Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-01-18, Page 9Page 8 Times -Advocate, January 18, 1995 COMMJ JNITY Your Views Letters to the editor Crime, not firearms, the priority The end result is that a lot more of your neighbours will become criminals themselves ... Dear Editor: In the upcoming weeks, we Canadians will re- ceive a number of very important messages from our federal government. First, Minister of Finance Paul Martin is going to explain how all government sectors and programs must share the responsibility of reducing Canada's deficit and eventually Canada's debt. Lloyd Axe - worthy, Minister of Human Resources, will tell us just how these cuts will affect his department, spe- cifically unemployment insurance and welfare, and Minister of Health Diane Marleau will have to ex- plain why transfer payments for health care will be under the knife in her department. The list goes on. My concern, and the motivation for this letter, is for the contradictory message being sent by Justice Minister AIIan Rock with his proposed firearms control legislation. A package of legislation (sup- ported by Prime Minister Jean Chretien), that in- tends to create a new level of bureaucracy, further - controlling our legally and safely owned firearms and those responsible citizens who keep and use them. At a time when police budgets and manpower are being stretched dangerously thin, AIIan Rock and his Liberal associates have decided that Canadians have the time and money to enter all legal rifles and shotguns and their owners into a national Firearms Registry. I disagree. This is far, far from a priority. Canadians have asked their governments for an increase in cost-effective crime control, not a frivo- lous squandering of more tax dollars on a registra- tion system (bureaucracy) already proven to have little effect on the actual reduction of crime in Can- ada. Some 60 years of handgun and automatic rifle registration in Canada have done little to reduce the violent use of these weapons by criminals. Further to this, the most commonly suggested cost of registering rifles and shotguns is an initial 2 to 3 billion dollars with an unknown amount needed for future renewals and additions. We know who pays. I'm sure most police forces could offer sugges- tions of higher priority expenditures and time com- mitments than those proposed by Allan Rock and Jean Chretien. Equally .as offensive as squandered tax dollars is the inevitable contliuiation of the legacy that has re- sulted in thousands of Canadians unknowingly be- coming offenders under the criminal code of Cana- da. Thanks to Kim Campbell and the P.C.s, many firearms owners (your friends, neighbours and rela- tives) are now in contravention of the Criminal Code of Canada because of improper storage of fire- arms in their homes. Safely stored for many years, mind you, but now illegally stored. Now, courtesy of Allan Rock and Jean Chretien, two new offenses have been proposed for honest, law-abiding Canadians. 1) Possessionof a firearm by a person who does not have a Firearms Possession Certificate (FPC). 2) Possession of an unregistered firearm (no FRC - Firearms Registration Card) by a holder of an FPC. This will carry a mandatory one year impris- onment. If these don't burn a lot of gas, time, and tax dol- lars I will be surprised. Sadly, the end result is that a lot more of your neighbours will become criminals themselves by virtue of non-compliance. Over a decade ago, New Zealand abandoned a system of registration similar to that proposed by Allan Rock. Excessive cost, bureaucratic error and a burden on police time were cited as reasons. They have since chosen a system similar to the one we have had in Canada since 1977, requiring all who wish to purchase a firearm to obtain a Firearms Ac- quisition Certificate (F.A.C.). This document is re- newable every five years for law-abiding citizens over age 18 and now is available to a first-time ap- plicant only upon successful completion of a manda- tory course and test. This is accepted by firearms owners as a necessary cost, expanded for the pur- pose of removing intending felons from their ranks. In conclusion, Allan Rock and Jean Chretien would be well advised to pay heed to the U.S. Re- publican Party's "Contract with America" that is about to impose a mandatory 10 year minimum sen- tence for anyone convicted of using a firearm during a crime (Rock proposes 2 years). In fact, Mr. Rock doesn't even have to look out- side of Ottawa for sound advice. The Reform Party of Canada, at the guidance of their membership, have produced a sound package of legislative propo- sals that focus tax dollars and government energy on the criminal misuse of firearms (5 years mandatory additional sentence), on eliminating our current au- tomatic parole legislation, and on reforming the Young Offenders Act. They are the only party that has policy to protect the rights of law-abiding citi- zens to own and use firearms. Our MP Paul Steckle needs a clear mandate from Huron -Bruce constituents to vote against Allan Rock's proposed legislation, and he needs it now. Call or write his office and ask him to stop this ex- pensive, divisive and unwanted legislation. Thank you for your co-operation Sincerely, Len Lobb Clinton, Ontario Zurich insurance costs rise But a claim on the arena compressor is still outstanding ZURICH - Rising municipal in- surance costs have struck Zurich. Village council approved an in- surance package Thursday evening for over $16,000 for 1995, when the same policy cost less than $12,000 last year. "It's no secret we have been faced with increases and changes," said Michael Duhig from OME in- surance, Zurich's insurers for the past 14 years. Duhig said insurance was profit- able roft- able right through the 1980s, but in- surers have lost millions in the '90s. "In the '90s it seems like you can't have a child slip and fall on a swing...you can't have someone take a tumble at the arena, without getting a claim," said Duhig. He said Zurich has been a good risk overall with few claims. The village does, however, have one outstanding claim for a new $22,500 compressor for the arena "Quite simply, the rates have gone up," said Duhig, stating that policy underwriters now believe a 12 cent rate on property is not enough, and are not asking for 20 cents. He quoted a 1995 rate of $16,060.56, including tax for the village's, polycy, which council ac- cepted over a $23,917.68 premium quoted by Frank Cowan Insurance agents the same evening. Nevertheless, council expressed concerns over their polic? with OME, particularly over the claim for the new compressor, and wheth- er or not it will continue to be cov- ered. The arena's compressor for the ice surface broke down on No- vember 1 last year, but a claim for its repair was paid, with a $1,000 deductible. The machine, however, complete- ly failed on November 16 and had to be replaced, but again the village had insurance to protect against that eventuality. Acting clerk Sharon Baker re- ceived a letter on December 13, stating that concerns over the old compressor's condition and some cracks in the floor meant. the vil- lage's deductible was to be in- creased to $5,000 and the com- pressor would not be covered at all. The letter said this was to have tak- en effect November 15, the day be- fore the compressor failed. Council will be negotiating with OME over their policy to make sure the compressor is covered and the claim will be paid, given the timing of the letter. Councillor Marg Holmes said she would have liked to have seen the village be able to afford a policy with a more locally -based com- pany, but she said municipality could not bear the additional cost, considering it would have effective- ly doubled its insurance costs in one year. We want your favourite recipes With the great response to our Times Advocate cookbook and the compliments that came with it, we are asking for your favourite recipes again. We would like to print these recipes in the newspaper on a weekly basis. This time, we would like you to add some extra information. Be it the place or person that you attain`recipe from - a family recipe passed ' down from your parents or grandparents - a recipe shared between friends - or even a personal concoction of your own, we know our readers would enjoy the story behind them. Please be sure to add your name and address for our files and for the reader's benefit. Please send your redpes to: Happy Cookin' Box 850, 424 Main St. Exeter, Ont. NOM 1S6 (519) 235-1331 "Soup It up" luncheon GODERICH - Imagine having 12 varieties of hot, delicious soup to choose from on a chilly day in February. That's what the Huron Chapter of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario has planned for Thursday February 2 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109 in Goderich from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The "Souping It Up' luncheon is the Huron Chapter's kick-off to Heart and Stroke Month and eve- rybody is invited to attend says Greg Williams, vice president. He went on to say that February is the most important month for the Foundation, and that in 1994, 40 percent of the donations re- ceived came from the February door-to-door canvass. Most participating restaurants will make heart healthy soup from the Foundation's newest cook- book, Simply HeartSmart Cooking by Bonnie Stern, and which will be available for purchase. Special guests will he in attendance and there will be displays and door prizes to make the occasion spe- cial. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased at the Times -Advocate or by calling the Heart and Stroke Foundation office at (519) 524- 4440. Recent advancements by Heart and Stroke Foundation researchers in diagnosis, treatment and com- munity education are saving the lives of 35,000 Canadians every year. However, heart disease and stroke remain Canada's #1 killer of men and women by far, claim- ing 80,000 Canadian lives annual- ly. Support the Huron Chapter of the Heart and Strobe Foundation at the 'Souping It Up' luncheon on Thursday February 2 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109 in Goderich, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Heart and Stroke Founda- tion of Ontario is a community- based volunteer organization whose mission is to reduce the risk Iof pictnature death and,disabUity I from heart disease and stroke by raising funds for research and health promotion. Dawn's Esthetics Manicure with Paraffin and Pedicure 'AN°ARY ONLY soot"' $3o Savings of $20 Nature's Clinic 472 Main St. Exeter 235-4014 Optimists elect executive The Crediton Optimist Club elected their new executive re- cently. Shown above, back, Treasurer Lori VanValkengoed and Sgcretary Rosemary Neeb. Front, President Barry South- cott and Director Ed Laksmanis. GB golden agers GRAND BEND - Seventy-one Grand Bend Golden Agers met January 4, at 12:30 p.m. for the monthly luncheon meeting. Jean O'Rourke, Public Health Nurse with the Huron County Health unit was guest speaker. The topic was Healthy eating for Sen- iors based on the Canada Food Guide. Club member CIsarence Broad- hagen and his son Garry enter- tained the group with a selection of music. OFFICIAL OPENIM FABRICS This Thurs. to Sat. January 19-21 Come in and have a coffee, see our store and enter the draw for a pair of Dressmaker Shears Mon.-Thurs. 9:30-5:30, Fri. 9:30 -9, Sat.; 9:30-5 • FABRIC • YARN • NOTIONS •ALTERATIONS •SEWING CLASSES 385 Main St. Exeter 235-4023 asUNWORTHY WALLCOVERINGS Check out our Clearance Centre - Starting at ,,(t & up Lots of New Wallpaper Patterns to choose from Exeter Decor Centre 15 Gilley St. E.. 235-1010 Just behind Bank of Nova Scotia Enlarge family or team photos to 8-1f2x11 or even 11 x 17 instantly with our outstanding results. Ideal for business presentation materials, even colour transparencies