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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-04-24, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, April 24, 1996 Publisher dt Editor: Jim Beckett Business Mtnlager. Don Smith Production Manager: Deb Lord Adveitisjrg Barb Consitt, Chad Eedy News; Heather Mir, Chris Skalkos, Ross Haugh, Brenda Burke Production; Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Brenda Hem, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner ,fracioggiaa.A1 Flynn, Al Hodgert front Office & Accounting, Elaine Pinder, Sue Railings, Ruthanne Negrijn, Anita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple The Exeter Times -Advocate Is a member of a family of community newspapers providing news, advertising and Information leadership • inion Publications Mail Registration Number 0386 SUBSCRIPTIQN RATER: CANADA Within 40 miles (65 km.) addressed to non letter ;! Caner addressee $33.00 pees $2.31 Q.8.T. Outside 40 Hees (85 km.) or any letter sailer address $33.00 pikes $30.00 (total 63.00) + 4.31 G.3.T. 1 Outside Canada $99.00 pees $8.93 GST (Includes $88.40 postage) Published flash Wada soler Morning at 424 Main St., Exstsr, Oahab, NOM *ZS by J.W. lady Publeations Ltd. Taispboas 1-51323.1331 • Fax: 5132350166 SAT. 1111101121.011311 1':1)F1ORt \ I Nitpicking reflects character of opposition hile the Mike Hams Conser- vative government battles Ontario's fi- nancial crisis with understandable op- position from the NDP and Liberals it's mindboggeling that the leaders of these two parties would allow themselves to get sidetracked from the "big" issue. Instead of trying to have a positive in- fluence on governing the province they chose to concentrate on Harris' person- al financial arrangements with the Pro- gressive Conservative Party. Raising questions about whether or not the Pre- mier has his golf club membership picked up by the party appears to be nothing more than a cheap attempt to score points with voters across the province. Whatever arrangement Harris has with his party regarding golf club dues or, for that matter, anything else, is of very little importance. It's been a com- mon practice for many years for politi- cal parties to negotiate certain financial arrangements with their leaders. Some- times this has to be done to attract the right leader in the first place. When you compare the salaries of po- litical leaders with some of the huge paychecks received by top executives in private industry it becomes obvious a 4; I p aPri g'' isn't in it for the money. Both the Liberals and the NDP have every right to oppose, criticize and fight as hard as they can as they try to stop or slow down the Conservative plan to re- turn Ontario to financial stability. It's the good old Canadian way for the oppo- sition parties to fight against practically everything the party in power tries to ac- complish. In fact, Harris was pretty good at this game when he was on the outside looking in. Good honest opposition is the only way for either of these parties to in- crease their credibility with the voters of Ontario who most certainly have the ability to see through the smokescreen of any "sweetheart" deal Harris has with his party. With the province spending more than a million dollars per hour more than it brings in, whether or not Harris gets a few perks is of little consequence. Con- sidering the size of the task at hand for the Conservatives we doubt there will be much time for golfing anyway. A blatant attempt at embarrassing the premier is a waste of valuable time in the Legislature and is far below the level of opposition taxpayers deserve from these two parties. our sews Letters to the ditor Sunsense promoted li est le y "The Sunsense Message is designed to inform the public about the relationship between ultra -violet radiation and the risk of skin cancer." Dear Editor: With the warmer weather and summer approach- ing, the Canadian Cancer Society took the opportu- nity of setting up a display to relate the Sunsense Message to the Targe number of people at the Exeter Home and Garden Show. The Sunsense Message is designed to inform the public about the relationship between ultra -violet ra- diation and the risk of skin cancer. It encourages in- dividuals to adopt Sunsensible practices to prevent skin cancer and/or detect it early. Many brochures were distributed with information for both adults and children promoting a healthy lifestyle in the sun. The Sunsense Message will be presented by trained volunteers at Exeter Public School on Wednesday, May 22. If anyone requires more information or wishes to learn more about the Sunsense Program, please call the Huron -Perth Unit at 1-800-294-0086. Along with our display, we featured a draw for a book by Anne Lindsay"Smart Cooking." (This book is published in co-operation with the Canadian Cancer Society.) We would like to thank all of you who participated and extend our congratulations to the winner, Doreen McHarg of Grand Bend. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Exeter Optimist Club and Big V who as- sisted us with our display. Pat Chovancek, President, Exeter Branch, Canadian Cancer Society MADONNA PLANS HER NEXT WORLD TOUR What's news? TORONTO - The Ontario Liberals are the Greg N-rman of politics - if there is a way to trip up, they will find it. The opposition party has reinforced its repu- tation as accident-prone by losing not just one, but two successive front-runners in its leader- ship race, if it can be called a rice when almost no one wants to run. Sean Conway, the Liberal deputy leader and legislature's most accomplished orator, an- nounced he was running because of a burning, unquenchable ambition to get rid of Progres- sive Conservative'Premier Mike Harris, but dropped out after six months saying he had dis- covered he lacks the zest the job needs. It is fortunate for his party that Conway found this out before it chose him leader, but candi- dates are supposed to check out little details about whether they really want the job before announcing. Gerry Phillips, one of the sounder ministers when the Liberals governed from 1985-9Q, last- ed only two weeks as a candidate for leader, and automatic front-runner with most Liberal MPPs supporting him, before he fell out on doctors' advice because of chest pains. No-one would doubt this explanation, be- cause Phillips is noted for being dogged, perse- vering and the only MPP around the legislature on Boxing Day, but it is typical of misfortunes that befall the Liberals. They chose Lyn McLeod as leader in 1992 and their strategists persuaded her that being far ahead in polls she did not need policies until an election, when they would have done better with the more independent -minded Murray Els- ton. Elston in fact would have won leadership then except the party had made him interim leader on condition he did not take advantage and run for full leader, but he liked life at the top so much he reneged. Other parties have had interim leaders, but none tried to use this to grab the full leadership, but this is the Ontario Liberal party, where the unexpected always happens• Brenda Burke `Tis the season for home renovations 'i Being a new home owner, I'm ,amazed at the popularity of renovating. Since when did home decorating magazines begin to outnumber those on fashion? Have home and garden shows always attracted people by the millions? Are hardware stores crowded lately or is it just me? Anyway, people seem to be waking up from a six-month winter and jumping right into fixing and fussing. We're talking gardening too. With the onslaught on warmer weather, ' every second household seems to be busy with raking, cleaning and urging summer on. While many carefully plan out what area of their home to fix up this spring, I've found myself suddenly committed to rehauling an entire older home. This place is ancient - dizzying slanted floors, a debotched roof, straw for insulation, a well beneath the house, a bumpy yard and blinding blue Favestroughs to complete the package. After renting (supporting landlords) for numerous years, we've finally decided, "It's time." It's funny because I always thought owning a house would be such a huge responsibility that meant sky high mortgage payments and a gardener on site. But then again, I also envisioned my first home would be made of spotless red bricks accompanied by little fences enclosing an immaculately groomed, weed -free yard. Guess we got a (financial) deal on our decrepit shack. As I leaf through countless glossy Home and Garden, Weekend Decorating and Walls and Windows magazines, a sudden feeling of dread spreads through my veins, eliminating all hopes of spending only $50. on fixing up the whole mess. It's similar to the feeling of glancing at meticulous, elaborate recipes when you're starving, there's only a bottle of ketchup in the fridge and you have 15 minutes to make and eat a meal. What's great is the support of relatives and new neighbors. "You've got your work cut out for you," they say, adding it all takes time but in the end we'll "get it all back." Like with gardening, I wonder if it's the back -breaking process or the end result of renovating that gives beginners the most nightmares. Along with this new stage of life as a first-time home buyer come the necessary layman's terms. After muddling through the actual legal sale papers (Did I recycle those yet?), I have to get accustomed to words like Wayne Scotting, Malomime Paint and Intensive Labor. After a weekend of slaving, my three -foot -long front yard looks...normal. I'm guessing there must be six phases to major renovating: ripping and tearing, reconstructing and spending, trial and error decorating, never-ending finishing touches, taking it for granted, and wanting to change it all again the following year. Trip This is not even the end of the episode, be- cause Elston was considered a possible strong candidate this time and refused once because he had left the legislature and wanted to be with his family, but since the others dropped out has mused yet again about running. His dithering tells the world the Liberal leadership is not the most glittering prize. A Liberal premier, David Peterson, threw away govemment in 1990 simply because he called an election without excuse after only three years, which prompted voters to take a deeper look at mom of his activities. Robert Nixon had the 1975 election wrapped up until he lost his temper in a TV debate with Tory premier Premier William Davis. When Andrew Thompson, a weak leader, was forced out by illness in 1966 after only two years, the Liberals hada chance to make amends by drafting the outsider and charismat- ic ex -preacher, Charles Templeton, who had al- most beaten Thompson despite the whole party establishment being against him. Templeton would have been a gamble, but at least aroused public interest, but the party hier- archy had made him feel unwelcome and could not coax him back. As one more example, Liberal leader Stuart Smith said he was surprised when the Tories called an election in 1977, although everyone else saw them manoeuvring it, and his press side was out sailing for the day so that news media could not even find his itinerary. Smith started campaigning a week later than his opponents, but explained the Liberals in the previous election peaked too soon. At Smith's first rally the microphone kept switching off and the Liberals proudly handed out booklets showing pictures of their caucus which includ- ed a member who had defected to the Tories the year before. Smith next day was thrown out of a store where he was campaigning because his staff failed to ask for the manager's approval. The Liberals are merely keeping up a tradition.