Loading...
Times Advocate, 1995-02-01, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, February 1, 1995 Publisher: Jim Beckett Editor: Adrian Harte Business Manager: Don Smith Composition Manager: Deb Lord Advertising; Barb Consitt News; Fred Groves, Heather Vincent, Ross Haugh Production; Alrna Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Robert Nicol, Brenda Hern, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner, Marg Flynn Transportation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgert Front Office & Accounting; Norma Jones, Elaine Pinder, Ruthanne Negrijn, Anita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple The Exeter Times -Advocate is a member of a family of community newspapers AM r,eIAM COA•kiMi' providing news, advertising and information leadership CCKA • inw Publications Mail Registration Num SUBSCRIPTION RATES:ire NADA Within 40 miles (65 km.) addressed to non tatter carrier addresses $33.00 pi $V1 0.5.T. Outside 40 miles (65 km.) or any tter canter $33.00 plus $30.00 (total 6 .00) + 4.310. T. Outside Canada $99.00 plus $8.93 OST (Includes $88.40 postage) Published Each Wednesday Morning at 424 Main St., Exeter, Ontario, NOM 1S8 by 1.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Telephone 1-519-235-1331 • Fax: 519-2350706 0.$.T. 05101210535 EDITORIAL We've heard it all before The Ontario Taxpayers Federa- tion released an interesting set of quota- tions last week. Spanning from John Turner in 1975, through Allan Ma- cEachen in the early '80s, to Paul Mar- tin today, they have documented no fewer than 13 pledges from federal fi- nance ministers to reduce the govern- ment's deficit. Don MacDonald in 1976, for instance, told all that "Now that the recovery is well established andlorivate spending is rising, it is equally appropriate that therecord deficits should recede." The deficit that year rose from $6.2 bil- lion to $6.8 billion. "In the medium term, the deficit will fall," said Marc Lalonde in 1984, as his deficit rose to $38.5 billion. The end result is that the deficit today, still at about $40 billion, is more than the entire federal accumulated debt was in Turner's 1975. Today's total debt is approaching $600 billion. The interest on that debt, according to the govern- ment's own figures, is expected to be about $44.3 billion in 1994-95. That's over $1,600 per capita, nationwide. Small wonder then that the Canadian dollar is taking a beating on financial markets. The investors listened to Paul Martin's continuation of the lip service paid to deficit reduction, eventual bal- anced budgets, and maybe one day debt debt reduction. But once the government. floated its trial balloon about increasing taxes, the jig was up. The suggestion that additional sources of revenues should be considered in one of the world's most heavily taxed re- gimes only meant one thing. The gov- ernment was looking more at spending revenues than it was at finding ways not to spend money. Martin and Chretien certainly talked tough in front of the cameras, seemingly unconcerned about the plummet paral- leling Mexico's peso. The reality behind the closed doors must surely have been somewhat different. The same Taxpayers Federation also suggests there are no more taxes to be had. If Canadians face increased taxes, surcharge ', fees, whatever, they will simply b forced to find ways not to pay them. Tat doesn't just mean the under- ground economy will flourish, it may be as simple as if RRSP contributions get taxed, people will do something else with their money. Canadians will not just "roll over" and pay up, they just can't afford it. . In 17 cities across the country this month, rallies will be staged to give the government the message that taxes in Canada are too high already. London's is next Tuesday evening, for example. Special interest groups, and the minis- tries have been fearmongering lately about what vital programs and services we Canadians might lose if Martin cuts too deep. The reality is that if Canada does not learn to cut the deficit, cut the fat from the civil service, cut out unnecessary subsidies, and cut taxes, the interest on the national debt will be so great in com- ing years all those programs will be long gone anyway. Your Views Letters to the editor Thankful for emergency ward "How many others are stabilized cially Judy who has been there three times now. and their lives saved by stopping This is the third time that we have had to rush dad into the hospital in congestive heart failure. I know in Exeter?" beyond a shadow of a doubt that last Wednesday, he would not have made the trip to London. How many Dear Editor: others arc stabilized and their lives saved by stop - In recent months, there has been a great deal of ping in Exeter? Sure, it may be costly to run a hospi- talk about closing the Exeter Emergency Ward. I tal, but what price do we put on human lives? have intended to writehis letter sooner, but have Once again, thank you to the emergency team for procrastinated. Now the timing seems especially a job appreciated by many families in the Exeter right. First of all I would like to take this opportuni- area. ty to thank people who by just "doing their jobs" Jan Barry -Barnes saved my dad's life. These include Hoffman's Am- Dashwood hulance, Dr. Fleming and the ER nursing staff espe- A View From Queen's Park Premier Bob Rae has invited himself to Que- bec to speak in that province's referendum on separation, but it is not clear which side he will be helping. The New Democrat premier said in Toronto he is willing to go and speak "on behalf of Can- ada" and repeated the offer to the Quebec Lib- eral and federalist leader, Daniel Johnson, when he came to make a speech. Johnson was uncomfortable and non- committal, saying the two lead to explore what opportunities might be available and it was not possible to make immediate announcements of times and places. It was far from an enthusiastic welcome. Johnson sounded like the host of a party trying to avoid being pinned down on whether he lgotrld invite a cousin who drinks too much. Rae probably will go to Quebec, anyway. If Johnson does notinvite him, some organization will, if for no more reason than that he is a powerful and controversial speaker who can fill By Eric Dowd Speak Out Letters to the Editor The Times -Advocate continues to welcome letters to the editor as a forum for open discussion of local issues, 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 1S6. Sign your letter with both name and address. Anonymous letters will not be published. Your Views Letters to the editor Help Quebec leave? We could write a book on the plums given to Quebec and the sour grapes for the other provinces. Dear Editor: We have a French Prime Minister and a French leader of the opposition. We have French in most of the positions that would be involved in separation decisions. We have too many MPs who forget who elected them and pleasing their leader could bring political rewards. These arrangements seem to as- sure a bitter mess if Quebec separates. It sounds like English Canada would be the loser. But does it matter? Mr. Pariseau and Mr. Johnson have warned us what will happen if Quebec docs not separate. They will keep making demands until Quebec gets what Quebec wants. There is not much left to give. We have already given Quebec the 80 Killion dollar Canadian Space Agency now called "Agence Spatiale", note "Canadian" has been dropped. Quebec was given the scandalous C.F. 18 repair contract instead of a Winnipeg firm which of- fered much better terms. New military bases in Que- bec while bases arc being closed across the rest of Canada. English schools being closed in Quebec and French schools being opened in other provinces. From 1961 to 1985 there was a withdrawal of 100.5 billion from Alberta and a net injection of 91.4 bil- lion for the Quebec economy. An example of the re- duction planned of equalization payments: Saskatch- ewan 32.9 percent, Quebec 2.9 percent. We could write a book on the plums given to Quebec and the sour grapes for the other provinces. It is difficult to find a reason to keep a province that never stops de- manding more and more. Maybe we should help them leave, a smaller country working in harmony is more to be desired than a larger country always in turmoil. Wilson Goff Lansdowne a hall. Rae is not being deterred by a poll in which most Quebeckers Said they do not want politi- cians from other provinces intervening in the referendum. Rae, it can even be argued, has a duty to of- fer to speak in Quebec. He represents the biggest English-speaking province and any- thing he can say about wanting Quebec to stay and offering inducements normally should be helpful to the federalist cause. The former Progressive Conservative pre- mier, William Davis, spoke in Quebec several times in the referendum of 1980 and empha- sized that the two provinces have much more in common than any differences. Rae also is looking to the referendum as an opportunity to win votes in his own election in Ontario due by the fall, The NDP is only about 15 percent in polls and would benefit from an issue that diverts.at- tention from domestic concerns. The risks of going to Quebec Rap is more impressive with words than Lib- eral leader Lyn McLe-o0 and Tory leader Mike Harris and a debate on ilnity would give him a stage to show this. The New Democrats already are tying to get across this message. Former Manitoba premier Howard Pauley said in Ontario recently that neither McLeod or Hams would do a credible job as premier and asked: 'Do you trust them to be the leader of Ontario, negotiating with (sep- aratist Premier) Jacques Parizeau?" Rae will hope to be seen as a saviour of Cana- da if the referendum is over before his own vote and the federalist forces win or, if the On- tario vote comes first, as having done his bes for his country. But Rae's going to Quebec to speak also pos- es risks. Rae has been more critical of Quebec than previous Ontario premiers such as Tories Davis and John Robarts and Liberal David Pe- terson, who all spoke in Quebec often. Rae has complained repeatedly that Quebec wheedles more than its fair share from the fed- eral government, particularly tens of millions of dollars for construction while Ontario gets comparatively little, and wrote to all Liberal MPs in Ontario asking them to take care of their own. Rae protested that locating an international environmental agency in Montreal was favorit- ism and put restrictions against Quebec con- ' struction companies and workers coming into Ontario to persuade Quebec to drop its curbs on Ontarians and is not liked there for it. Rae opposed free trade with the U.S., which Quebeckers feel helps them, and cutting tobac- co taxes to counter smuggling, which he saw as a sop to Quebec, and hits not followed through on the•NDP's promise to recognize French as n official language. Rae goes into Quebec, these issues can be rai, against him and he will become a target and the -.rcral cause and his own re-election hopes may , fer -- he could wind up wishing he had stayed „„_ 4