Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-7-13, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, 'Ply 13, 1994 Publisher: Jim Beckett News Editor: Adrian Harte Business Manager: Don Smith Composition Manager: Deb Lord Advertising; Barb Consitt, Theresa Redmond News; Fred Groves, Catherine O'Brien, Ross Haugh Production: Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Robert Nicol, Brenda Hem, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner, Marg Flynn TransoQrtation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgert Front Office & Accounting; Norma Jones, Elaine Pinder, Ruthanne Nggrijn, Anita,McDonald CC.40•Arh • • .N� o •N COMM Ni pinion • %Vcome news indeed is he an- nouncement that Centralia (ege will reopen under a new mandate in. January. F,I)I'1'OIZIAL Rebirth of a college While the province is no doubt quite pleased with itself over the "creation" of jobs at the new college, we have to 'remember that it was the province that closed it before. Credit is no doubt due to many peo- ple who worked' behind the scenes to make this new facility a reality. We Aalready know some of their names, and recognize their) eas in the final outcome of the proposal, but no . doubt more will come forward over time. And yet the government's an- nouncementseems a little overstuffed with optimism. Can the new college really bring an enrolment of 700 stu- dents into the area? If true, it would mean a significant influx of people into Centralia each year, and all the business opportunities that represents. Still, as an agricultural college, Cen- tralia was designed for a much larger student base that never materialized. If it wasn't for such over capacity in On- tario's agricultural schools, the college would never have needed closing. While we will be seeing some famil- iar faces and familiar programs at the new school, we can't forget that local farmers lost a valuable resource when the college closed. As Canada's county with the single largest agricul- tural output, Huron will still miss hav- ing those experts so close to home. Still, one must celebrate the new op- portunities offered by the creation of a new educational -facility on this scale. We may all benefit in ways we have not yet realized. Only time will tell. A.D.H. Publications Mail Registration Number 0386 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: C ADA Within 40 miles (65 km.) addressed to non letter canter addresses 830.00 plus 82.10 G.S.T. Outside 40 miles (65 km.) or any Tetter carrier address 830.00 plus 830.00 (total 60.00) + 4.20 O.S.T. Outside Canada 899.00 (Includes 888.40 postage) Published Each Wednesday Morning at 424 Main St., Exeter, Ontario, NOM 1S6 by 1.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Telephone 1-519-235-1331 A.S.T. /R10521005 -ANDSMMS PAY REDUCED TAXES oN OUR "PLAIN PACKAGING" MODEL ,-. Hold that thought... The Ontario government's latest advertising campaign is probably one of the most graphically horrific to ever grace our television channels. You can't have missed them: the comatose father immobile in hislospital bed with a screaming daughter laying blame, or the accident scene with bloodied victims and a doctor who has to break the bad news. I c4i't think of anyone who isn't in favour of putting bet- ter, more responsible drivers on our roads. Everyone has been touched, or knows some- one who has been touched by a traffic fatality. However, I find an interesting twist to that advertising campaign. Al - By Adrian Harte ways on the lookout for a hid- den agenda, I think I smell a rat. The one advertisement fo- cuses on drunk driving, which in the past few uecades has progressed from a frowned - upon peccadillo to a full- fledged criminal offense. Al- cohol, we hear, is involved in about one out of every two fa- talities - cause enough to make stamping out drunk driving a top priority in any safe driving campaign. The other advertisement fo- cuses on speeding, which I have to admit I find puzzling. Yes, police statistics .say speeding factors in most traf- fic accidents, which in itself is not surprising. After all, most a people routinely drive a little above the limit, and most ac- cidents could be prevented if all parties involved were go- ing slow enough. My question is, is speeding now of equal concern to drunk driving? What about danger- ous driving, ignoring seatbelt laws, sleeping at the wheel, not paying attention? Where are the graphic advertisements to impress us with thgse is- sues? No, for some reason speed- ing was chosen as a prime tar- get for the government's new Road Safety Agenda. There are some compelling reasons to conduct such a campaign. In 1992 some 1,090 people died on Ontario 1 smell a speeding rat roads. To bring it a little clos- er to home, about 39 people were killed in traffic accidents in the OPP's Mount Forest District in 1993, if memory serves. Still, if we search through microfilm records for a Times -Advocate of a hundred years ago, we come to the re-, alization that tragic death used to be far, far more common. Every week, you could read about people crushed under falling trees, trampled by spooked horses, or young chil- dren succumbing to ailments easily cured by antibiotics to- day. We now live in a world where we insist every death or injury can be prevented. Eve - ry accident is the result of a faulty proct, inadequate safety trai ng, or the lack of public awareness of the prob- lem. We also want to believe there m'tist eventually be cures for every kind of illness or disease. Can we one day cheat death completely? So why speedin I don't think there's a coin idence speeding now ranks up there with impaired driving, and Ontario has launched a new photo radar program. ' Photo radar has a huge po- tential to generate revenue for the government. Hundreds of cars an hour could be ticketed on the 401 or 403, as opposed to two or three by one officer in a cruiser. i Can the government, in all conscience, bill motorists for millions of dollars in tickets without once asking to see a driver's license or insurance card? If speeding is now ranked up thdre with the seven deadly sins, it cin be justified can't it? The next step is toll roads. Highway 407 will be a toll road on which you can bypass Toronto, for a fee. But I'll bet you, just like in Italy, that if you pass the second toll booth in less than your allotted time, you'll also get a speeding tick- et. J - A View From Queen's Park A lot of people are advising Premier Bob Rae to call an election this fall, but not all of them have his best interests at heart. The latest to urge4he New Democrat premier to get marching to the polls is the Liberal lead- er Lyn McLeod, who said Rae should call an election because a national unity crisis is on the way. Quebec will have an el tion, she reasoned, and the Parti Quebecois might win (McLeod does not show much faith in her fellow - Liberals governing that province.) A PQ government would then seek a referen- dum on separating and prompt a national de • - bate in which the country would expect Ontario to take a leading role, McLeodsaid. But Rae cannot play a prominent role, she said, while an election hangs over his head. On- tario governments traditionally call elections within four years and Rae was elected in Sep- tember 1990, although he can stay in office un- til next year. By Eric Dowd McLeod argued even that Rae has no choice but to,call an election at the same time as Que- bec and might want to call one claiming nation- al unity is the main issue and he needs a re- newed mandate to speak on it. Rae probably will be able to stifle a tempta- tion to rush to obtain an election writ, because he has many reasons for not calling an election soon. The New Democrats, despite efforts to move up, are still around 15 percent in polls, the low- est for a government on record, while McLe- od's Liberals are around 50 per. e'it and would be front-runners in an election called soon. The Ontario Liberals' popularity also is due partly to the long honeymoon voters are giving the»,iberal federal government. When that pas- sion subsides, the provincial Liberals also will lose some popularity: no wonder McLeod is anxious for an early electipn. Rae might have some Ming for the idea of An election this fall? fighting an election on national unity, if this was possible, because he shines in inter - government debates and invariably is praised personally for his articulation. But Ontartang are much more interested in the NDP's economic policfes, higher deficits and taxes, support for same-sex benefits and the like. National unity is not on the minds of most. The issue has barely been raised in the legislature in two years and ranks slightly be- hind the problem of algae in lakes. If Rae called an election saying he needs a renewed mandate to fight for national unity, he would be laughed out of office. The last pre- mier to try this tactic was Liberal David Peter- son, who asked for a mandate to protect Onta- rio's interests in 1990 and it failed to help him one bit. Progressive Conservative leader Mike Harris also has urged Rae to call an election soon "so we can put Ontario back to work.' ' 01/ Harris told Rae a leaked document listing NDP plans failed to provide enough new jobs and 'the number one job -creation action you could take now would be to quit, to give up, to call an election.' Some news media also have been predicting Rae will call an election for this fall and see ev- idence of this in his aggressive attitude and constant touring in search of votes. Rae will travel to the end of the province to announce a factory extension that will create five jobs. They also suggest he may call an election ear- ly this fall so NDP MPPs who are defeated, possibly many, can run in the November mu- nicipal elections. But the plain fa is Rae needs to continue trying to createjobs, his main theme for the election, hoping the economy will improve and bringing unions angered by his public service cuts back in the fold. Rae needs all the time he can get.