water samples have been taken, photos of dead fish have been captured and questions have been asked but as we all stand around and wonder, the flow of the contaminant still enters the Bannockburn River. This all may be protocol or it may be a way of keep ing the finger pointing to a minimum but should there not be action to quell the flow of the contamination into the river? Even after all these efforts this once vibrant stream is heading for ruins. Jamie Caldwell Kippen Reserve fund shouldn't be given to any developer To The Editor, I was quoted in last week's paper regarding my opposition to the Seaforth Reserve Fund being given to a private developer. I want to be clear that my issue is not just with this particular developer, but that the fund would be given to ANY developer. This is just not the right thing to do! The Seaforth Reserve Fund should be used for something that would benefit the people that contributed to the fund the Seaforth taxpay- ers. Thanks for listening, Barbara Box Seaforth, Ont. There is little space for writing any response. He and his party just want your name and contact information - once again mixing party business with government business. What the flyer doesn't tell you is that the mailing costs usuallyasso- ciated with sending non-adessed mail to every constituent . in the rid- ing will run around $4 000.' But an MP's mail is free - courtesy of the government. That doesn't mean it isn't paid for. You and I foot the bill through our taxes. On the other hand, political cam- paign literature must be paid for by the respective political parties. When our MP sends these sheets of paper out courtesy of the Canadian taxpayer, he is certainly pushing the envelope. If the Conservative party is send- ing them out, fine, but then they need to pay the bill amd take owner- ship of the literature. As a point of interest, according to the website [ http://www.how- dtheyvote.ca Jwww.howdtheyvote. ca, our MP's parliamentary record also shows that he did not vote for the extension of EI benefits or for much-needed affordable housing when these bills came up in Parlia- ment. This type of mailing is part and par- cel with the current debate around taking credit for money and work done by the government (and even previous governments) by signing novelty cheques with MP's names and affixing Conservative party lo- gos. As of Oct. 15, a number of photos on Ben Lobb's website displayed big cheques signed by him personally. The money, of course, is coming from the Government of Canada. During the last election campaign, Ben Lobb promised he - would not in- sult the residents of the riding with this kind of campaign literature. He has broken this promise repeatedly. How much dishonesty in govern- ment is okay? Joe Laurie RR#3 Clinton Winners of the L. Stephenson trophy for the Huron Football Association In 1957-58 Included from left In back, coach John Leeming, Mervyn Pepper, Bert Dennis, Tommy Love, Ron McClure, Don McClure and Jack Crozier, in the middle, coach Glen McClure, Nell Dolmage, Paul McCluskey, Wayne Doi - mage, John Boven and George Love and in the front, Albert Boven, Hughle Flynn, Ken McClure and Bob Betties. Frank Philips photo