HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-03-19, Page 4(THE BLYTH STANDARD)
Page 4—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1986
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MEMBER
Stay away from the ice
The breeze will soon carry a hint of warmer weather and the winter
clothing will soon be stored away as spring officially arrives on March 20.
After being couped up all winter, spring brings out the restlessness in
many adults. Children also catch the famous "Spring Fever" bug and
abandon the safety of their backyard to explore the dwindling signs of
winter.
Although the ice which covers the streams, rivers and lake in this area
still looks sturdy, it is becoming increasingly thin.
One weak spot in the ice is enough to cause a major disaster.
Parents should remind their children to stay away from all ice. There's
no way of telling how deep the water underneath is.
To,ensure everyone enjoys the spring season, don't let the children play
near ice or flowing water. - by Anne Narejko.
Time to draw the line
Who's right?
Every now and again you hear someone
remark about how slow the mail is or com-
plain when mailing costs rise. But as I was
performing the daily routine of sorting
through the pile of mail left on my desk each
morning, I couldn't help but marvel at the
amount of letters and packages that must
pass through the local post offices each day.
I also couldn't help but wonder about the
amount of money the government,
businesses and organizations spend on mail-
ing every year.
Opening the mail has started to interest
me because I'm never sure what I'm going
to get. Along with the many press releases
on everything from government grants to
Be Proud of Your Manure press releases,
the News -Record receives some interesting
items.
One of my favorites was a pair of red,
white and blue shoelaces. I also like the
towels, posters, pens and buttons. The
posters usually decorate some part of the of-
fice for awhile, the buttons enhance my
bulletin board and the pens are used until
the ink is gone. .
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney has had his hands full dealing with the
fumblings of cabinet ministers and if there is any credence to the allega-
tion
that Youth Minister Andree Champagne suggested her ministry re-
quired funds to recruit young people for the Conservative party, then the
PM should act.
Both the Liberal and NDP party embarrassed the government recently
angrily waving documents which in essence suggested the ruling Conser-
vatives were using public funds to round up 'support for the party.
What followed was even more embarrassing for the government and
prime minister, who, merely shrugged and suggested an error in judge-
ment was made.
Champagne confronted reporters with a meagre half -denial of the
allegation. While opposition members held copies of documents, the
minister said she would need some time to document whether or not.ahe4
memo was issued by her office and if the signature (hers) was*authentic:
The letter, on ministry of state for youth letterhead and signed by An-
dree Champagne and addressed to colleagues said in part that, "support
to the recritment effort of the PC Youth Federation will be a pre -writ
priority for the government."
In stalling for time, the minister said she needed time to check the let-
ter and the signature, claiming that gorgery could not be ruled out as a
possibility.
Later the minister finally admitted in the Hpuse of Commons that she
had made a grave error. She, ostensibly, referred to it as a miniscule,
human error and suggested that no one in the House was immune from
tiny mistakes.
Prime Minister Mulroney refused to fire the minister and while he
acknowledged at a news conference that she made an "error in judge-
meht" he was satisfied that she had apologized,"as she should have. That
was appropriate conduct for a minister."
It would appear that NDP Leader Ed Broadbent was correct in sug-
gesting that Champagne had abpsed her power as a minister and that
ner actions represented "a blatant misuse of the responsibilities of her
office."
What is disturbing is that the partisan letter was a direct appeal for
public funds for the party's use and simple apology is then expected to ab-
solve the government of all liability. The government is culpable and
acted poorly in this case.
Also, the government was charged with issuing key census lobs to party
faithful despite the fact the candidates had reportedly failed tests given to
prospective candidates.
The commissioners jobs were given to people who scored less than 30
percent on a test that required a 60 percent mark as a passing grade.
These commissioners will hold responsible jobs for the government's cen-
sus and will be paid accordingly. And they obviously, from the test
results, lack the goods to carry out their duties.
These incidents only serve to fuel the public's outrage and suspicion of
government. People suspect that government tends to be underhanded
and suspect, and such incidents only reinforce that notion and make
Canadians cynical about their government.
Patronage appointments and honest mistakes will always be a part of
our government and there is a place for some government appointments.
If people are qualified, then there is reason for them to have a job. Ap-
pointments based solely on politics is not acceptable.
Incidents like this will not reflect well on Prime Minister Brian
Mulroney and his government and will only serve to breed contempt and
cynicism. The government will lose public confidence over incidents like
these and they simply can't be shrugged off.
Ultimately,, government is responsible to the people. (Goderich Signal
Star) '
Belleville Hospital looking
for their formeremployees
Dear Editor:
During 1986 Belleville General Hospital
will be celebrating 100 years of service to
our community. To corrunemorate this
special occasion, the hospital will be
hosting numberous events through out the
year.
We at the hospital have worked very hard
to contact many of our former staff about
our plans and we wish to enlist the help of
your newspaper to notify others we may
have missed.
One of the highlights of the year will be
Reunion Weekend to be held Friday, May 30
through Sunday, .lune 1. -
Please request former staff to contact the
But just as I was starting to look forward
to the mound of mail at 9 a.m. each day, a
storm hits, delaying the mail until another
day, and then a strike takes place the follow-
ing week.
An illegal strike and picket line in front of
Canada Post's main processing plant in
London last week slowed mail delivery
significantly.
Twelve federal public works employees
formed a picket line that was supported by
120 inside postal workers. The line was
formed in protest of the 12 people losing
their janitorial jobs to private contractors in
two weeks. ,
The job loss, which is scheduled to take
place on April 3, is the result of federal cut-
backs that are forcing 270 workers across
the country to be laidoff.
Although the strike is illegal and incon-
viences many of us, I can't blame the
workers for trying to hang on to their jobs.
After all, they have nothing to lose by going
out on strike.
If disciplinary measures are taken, the
worst thing that could happen is they'll be
fired. On the other hand, if their protest
works, they have everything to gain.
The government has been criticized for
spending too much money. Now they are be-
ing criticized for making cutbacks. It seems
as though they're in a catch 22 situation.
How do you judge who's right and who's
wrong in a situation like this'?
If you look at those who are affected by
the strike the most, you would find people
who are waiting. for cheques to come
through the mail so they can meet their
payments, or for some, buy groceries.
Then you take a look at the reason why the
strike was called. In my opinion, the
workers have a valid reason.
Perhaps a reduction in pay could save the
janitorial jobs.
Spring Sounds
Spring has arrived a few days early in
Brucefield. Shirley Hargreaves phoned the
News -Record office on March 17 to tell us
she saw three robins and heard the crows
tuning their singing voices.
Spring, and hopefully warmer weather,
officially arrives on March 20.
A second robin sighting was report on
March 18 when Mabel Price of RR2 Clinton
saw two robins while visiting Goderich. She
also said the Killdeers were back this week.
L,ttQrs
hospital to be included 6n our anniversary
mailing list.
Should yon require further information,
please contact Mr. A. W` Gray, Radiology,
Belleville General Hospithl, Box 428,
Belleville, Ontario K814. 5A9
Thinking you in advpnee,
A. W. Gray
Chairman, Public Relations
Centennial Celebrations Conunittee,
All Aboard
By Anne Narejko
ack Riddefl, MPP
Support ban
At Queen's Park last week, more'than 40
independent organizations representing
labor, women, seniors, disabled, consumers
and others united in support of the Liberal
government's action to ban extra -billing in
Ontario:
At a news conference sponsored by the
National Action Committee on the Status of
Women, these groups stated they felt it was
necessary to forcefully show that the ma-
jority of people in Ontario strongly support
our health care system and do not wish to
see it eroded.
At the opening of hearings into the issue of
extra -billing last week, Health Minister
Murray Elston spoke to the Social Develop-
n'errll�t Committee at Queen's Park. In his
remarks, Elston provided a brief insight in-
to d r" health care system in Ontario and
Canada.
The Liberal government at Queen's Park
is committed to ending extra billing. At the
same time, both the Health Minister and the
government as a whole are open and flexible
on ways of implementing the bill, As Elston
stated, "Everything is on the bargaining
table but the principle itself."
Extra billing represents a double jeopar-
dy for our province. Federal funds withheld
from Ontario amount to $53 million a year,
` while an additional $53 million is taken out
of patients' pockets for radical care that is
supposed to be publicly insured in the first
place.
In Canada, we have rejejted the notion
that medicine is a business like any other.
We have rejected tollgate health care. When
we compare the Ontario health care system
with the one south of the border, some startl-
ing contrasts leap out at us.
Today, 25 million Canadians enjoy the
benefit of hospital and health care in-
sure ce, 'while ;to million Americans are
without any health insurance at all. Even to-
day, in the United States, the cost of hospital
and medical bills continues to be the single
biggest cause of personal bankruptcy.
Our way — the Canadian way — is to have
a health care system with all needed ser-
vices available to everyone. "We do not
want a system where the quality of care is
directly related to a patient's bank balance
or credit rating," Elston told the committee.
"The people of Ontario value our health
care system. They have trust in it, they have
confidence in it and they have high expecta-
tions about its ability to adapt to meet our
changing needs, The Liberal government in
Ontario is determined to preserve and pro-
tect this health care system for the benefit
of all the people in this province. We have
made that commitment, and we intend to
keep it."
This week a group of seniors have added
their voice to those supporting,the govern-
ment's ban on extra billing.
The. OMA have re -opened negotiations
with Premier Peterson and the Minister of
Health, and it is anticipated agreements can
be reached on ways to assure Ontario
residents of universal acces to doctors'
care.
On the local front, I am pleased to an-
nounce, along with my colleague, the
Honorable John Eakins, Minister of
Tourism and Recreation, the following
Capital Conservation Grants to the riding:
Village of Bayfield: $7,680 for im-
provements, including the John Street Ball
Diamond. Township of Exeter: $6,417 for
washroom facilities in agriculture building.
Township of Stephen: $5,089 for the Cen-
tralia Centennial Centre.
dmmehlwalOomliW
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