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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-05-24, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, May 24, 1995 Publisher & Editor: Jim Beckett Business Manager: Don Smith Production Manager: Deb Lord Advertising; Barb Consitt • News; Heather Mir, Chris Skalkos, Ross Haugh, Ingrid Nielsen Production; Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Robert Nicol, Brenda Hern, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner, Marg Flynn Transvortation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgert front 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 ;�o1r,r CO.,„, providing news, advertising and information leadership 1919-1994 • M inion EI)I'IORIALS Positive indications f anyone is looking for an indi- cation the recession is over they should be satisified with what is happening on Exeter's Main Street. It wasn't long ago that many people were predicting Exeter would lose the dominant position it has held for so many years as the primary shopping centre in Huron County. Empty stores were abundant on both sides of the street, and for a time, it looked like the trend would continue as more and more small businesses gave up. Now, in an abrupt turnaround, confi- dence in Exeter seems to be bouncing back with a huge increase in new busi- nesses whose owners have decided to place their bets on Exeter once again....and substantial development is yet to come. A few months ago pessi- mism seemed to be breeding more pes- simism and even some long-time Exet- er business people who have been through tough times before were ex- pressing concern about how Main Street was looking. While it may be difficult to pinpoint one thing that could be credited with causing Exeter to jump into a revival mode, now that it is here, let's take ad- vantage of it. The Exeter Business Asso- ciation, under chairman Tom Seip, is building enthusiasm and attracting the involvement of more people. Buildings are being painted and reno- vated, flower boxes are accenting the fronts of many businesses and anyone who is undecided about making a com- mitment or signing a lease had better act fast or someone else will. When the investments from a variety of entrepreneurs is combined with the Old Town Hall project we can expect Exeter to reassert itself as a vibrant cen- tre. With over 11,000 Shunpikers stop- ping on Mother's D.ay to sample our hos- pitality we can expect the word to spread. Look out, Exeter's back. Time to call Quebec's bluff he PQs will call the study re- leased from Calgary recently federalist propaganda - and in a way they'll be right. Only thing is, not all propaganda is built upon false information. A group of Alberta economists dis- covered the Province of Quebec has re- ceived over $160 billion more from the federal government than it has paid in over the past three decades. Alberta, or Texas North as it was once known, contributed about $45 billion more than it got back. The two provinces were at the extreme ends of the federal spend- ing range. No matter how they play it, Quebec's separatists will have a hard time ignor- ing the truth of the cold, hard fact: Theirs is the best -off province in the realm. They can't ignore it. The province's wealth is a result of the separatist threat; their political trump card for 30 years. Successive Quebec governments have held the spectre of French nation- alism over the federal government and the rest of the country, and the residents have benefitted greatly. It is time we forced their hand. The figures presented by the Calgary group are just a hint of the federal spending the province has enjoyed through these decades of discontent. Quebec has one of the country's richest and largest populations, and therefore one of the largest tax bases. If they were awarded $160 billion more than they paid in, it is hard to imagine just how much they actually got. All that money to buy off a threat that, if the polls are to be believed, no longer exists. Quebec's successive governments have dried up the cash cow they have been squeezing for the past 30 years. Give them credit; they milked it for all it was worth: Two long -serving prime ministers and another firmly ensconced; a traditional majority of cabinet's most important seats; constitutional permis- sion for laws that fly in the face of hu- man rights. The provinces' place in Con- federation held absolute control of the national agenda for over a decade, while the country's economy fell around our ears. It is small wonder a diminishing group of the province's politically active are making the old "Vive le Quebec' noise. They already have a country to call their own, to run as they wish and from which to extract their fondest wishes. It's called Canada. From the Golf News, Port -aux -Basques, Nfld A View From Queen's Park By Eric Dowd TORONTO - Ontario's first New Democrat government is in danger of vanishing not with a bang, but a whimper. This was not the way it was supposed to hap- pen. Premier Bob Rae and his government have been notoriously low in polls. But Rae is the smartest talker among the lead- ers and many claimed he had superior cam- paign skills and once in an election would quickly give rivals a nin for their money and a few even thought he might pull off a win. This has not looked remotely like happening. Rae's campaign has not shown sparkle or flair, excited voters or stnick a chord that suggests it might bring a rush of support. Rae does not have the best of materials to work with. He says the overriding issue should be the federal Liberals' cuts in transfer pay- ments for health andtocial services, but many see this as a dispute between governments that is technical and old hat. The premier is accusing opposition parties of making many irresponsible promises, but this seems to me from the wrong person when he made so many he :ailed to keep to win an elec- tion in 1990. • Rae has tried a more substantial theme, that assistance he gave companies helped save jobs, but had heart knocked out of him when some employers said jobs would have been saved without his help and employees said their grati- tude does not extend to voting for him. Rae has been given no reason to feel confi- dent the bulk of unionists offended when he cut pay for public sector workers will hold their noses and vote for him. The Ontario Federation of Labor has urged members to support Rae on the ground other parties would treat unions even worse. But many unionists are still withholding blessing and a star he wanted as a candidate, former MP Howard McCurdy, could not even win a nomi- nation with the stigma of Rae's endorsement, Rae cannot compete with other parties in Publications Mall Registration Number 0386 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: CANADA Within 40 mars. (65 km.) addressed to non tetter carder addresses 833.00 plus 82.31 0.8.T. Outside 40 miles (65 km.) or any letter carrier address 833.00 plus 830.00 (total 63.00) + 4.310.8.T. Outside Canada 899.00 plus 86.93 OST (Includes 888.40 postage) Published Each Wednesday Morning at 424 Main St., Exeter, Ontario, NOM 188 by J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Telephone 1-519-2351331 • Fax: 519-2380766 ....T. fa1o.21Af31 Spring has sprung in Huron County and while the budding trees, opening flowers and growing grasses may be pleas- ing to the eye they can irritate some noses. Seasonal allergies mean sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, and nasal congestion for approx- imately one in five people in America. Even the ropf of your mouth may be itchy. The Aller- gy/Asthma Information Associ- ation estimates approximately two million Canadians suffer from seasonal allergies. Right now, the main cause of allergic reactions is tree pollen. In June and July the problem may be grass pollen and by Au- gust and September, ragweed is usually the culprit. Allergies are on the rise in North America and it has been suggested that indoor air filled with particles of pollen, smoke, alth Matters By Heather Mir Allergy Alert pet dander or dust contributes to the increase in allergic occur- rences. By sealing our homes to make them more energy- efficient, we also trap billions of particles. Keeping a window open year-round or using an air filter can help to reduce the trapped airborne particles. Besides pollen, pet hair and smoke, mold can cause allergic reactions. Molds are most com- monly found in spring and fall and thrive in dark, moist envi- ronments. A predisposition to allergies may run in families. If a parent has allergies, a child will have up to a 50 per cent chance of de- veloping them. If both parents suffer from allergies, the chanc- es rise to about 85 per cent, ac- cording to the AAIA. If symptoms are present and making you miserable a general practitioner will refer you to an allergist. Through testing, the exact cause(s) of the reaction can be pinpointed and a course of treatment can be determined. The exact cause of allergies is not known but physicians do know that the release of hista- mine by mast cells which line the surface of the respiratory system, digestive system and skin, is the cause of the symp- toms. Avoiding exposure to irritants and drinking alcohol, which di- lates blood vessels and restricts air passages, will help minimize allergic symptoms. Smoking, including secondhand smoke can aggravate respiratory aller- gies. Contact lenses are also a bad idea in the peak allergy sea- sons because they can trap pol- len against the eye tissue and in- crease irritation. NDP In danger of vanishing with a whimper making promises because he broke so many and it is difficult to rally support boasting of being pragmatic. He cannot even go down proudly with all guns blazing on behalf of workers because he compromised by acts like pay cuts, braking un- ion contracts and forcing store employees to work on Sundays. His last supper before the election was with stock market whiz Andrew Sarlos and his"cro- nies craning for a final look at this disappearing political curiosity -- this does not look much like the last stand of the working man. There should never have been predictions that Rae would wipe the floor with opponents in a campaign because in his first as leader in 1985, when the Progressive Conservative dynasty crumbled, he lost the initiative and government to Liberal David Peterson and his few catchy promises and seeming energy. In 1987 Peterson trampled Rae so thoroughly that he contemplated retiring. It was only after Peterson fell apart in 1990 and voters remem- bered the Tories' smugness that they turned to Rae the only alternative -- there was no brilliant strategy. Rae still has flashes of bravado, saying 'we have come from behind before' and 'don't un- der -estimate me.' But he has talked almost in the past tense about governing, saying 'if I'm remembered for nothing more than that I asked people to take Rae days "days off to cut government costs), then that's fine with me.' He also has talked of having 'serenity' which sounds a lot like he is growing resigned to de- feat. • If Rae did seem to be making a comeback, big business and a large section of the news media would be making a concerted effort to get rid of him, but that is not happening -- there is not need for it. 1