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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-09-16, Page 4;1:4 — GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDA Y, SEPTEMBER 16,198. dave sykes CNA 1.e s BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1979 Second class mail registration number -0716 Well the,. Soviet Union, or the talented hockey components thereof, slammed another hockey puck into our shinny egos and attempted to smuggle the nickel -plated Canada Cup back to Moscow. Alan Eagleson managed to alert a few of our own venerable KGB and the coveted cup was wrestled from a Ruskie duffle bag. If it" is any consolation, we didn't let them get away with the shiny goods, em lamatic of hockey supremacy on the globe. While our country may lay permanent claim to the glittering partial maple leaf, simply as eternal keepers, it rightfully belongs to a group of young skaters who score to keep out of the salt rather than to put it on the table. We took a beating. I can't get a firm grasp on my feelings, but it bothers me. It's only a game and yet, our revered boasts as the masters of the game, SINCE 1848 THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT Founded 1n 1040 and published ever Y Irednesday at Goderich. Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OWNA. Adver- tising rotes on request. Subscriptions payable In advance 97.50 In Canada. 15.00 to U.S.A., 95.00 to all other coun- tries, single copies W. Display advertising rotes available on request. Please ask for Rate Card No. 10 effective Oc- tober 1, 17100. Second class mall Registration Number 0710. Advertising Is accepted on the condition thatin the event of typographical error. the advertising space occupied by the erroneous .item. together with reasonable allowance for signature. will not be charged for but that balance of the advertisement will fre oald for al the ow. pllwble rat*. In the event of o typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrong price.gpods or services may not be sold. Advertising Is merely an offer to sell. and may be withdrawn a1 any time. The Signal -Star Is not responsible for the lora or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used far reproducing pur- poses. PUBLISHED BY:SIGNAL-STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED ROBERT G. SHRIER-President and Publisher DONALD M. HUBICK•-Advertising Manager DAVID SYKES-Editor P.O. BOX 220. HUCKINS ST. - INDUSTRIAL PARK GODERICH N7A 486 C:45 aet P C have taken a severe slash in the vitals. Interest in such international matches sparks an interest that leads to an intrinsic dislike for the Russian hockey teatn. Not only would Canadians like to think our brand of hockey is of a superior quality but,, it tends to reflect on the differences in political' systems. It's as if, somehow, a victory by a decisive margin would truly portray the democratic system as the champion, of the people. Earlier encounters had critics promulgating that the Russians were incapable of playing outside a rigid and disciplined system. Emotion and pride was in favor of players who toiled for democracy. It is difficult to specualte whether the Soviets play without glowing democratic pride, but some nights they could play without jock straps and do the job. We have gone to great lengths to prove that our hcokey players make millions of dollars because they are the best in the world. We offer them a financially secure world and their lifestyle is the epitome of boyhood dreams. One lousy game will not offer conclusive evidence to hockey supremacy tri such a seris. They are the best hockey teams in the world and there can be no finality to arguments ovef'the brief: skirmishes. "There may be another Canada Cup in a few years time but the importance of the series as an international showdown has dwindled. Fan s&Epport decreased sub- stantially and boycotts elsewhere indicate the hockey showcase is losing lustre. Even if the Canadians, who are capable of releiving defenceman of their pants with quick moves in their own league, had solved the mystery of slipping a few discs past Tretiak, would it have mattered? A win would certainly have bolstered our egos and brought the part-time nationalism to a fevered pitch. Unfortuneately, there has not been, and perhaps never will be, a match to stir two opposing nations like the eight -game series of 1972. The hockey since that series has been less entertaining while the talent has increased immeasurably. . Another prolonged series might create more hype than a Canada Cup, where a single final game determines the global champs and the issue is prone to speculation for another th{ee or four years. The Canadian team was an assembly of the finest talent and their accumulative bank roll would offer testimony to that fact. Now for the next Canada Cup Eagleson might consider a ruling that makesit mandatory for all Russians to wear their helmets backwards. FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES please phone (519) 524-8331 Health not cheap Health does not come cheap. In essence, that was the message delivered to Ontario taxpayers by Health Minister Dennis Timbrell.. The bottom line translates into simple economics: it will cost more .for . visits to the doctor and hospital and for prescription drugs: • Timbrell is now considering 'a plan to raise more revenuer for increasing costs in the health care field. That plan .could include, fees for hospital care :and visits to the doctor. . Health care costs are' rising in proportion to all goods" and setvk es and Timbrell suggests his Ministry must extract added revenue_ from the public. He hinted at several ' options that included increases in • OHIP payments, tax increases or a combination of raised rates and a cut back in services. Whatever the option, the people of Ontario willhave to pay more for health care. Ontarians • have put up' with substantial increases in OHIP rates and in a May budget, Treasurer Frank Miller raised the rates by $3 per month for single people and $6 per month to$46for families. .� Will a user fee for doctor and hospital visits give the Ministry the added revenue it seems to require. A user fee scheme •will undoubtedly help in eliminating senseless visits to doctors. But with visits covered by • OHIP premiums, it is only natural that people would seek medical attention for common°ailments, simply for peace of mind. . What the user fee might do,is deter lower income families from seeking required medical attention and prescriptions. Certainly there is no room for frugality where health is concerned but many people would tend to keep their wallets closed. ' Since doctors have opted from the OHIP plan, it has, created a type of user fee system. Patients are billed over and above the costs covered by the insu1'ance plan but have learned, it seems, to live with the expense. Timbrell's announcement will .probably mean that hospitals will have to learn to' live within budget allocations. Coupled with rising costs, that could put a bind on many hospitals in the province and limit some of the services provided: • Timbrell • is obviously preparing the publicfor higher prices somewhere along the, line and he indicated that such moves are necessary to maintain certain standards and quality in health care. . The standards and quality must be maintained but there must be caution so the public isn't priced out of good health. D.S'. The legacy lives on . The deeds and memory of Terry Fox served as ample inspiration to all Canadians and his legacy lived on Sunday as thousands of runners, walkers, and disabled people of all ages participated in Terry Fox Day. It was a special day for Canadians, not only to honor the heroic exploits of Fox, but also to revive that undaunted, unselfish spirit that sewed `to raise money for cancer victims. Terry Fox Day rekindled• a. spirit that was sparked by the one -legged runner in his pursuit of a goal to run across Canada and aid disease ridden victims: • Canadians embraced the dream but it was interesting to note that runners around the world took part in special 10 kilometre runs. They ran in London, England, the Middle East and even in Peking where the son of an embassy aid raised 8780. The tribute spanned the globe as Canadian military personnel in Ankara, Turkey and Tokyo staged their own version of Terry Fox Day. Members of the force in all parts of the worlddid their part on this special day. The day involved millions ... in one way or another. Sponsors, for the event estimated that more than 800 communities across Canada organized runs and thousands of people covered the 10 kilometre route. The Canadian Track and'Field Association claims that more than 400,000 Canadians ran in the event and as many as five million Canadians pledged money. - In Goderich, over $2,000 was raised by 100 runners. The turnout included people -of all ages, from Brad Phelan,4, to a 67 -year old Arnold Zonneveld. Two five year-olds, Shawn Thomson and Crystal McPhee, covered the distance in wheelchairs. Th,e people of Goderich have supported the cause well through a number of •events and again demonstrated support on Terry Fox Day . D.S. ans By Cath Wooden D EAR READERS BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER There's a whole lot of people . who 'are still smarting over the postal strike- and some of the nonsense that went on during it. And we're going to suffer even more, it is expected, when we get hit with a whopping increase in the cost of postage in the next few days. I note this week that the Canadian Federation of Independent Business is calling on the . government to outlaw strikes in the public sector. That organization says it won't back off from this course. ' "Disruptive strikes by civil servants and ,postal workers have done unbelievable damage , td small business and the Canadian economy, helping to give Canada the depressing ,distinct ion of leading the Western world in days lost through strikes," says the federation. "Everyone ,.suffers when government unions act irresponsibly, using the strike weapon to gain financial advantages that are not available to the rest of Canadians, says one federation spokesman, President John Bulloch. "As a result, the unions involved don't deserve to retain the right to strike." Many readers will probably be shouting •',1men and again amen." And in fact, I per- sonally would like some assurances that at least ,civil servants would be held in check. The CFIB is dead right. The actions of civil servants directly affect my pocketbook, and the pocketbooks of everyone in the entire country. But if it were possible, 1 would like to see legislation that would save me from many other Canadians who in my opinion are hurting me when they go on strike, for higher wages. Whether it is the auto workers who drive up the cost of my transportation or the grain handlers who drive up the cost of my food or the steel workers who drive up the cost of my housing, I would like to see an end to the mindless work stoppages that are feeding inflation. Mine is a voice crying in the wilderness 'though. I'm one of those dumb Canadians who believes the' future of this nation depends as much on me•and my actions as on anyone else. And there aren'ttoo many of that breed around. I'm thekind of a person, for instance, who thinks that it is my respdnsibility to live within my financial means. I don't expect anyone to guarantee my lifestyle unchanged and. maybe slightly improved from the previous year. I'm not adverse the idea of accepting zero increase in my salary if that would help bring the interest rate down .... or to eating porridge three days a week if that would pay off the national debt ... or to working a few extra hours per day if that would increase the -nation's productivity and _ restore the Canadian dollar 'to a more com- petitive position. I'm not one either, to expect the government to apply the magic elixir to cure all my woes. I can quite easily accept, for instance, Allan MacEachen's opinion that.I should rearrange my own financial affairs to meet higher mor- tgage payments. I've been doing that all my life. And I'm ready to accept the consequences of my own actions. If I get myself in an economic muddle, I don't expect anyone else to get me out. But by the same 'token, I'm not enamored of those folks who feed on the misery others. We've seen too much of that when times were good. Business deals, private and public, that sucked the lifeblood out of a community, or a province or a country without care or concern foe the future of those who must live and work there. Exploitation of hard working employees who carried the load for others who were less in- dustrious.but equally paid and protected. Headlines in Friday's London Free Press datelined New Haven, Connecticut were: Ultimatum to Business: Get economy moving. The story pointed out that Ronald Reagan was elected specifically to curb inflation, cut government spending, find a way to transform the economy into a modern, technologically superior vehicle for growth, turn around productivity and improve America's standing the the world.. And this quote from that article: "They (the American people) are critical of business - for neglecting long-term growth in favor of short- term profits, for not making the capital in- vestments necessary to improve productivity - but they are willing to give industry a relatively free hand to ma ke'the economy work." But this warning: "If business\can convince the American people a year from now that it is delivering, then Reagan will be a real hero. But if public patience runs thin, then watch out. Then you are likely to see a very different role for government." It's a partnership - government and people. The trouble in Canada today is greedy people who want government to protect them from themselves - and parliaments full of politically - ambitious partisans caught in an antiquated legislative system who have been trying to do it. She does. He does. They do. We all do. I can digit. Two of my closest friends are about to become married to each other in what will probably be the wedding of the century. I'm finding the whole thing highly interesting. Up to now, I have managed to avoid the shower -wedding -reception scene. Most of my 'friends and relatives have either decided to engage in the no -fuss living together arrangement pr have simply steered clear of the business of marriage. I've saved a lot of money in presents that way..Ieez, the presents are enough to make me want to get married a couple of times a year. What with all those showers and stuff, Shelley and Gare are going to be ablelto go into the sheets and towels and pots and pans business. I don't like showers. There's something about them that rubs me the wrong way. ay:be it's. the. insera.mblethe lettere to find the word for a kitchen appliance game that bothers me. I don't know. I'd rather go to a stag. From what I hear, they are much more fun, And you don't have to take gifts. For sure, weddings are definitely an economical asset to the two people getting attached to each other. For me, it's a disaster. Oh, I certainly don't mind getting a special wedding present for two people that have given me a lot of happiness, but I'm going to have to buy a dress - and shoes - and pantyhose - and a slip. You see, my nickname is not exactly `Society C. W.'. The last time I got gussied up was in May of 1980. Hooked for the dress and shoes I wore then but I can't find them. I still have the pantyhose, though. They are bound up in a wad and stuffed in the corner of my closet. The cat plays with them. I know what I want to wear to the wedding - my leopard skin vest, army surplus shirt, jeans skirt; and_ cowboy boots. But I'm told that clothes like 'that are socially unac- ceptable. Bummer. Shelley is deathly afraid that her and Garv's unconventional friends are going to be, generally socially unacceptable. The ushers, known for their dirty songs and lewd behavior are being trusted dubiously by Shelley. In fact, Shelley is afraid that her betrothed -to -be himself will also be socially unacceptable. She has spoken of a dream in which Gary sat in the front pew reading a National Lampoon magazine while she was making her trek down the a isle. I w;,uld agree that that would not be the thing to 40, but on the other hand, I don't think weddings should be somber, con- ventional, do -whatever -the -Jones -did events. Even though he has to Behave himself in the church, Gary has been given a free rein in the choosing of music to be played at the reception. He is going to give the disc jockey a long list of really neat tunes to play, such as 'Under My Thumb', 'Paradise by the Dashboard Light', and even some nice mushy songs that are going to make everybody cry. That's the way it should be. Wedding ceremonies and receptions should be distinctive, reflecting the character and beliefs of the two people who are joining their lives, not those of their parents and not those of society. Mind you, if they are all the same, it makes things a whole lot easier - especially if the parents are paying. Anyway, Shelley and Garv's wedding will be a grand time and I am looking forward to all the crying, giggling, tomfoolery, and toasting, even if I have to wear polyester and high heels to keep Shelley from getting nervous. But I'll tell ya, I don't plan on catching the bouquet.