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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-08-21, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, August 21, 1996 Publisher & Editor. Jim Beckett Business Manager: Don Smith Production Manager: Deb Lord Advertlsina; Barb Consltt, Chad Eedy Pews; Heather Mir, Chris Skalkos, Ross Haugh, Brenda Burke Production; Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Brenda Hern, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner Transportation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgert Front Office & Accounting; Elaine Pinder, Sue Rollings, Ruthanne Negrijn, Anita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple et•IC tOMY The Exeter Times -Advocate is a member of a family of community newspapers providing news, advertising and information leadership • • inion C C.M.. Publications Mall Registration Number 0388 SUBSCRIPTION RATES; One year rate for Ontario subscribes - $38.00 + OST Two year rate for Ontario subscribers - $63.00 + 05T One year subscription - $83.00.Oa Two year subscription - 5119.00 + OST MOM= Outside Canada - 599.00 + OST Published Each Wednesday Morning at 424 Malo St., Exeter, Ontario, NOM 186 by J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Telephone 1419.2351331 • Fax: 5±9-2350788 11As3iOI33 Taxpayers - make up your mind first they want it then they don't. Grand Bend taxpayers should make up their minds and stop wasting coun- cil's time. Last year a large number of residents and landowners approached council with a proposal to change Main Street, in an effort to revitalize the downtown area. Council heard the idea and took the initiative to draft a proposal intro- ducing the concept of turning Main Street into a one way loop. However, before the concept could be finalized, an official amendment to the village's Official Plan needed to be made. Under the Planning Act council is required to seek public opinion be- fore adopting any amendments and called for a public meeting to seek the community's response to the idea. Approximately 50 residents arrived at council chambers to strongly oppose the Official Plan Amendment. Council heard them and agreed to shelve the proposal. However, no one in attendance spoke in favor of the proposal. This decision was made without hearing the other side. Where were the approximately 50 peo- ple who originally supported the idea? When council called a meeting to get public feedback doesn't that mean they want to hear opinions from both sides of the issue? Those who favored the idea should have attended that meeting to back council on this. Or at the very least, sup- ported them in writing. A one-sided de- bate is not productive for anybody. The time, money and effort put into studying the concept and drafting a pro- posal could have been better spent on other projects...only if the people con- cerned with this issue could make up their minds. Your Views Letters to the editor 'Friends of the Library' formed in Lucan rsyt��+rLi ;'K'P� No one disputes the fact that the library needs more space, espe- cially for children's program- ming... Dear Editor: In light of the Harris governments' slash and burn campaign more responsibility is being placed on the citizens to meet the challenging service needs with- in their communities. Inevitably this results in more grassroots organizations being formed and more presentations being made to municipal Councils to request funds for local initiatives. Often, these pro- posals are poorly researched or poorly presented. The concept may be right, the need self-explanatory but the process often neglected. Nothing then can be more pleasing to a Council than when a group emerges that has all their documentation in order and their support in place. Such was the case at the August 6 meeting of the Village of Lucan Council. The Council has deliberated for six months on a proposal that would move the Lucan library to a larger facility. No one disputes the fact that the li- brary needs more space, especially for children's programming. The main issue was the $4000. short- fall in revenue for rent. Council felt the taxpayer should not be saddled with this burden. When it be- came apparent that the library proposal was threat- ened with being put 'on hold' indefinitely, a group of mothers of small children rallied into action. On August 1 they organized a meeting of concerned cit- izens, duly elected an executive, developed all the necessary paperwork, contacted the governing bod- ies, formed a 'Friends of the Library' committee, designed a fund-raising campaign and took it to the streets. The following day their 'Let's Move It' campaign had already generated $1000. The long weekend presented a challenge to find people at home yet by August 6 the group had raised over $1600. The momentum continues. Despite all the negativity and the apathy that emerges from provincial downloading six mothers and one grandfather proved that where there is a will there is progress, optimism and a hope for a more prosperous future for their children. They took the challenge upon themselves to ensure local taxes would not increase as a result of the move, mobi- lized a group efficiently and effectively and present- ed the most well -thought out, most organized propo- sal I've witnessed since being on council. Their efforts are commendable and indeed impressive. The tide seems to be turning in Lucan. Council has voted in favor of entering into negoti- ations with the proponents of the deal but regardless of their decision Mary Lynn Hetherington (Chair) and the members of the Committee have proven that when citizens take responsibility for their communi- ty positive developments can happen. Sincerely, Rosemary Gahlinger-Beaune Councillor - Village of Lucan A View from Queen's Park TORONTO -- The party in worst shape in the Ontario legislature seems determined to squan- der its best resources. The New Democratic Party chose Howard Hampton as leader to succeed defeated premier Bob Rae and he then pettily squeezed its two best performers out of roles they had held with distinction. Floyd Laughren, who had been deputy pre- mier from 1990-95, was dropped as deputy leader and Dave Cooke as house leader after they co-chaired the campaign of Hampton's main opponent, Frances Lankin. The NDP is in the poorest shape because it lost government only a year ago and memories of its free -spending habits are still vivid and most disgruntled with Progressive Conservative Premier Mike Harris's cuts in public services are more likely to turn to the Liberals. The NDP also is consistently far behind other parties in polis and had only 14 per cent in the most recent. This is a party that cannot afford to waste any of its meagre By Eric Dowd Canned Tubouchi Simple.. Cruelties Brenda Burke The joy of moving Moving is one of my favorite and most frequent activites. Just recently, I once again experienced the joy of moving from one shack to another. I can still recall every precious moment. Packing Yes, stuffing breakable kitchen treasures in with a chain saw and rolls of toilet paper. We had to face the challenge head-on. One day to pack and one day to move. Two minutes before the packing rage began, my husband, who works in a grocery store, admitted he didn't bring home any cardboard boxes. After the hunt for boxes, along with an armful of detergents for the powerful clean -up -the -previous -house spree, I and a few fortunate family members began the invigorating task of cramming articles in boxes, garbage bags, milk crates and long socks. Following each little packing marathon that day, we gleefully loaded up the little truck and headed down the road, checking every once in a while to make sure articles hadn't escaped. And the weather, it was glorious - a balmy 32 - just perfect for lugging our precious belongings around. Unpacking Unpacking one's earthly treasures is always a rewarding experience. Every article that has been neglected, ignored, bathed in dust and abandoned gets to shine and scream at its owner,"Where are you going to put me?!" After racking the brains many times, the owner may devise a perfect solution. Why not put these elephant salt and pepper shakers in this box over here with the scuba gear and the old TV Guides? Besides, you can always unpack tomorrow (or during the next move) what you don't unpack today. What is most satisfying about unpacking box after box of junk is discovering the little necessities you wonder how you ever could have lived without: penny wrappers, empty perfume bottles, poems you wrote in Grade 2. I would have to believe unpacking is most exhilarating for the ultimate pack rat. Wading through stuff you haven't laid eyes on in decades is an indescribable act of passion. And the collection of empty boxes one accumulates while unpacking is a cherished memory in itself. The choice is difficult. Do you crush and recycle 'em or just toss them in the basement, lh'case ythr might need them sortie day? The memories Now that a semi -large portion of our possessions are unpacked and put somewhere, I can take the simple pleasure of lounging on the couch and becoming intimately familiar with bare windows, stark walls and bulging closets. Then the imagination takes hold because the joyous task of decorating, sorting and further unpacking never ends. I sit and dream of the next move and hope it's just as exciting as this one. Perhaps next time we'll move the furniture through a challenging ice storm or get caught with a box full of sweaters in a refreshing downpour. Or maybe we'll get the opportunity to spend five wondrous hours cleaning the exited house rather than only three and a half. One can never get enough of a good thing. strengths. But Laughren next to Rae was the most useful New Democrat, a finance minister whose prescriptions could be disagreed with but knowledgeable and able to answer questions with good humor Rae often lacked. Laughren does not have Rae's oratori- cal brilliance, but the NDP never looked aban- doned and sometimes more than held its own when Laughren stood in. Cooke as education minister won the NDP more support on policies than it found anywhere else. But he switched easily to partisan house leader and argued his party's case as fluently as any who held that position in recent times and they include such luminaries as Harris, Ernie Eves, now an admired deputy premier, and Lib- eral Sean Conway, considered the most gifted orator. Laughren and Cooke were incomparably stronger in the legislature than Hampton, whose successes are difficult to recall, and on perfor- mance both had much better qualifications to run as leader. Laughren presumably did not Has NDP run out of brotherly love? run because he is 60 and would have been too old to take over a party that at its most optimis- tic must think in terms of winning not the next election, but one seven years from now. Cooke, 44, would have risked facing the snide remarks about being a lifelong bachelor that recently helped deter an able Liberal from running for his party's vacant leadership. There has been talk that some Tories would not be above spreading such rumors, if the need arose. New leaders traditionally have been more willing to keep capable party members who opposed them, both to use their talents and promote unity. Harris made Dianne Cunningham deputy leader in opposition, although she had said he was too far to the right to win an election. All those Lyn McLeod defeated for Liberal leader got worthwhile roles as critics. Tory William Davis, after being chosen leader,invited over al- most the entire campaign team of Allan Law- rence, who nearly defeated him, and used it to win four elections and become the longest - serving premier this century. Hampton has given only lame explanations for ditching Laughren and Cooke. He said he wanted Tony Silipo as deputy leader because he is full of ideas for attracting people. Silipo lured just enough support in the leadership race to wind up fourth and last, but he had enough survival instinct to throw it behind Hampton. Hampton clearly wanted to court unionists who are still angry because Rae reduced public service pay to keep debt within some bounds and saw Laughren and Cooke as leading minis- ters in supporting the cut. But Hampton voted for the same cut and a more principled leader would have shown his support for Laughren and Cooke by standing by them,instead of serving their heads on a platter. Hampton also is trying to put his own stamp on his party, but so far he has merely bowed and scraped to unions and let the world know the NDP has run out of brotherly love. A. 1