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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-07-10, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, July 10, 1996 Publisher 8t Editor: Jim Beckett Bu$111ess M1111 er: Don Smith Production M er. Dir, Lord Adyertising„ Barb Cons ,.Chad Eedy (News; Heather Mir, Chris Skalkos, Ross Haugh, Brenda Burke Production. Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Brenda Hem, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner Transportation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgert From Office & Accounting Elaine Pinder, Sue Rollings, Ruthanne Negrijn, Anita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple The Exeter Times Advocate is a member of a family of community newspapers "' providing news, advertising and information leadership • • Publications MMI Registration Number 0386 guescmpnon RATES One year rate for Ontario subScrlbsrs • $36.00 + Two year rate foo Ontario subscribers - $63.00 + CANIMMUUMMULLOIMMANURia One year subscription - $63.00 + 05T Two year subscription - $119.00 + 0ST 0IIMILBATES Outside Canada - $99.00 + OST Published hear wedneeday steams at 424 Mar, St., Exeter, Ontario, NOM 155 by J.W. tedy PubrNcatlom Ltd. Telephone 1-61112344331 • Fax: 511,2350755 a.$.T. Mt108210e15 Dangerous ideologues he underlying ideological theme of the provincial Conservative government is that publicly funded bodies shouldn't be involved in any program unless it is absolutely neces- sary. The idea is that government can't be the best at anything if does. The private sector and forces of the market are in- herently the most efficient method of operation. The market is king. In sharp contrast to the present Con- servative agenda, the New Democratic Party believed it was the duty of the government to protect the public from what it considered to be the evil forces of the market. Taxation was the means by which to correct disparities in the market. Both governments were driven by a dangerous adherence to their ideology. Strict adherence to ideology creates divisions within society and maginaliz- es individuals and groups who wish to take part. Whereas the NDP alienated small business owners, the engine of our economy, the Conservatives are alienat- ing social -minded people who do good in our communities. By the end of his term, former NDP Premier Bob Rae had tempered his stand, had broken a collective bargain- ing agreement and realized the drain on '� �n e a TE:boowtosi the economy of spending $10 billion more a year than he took in. Rae realized the problems and con- strictions provided by adherence to his ideology, although it was too late for his party. Ironically, Rae's movement from the party ideology resulted in his alienation from many traditional supporters of the NDP such as labor and social groups. Many of those supporters, who saw no hope in the Liberal party, swung all the way over to Mike Harris and his tax cut. There are many parallels between Har- ris' and Rae's first years in office. Harris certainly has outdone Rae in restructur- ing the way we are governed, but both introduced laws that went too far one way or the other in favor of their ideolo- gy without looking objectively at what impact such changes could have on the economy and social confidence. Let's hope Hams hasn't gone too far and irreparably destroyed programs that did provide protection for the less fortu- nate and for our environment, if we de- cide we want them in the future. It's impossible for all governments to be inclusive, but there should be an ef- fort by government to represent all per- sons in society as opposed to only those who elected it. fes,,,. .w. wt.- -R•r t tot, h 'ngham Advance -Times The value of a handshake "We had a nice visit and shook hands since everything was re- solved." Dear Editor: A few weeks ago Ron Westman wrote this paper that he was not notified about the new home for mentally challenged people that is being built near him. Accusations were made that the town of Exeter has been underhanded and had collaborated with the group who is building the home. At the time I was president of Community Living S.H. so I thought I would make a personal visit to Ron Westman and hear his concerns. I was treated courteously, friendly and was assured that his con- cern was taken care of sin:P. 4w7 tnwn would public- ly apologize in the paper. We .. ris..e visit and shook hands since everything was resolved. Now Ron Westman writes to the paper again that the town should not have caved in to special interest groups such as myself and that he would have held up the building of this new home for ninety (90) days. Also, the Exeter town council members were once again raked over the coals and accused of be- ing dishonest. I can assure everyone who reads this that every- thing was done according to the bylaws just like any other building. I am terribly disappointed that Ron has again expressed such feelings publicly. It appears that we only hear complaints about our local council. I encourage all citizens of Exeter to write to this paper about positive things that are hap- pening as well in our town. I am proud to be a citi- zen of Exeter but am disappointed that the long held value of a handshake...may also have lost its value. Herb J. Verbeek Toronto -- Premier Mike Harris is more popu- lar in the suburbs than Kentucky Fried Chicken and they may soon be naming their strip malls after him. Harris and his Progressive Conserva- tives' promises to cut government and taxes ap- pealed particularly to suburban residents in the 1995 election so that their party now dominates the huge swath of suburban ridings in and around Metropolitan Toronto. The Tories fared less well in the city and have been characterized as a party of white sub- urban males and they are showing they are pre- pared to live up to this description. The Tories have said they will step in where previous Liberal and New Democrat govern- ments preferred not to tread and allow Metro- politan Toronto to tax all homes within its boundaries on market value or a slight variation called actual value whose impact essentially is the same. This will help tate Totks Ao claim they have a 'uniform' system for assessing homes for taxes and be a boon and financial windfall to the sub- urbs which have shown they appreciate Harris. Homes ideally should pay tax reflecting the services they consume, but there are difficulties in calculating this and market value has be- come a widely accepted yardstick. This makes for such inequities as a small, well-maintained house costing more and there- fore being taxed higher than a larger, neglected house in a less desired area which contains more residents and consumes mote services. But homeowners probably can live with them when they are taxed by a normal municipality in which prices of houses are subject to reason- ably similar pressures. But in an unusually large and sprawling municipality like Metro- politan Toronto, which is unique in this respect in Ontario, there is such huge upward pressure on prices of houses in the central area, because many want to live there, that they commonly are valued at two or three times as much as al- most identical houses on the outer fringe of a By Touya Riehl Student Employment 0 Inside interviews - part 2 The June statistics are in! Overall, job vacancies are up by 16%. Considering the delay in the farm work, I am quite pleased with these results. There are still plenty of students ready and willing to work, • especially younger students looking for part-time and casual work. If you are an employer looking for students, call 235-1711. The next couple of weeks should be busy for the office with a BABYSITTING COURSE planned for July 15, 16, and 19 and a FIRST AID AND CPR COURSE planned for the following week. If you are interested in either course there is still time to register. INSIDE INTERVIEWS - PART 2 Last week I shared with you a few ways you can prepare for an interview. This week I will deal with the actual interview. The day of the interview, allow yourself plenty of time to get ready. Plan to arrive around ten to fifteen minutes early and leave time for unexpected things such as a flat tire. Murphy's Law states that these events will only happen when you have an important place to be. If the situation does arise that you absolutely can not make your interview, call, explain the situation,' and try to reschedule. Remember to take your social insurance number, the names and phone numbers of your references, a couple copies of your resume, the times you are available for work, a pen, and a pad of paper. When you arrive let the employer know that you are there. You will probably be asked to wait, take thin time to take a few deep breaths to deal with your nervousness. Being nervous is natural, employers expect a little nervousness. An entire lack of nervousness may indicate to the employer that you are not interested in the job. When the employer comes for you, be sure to shake their hand firmly, make eye contact, and introduce yourself confidently. During the interview, maintain eye contact, listen closely to the interviewer, and answer all questions carefully and honestly. If there is a question you are unsure of, simply ask them to repeat it. This will allow you a little more time to think about your answer. There is a lengthy 11st of things you should not do during an interview. Bare with me as I list them because they are important. Don't take a friend or a relative. Don't smoke or chew gum. Don't wear a hat or a walkman. Don't be too shy or too aggressive. Don't say negative things about others, remember you live in a small community and the interviewer could be related to the person you are attacking. All of this may seem overwhelming at first, but the more practice you get, the better you will do. In my office we have an interview simulator that is a great forum for practicing your interview skills without the risk of failing. Everyone is invited to come in and try it. In summary, be prepared, use common sense, and be yourself; the rest will come naturally. Next week I will give some tips ` for on the job. Until then! Harris popular In suburbs suburb. If Metro is allowed to tax all houses at market or actual value, therefore, a house in its centre often will pay two or three times as much tax as virtually the same house in a far-flung suburb. The discrimination against the city -dweller in fact will be even greater because suburban houses on large lots in sprawling subdivisions cost more to service than the densely packed houses of the city. The cry from the suburbs is that the rich liv- ing in mansions downtown are resisting a change to MVA/AVA that has been accepted by most places. Brit in fact many who own homes downtown have average incomes and have been prepared to devote a higher propor- tion of them to be clear the centre. Many in the city also live in narrow, crammed -together semis that nonetheless cost more than spacious . ranch bungalows and doubled -fronted detached homes in suburbs, as real estate ads illustrate, and therefore will pay higher taxes while in in- comparably poorer houses. Some downtown homeowners are affluent, of course, but is it equitable for anyone to pay two or three times as much tax as an owner of an identical house in another part of the same mu- nicipality? Previous governments have been persuaded by these arguments and even Harris was at one time. Harris protested melodramatically in 1992 when an NDP government flirted with MVA that it would 'destroy the heart and soul' of To- ronto and Municipal Affairs Minister Al Leach said flatly in the 1995 election that 'my party and I will never support the imposition of MVA in Metro Toronto.' These are Tories who b. est they keep their promises and have changed their minds and will probably lose downtown seats over it -- but they will be the toast of Tim Hortons: