The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1992-04-01, Page 4- Letters to Editor 14.14 hues vanate, iApril 1,'111112 • ' :-imillee tett 11111mns it111atr.-nanm unite Ilmskiesellisiamper: Don Smith /ISIW II ampsr: Dab lord • PublimitiematAaltikaplainition Number 0 A6 stmt tutr iQvutu. Within 40 wMlae OS km.)...r emod So woo MOW stonier addwaaee 550.00 plus 42.10 Oatelde 40 miles (65 km.) or any MOW snub, edika is 590.00 Mus *15.25 postale (slat ONUS) plea 5a.94&$.T. L-.r.rrr raisee : Oat sloe awade 515.00 pinton I Growth, at all costs? Dr. David Suzuki's -message Saturday evening -in Orand Bend certainly touched a few -nerves. His statement that continued economic growth and development is somethingthat cannot sustained for- ever is a fact that we all know, deep &antito,ewie. And•yetourenlire system is -based on theassamptionthat next year there will he -more :of everything. Anything less is aoecessiion. 'We all assume that each year our town, village nor :city will have snore people -than last. 'To continue -this pace in view of'Canad 's declining birthrate, we bring in its to make up the numbers. There will be more jobs next year, r=nore sales, more industries. If we tatake our future nn -the hope -that;Eoreter vvidl.lave ..100 new -people every 'year, *hen it.would stand to -reason that -those MOO people nre-more important than the axmiribution of those who ialready jive Areae. As Suzuki points out, this justcan't be tttate. :Exeter mayor Bruce Shaw touched on this subject at a recent meeting. -Faced with the damn: figures asso- ciated with expanding -the. -town's sew- ge :capacity, he wondered aloud if -Ex - Ater could indeed "afford to grow". Other °-er-council members viewed this aJmoat-" heresy. Growth is essential, without it Exeter will be dead. Yet, looking at spending millions in or- to:serve the needs of such expansion, -thaw i -to question whether'the aver- age taxpayer could pay such a bill. Sub- •.divisionBini- er{do not get developed Mover a fvwrneonths,'Mit years. The re- turns on the investment :do not come quickly enough. No doubt council, and -bore councils, will shrug off such absurd -notions and find ways ..to rase new , 'po- tential,t>lttttsfter' listening .to . r • : ,. one .annot1be p'but wonder. if itis:notpossi- blefor4030-or ae people-to_iiveon'the 'banks of :the: Ausable'River;in 1ative ;tltabiiity, .focusing ,nn : g:•ffieir standards of i living,rimproving+their.en- vironment and :smmnndings,.>all .without :jgto<fnel auchrprogress with.a con- stant demandformore. Townstanci villages lived enjoyed such stability -for :es until the economic 'demands :of ;the industrial revolution changedrlhat. 7ftit.tmtid be possible to return to'that of thinking in a town or village, tldtit .not beipossible for cities, cotmtries, m the.world. If Suzuki isrright, that is our Indy_ hope. In praise of older fools "There is no fool like an old tool". "low often have you heard ior=used this -expression? :'LtAfter .extensive research (ex- .atmding.all the way to the other Ilido*Finy Office where I keep my Dictionary :of Quotations and my encyclopedia) I have discovered that the saying goes back to British dramatist and novelist John Lyly (1554-1606), who coined the phrase in his rea- listic farce "Mother Bombie". Fools and foolishness is a sub- ject I know something about, having been a fool:all:my life. When I was a child,:my foolish behaviour and prattle was, of course, attributed to :my lender age. When I remained foolish as a teenager, people used to con- sole my mother: "Hell grow out of it soon enough." Asa young fool in my 20s and 30s I regarded anyone over, 40 as an old fool. For example, when my dear old mother at the ridiculous age of 59 decided to many again - the lucky bride- groom was in his early 60s - I was convinced that both of them were old fools. When my own foolishness - ,didn't wear off in my middle •;;age, I became used to the idea that I was bom to be a fool. I purchased a fool's cap, a colour- , ..ful jester's suit with lots of tin- tjgling bells and baubles. And I have been eking it out making my living as a fool ever since. Not an easy chore in a country ;;,that prefers accountants, hockey 'players and psychiatrists. I have now become an older fool myself. Almost - but not just yct - a senior fool. And I urgc everyone in this merry month of April to revise their opinion of a breed that has been much maligned. In Canada and other so-xalled western countries (nest of where?) fools are a >et under- privileged class. Beings fool is -not popular. Ask my.ieartk man- ager, for example. T--eter's Point • Peter Hessel When I stroll into the bank to deposit the nickels and dimes my publishers and editors throw into my hat occasionally for jazzing up their pages with my foolish thoughts, the tellers gig- gle. Not only because of my ap- pearance. Also because no other adult customer plunks his -week- ly revenues on the counter in hard -coin currency. Unrolled coins, because there's never enough to make up a complete roll of anything. The time has come to accept and respect fools - especially older fools - as equal human be- ings. First-class fools don't like to be treated as second-class citi- zens. In fact, it's high time that our rights were enshrined in the constitution. We're Canada's only forgotten minority. Why should Slobodonian- Canadians for _example have more rights than we do? Even groups like nudist birdwatcbers (although i think that this partic- ular group is more odd than even) now receive generous government grants in all prov- inces except Newfoundland. And the Feds in Ottawa are es- tablishing an entire Directorate for left-handed bilingual toupee wearers with.badbreath. The largest number of fools on .a per -capita basis presently re- side (or simply abide).in Onta- rio, followed closely by Sas- -dcatehewan and Manitoba. The ;only • ofitdally foolproof prov- ,inee is Rueben, where foolish- ness was outlawed under the in - .famous Bill 1001. However, *ere is -evidence that under- ground cells of fools operate in Montreal, Hull and St -Louis du Ha! Ha! We fools are downtr ' n, but essential and .. ubstantit ..g- ment .of Canadian society. In- cluding amateur and part-time fools (= ordinary folks just fool- ing around), darn fools and stu- pid fools, harmless fools and vil- lage idiots, babbling, bloody and silly foils, we made up 33.333 percent of the population in 1991 (according to the Stupistics Canada Sensuous). Do you know any fools in your neighbourhood? Among your friends and relations? Why don't you start being kind to them? Invite a fool into your home, or take one out for lunch. It could be a rewarding experi- ence. With a bit of luck, you may even stumble across the rar- est but most wonderful kind - thc romantic fool. So won't you please make an effort to change your attitude? Fools must be fully integrated into society and appreciated for what they arc. Don't be like my brother-in-law who said when he met me: "i have nothing against fools. But 1 wouldn't want my sister to marry'one." Here's my April Fool's Day recommendation for you: the next time someone or something is making you;cry, go and ask a fool to make you laugh. speak out! E;tte;t., . Ito. .;this The Times Advocate continues to welcome letters to the editor as a forum for open discussion of local is sues, concerns, complaints, and kudos. The Times Advocate reserves the right to edit letters for brevity. Please send your letters to P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario, NOM 156. Sign your letter with both name and address. Anonymous letters will not be oubished. "Men are neuter 'so likely to settle a question rightly as when they discuss It freely." ... Thomas Macauley 14111200. tomb Thlu soy Mons** at 424 Main St., tiaMai.110019, NOM 2.116 by LW. EWy NMbatiPM I.M. Telephon.1-e1s.2sblis1 A.T. wtlosstesss SWOTA worth keeping .481164100r: nark. , -:after 18 ' Council victed to drep.the county's membership in the Southwestern Ontario Travel Association. For under$100,1heBlyih Festival has been enjoying many membership privileges with SWOTA that have helped to boost our audience atten- dance figures over the 40,000 Earlier -:•this month, along' with 20 other organizations I attended a special free seminar in Goderich spon- sored by SWOTA which was ex- tremely informative to my organi- zation. We're now the only county in southwestent o' ,fit a'. member of: this galeal ;aunt saciation. As my budgets get tight- er. this is one membership fee that I will not cut - we value this part- nership with SWOTA. Sincerely Jane Gardner Director of Communications Not all studies "spinning wheals" Dear Sir: We were prompted to write after reading a March 18, 1992 article entitled, "Too Many Studies, Not inough Action, Claims Zurich .Councillor." That short article touched on many questions about the value of government-sponsored studies. However, by mixing a number of unrelated matters together, the impression is left that the South Huron Economic Development Committeeis guilty of spinning its • svbeels and of doing unnecessary -studies at taxpayerexpensc. Councillor Barb Jeffrey of Zu- rich, a member of our conunittee, minors our view that govern- ments' approach to problem - solving is too often characterized by a "paralysis of analysis." More - .over, Mss. Jeffrey is also correct that some local industries have questioned the merits of the indus- try study and survey being conduct- ed by the South Huron Economic Development Commiuee. However, the newspaper article .should have been taken a step fur- .Ilter by making the following points: 1. The Committee's study is un- dertaken because of concerns con- veyed to us by local industry. In agreeing to lobby senior govern- ment levels on matters of bureaucratic streamlining and effective business devel- opment policy, the Committee con- cluded a convinc- ing argument demanded proper re- 4211110 e- Commiuec ilso klt:it,is Wrianny to deteatiune iW VMS of knowledge among our industries about business development pro- grams. The survey will enable us to better advise existing businesses and entrepreneurs on that subject. 3. Finally, it is worth noting that South Huron's study is being un- dertaken at very small expense to the taxpayer. Indeed, aside from relatively small expenditures for typing and computer analysis, ,the research effort is being done by the Committee on a voluntary no -cost basis. Before closing, the Committee wishes to express its appreciation to those local industries that re- sponded to our survey. The final report will be released shortly. �. Yours very truly, Rick Hundey Member ilaii gn:Economic Develop- - _ -- 'tient Go nuniuec Open letter to .David Cooke The Honourable David Cooke Minister of Municipal Affairs Ministry of Municipal Affairs 1 Ith Floor 777 Bay Street Toronto, Ontario M5G 2E5 Minister: Re: Municipal Conflict of Inter- est Draft Legislation Be advised that the Council of the Corporation -of the Village of Zurich, has by resolution, directed the Clerk to direct its concerns re- garding the Draft Conflict of Inter- est Legislation you have circulated for comments. These concerns were raised at the Corporation of the Village of Zurich's 11th of March 1992, Regular Council Meeting. 1. Council is concerned that Draft Legislation was not circulat- ed until one month into the consul- tation process. 2. Council feels that to impose additional and onerous legislative requirements upon Mems in mid-icrrn 10 be improper and un- fair to individuals who clearly met and agreed to all Legislative re- quirements at the time of their agreeing and naming for election in November of 1992. 3. Council feels that the Disclo- sure of Assets and Liabilities as de- tailed in the Draft Legislation ap- �to be onerous and quite c as well as appearing to be a violation of individual rights to privacy. 4. Not requiring all candidates for election to disclose assets and lia- bilities would or could give oppo news an unfair campaigning advan- tage. And if this draft legislation is enacted it should extend to all individuals seeking office. 5. Council feels that ex - disclosure of tendinaasssets 111) and liabilities to nonelected members of Municipal Boardsandcommii nes . will se- verely and restrict civic minded individuals froin taking an active role in their communities. 6. Council feels that the intent of ibis legislation is honourable, Council feels that to set a proper example to Municipal Politicians the same onerous and far reaching requiretneots of disclosure should be applied to all provincial elected Members and unelected individuals sitting on all provincial Commis - cions, Boards and Committees. 7. Council feels that the recom- mendations and conclusions made in the Cy Armstrong Report on Open Government were fair and reasonable and should be more re- flective in the base of any Legisla- tion regarding Open Government. 8. Council is concerned that' these and all recommendations ' made by all contributing • grouts and municipalities be seriously considered by the Minister before a ----- final draft of Open Govenunent• Legislation is proposed. The Council of the Village of Zurich is quite concerned by this Draft Legislation and has consid- ered their reconunendations 'care- fully. The Council trusts that their recommendations will be isid- ered with equal care. Any further corresppudence ire - gig this matter can be directed to the writer,st the Village of Zu- rich Municipal Offices. Thank you. Steven D. Armstrong, Clerk Treasurer, Pro Pcmporc. cc. Paul Klepp, M.P.P. Huron All Huron County Municipalities