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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-10-5, Page 41 Page 4 Times -Advocate, October 5, 1994 Publisher: Jim Beckett News Editor: Adrian Harte Business Manager: Don Smith Composition Manager: Deb Lord Adve� -rtisiing: Barb Consitt, Theresa Redmond News; Fred Groves, Catherine O'Brien, Ross Haugh Production; Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Robert Nicol, Brenda Hern, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner, Marg Flynn Transportation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgert front Office & Accounting- Norma Jones, Elaine Pinder, Ruthanne Negrijn, Anita McDonald CCM. • • 0 0. 0 11\ MIN, 1919 — 1991 •111 AsSO inion EI)ITORIAL Playing into their hands he Parti Quebecois have wast- ed no time in putting full steam into their campaign to divide this nation. With the help of their compatriots in Ottawa they are quickly raising bristles on the necks of everyone who hates to see the federal government deferring to their rhetoric. Last week's demand for $47 million to pay back Quebec's part in the failed Charlottetown Accord, and the reshltant $34.5 miilion payoff, not only gave most Canadians another reason to de- spise Brian Mulroney, but also reason to call for drastic measures against the separatists. Grumblings about using the military to seal off the borders to Quebec, de- porting Jacques Parizeau to join the ex- iled Haitian dictators, and other less drastic measures to spite the separatists can be heard in coffee shops all over the nation. ' "Don't let them separate...kick them out" is becoming an all -too -common re- frain. Which, of course, is exactly the re- sponse desired by the PQ. They know the polls are against them. Failing to gain half the popular vote in the provincial election, the Parti Quebe- cois know they face an uphill battle to win a referendum. In fact, success is most unlikely. Since they can expect "no" votes from nearly all who voted Liberal, and know many PQ supporters will stop short of voting "yes", the chances of winning the referendum are slim. What the PQ needs is some anti - Quebec federal government reaction, some anti -Quebec sentiment from other provinces as proof that Quebec is better off alone. They will be pushing hard to be the most obnoxious, disagreeable, de- manding, and annoying thorn in the side of the federal government they can. Chances are, their tactics will work. Canadians outside Quebec will become increasingly frustrated with both the sep- aratists, and with the federal government should they continue to "pay off' the PQ to avoid confrontation - and throw fuel on the fire. T-shirts and billboards during the Charlottetown Accord campaign read "My Canada includes Quebec". If that sentiment is to be kept alive today, may be new shirts should read "My Canada includes Quebec... not the PQ". A.D.H. Your Views Letters to the editor Apology for firefighters "...this is no excuse for endanger- ing the lives of children or adults, or causing vehicular accidents on the way..." To the Citizens: Town of Exeter It has recently been brought to my attention by a number of concerned citizens unfortunate occur- rences regarding the so-called erratic, dangerous, careless, reckless driving practices (whichever cate- gory one ch(ioses) taking place by some members of your fire/rescue service when responding to the fire station. i do not feel this driving behaviour irresponsible but I do find it undesirable and unwarranted even though the intentions of a quick response is of high priority for what could be life threatening situations. We all know that the first five to eight minutes can be critical for structural fires but this is no excuse for endangering the lives of children or adults, or causing vehicular accidents on the way to such re- sponses, whether it be behind the wheel of our own private vehicle or the fire/rescue emergency units. All members of your volunteer fire/rescue service are responsible to abide by our S.O.P. guidelines and the Highway Traffic Act. With the assistance of the Exeter O.P.P., a complete review of these regu- lations will be conducted immediately. Hopefully we can get to the root of these driving infractions so as to curtail any serious incident. 1 apologize on behalf of the members of your fire/ rescue service for these driving habits and will do my best to sec they never happen again. Sincerely, Gary T. Middleton, Chief Exeter and Area Fire/Rescue Service r� A View From Queen's Park By Erfc Dowd The former Progressive Conservative pre- mier, William Davis, has fired his first shot in the coming election and it has been oddly at his own party. Davis, who retired in 1985, has accepted an invitation by New Democrat Premier Bob Rae to chair a new Ontario International Trade Cor- poration that will help exports. Davis can bring some strengths to the post, because he has chaired a cabinet and knows how government works and people in other countries often are impressed by high rank. If the government wanted to pick a successful businessman, however,pavis would not be its first choice. His business involvement has been particularly with real estate companies that have struggled, although to be fair, this has been true recently of most in real estate. The NDP's motives for appointing Davis are more partisan. it has constantly been derided as incompetent in managing the economy and this has been the biggest strike against it. Davis's image has tarnished a bit, as his mis- takes in office have become more evident, but he is still the most respected Tory of the past 25 years. Having him on side gives the NDP some re- spectability it did not have before. It can argue that it cannot totally lack merit if Davis is will- ing to lend a hand and ask how any government can be called inept when it has Davis working for it. Davis is a trophy. The Tory leader since 1990, Mike Harris, who has been slowly rebuilding support, has been complaining that the NDP government is a closed shop run by unionists, relentlessly anti -business and bankrupt of ideas for improv- ing the economy. He will have more difficulty getting this message accepted when his former leader is holding hands with the NDP govern- ment. Some former Davis supporters have been un- willing to work for Hams, feeling he has moved too far right of Davis's old policies by his promises to slash spending and get tough with beneficiaries. Publications Mall Registration Number 0388 5UBSc gIprION RATES: CANADA Within 40 miles (65 km.) addressed to non letter carrier addresses 830.00 plus 82.10 O.S.T. Outside 40 riles (65 km.) or any letter 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 Ideating at 424 Main St., Exeter, Ontario, NOM 188 by J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Telephone 1-519-235-1331 e.S.T. /R105210e35 Letters to the editor Unlocked cars easy pickings "I have been a trusting person and never locked my car, but these boys have changed my mind." Dear Editor: From my hack yard one day the end of the week, i was amazed at what I saw. Two teenage hoys were opening cars and checking inside them at a local restaurant and the LCBO parking lot. it looked as if they took something from a car at the LCBO and then they ran towards Andrew Street. I didn't contact police as by the time the police would get here, the boys would be in their class- rooms. I have been a trusting person and never locked my car, but these boys have changed my mind. I am very sorry hoys to write this note, but if you read it, I hope you will think twice before repeating your actions as I am sure you have been taught to do what is right. have always been ready to defend or be a friend to young people until 1 saw what 1 did today. Sincerely, A very concerned citizen of Exeter Editor's note: /1 is not our policy to publish anon- ymous letters in the Times -Advocate. However, we hope a couple of lessons might be learned from the above note. One, always lock your car. As the reader points out and police would agree. thefts from cars are not isolated incidents. When doors are left unlocked, thieves can go shopping from car to car. Secondly, anyone witnessing a crime is best advised to contact police and be prepared to give a full description of the crime as it took place, and a description of the culprits. Few criminals are caught "red handed", but are tracked down by po- lice investigation. Witnesses are most useful. We doubt the thieves in this case will learn any- thing from this letter - they have already learned that unlocked cars make for easy pickings. and that even when people see them steal. they don't even bother to call the police. Bill Davis a threat to Harris Hams has not endeared himself to them by saying the Tories in the past were run by polls, not principles -- he could only have meant un- der Davis. This had already led the Liberals and NDP to claim that Harris's party is not the party of Da- vis, which they have found full of virtues when it suits them. They will now use Davis's hand- holding with Rae as further evidence that the ex -premier has little in common with the cur- rent Tory leader. A party also inevitably gets a bit of the heart kicked out of it any time a former leader trucks with the enemy. Davis could not be looking for money in working for an NDP government after years of fighting that party, because he will be paid only expenses. He may feel he can help business or be flat- tered the NDP asked him, and some may argue he is merely following a path well trodden re- cently by former party leaders. His successor and the last Tory premier brief- ly in 1985, Frank Miller, took a Liberal gov- ernment offer to chair what was then called the Ontario international Corporation, but was much the same job, from I987-92, mostly to make himself feel more wanted after voters rudely cast him out. Andy Brandt, who led the Tories in the late 1980s and helped heal their wounds, got the Liberals to promise him the job of chair of the Liquor Control Board before retiring in 1990 and the incoming NDP liked him so much it did not have the heart to refuse. Robert Nixon who held the Liberal party to- gether as leader for much of three decades, sewed up the choicest plum, agent -general in Britain; with the NDP before retiring from the legislature in 1991, although it turned sour when cost-cutting abolished the post. All were former leaders ready to lend oppo- nents a bit of their lustre in return for jobs, but none had the stature of Davis -- he would be well aware how much his helping the enemy will harm his own party.