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.