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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-02-26, Page 4PAGE 4 —GODERICHSIGNAI,-STAR, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1986 Money can do a lot of things. I mean people wouldn't fabricate long lasting axioms like 'The rich get richer and the poor get poorer' and 'Only rich people dont pay income tax' if there wasn't a ring of truth to the fact. Everyone knows the lit- tle guy gets dinged, right? Well, the Citizens for Public Justice, have recommended that the federal government do something about the deplorable disparity between the rich people of Canada and the poor people of the nation. Slash poverty by taxing rich people and corporations the Christian organization said and create 250,000 jobs without increasing the federal deficit and provide an annual income for the country's poor. All we have to do, the group says, is tax corporations, rich people and cut defence spending. Well I'm sick of hearing those impassion- ed pleas to tax corporations and rich people DAVE SYKES 1, who virtually get away without paying taxes while making awesome sums of money. Let's give them a break. Finance Minister Michael Wilson might have other ideas in his budget, which was released Wednesday, but as a ' finance minister there are more creative ways to Opinion raise money. For example, the government could: Impose a tax on each senten&'e uttered by Maple Leaf owner Harold Ballard that con- tains in excess of five expletive deletives and realize an additional $3 million annual- ly. • Impose a tax on Prime Minister Brian Mulroney for every time he blames a situa- tion ( ie. unemployment, the federal deficit, high taxes, the falling dollar,l regional the donisparity and a sagging economy previous Liberal government and the government would realize an additional $40 million. Impose a tax on people who wear jockey shorts or take their lunch to work. Or both. Impose a tax on the Toronto Maple Leafs for each road victory and the government would realize an additional $49.50 annually. Include home ice wins and the amount would soar to $51.35. Impose a tax on people who have chauf- feurs or even people who have merely thought about it. Impose a tax on the patrons of Maple Leaf Gardens who fall asleep during Leaf games or at least give visual indications of nodding off after the national anthem and the government would realize an extra $2 million annually. Impose a tax on Mulroney's Conservative government every time a cabinet minister gets into some difficulty and is forced to resign and the government would realize a hefty sum annually. Impose a tax on short people. Impose a tax on the media every time they show a picture of Lady Di walking, smiling, frowning or skiing and or publish a rumor about the love life of Prince Andrew and the government would realize an addi- tional $21 million. tb Impose a tax on over -zealous Revenue Canada employees every time thoy lick the end of their pencils and stroke a pocket caculator affectionately while infoi Innis an unsuspecting taxpayer they beg to differ their version of the 1985 tax return and the government would collect an additional $52 million. Impose a tax on people who have to ride public transit. Impose a tax on the CBC every time Knowlton Nash offers a toothy grin at the conclusion of The National and the govern- ment would realize an additional $12 billion. And finally, the government should cash in Finance Minister Wilson's new budget shoes and use the money to feed a family of four for six months. THE -NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 the • �0 EBT ALL POUND COMMUNITY NBW@PAPER IN CGNAOA � �,rcuw"on Clnsti 3500 A50� C C n, A 9,.µ1'I Nawnpepur Cwnpep�on 1984 TGNAL-STAR P.O. BOX 220 HUCKINS BT. INDUSTRIAL PARK OODERICH, ONT. N7A 4B6 PI RUSHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded In 1846p and published avert' Wedn2.00. B nior Citizen. dey et ,819.00 privilege, ege erd number required) In ember of the CCNA and OCNA. Subscriptions payable In A..advance gto al (National end Cenede, 880.00 to U.S.A., 860.00 to all other eountrlea, Bingle copies BOC. Display, Classified edvertlsing mates evelleble on request. Please eek for Rate Cerd No. 16 effective October 1, 1985. Advertising Is accepted on the condition that In the event of a typographical , the advertising apace occupied by the erroneous item, together with the reaeonebla ellowe'oebareten In the wile^[ l not e cherged for but that belenca of the edvartieement will be paid for et the app typographical edvertising goods or services et a wrong price, gt,ods or services may not be sold. Ad vertlefng is merely en offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. The Signal -Star Is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited menuecripte, photos or other materiels used for reproducing purposes. General Manager Editor Advertising ManagerDON HUBICK SHIRLEY J. KELLER DAVE SYKES. FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...Please phone [519)524-2614. eN.A Second class mail registration number 0716 Member: PAID Column will be missed For almost three years, the editorial page of the Goderich Signal -Star has carried a col- umn written by Elsa Haydon and as she indicated in her piece last week, the column will no longer appear in this weekly newspaper. While she will continue to write for Signal -Star's Focus publication every other week, Haydon has found that the weekly deadline is a difficult one for her to meet at this time. It was with regret that we learned of her decision and no doubt the column will leave a void on this paper's editorial page. Haydon, who was a member of this town's municipal council for several years, was a renowned defender of public rights and openess at the municipal level. Municipal politics was, and still is, her passion and hobby. She understood the workings of government at various levels and tried to sort it out and explain the ramifications and im- plications of bureaucratic decisions to the taxpayer. Municipal government knew her well too. No doubt many town and county politicians will be glad that Elsa has laid her pen to rest and that her scrutinous eye will no longer impbse a modicum of decorum on the political scene. She 'will be remembered for her overiding sense of fairness, regardless of the situation and despite the ridicule heaped upon her word and opinions. She passionately valued the freedom of expression and always valued the opinions of others and always recognized the .right of others to their opinion. Irrespective of one's opinion or outlook, when the discussion was over, there was no lingering animosity. She could easily separate personal feelings from expression of opinion and espoused the ideals of fairness and one's right to opinions.. She dared to challenge the practices and decisions of governments and politicians and while her pen may have caused some soul-searching, it resulted in positive changes and challenged'our elected men and women to be the best. She was a monitor, a government watchdog and an irascible wit who has worked for bet- ter government and a more businesslike approach to the dealings of municipal politics. She can be satisfied, although that is not her nature, that her column has impacted positively on the municipal world,and resulted in better government. Sometimes her stand solicited scorn, contempt and verbal abuse, a price she was wilding to pay in the interest of honesty. Elsa has now set aside her probing pen and we wish her well in'the future. Her column will be missed. D.S. ' Wildlife must be pprotected In recent rhonths there have been a number of advertisements in the press, on radio and teleyision alerting rural residents to keep an eye' on their dog during, the winter. Most of these ads are run freeof charge by the media. They are considered a kind of public service announcement. As'such, it is sometimes easy to dismiss them. No doubt some people catching these ads with half an eye. •or ear, wonder why on earth a farmer should keep a watch on Fido during the winter. The answer to that question was made abundantly clear in Ellice Township recently. In a period of six days, three white-tailed deer were chased down and killed by roving dogs in'three separate incidents hi Ellice. According to conservation officers with the Wingham district office of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the scenes of the killings were a gory sight indeed. The throats of the deer were ripped open and their hind quarters mangled. The deaths of the animals had nothing to do with the dogs being hungry. The remains were left untouched. The dogs had chased down the deer and killed them for the sport of it. News of the slaughter of the three deer would come as no surprise to anyone who has caught sight of roving dogs in the winter. Normally well-behaved farm watchdogs can turn into vicious beasts when running with even one other dog. A kind of pack mentality takes over. Moreober, unlike wolves which have a natural fear of man, dogs on the run can terrorize humans as well as animals. For example, a few years ago in one area of HowicIF Township snowmobilers and especially cross-country skiers or snowshoers out for an afternoon of ex- ercise, kept a watch for a pair of dogs which had approached people in a menacing manner on more than one occasion. Normally animals such as deer have no difficulty outrunning dogs. However, such is not the case this winter. That layer of ice, or icy crust beneath the snow is literally 'deadly for deer. . While it is solid enough to support the weight of dogs, allowing them to run on the surface, the deer sink through. Thus they are prone to both being caught, and to breaking their legs. The end result is the same — a miserable death. Perhaps rural residents will keep their dogs close, to home. Perhaps-snowmobilers, skiers and snowshoers will report -roving dogs to their nearest Ministry of Natural Resources office nr Ontario Provincial Police detachment. In case anyone thinks the Ellice kills were rare oucurrences, the Wingham district office of the Ministry of Natural Resources reports that every .year there are usually a half dozen to a dozen deer killed by dogs in Perth and Huron County. It could be pretiented.—The Listowel Bander. The storyteller By Dave Sykes you set thernback on -heir heels Well Elsa, you've finally set aside the pen! This editorial page will be lacking without you. But, I'll bet there were cheers, Elsa, in certain quarters when it was learned that your weekly presence would no longer be felt in regular evidence in these editorial columns. I . sense that certain elements in County government breathed an empassioned sigh • of relief. Certain board rooms and profes- sional offices would have quietly - some not so quietly - exclaimed their pleasure at your public demise. In fact, there may have in- stantly arrived a lessenedpace for some who no longer need rush to mailbox or shop counter in anxious state of mind to scurrily page through to your weekly column. "Whew!, She didn't write about me this week." Elsa, may I commend you! LETTERS Your contribution - your weekly prick to the public conscience - has been needed. It has been valuable. It has had impact. It has changed the direction for this community. Over more than fifteen years, s your meticulous and probing eye has acted as monitor and watch dog, has challenged, and caused many in places of power to stop and think, to consider and weigh the impact of their decisions. You did it, Elsa ... through your many public roles! In spite of harassment and being called down, in spite of being damned, you stood your ground. Youdid it with passionate honesty', in a forthright and outspoken man- ner. in a and outspoken man- ner. You set them back on their heels. And you did it well. We have profited from your role. Yes, there are those who have hated you. There are those whose anger flared at your audaci- ty. But you have tempered brash action. You have demanded second thought, ac- quired reconsideration. This community will miss you, Elsa. You have been a champion! Local history will record it that way. In afterthoughts, and perhaps in newfound maturity, those who saw you as enemy, will recognize you, Elsa, as the true friend of the common good in our small corner of this great land. Well done, Elsa! I commend you. May you find peace in pleasant years to come.. Sincerely, Paul Carroll Woman has argued for s iewalks Dear editor: So Sunset Drive residents want a sidewalk! What about Bennett Street between Shore Crescent and South Street. ( I live on Shore Crescent). The safety hazard along this stretch of road is terrible. I have been waiting for 18 years to see a sidewalk along Bennett Street in this area. My children attended St. Mary's school and had to contend with traffic from the high school and school buses, parents com- ing and going from St. Mary's and Robert- son schools also general traffic. Besides the road is in deplorable shape and narrow in some parts. Back 18 years ago 1 spoke with the town clerlr'and mayor, but they reassured me no sidewalks had been planned for this partof Bennett Street. So when my children were young I picked them up because they had had some close calls with traffic from the high school. Now I have two grandsons attending St. Mary's school, they.. are 5 and 6 years old. Eighteen years have gone by, I am doing the same thing once again, taking my grand- sons to school and picking them up. I will do this until they are a little older. Going up and down Bennett Street each day sure frightens a person for the safety of the children. This winter I have been pass- ing a little girl in a light blue snowsuit from Robertson School who walks about three or four feet onto the pavement, my heart stops when I see her, especially at lunch time. To the residents of Sunset Drive you have signed a petition, this might speed things up for you to get your sidewalk. You will pro- bably have your sidewalk long before the town decides to put a sidewalk along Ben- nett Street between South and Shore. "Ben- nett Street only gives access to three schools and Bayfield Road highway". Sincerely, Gayle Masse doctors did not enter medical 'profession to become civil. servants Dear editor: Ref: Mr. DeGrandis' letter - Civil Servants are striving for excellence in their profes- sion, - February 12, 1986 Mr. DeGrandis' point is well taken, and t a did not mean, in any yl there are not many Civil Servants who walk the extra mile and strive constantly for upgrading and excellence in their chosen field. DeGrandis, by reputation, belongs to this group of idealistic administrators and we are fortunate to have him at the Bluewater Centre. What is at stake here is freedom of choice. Most doctors enter the Medical Profession to heal diseases, alleviate suffering and to serve their patients. We have chosen to serve the public. This is a freedom we cherish. Thema jority of doctors did not, however, enter the Medical Profession to become Public Servants. Any one of us could have, by choice, become career government or industry employees. In doing so we would have become responsible to those agencies, and subject to their regulations, restrictions and policies. The present proposed Legislation I The Health Care Accessibility Act) is precariously close to bringing that scenario ' into effect. If this happens it will be increas- ingly difficult for us to serve our patients ap- propriately and ,with the excellence that they deserve and expect. Kenton C, Lambert, F.R.C.S.(C) Goderich Do ctors and government act like spoilt children Dear editor: By choice our family doctor is one' of the opted out doctors from O.H.I. P. We must ad- mit, however, that there have boentim s and pare titewithim because of thWhen we have not is e an appointments and our financial position. Until recently, we have respected his wishes and his profession, but now the doc- tors, as well as the Government, are beginn- ing to sound and act like spoilt children. We have made this suggestion to the Minister ofd Health in an attempt to find a solution to this current problem. The patient could pay the difference in cost and have the doctor wait for the balance from O.H.I.P. For example, our doctor charges $26,00 a visit and O,H,I.P. pays $19.00 of it. Vire pay the $7,00 difference, which is much easier to pay out-of-pocket than the $26.00. This method of payment would give the doctors their desired choice plus keep the much valued and needed O.H.I.P. Insurance Plan intact. I'm sure the public is ready to lobby for a fast solution to this matter, Thank you. A Concerned Citizen