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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-12-17, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, December 17, 1997 Publisher & Editor: Jim Beckett Business Manager: Don Smith Production Manager: Deb Lord aa,,. Advertising; Barb Consitt, Chad Eedy News; Heather Mir, Kate Monk, Craig Bradford, Chantall Van Raay, Ross Haugh Production' Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Brenda Hem, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner Transportation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgert front Office & Account; Sue Rollings, Carol Windsor Ruthanne Negrijn, Anita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple, Ruth Slaght, Sheila Corbett The Exeter Times -Advocate is a member of a family of community newspapers providing news, advertising and information leadership EDITOR! . 1, Creatures of the night Publications Mail Registration Number 07511 SUBSCRIPTION RATES; One year rate for Canada subscribers - 836.00 a Two year rate for Canada subscribers - 863.00 +GIST OTHER RAM1ar M COM Outside Canada _8102.00 1919 —1104 v. /44s ASIOC_ Published Each Wednesday Morning at 424 Main St., Exeter, Ontario, NOM 1Se by J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Telephone 1-519-235-1331 • Fax: 519-2350766 c.s.T. sa10521.0S111 get their kicks by stealing bulbs is difficult to imagine what is lacking in the lives of those who are vandalizing the beautiful Christmas dis- play in MacNaughton Park. Is it a lack of attention? Is it a desire to tear down and destroy the efforts of others? Or, iS it just wanton vandalism? So far, hundreds of bulbs have been stolen. They will be replaced because the Lions Club refuses to let the cruel work of a few punks cut into the posi- tive impact the decorations have had on our community. The -time of the thefts and the distance from the ground where bulbs are being removed indicated the thieves are adult size (at least in body). With the vast majority of people show- ing pride in what has been accomplished at the park in only a few years, it is diffi- cult to imagine there is anyone willing to risk serious consequences with the law if they are caught stealing bulbs. It's probably the work of a few indi- viduals who, so far, have managed to not ge caught. We can only hope when these people finally grow out of their destructive mode they will learn to enjoy the true meaning of Christmas. Can you imagine years in the future when a young child asks "daddy, what did you do for fun at Christmas -time?" That won't be pride on their faces. f T YourViews Letter to the editor J Steckle looks back over the past year At the risk of understating the im- pact of the past year's events, 1 feel that 1997 was truly a vigor- ous time in our history... Dear Editor: Winter is now fully upon us, and with it, the holi- day season. For many of us, the holiday season rep- resents a perfect time for reflection, family, resolu- tions and renewal. Each year at this time, since you first elected me as your federal representative, 1 find that I am.compelled to look back over the past year and evaluate my' actions, along with the -actions and accomplishments of my government. Upon reflection. 1 must say that 1997 has been one of the busiest years that 1 have experienced since, first taking office in ' `93; even if I only re- flect upon the events since June. I believe that the June 2 election serves as a fitting shirting point for any critique of the year's political happenings. The 36 day campaign waS as exhilarating as it was ex- hausting. Happily. the result was the first back to hack Liberal majority government since Prime Min- ister Louis St. Laurent, nearly 50 years ago; not to mention the beginning of my second term as your MP. Looking back, I am proud to say that the election was simply the beginning of a series of events that are undoubtedly destined to,change the course of our nations history. The Throne Speech; the Calgary declaration on unity; the Canadian led initiative to / establish a global ban on the use and production of anti-personnel landmines: the announcement by the Minister of Finance that Canada will balance its books for the first time in nearly 30 years; and the coming together of world leaders for the APEC con- ference in Victoria; all provided Canadians with tan- gible justification to be proud of our collective ac- complishment. Indeed, 1997 was a year that granted us the right to celebrate. however it was also the year the nation mourned the tragic loss of the "liv- ing Saint" Mother Teresa and Diana, Princess of Wales. At the risk of understating the impact of the past year's events, I feel that 1997 was truly a vigorous time in our history. Regardless of the cold winter that we now endure, in spite of potential hardship, and in the face of adversity, we have in 1997, as we have since confederation. not only survived. but thrived. Canadians have worked together to achieve great things. Our country now prepares to enter into 1998. In- terest rates are the lowest that they have been in years, trading levels are skyrocketing, new housing starts are up, our economy is expanding at a fren- zied rate and the rate and the federal deficit is a thing of the past. 1998 promises to be the year of substantial recovery and continuing prosperity. Un- employment rates are finally on the way down and consumer confidence is on the way up. We can fi- nally see the light at the end of the proverbial eco- nomic tunnel. With your help, and continued support, the Gov- ernment of Canada and the public will walk hand- in-hand into what promises to be our best year ever. I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you, my very best wishes for a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year. 1 look for- ward to serving you in 1998. Paul Steckle. M.P. A View from Queen's Park By Eric Dowd TChere was an old Tci14 who lived in a shoe, 2le had so mang jobless, he didn't know what to do. Dor.., br batr rte... $,.ae. Missiles and musings By Craig Bradford Be. thankful... your lot could be worse It's starting to look a lot like Christmas in Exeter, Lucan and elsewhere. but there are a lot of 'bah. humbugs' said by grumbling grinches to be heard just about eve- rywhere. There are teachers still sore after their two-week protest against Pre- mier Mike and his power -grabbing Bill 160. Then there are those who have no sympathy whatsoever for educators who wish they would just "stop their whining and grow up" (a direct quote from someone I'11 not name and a common theme heard on the street). There are. those long suffering posties who are fresh off their strike and still ready for a tight and the general public (read private sec- tor) that scratches their collective heads at what the public sector real- ly are so upset about. Everyone in the public sector (doctors, Liquor Store employees. Ministry of Natural Resources and conservation authority staff. munic- ipal employees, etc.) are pointing an accusing finger at the province and sites those Tories for all their (woes. And they should. For it is the IPC's policies and, their .ramrod. confusing and vague way of insti- tuting them that is making their jobs. even lives. positively painful. As for us in the private • sector, many have gone without a raise or bonus for years as our bosses have tried to keep up with a competitive market, trim their operations. downsize and generally heap more work on 'aft already swamped staff. Our tiny sympathies for .public sec- tor employees have come about the hard way. But as we all moan about the oth- er guy. our jobs and the uncertainty that lies within our worlds. we of- ten forget we are the fortunate ones. We have a roof above our heads. clothes on our hacks, food in our fridges and loved Ones to share the holidays with. What we don't open our blinded eyes to see are those the Christmas Bureau. the United Way, the Salva- tion Army. the food hank and a plethora of other charities are work- ing so hard to help. The homeless, the hungry, the sick, the disabled, the abused, the jobless. the illiter- ate. the unloved. Our society. Canadian society, was built on many important tenets. To me. the most important of those tenets is those who can't help them- selves will always get• help from those of us that can. Whether that he via welfare, publicly funded health care, caring community groups or good corporate citizens really doesn't matter when someone is in need. Canadians have always come to the rescue of others, wheth- er it be on our own soil or in some far away war-torn or famine - plagued land. . What we do as individuals and collectively, not only during the Christmas holidays but throughout the year, reflects •on how far we have come as a society. Putting aside our petty arguments, our priv- ileged personal soap boxes, to help" those in need is a true measure of what it means to be a good person, a Canadian. So take the time to scrounge • through your pantry for non- perishable food items; rummage • through your closet and give that sweater you haven't worn since God -who -knows to Goodwill; dig deep in your pocket/purse for loose change for the Kettle. 'Tis the season...and remember — your lot could be a lot worse. , TORONTO -- The public could find itself ex- cluded from the Ontatio Legislature chamber for the first time in history because of behavi- oural problems that pale beside those of some MPPs. A majority of MPPs through Speaker Chris Stockwell have said they may take the "extraor- dinary step" of barring all visitors from the public galleries because of a series of incidents in which some interjected and disrupted de- bates. The pr :tests have been against Progressive Conservative Premier Mike Hams and his policies, particularly those of centralizing con- trol of education and weakening the powers of organized labor. Some protesters have refused to leave and been dragged away by security guards, and be- cause the galleries are steep and high there is risk someone could fall from them and be seri- ously injured. Stockwell said rather than having to remove people physically again he "may shut the gal- leries and tell people they can watch it on TV." He also remarked that the legislature chamber is a place for membets to debate and vote, not for the public to protest, and that MPPs should be able to do this free from intimidation. Stockwell deserves sympathy for his concern that a protester may fall, but there have been demonstrations for years, including many against the former New Democrat and Liberal governments. It would take an unusually fren- zied demonstrator or aggressive guard for some- one to fall and that has not happened yet. Nor is any MPF going to be intimidated by anonymous shouts from a remote gallery. 'These are people who have much more serious head- to-head arguments in their ridings -- if not, they are too fragile to be in public life. Not everyone has access to the legislature on TV and the public's opportunities to understand and have input into whatgoes on there also have become more limited. Harris's government has brought in more sweeping and fundamental changes than any in memory. Its legislation often is complex, like its Good behaviour? huge omnibus bill which even some of its min- isters and backbenchers bad difficulty explain- ing. Many municipal heads, most of whom are Tories, say they often are unsure what it is pro- posing. Government advertisements tell only one side. The Tories have reduced both the opportuni- ties for the public to appear before legislature committees and the time opposition MPPs can object on their behalf in debates, so it is no wonder many in the public are at least appre- hensive. Most members of the public do not have the ability to hire former premiers to lobby on their behalf. Former NDP premier Bob Rae, Liberal David Peterson and Conservative Bill Davis alt work for major law firms and one reason they command such high fees is they know how to talk to government. The MPPs cannot claim that they have set much of an example on how to behave. Harris likes to claim "I and my cabinet have been low key, not fanning any flames" in the protests. But the premier often seems to go out of his way to,invite confrontation, losing no op- portunity to label those who oppose his policies as "union bosses" and taunting that teachers have provided "mediocre" schools and "medio- cre doesn't cut it any more." The premier enjoys rubbing salt in wounds by, for example, joking when met by angry pro- testers in one city, "I don't know why every time I come to this city they put on a parade for me," and in another, "I don't do protests." Not long ago Harris used the chbice word "bullshit" in the legislature to describe the NDP's claim it was handicapped governing from 1990 to 1995 because that was a time of financial recession. Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty says Harris runs a Kremlin and is a bully. NDP leader Ho- ward Hampton rates the premier as Neanderthal and this week a Tory called the opposition par- ties "real sleazebags." These are not people who should lecture any- one on good behaviour.