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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-02-14, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, February 14,1996 Publisher & Editor: Jim Beckett The Exeter Times Advocate Is a member of a family of community newspapers Business Manager: Don Smith •M ►�aM corer w, providing news, advertising and information leadership Production Manager: Deb Lord Advertising; Barb Consitt, Chad Eedy '�+,moi wiso�` �� / 1 • • News; Heather Mir, Chris Skalkos, Ross Haugh, Brenda Burke Production. Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Brenda Hem, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner Transportation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgert Front :trice & Accounting; Elaine Pinder, Sue Rollings, Ruthanne Negrijn, Anita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple inion Publications Mall Registration Number 0388 SUBSCRIPTION R TES: C a.DA Within 40 aides (65 km.) addressed to non latter carder addresses 633.00 plus $2.310.5.T. Outslds 401Mes (68 km.) or any letter carrier address 633.00 pies $30.00 (total 63.00) + 4.31 0.8.T. Outside Canada $98.00 pito 66.93 GST (includes $68.40 postage) Published Each Wednesday Morning at 424 Main St., Exeter, Ontario, NOM 186 by 1.W. Eedy Puhncatioas Ltd. Telephone 1-519-2364.331 • Fax: 519.2350799 - a.e.T. a is 1 Pension plan needs reform is time that Canadians got the real goods on the status of the coun- try's pension plan. There have been conflicting reports recently outlining both the demise and the relative good health of the Canada Pension Plan. In short, Canadians must be confused about their financial future. One report suggested that in order to meet the demands of retiring boomers, Canada Pension Plan premiums would have to be doubled now to ensure that the fund could provide a modicum of support. Other actuarial reports indicate the plan is in stable financial shape and will, in fact, be around to provide re- tirement funds to the millions of baby boomers who Will be leaving the work force in the next 20 years. There won't be nearly enough contributors to sus- tain the plan. In order to prepare for retirement, Ca- nadians need to plan now and they need to know if they can count on the gov- ernment plan. There have been several alternate plans proffered on pension reform but it seems a sure bet that most of us will contribute more to CPP over our work- ing careers than we will ever get back in retirement benefits. Canadians planning to retire in the next 20 years plus, will have to be prepared to look after them- selves. The government can consider some op- tions, such as increasing employer and employee contributions, raising the age at which benefits are available to 67 or higher and separating disability from re- tirement funds. The government could also consider getting out of the business and allowing Canadians to contribute a percentage of earnings to their own plan administered by a licensed financial institution. Em- ployers would also contribute, much like they do to the federal plan, and the fund would accumulate tax free until the RRSPs were converted. There are suitable options available to the government. But something has to be done soon so Canadians can properly plan for the future. Goderich Signal -Star • 'tor .41 Adult Education classes at S.H.D.H.S. We have a friendly atmosphere, which makes it pleasant to work in.... Dear Editor: I am writing in regards to Adult Education class- es that are occurring in Exeter at the South Huron District High School. Many people have never heard of Adult Education and those who have didn't realize that the classes are held here in Exeter. Adult Education classes are for anyone age 18 and up who would like to go back to school but not into the regular stream. It's also for people who have graduated and would like to come back and up grade their education and skills. Like anything else, there are a few rules. The rules are: 1) If you are a full time student, you are expected to produce at least three lessons a week, and 2) If you are a part time student, you are expected to produce at least one lesson per week. There are currently 70 students of all ages en- rolled in Adult Ed. There are 25 full time students and 45 part time students. We all work hard and pro- duce an average total of 100 lessons per week and an average of ten tests pert week. The hours are Monday to Friday - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. or Monday 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. We have a friendly atmosphere, which makes it pleasant to work in. There are three teachers to help students and students in the classroom who are hap- py to assist other students. If you are interested in up grading or getting your grade 12 like you've always dreamed of, come in and visit us. It's room 112 at South Huron District High School in Exeter or call 235-0880 or 235- 4881. Anyone is welcome and we'd love to have new faces in our class. Adult Education Student Christine Chappel TORONTO -- A premier is in trouble when even his friends say he is on the wrong track and this is starting to happen to Mike Harris. Harris and his Progressive Conservatives have dropped to only 34 per cent in the most re- cent poll as many who were attracted by their promises to reduce spending and services get alarmed at the depth of their cuts and high- handed methods planned to carry them out. A few Tories have openly joined the protests. Ontario Chief Justice Charles Dubin and Chief Justice of the Ontario Court, General Division, Roy McMurtry warned Harris's cuts would se- riously harm the court system and limit the ability of the poor to obtain a proper trial. Both judges have impeccable Tory creden- tials. McMurtry was attorney -general and the closest friend in cabinet of William Davis, pre- mier from 1971-85, and so chummy with then prime minister Brian Mulroney that he gave him the cushy perq of I ijth commissioner to Britain once the Davis era ended. Dubin was so noted a backroom Tory that Liberal federal governments refused for years to make him a judge because of his politics. Both, it can be assumed, voted for Harris and would not have criticized him publicly if they felt they had any alternative. The learned judges admittedly were moved to protest only when their own ox was about to be gored -- they were not seen marching outside the legislature when welfare benefits were be- ing cut. At recent public hearings on the Tories' omni- bus bill, which gave them unprecedented pow- ers to cut, at least a dozen of those who object- ed also said they supported Hams in the June election and are disillusioned. These criticisms were unusual because Onta- rio Tories have a tradition of not speaking pub- licly against their party and this was one reason they were able to stay in government uninter- ruptedly from 1943-85. Most Tories are fully behind Harris and his policy of drastically reducing spending and debt and it would be absurd to suggest other - What's Brenda Burke Gaining acceptance in a small community A local resident recently complained of the way she and her family are treated. She is white and overweight. Her husband is black. Her complaints are largely based on racist attitudes, she claims, which have resulted in, !r' series of harmful events. First, hateful slurs were written on walls at her husband's place of employment Then an angry neighbor aimed an unloaded gun at him, saying his dog was causing problems. The couple claims they are censtantly 'stalked' by salespeople in area stores, simply because of their physical appearances, including their casual style of dressing. Although their son, who is hi -racial, is not teased in public school, his mother has been told to watch out when he gets to high school. When he dyed his hair blue one day, he got beat up. "People don't want to accept anything new or different," said the woman. "I feel like we got hit from all angles." Before moving to the area five years ago, the couple had spent some time living in Toronto. "I feel like I moved into a time warp and got stuck," said the woman, referring to the small town she moved to. "I think in the city, there's just so many people, nobody has time to nit-pick." Maybe she has a point. Although small town living has its numerous advantages, such a- as cleaner air, -a more relaxed lifesty}e',4lese tiWffic and supposedly friendlier neighbors, perhaps, at no total fault of their own, residents are less tolerant of people who are different colors, wear different clothes or act...different. It may all boil down to an answer so simple, it's impossible to solve the problem. By the very nature of things, Exeter and its surrounding area has a predominantly white population. With the exception of the seasonal migrant cannery workers, a glance around tells you there are not many ethnic people people in the area. That's just, obviously the way things are. Nobody's fault of course. But as a result, people of color are possibly given a second glance. Not that everybody means to act discriminatory, but just because we tend to look at what's different. A local part Native family I spoke to had concerns similar to the woman married to a black man. Their son, they claimed, has been teased to the point where he's withdrawn from his former outgoing self to a shy little kid. There is a dangerous argument that some people of minorities tend to use their differences to their advantage, sometimes unintentionally, to get attention or stake rights or cover up other problems. Whether this is true or not, the fact remains that lifestyles of interracial couples may be unfortunately affected due to subtle differences in the way they are treated. "I never realized how racism was until I picked being with a different color," said the woman married to a black man. "It's so subtle. One dirty look." While she stressed not everyone she meets is prejudiced and that hints of racism do not dominate her life but merely aggravate her, she and her husband were treated differently in Toronto. Perhaps in a small community people get so close and so concerned about one another's welfare, they end up paying more attention than is warranted to people who are different from them. Premier Harris in trouble wise. But a substantial minority who voted and worked for earlier, more moderate Tory pre- miers, particularly Davis, felt from the time Harris became leader he was too hawkish and far to the right and accepted him only with res- ervations. Davis even gave Harris a rebuke of sorts when he accepted an invitation from the former New Democrat government to head an agency promoting exports, although he later congratu- lated Harris for winning the election. But Davis and his friends are now watching Harris dismantling many of the programs they built and they must have some feeling their life's work is vanishing before their eyes. Some former Davis Red Tories have been turning cartwheels trying to prove the entire party is behind him. One-time Davis anti Mulroney chief adviser Hugh Segal, who used to advocate govern- ments borrow for capital works in recessions and maintain 'a Davis tradition of tolerance, un- derstanding and compassion,' announced re- cently 'I know of no Tories who are anything other than united behind Mike Harris.' Davis's former communications adviser, Sally Barnes, who before Hams won the election warned he was so far right he could alienate many traditional Tories, has praised him since for keeping his promises to cut and insisted there is no dissension in Tory ranks. But both Tories also are in business advising how to deal with the Hams government and anxious to build bridges to it. About the only noted Tory willing to criticize Harris publicly until recently has been Dalton Camp, the political commentator, former advis- er to Davis and one-time adman living off Tory government patronage, who says many in the party share his views but are afraid to speak out. Camp regularly calls the Harris government mean-spirited, mindless and ready to hurt the vulnerablii-Tiktv he has other Tories to keep him company. /r