Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-06-12, Page 4Pae 4 Tknes-Advocate, June 12,1991 Publisher. Jim Beckett News Editor: Adrian Harts Business Manager: Don smith Composition Manager. Deb Lord Second Class Mall Registration Number 0386 UllBSCRICTION RATFS• CANADA Within 40 mils* (65 km.) addressed to non litter UMW addressee $30.00 plea $2.310 0.5.T. Outlede 40 mites (65 km.) Of any letter anter a $4.20address.T. $30.00 plus $30.00 postage(total Outside Canada $68.00 • "Men are never so likely ' to settle a question rightly as when they discuss it freely." ... Thomas Macauley . t 1+� Esa/ar, 0M Telas y at 424 We 6t.. hrtlaMtar Ltd. G.O.T. 061012106116 I':1)I"1'()R1I, Who's causing problems? The fuss over Prime Minister Malroney's comments in Ja- pan on the Ontario budget def- icit last week would be funny if it wasn't so sad. Once again the Prime Minister showed he just doesn't know whento keep his mouth shut and once again he tried to fend off criticism of himself by blaming the whole mess on the media. The point remains, however, that a Prime Minister has no business playing internal politics when he is on an inter- national trade mission, supposedly drumming up business for the whole country. The reaction of his Conservative col- leagues at home was equally interesting. Finance Minister Don Maznaknowski defended the PM claiming he didn't say what he had said, then turned his attack on the Ontario NDP, saying that, in fact, what the Prime Minister said he didn't say was true anyway. The Ontario defi- cit is a disaster that threatens the whole economic health of the country, he said. For the federal government, which seems unable to get its deficit under con- trol despite huge tax increases, to com- plain about the provincial deficit seems a little like the pot calling the kettle black. Right or wrong, the NDP thinks taking on a deficit at this time is the way to fight the recession that has been crip- pill& Ontario. The policy does fit the theory that you spend when times are tough, then pay back when the times are good: the problem is that in Canada we never seem to pay back no matter how good the times get. More to the point, however, is that Ot- tawa has helped its own deficit problem by dumping additional costs on the provinces. Cutbacks in big -budget areas like health-care and education have left the provinces with the tough choice of either cutting services or spending more. It's rather smug of the federal govern- ment to blame the provinces for deficits that the feds helped cause in the first place. Blyth Citizen Enjoy the Canadian stroke in tt a lttoon? . Some the fireflies will be out in full force. Do you know why they glow in the dark? They carry little heaters on their back, just in case the tempera- ture drops to below zero centi- -ade at night. 'es, you know it's summer in Canada when the cars parked According to sometimes relia- ble sources, summer will be with us roughly around June 21st. I never know exactly when, because the astronomers or astrologers or whoever deter- mines such things keep chang- ing the date around. Nevertheless, summer is ex- pected to pass through many parts of Canada for a period of 50 days or so, pushing tempera- tures to well above the freezing point. I'm going to get ready. What about you? Summer is about to hit us. Hockey is finally over (hooray for hockeyless June!). The long-sleeved shirts, the car- digans and the flannel bed sheets can be put away - but not too far away. And the flesh can be exposed. I'm not going to delay, though, because in ten weeks from now we can expect forst again in the proverbial low-lying areas. And the leaves on the first nervous maple trees are going to tum orange and crimson. I won't wait too long because the kids .will start school again in ten weeks, and Hallowe'en is only 20 weeks away. I'm going to enjoy the brief in- terval between the first and the second generation of mosqui- toes, the hiatus between the first and second crop of dandelions. I love our Canadian summer. Where else can you scrape ice off the windshield in the first week of June and stand in line for a room air conditioner in the second? Where else do the June bugs see their breath in the early morning and collapse of sun - Peter's Point • Peter Hessel in Lover's Lane keep their en- gines running throughout June, when the crickets cough and the frogs wheeze. A look at a world map or a globe tells us that we're as far south as the French Riviera, or as Florence and Venice. Maybe so, but I firmly believe that it is an optical illusion. If it is really true, then why are Canadian summers so short, eh? Is it that the Rockies nun in the wrong direction? Or that the Canadian Shield isn't high enough? At any rate, there's nothing be- tween us the Arctic except tun- dra and bush. So hurry, hurry! Get your shorts out, put on your sun glasses, and pretend you're hot. I've tried this trick with some degree of success on a sunny but breezy June day: I put on my suntan lotion, get a book and a cool drink and sit in the Letter to Editor "The burden of responsibility, urgent problems to overcome, decisions, pressures .. . thank goodness Parliament's back in session so I can get away from all that'" Statistical reports can be misleading Statistically, the future looks door and outdoor pools. and bleak for a 21 year old who is matching Ralph Lauren polo spending four years gaining tops and socks. Instead, they are what Americans call a liberal backpacking across Europe, vol- arts education. In laynien's unteering their services in com- terms, it's a broad-based learn- munity development projects in lesser developed countries, and fighting actively against dis- crimination of women and mi- norities. I personally find this description of the 20's genera - By tion flattering. RhondaObviously this second charac- 4 terization is a generalityPer. Vand"1ti ; haps it only suitably describes College of Wooster students who after four years of moral brainwashing graduate with an overly -strong concern for the welfare of the third world, the unfair treatment of African Americans and women, and the unjustifiable American involve- ment in other nations. Nonethe- less, by observing the lives of other 20 somethings, I believe others would characterize this generation as caring, responsi- ble, and determined to succeed. Statistic reports show that my generation may to be doomed to sub -level living standards. Oh well, 1'11 let the economists wor- ry about us if they want to be- cause I know that our new- found strength and determina- tion will take us far. I heard on the radio last week that the 20's generation will be the first generation in the history of the creation of the planet to have lower yearly incomes than their parents. This prospect frightens me considering my father is an un- derpaid Mennonite minister. It also does not surprise me. Even though I'm still a university stu- sU m m e r, , I -mtots, duringdentthekeep schooltwoonyearca, pus and . -a fullltime position -in 1fir'3trrrVV d>isr with all.. the windows ro , t mc; Nonetheless, it's absolut i jr up. It actually gets quite w \impossibie to keep any amount There are only 2,000 hours till of mad money in my savings ac - Labour Day, so I'm going to count because of gas prices, car ling experience which acts as the make every one of them count. insurance, and a VISA bill that necessary stepping stone before I'm going to enjoy this summer appears to triple every month graduate school. Unfortunately, whether it rains or freezes. I'm. (emergencies which arose while many of the College of Wooster going to set out the lawn chairs I was in France - honestly!). graduates are finding it difficult because their bright colour will Whatever I do, I can't seem to to be accepted by grad schools, lend a summery atmosphere to get ahead. The T -A graciously or can not financially support the place. Maybe I'll help the gives me two days off a week, the $15,000 a year investment. kids to pitch their orange pup and on one of those days I baby- As a result, a second character - tent on the lawn. Then I'll tum sit two darling youngsters with ization_of the 20's generation has the sprinkler on. I know the hearts of gold (I sure hope that arisen. I read in a magazine not children will refuse to run rubbish moves the mother too long ago that my generation through the frigid water, but it'll enough to give me a raise - just has been successfully vaccinated look like summer around here. kidding T.V.R!). I tried to get a for Yuppie Syndrome which re - There are lots of things we job picking strawberries, but cently plagued fans of Thirty can do to rush the reluctant sea- was politely rejected on the Something. The men and wom- son. And between 10 a.m. and 4 phone. I guess I sounded too en of the '90s are no longer sac - p.m. the sun does actually warm much like a city -girl worried rificing love, happiness, free - the air a bit. Remember. this is about getting dirt under the dom and daisies for frivolous the time you were dreaming nails. toys such as BMW's, yachts, in - about when you shovelled the driveway in January. Which, by the way, is only 25 weeks away. Oh well, O.K. So Canada is not famous for its long sum- ., 1, mere. But as a consolation 'we can always point to the high hu- midity we get in July and the drought in August - that's some- thing to brag about. And Canada does have the finest autumns on the globe. People come from all over this planet just to see our glorious fall colours. They're only 15 weeks away... PS: I've written this piece in the expectatlon that the unsea- sonably cool weather continues. Should you be basking in 30 de- grees C when you read this col- umn, you may not get Peter's Point at all. In that case, clip it and keep it for next year. Saving endangered spaces �...�,.a. To save endangered we- allow our irreplaceable Dear Editor. heritage. ape wilderness As crusaders for the World cies we must save endangered heritage to disappear. For informa- tion on how to ave Canada's En - :Awed Spaces call 1-800-387- Jackie En- : ShannnoHr dka, Laurie Glavin • In Cana - program, "Endangered Spaces spaces. program, we�like to thank da, the official area merchants and residents for list of species at their donations. A special thanks risk grew by 13 to Jennie Rowe, London Husky. this year, fr a f Rowe Fuels and Regal Greetings new total o195. for their efforts and generous con- + The list will contin- tributions to protect our natural ue growing if we Letter to Editor A compromise can be met Dear Editor: I am writing in regards to the is- sue of putting sidewalks on Pryde Blvd. As a former homeowner on Pryde I understand the reluctance of the people to have the side- walks installed. It was not, howev- er, the issue of whether or not there should be a sidewalk but where they were to be located. A couple of years ago stakes were put in whure llut were to be pacedd.. The new side- walks were about halfway be- tween the meet and the houses, at least this was the case on the southern portion of Pryde Blvd. Dear Sir. I would like to set the record straight on a number of points raised by Richard Israel in the Times Advocate (Bmcefield Post Office closed Friday, T -A, May 29/91).Mrs. a�ppoin Judy temporary Ipost�masturin 1987. At that time it was stressed dud the ertiporary and that CoPe s er Reaould l be convert Oaring then at sometime in the future. luen- flamed plow to pro proceed the conversion to a Rental Postal Out- let in the community. ARetail rangePostaodvPce and thee siun a ie products as a corporate -nm post We were con- cerned that these sidewalks would not look estheti- cally proper as they cut everyone's front yard vatually in But another concern was whether or not these sidewalks would even be used because to walk on them one would have to walk half way up someone's driveway first. The residents also felt that they would not be able to part in their drive- ways without blocking the side- walk. Letter to Editor office. Compensation for operating the Retail ,Postal Outlet is bawd on the difference between the purchase price and puand�haad selling price °f postal the operator. The tor is also�com- pensated on a perais prod- ucts n - ucta money order. As noted in the article. Mr. and Mrs. Israel decided not to accept P�opportunity of running a Retail al Oitdet at their atom. Cooney to Mr.tweet's allega- tions, at all meetings during the conversion protea Canada Post representatives state clearly our I well understand the need for sidewalks along that area as it is becoming more and more of a high traffic area. But perhaps a compro- mise should be met. At the ume, the residents said they would not oppose the sidewalks if they were installed the same distance from the street as the other sidewalks in town. But the town refused our proposition and so the project was abandoned. I feel the interests of all parties should be considered and am sure a compromise can be met! Janis Dougall plans for postal services and how we intend to implement those In contrast to other sectors of the economy, we have made a con- crete effort to maintain our retail p� in rural Canada and have b pn successful in the vast majori- ty of cases. Canada Post is committed to im- proving postal services and will continue to dolv g so at reasonable ship with local buai dresseson our relation- , a rela- tionship that already provides more than two-thirds of the 15,000 out- lets in Canada where starnps and other products can be purchased. Yana e l Tom Creech Media Relations Officer i