HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-11-29, Page 4Page 4
Times -Advocate, November 29,1995
Publisher 8 Editor: Jim Beckett
Business Manager: Don Smith
Production Manager: Deb Lord
Ia110� Barb Conaitt, Chad Eedy
L>: Heather Mir, Chris Skalkos,
Ross Haugh, Brenda Burke
EagictIQn: Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson
Brenda Hem, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner
Transportation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgen
Elaine Pinder, Sue Rollings,
Ruthanne Negrijn, Mita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple
The Exeter Times -Advocate is a member of a family of community newspapers
•"•0•~y'" w� providing news, advertising and information leadership
Cr- -'
l;l)1'I'OR1,ALS
•
•
pinion
Bravo! Congratulations!
ell done Stephen! Well done
Exeter!
The men and women on the councils
of these two municipalities have looked
into the future and have seen what will
escape some of us all our lives: change.
Some believe 'Any change in whatever
direction for whatever reason is strong-
ly to be abhorred'. (Cambridge) Others
that `There must be power in the (state)
to remold, through experimentation,
our economic practices and institutions
to meet changing social and economic
needs.' (Brandeis)
The Conservatives, the Liberal and
the New Democrats in Ontario have all
proclaimed that political change will
take place in the province. It is not rea-
sonable or economically sensible that
Ontarians have so many politicians and
special service bodies regulating our
lives. If Mike Hams keeps to his Com-
mon Sense Revolution - and many in
our midst can attest to the fact that he is
thus far - politicians, municipalities,
school boards and hospitals will all be
reduced in numbers by 1997.
The old argument that 'we have al-
ways done it this way' probably holds
less water now than ever before. We
cannot afford the costs, and we do not
need the politicians. Stephen and Exet-
er have concluded that they should take
the initiative and design a structure that
is meaningful and relevant to the peo-
ple in south Huron before a civil ser-
vant from Toronto drafts a plan for us.
But, this is only a start, and a long
way from the Government's agenda to
re -structure the Province.
Where do we go from here? Eliminate
the local municipalities and have a
county government, similar to 'regional
government', opposition to which elect-
ed the first Liberal in a life -time to Hu-
ron? Not likely! We can't go from 26
municipal governments to 25, and we're
not going from 26 to one. The answer is
an obvious compromise. There should
be three or perhaps four political entities
in Huron, one in the south, one in the
north and one or two in the centre.
The new three three (or four) munici-
palities would each maintain the geo-
graphic identities of all composite
towns, villages, hamlets and townships,
but would elect one set of politicians,
based on criteria established through ne-
gotiations. Services could be rational-
ized so that significant savings would be
in place. If special services were re-
quired, such as planning, museums, li-
braries, the new municipalities would
negotiate with providers of these servic-
es.
The emphasis on the new structures
would be local government that is func-
tional and affordable. The need for the
County with its monolithic structures
would cease to exist as we know it. It
too would re -structure -or go the way of
the dinosaurs. And as you examine the
relevance of local government, most
people in Exeter know the name of the
Mayor, and most people know the name
of the Reeve in Stephen, but quick (or
slow) what's the name of the Warden or
the County Administrator?
An invitation has been issued to others
in the south Huron area to come on
board. Let's hope they take advantage of
the offer quickly. 'All change in habits
of life and of thought is irksome...(and
the only reason anyone is prompted to
conservation is...) the degree of expo-
sure to the economic forces that urge a
change.' (Veblen)
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. WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP YOUR LETTERS TO A
MAXIMUM OF 300 WORDS. 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.
TORONTO -- Having made a religion of
cutting government spending, Premier
Mike Harris is not going to be deterred
from it by any churches.
The Progressive Conservative premier
has reduced welfare benefits by 21 per cent
and funding for many services such as hos-
tels and counselling that serve mostly the
poor. He says the cuts are needed if the
government is to stop piling up debt, but
also has promised to reduce provincial in-
come tax by 30 per cent, which will help
most but particularly those with high in-
comes. Some churches have been quick to
raise their voices. The Ontario Conference
of Catholic Bishops wrote to Harris urging
him not to "allow an undue burden to fall
on the poor, unemployed, marginalized and
young."
The Catholic bishops said they recognize
the province needs to live within its means,
"but the task of achieving that goal belongs
to all of us," and urged Harris to "give as
much weight to love and compassion as to
Publications Mail Registration Number 0388
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: CANADA
Within 40 mess (66 km.) addressed to non letter
carder addresses 033.00 plus 02.310.$.T.
Outside 40 adios (66 km.) et any latter carder address
033.00 plus $30.00 (total 63.00) + 4.31 S.S.T.
Outside Canada $96.b0 plus $8.83 SST
(Includes $66.40 postage)
Published Each Wednesday Momi ig at 424 Mab M.,
Exeter, Ontario, NOM 1SS by J.W. Eedy Publcaions Ltd.
Telephone 1-619.236.1331 • Fax: 619-2360711
o.s.T. aawazsosas
•
th Matters
•By.HeatketuMir.
Seasonal affective disorder
If you're feeling less energetic
at this time of year, you're not
alone.
November can be a depressing
month with grey, wet and cold
weather persisting until snow
stays on the ground. The Old
Farmer's Almanac says the fol-
lowing about this bleak month:
"In the fall, however. you're
moving inwards seeking warmth
and light rather than joy.
There's a certain pleasure in do-
ing so, a certain security - but
there's also a certain regret.
Hense perhaps, the feeling of
the remoteness of the life just
past that comes in preparing
your place for winter."
Many people feel like hiber-
nating for the winter months and
crave comfort foods associated
with holidays such as Thanks-
giving and Christmas.
Seasonal changes in behavior
in many individuals have been
attributed to the difference in
light levels at different times of
year.
Studies show light plays an
important role in regulating bio-
logical functions. The daylight
hours are shorter at this time of
the year. Lower light levels dur-
ing winter causes SAD (season-
al affective disorder) in two to
five per cent of the population.
SAD is often marked by pro-
longed periods of deep depres-
sion in the fall or winter.
Up to 25 per cent of people
suffer from "winter doldrums,"
a less severe disorder. Both
conditions are likely psychologi-
cal and physiological in nature
and have been found to respond
well to light therapy.
While light triggers the sleep/
wake cycles in the brain, a de-
crease in light stimulates secre-
tion of the hormone melatonin
which causes drowsiness.
Bright light switches off this se-
cretion.
Some symptoms of SAD and
winter doldrums include sleep-
ing longer hours, extreme lethar-
gy, depression, increased appe-
tite, weight gain, desire to
withdraw from the world and
cravings for sweet and starchy
foods.
Doctors often use light thera-
py to treat PMS and jet lag or to
regulate menstrual cycles and
stabilize sleep cycles in shift
workers. It also enhances the
effect of antidepressant drugs.
Sitting with your eyes open
near a light box each morning or
wearing a light visor can help
alleviate SAD symptom. Check
with your doctor before choos-
ing a light therapy suitable to
your needs.
fiscal and economic considerations." Some
leaders in the Anglican (Harris's own
church) and United Churches, the president
of the Toronto Board of Rabbis, Catholic
nuns and representatives of Buddhists,
Muslims, Quakers and Mennonites
marched to the legislature asking Harris to
show "compassion for the poor." The An-
glican bishop of Toronto protested specifi-
cally against a decision to close a residence
in a former church manse for men awaiting
trial who qualify for bail but have no one to
put up.the money. The most outspoken
cleric has been Anglican Bishop Walter As-
bil of Niagara who wrote to Harris saying
that "silence is no longer possible." A gov-
ernment tackling a difficult problem should
be fair and not treat any segment of society
more harshly than another, he said, but
Harris was "singling out the poorest, those
with no champion in your cabinet, and ask-
ing them to bear the brunt of your efforts to
reduce the debt." The bishop, who no doubt
Churches upset with Harris cuts
gives them hell weekly in his pulpit, said
Harris is giving more to the better -off by, as
another example, improving health insu- •
rance for those who go to Florida for the
winter while showing "heartlessness, no
compassion and callous disregard" for the
poor. Harris has admitted he is concerned at
the church comments. Harris said not long
ago, discussing the death of a friend, that he
believes inner strength "comes from God."
It is a long time since a premier talked of
being helped by God. But Harris claims that
what he 'is doing is "morally right" and even
compassionate because correcting massive
over -spending will eliminate debt and even-
tually help the poor, although he did not
spell out in detail how. The real cruelty,
Harris said, would be to continue increasing
debt as Liberal and New Democrat govern-
ments did in the past decade. Harris knows
that churches are not as powerful as they
were as membership and influence on
members have declined. Churches have
failed to stop stores opening on Sundays
and the spread of gambling.
Harris's party since its cuts has shot up
in popularity to 58 per cent in the most re-
cent poll. Many church members do not
like their churches to take political stands,
which they see as meddling.
Some churches have remained fairly
quiet, notably fundamentalist Protestants
whose leaders tend to be conservative like
those of the "moral majority" movement in
the United States. Some churches are divid-
ed, like Catholics whose bishops lectured
Harris, but whose better -off booed when a
young churchworker at the cardinal's $150-
a -plate charity dinner seized a microphone
and rebuked the premier before he was hus-
tled off so they could return to their jumbo
shrimps. A military strategist once scoffed
"the Pope -- how many divisions has he
got?" Harris must have wondered how
many votes will be swayed by the churches
and calculated not many.
1