HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-01-15, Page 4Page 4—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1906
The CI.lnton News•Rocerd is- published each
Wednesday at P.O. Ilex 39. C"hito®. Ontario.
Cenado. NOM 11.0. Tal.: 4.02.9447.
Subscrgption Rate:
Cenada•$21.00
Sr. CItl.en • s 13.00 per year
U.S.A. foreign 000.00 per year
1t 10 registered et pond icla#a mon by 1114
petit /Alto ander the porrnit number 921z.
Tho Plowi.Record Intorpgrnt$.d in 1924
thofturon Nows•Rotord, founded In 1011,
end Tho Clinton Mewl Oa, founded In 1000.
total prat" runs 7,700.
Incorporating
THE 'MYTH STANDARD
J. HOWARD AITKEN - Publisher
ANNE NAREJKO - Editor
GARY HAIST - Advertising Manager
MARY ANN HALLENBECK - Office Manager
Display advertising rates
available on request. Ask for
Rate Cord No. 15 effective Oc.
tober 1. 1906.
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1985
Head start helps everyone
Clinton Council has taken a step towards tackling a yearly task which is
both complicated and tiresome. -
During its January 6 meeting, Councillor Ross Carter proposed a target
be set for the increase in the 1986 budget. He also suggested that council
consider asking committees to explain why they deem an. increase
necessary.
Although council cannot control the overall budget because of educa-
tion and county wide increases, they can control expenses within the
town.
If council can meet the three per cent goal it has set for itself, taxes
should be kept in line and residents will not be hit with an excessive tax
hike for services rendered in town. However, the county has set increases
for its department heads which will force the budget of each town and
village to rise - a cost which local councils have no control over.
Council has also put itself in an advantageous position by starting to
work on the budget well ahead of time, avoiding any hasty, last minute
decisions which could cost taxpayers money or hamper services.
Once again, there are factors which council cannot control and will
have to wait on before finalizing the budget, but it is important that they
start work on the details which are available to them.
The three per cent increase was not passed as a motion by council, but'
went into the record books as council's goal for the 1986 budget.
Members of council went one step further during their first meeting of
1986, appointing a committee to negotiate salaries for town employees.
The three man committee, consisting of Councillors Carter, John
Cochrane and Mayor John Balfour, is -a way in which all concerns can be ,
heard by, one group, and in return, an overall picture can be established.
Council can use this picture to negotiate fair salaries, benefiting those
directly involved as well as the taxpayers.
The goal council has set for itself is admirable but will take a lot of work
to meet as services cannot be cutback drastically without having ill ef-
fects on the town. However, it's nice to see a new council taking control of
a difficult, yet vitally important, issue. - by Anne Narejko
LeUer gives gratification
Dear Editor:
Regarding "A, letter for teens" in your
January 8 issue. Nearly at a loss for ade-
quate words to express my personal
gratification, and what should be for many
( hopefully) parents past and present, for the
supremely written letter by one of, I fear,
dying breed of mother and parents.
Also thank you Clinton News -Record for
putting it into print. The only thing that
could please me more would be if it were not
only to be printed in every newspaPer coast
to coast, but also have it printed in large
type on an eye catching type poster. Then
have it hung in the portals -of every publicly
trespassed building in our country - bars,
churches, stores and of course each and
every school.
In all my travels and with considerable
years already filling out my belt, never
before and doubtful if I will again, for
sometime, ever be so priveleged of reading
such. a sincere, realistic and true love af-
fidavit to one's child or children! Certainly
it's not of the tear to eye type so many lean
toward. But of the nature, of good solid,
dependable, tough and lasting love and
devotion, of which so many are to me sadly
lacking in our mixed up world.
Again at loss for words, may I say, other
than for myown now passed on Mom, if I
had a- choice of mother to be born to once
again, you would be a number one choice.
Tip of my bat, anonymous "Mother", and
may you walk in eternal sunshine.
Name Withheld
Reader -wants information
Dear Editor:
I am assisting Barbara Mitchell of Trent
University, Peterborough who is writing a
biography on her father-in-law, W.O. Mit-
chell.
She is seeking information on W.O. Mit-
chell's mother, Maggie McMurray who was
born in Clinton on April 24, 1875. Maggie's
parents were Margaret Beggart and John
McMurray. They were married in Lockport,
New York on July 1, 1874.
John McMurray was a warehouse man in
Clinton until the family moved to Weyburn,
Saskatchewan around 1899.
If you have any information regarding
Maggie McMurray Mitchell or her parents,
please contact: -
Nancy Kale:"
Research Co-ordinator
Huron County Branch OGS
RAI 5
Seaforth, Ontario
NOK 1WO
345-2908 ,
Report examines inequities
By: Joan Van Den Broeck _.
Trustee, Huron County
Board of Education
I appreciate the fairness of the position
taken by the Shapiro Commission Report on
Private Schools in Ontario..
Based to a large measure on the premise
• that it is rnorallysuspect to extend full fun-
ding for the Roman Catholic Separate
School School without considering the ine-
quities,this creates, the commission makes
a total of 61. recommendations all of which,
on the surface, appear to be not only of
benefit to the existing independent schools
but also to the general public good with
some unique spin-off benefits and oppor-
,tunities to the public school system.
The commission makes a valid point, too,
in suggesting that it is not enough for the
government to demand compulsory educa-
tion for all children without being prepared
to underwrite some very minimal stan-
dards. With the proliferation of independent
schools, the needs of these students
(83,463/83) cannot be readily dismissed:
For example, in order°for young people to
take their place in Canadian Society, the
first language of instruction' in any school
shouldbe either English or French and in-
clude learning experiences in the arts,
mathematics, sciences, Canadian and world
stadiea and physical education.
Also, no schools in Ontario should be per -
milted to promote racial, religious or ethnic
superiority or foster intolerance in our
society. Schools unwilling to meet such
Minim -i1 standards could; tinder the ctirri-
Winter's for the birds
By Alan Rivett
Jack's jottings
Cambridge gets Toyota
Premier David Peterson has welcomed
the news that the Toyota Motor Corporation
of Japan will build its first Canadian auto
plant, a $400 -million investment,, in Cam-
bridge. The investment by Tdy'ota; the -third'-•
largest carmaker in the work, will create.
1,000 direct jobs. An additional 2,500 indirect
jobs will be created in the;, Cambridge -
Waterloo area.
Premier Peterson acknowledged the ef-
forts of Industry, Trade and Technology
Minister - Hugh O'Neil, who was
"instrumental in attracting this major in-
vestment opportunity to Ontario". In 'his
comments, Mc. O'Neil stated the Toyota
deal "will see the introduction of new
technologies and management techniques,
increased access to North American
markets and spin-off opportunities for
Canadian -owned firms. The Cambridge
operation will begin production in 1988, pro-
ducing 1.6 litre Corolla -type carts for the.
Canadian -and U.S. markets.
At the Toyota press conference, the
Premier said, "The new Toyota plant will be
a highly efficient, state-of-the-art manufac-
turing plant that will utilize the talents and
skills of Ontario's vital workforce.
"Because of the.significant long-term op-
portunities'and benefits of this project, the
Government of Ontario has taken an active
role in assisting Toyota Motor Corporation
with the project.
"Through the Honourable Greg Sorbara's
mission's recommendations, be declared• il-
legal.
Proposed fundingto the independent
schools will not be freely given, nor will it be
as lucrative as that provided to the public
schools. Individual independent schools
must decide between the value of
associating itself with a local scchool board.
to receive funding or declining this invita-
tion in favor of greater independence. •
It is true that acknowledging, through
funding, independent schools- could ac-
celerate the fragmentation of the public
school system, but there seems to be a feel-
ing that this fragmentation will occur
anyway. The comrnission's recommenda-
tions attempt to fold in some commonalities
and provide some common.linkage, through
association, to soften the impact.
Should the commission's recommenda-
tions be implemented in the spirit in which
they were made, the province will have
come a long way. in providing, direction and
a future vision in keeping with society's cur-
rent 'wants' -provided they acknowledge the
funding needs of the public school system.
The cost of the recommendations -
estirnated at "no more than 200 million/an-
num" `'
num concerns me coining after iter -year
decline in provincial funding to the- public
school ;System. ' Will . these costs, too, be
sgraduaily diverted to the Municipalities?
- Unless the province�,is viiling - and able -
to commit itself to financing its own
legislative initiatives, the local 'Arden will,
in the, near future,. become acute. Therein
lies the dileri'itnai .
By Jack RiddII, MPP
Ministry of Skills Development, the pro-
vince will provide $15 -million over five
years toward an overall program to train
Ontario workers.
"In light of the significance of,this,prgject,,
the Ontario government has extended a $35
million repayable, interest-free loan based
on pre -determined production targets. This
contribution is a sound investment' in
developing the skills of Ontario's workforce,
and consistent with this government's on-
going commitment to match the expertise of
Ontario workers to new technologies and in-
dustries."
Queen's Counsels
Abolished and Revoked
The Ontario government will abolish the
honorary title of Queen's Counsel (Q.C.) for
lawyers and revoke all existing Queen's
Counsel appointments in the province. In
making the announcement, ‚Premier David
Peterson poined out that Qeen's Counsels
were originally intended to be modelled on
the English tradition, where the Queen's
Counsel is available only to barristers, bas-
ed on their proven excellence as courtroom
lawyers. In Ontario, however, Q.C.'s were
awarded to any member in good standing of
the Law Society of Upper Canada, and reci-
pients could be corporate lawyers, cour-
troom lawyers or lawyers working in the
private or public sector and not actively
engaged in the practice of law.
Premier Peterson stated that one of the
Sugar and Spice
reasons for abolishing Q. C.'s is that the title
misleads the public and that it has become
unfair to lawyers. While having a Q.C. may
not 'have meant the person was a .better
lawyer, not havinga Q.0 at a certain point
in a lawyer's. career may have been perceiv-
ed as a mark of demerit. The use of the title
Queen's Counsel as a form of political
patronage by previous governments is
another reason for ending the practice. As
Premien Peterson stated, This govern-
ment, however, makes its appointments on
the basis of merit alone; on the basis of what
a person can do rather than who a person
knows."
The Attorney General has also asked the
federal Minister of Justice not to make any
new appointments in Ontario.
New Appointment
Dr. James Ham is now the Chairman of
the new Industrial Disease Standards Panel
under the Workers' Compensation Act. In
announcing Dr. Ham's appointment, Labor
Minister bill Wryeointed out that Dr. Ham
is a past president of the University of
Toronto and a past Dean of Applied Science
and Engineering at the university. He also
served as the Chairman of the Royal Com
mission on Health and Safety of Workers in
Mines. The panel will investigate industrial
diseases, and their causes and how best to
deal with them under the Worker's Compen-
sation Act. .
Keep looking up
Keep on looking up
Looking back at 1985 is a particularly
negative action. Don't do it, unless you want _
to remind yourself that human life is pretty
cheap in the eyes of the. gods or whoever is
running the joint.
India took some heavy lumps. First, the
mess at Bhopal,. where a carbidecompany
took a leak (no . pun intended), and
thousands were killed or made gravely ill.
Then the mysterious crash 6f Air India off •-
the coast of Ireland. No survivors. Just or-
dinary people, going home to visit relatives.
Can you imagine the terror as they plunged
towards the sea? Screaming, clutching
babies. To no avail. The brutal cold of the
North Atlantic gave up almost nothing — a
few bits of flotsam and jetsam, a few bodies.
And other air crashes, not so spectacular,
but just as deadly for those who died. And
the ghastly shbot-out at Malta, where
nobody seemed to know, or care, whether
the rescuers were shooting terrorists or
passengers. And the hijacking of an entire
'cruise ship in the Mediterranean.
But even these events paled when corn -
pared to the grotesque tragedy of the earth-
quakes in Mexico 'and Columbia. Not only
about 40,000 dead,, but thousands of otheres
with their lives over -turned, their crops
destroyed, their homes last.
And- -we.-worry--because.. the price ..of
Christmas trees has gone up again.
Things haven't leen much sweeter at
home, eiien though Canadians live in the
best country in the world, and seem to be
immune frotrc great -disasters, except for the
Banged winter. •
Rancid tuna, tainted buffalo meat (who'
By Bill Smiley
eats buffalo anyway?), Crumbling banks,
and a government that can't seem to put one
foot in front of the other, without putting the
first one in its mouth. Mr. Mulroney's gang,
without his personal public relations facade,
makes you start thinking rather longingly
for Pierre Trudeau, who at least despised
the media and made no attempt to conceal
it. -
Hoever, we mustn't be morbid. We must
look up, not- back. I saw a black squirrel
yesterday looking up at his home in one of
my oaks, and calculating whether he had
time to sock away another five hundred
acorns for the coming months, when all the
squirrels do is have sex, sleep, and eat.
And 'Saw a solid citizen, looking up at the
sky and saying, "Jeez, more snow coming."
These are the positive attitudes we must
adopt if we are to emerge next spring,
pallid, but survivors. Looking up.
I've painted a rather dark picture of 1985.
Forget it, and look up. And if you get some
freezing rain in your eyes, don't blame me.
Just go to the liquor store and buy some
wine with the anti -freeze in it. That'll clear
your eyes, though d may not do much for
your liver.
Personally, things have gone well with
me. I've only been waiting for a hospital bed
since Thanksgiving and will probably be
- tuckedwaiting by
some of those
unspeakable "tests' , by April.
None of my old ' friends had died recently,
and I hope they can say the same for me.
I've lost only one hub -cap this'winter try-
ing to get thorny garage.
—andit
mastered the art
I've pretty well, o
is an art .,- of ionkini' for one. j sit down nt
•
the crack of noon and figure out my menu
for the day. '
Man does not live by bread alone. He
needs peanut butter, as well. While I'm -
working on my menu, I have bread and
peanut butter and a banana. Lots of protein.
Then I write some notes to myself. It's
unhealthy to think about food all the time.
Memo: Get that tea-pot, the only one in the
house fit for guests, back from Hugh, who
"borrowed" it last weekend; call Kim and
see if she's still out of a job;. stop smoking;
stop drinking anything stronger than barley
water; get windshield wiper fixed; pay 1983
income tax: And so on. They certainly take
my mind off food.
By that time, I'm pretty exhausted, soI
lave a little "Zizz," or, as the bourgeois call
it, "snooze." This takes a lot of energy out of
me, because I dream of, not having paid the
utilities bill, the phone bill, and the gas bill. I
wake up in a nervous sweat.
And this moment, it's time to think about •
dinner. So I plod through snow to the
garage, go downtown, buy a paper, cigaret-
tes and booze, and drop in at the
delicatessen where I order a take-out of
their delicious hot goulash. That takes care '
of dinner.
Sometimes I strike it rich. Turkey dinner,
wonderful with all fixings, with some old
`friends. Talked the lady into half an apple
pie. Unfortunately, my son came home that
weekend. He likes pies.
Mustil't go on like this. 1985 was great, if
you're still alive. 1986 is going to be a fine,
fine year. That is, if you keep looking up.
But keep an eye for seagulls.