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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-11-26, Page 4PAGE 4—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1986 A light plane, trying to take off from a grassy runway in Nowhere, Alberta, skips into anplowed field before getting airborn on the third takeoff attempt. The passengers are understandibiy a o t moiler incoherent prayers while casting furtive glances sky w ai I.I. An old station wagon pulls up to a fashionable hotel in Edmonton. An over zealous doorman operating under strict in- structions, taps on the window and boldly suggests to the driver that the old buggy be removed from the premises voluntarily before he is forced to exercise his authori- ty as supreme command. "Would you mind moving this car, we're expecting John Turner," he said. John Turner and members of his party sit in the back seat of the wagon. While trying to fly to Toronto, York West, for 'Multicultural Dialogue' Turner's plane is rerouted to Cleveland because of weather problems. Nobody, perhaps except for Turner, goes to Cleveland. Well, not on purpose, anyway. Exerpts from the frenetic -paced itenerary of a political party leader and the official leader of the opposition in the Judging from the tone of those exerpis, Turner could easily be the Bob Uecker or Rodney Dangerfield of politics. He doesn't seem to get any respect. In just a few days time, Liberals from across the great land will make their way to the nation's capital for a bit of fun, frolic and leader hugging. Or bashing, depen- ding on one's point of view. In short, almost 3,000 delegates to the Liberal party convention will spend four days in Ottawa's Congress Centre paying tribute to Iona Campagnolo, asking ques- tions. raising local issues, electing ex- ecutive members and voting on Turner's leadership capabilities. Opinion k DAVE SYKES The Liberals have always had a stormy love affair with their national party leader and while regular reviews are simply a part of the political process, this one raises some serious questions about the plight of the party. Former Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau ably survived leadership reviews on two occasions, 1975 and 1980, but the results of this weekend's vote could be much more surprising. While Trudeau's popularity wavered and taxed the sensitivity of Cana- dians, Liberals supported him with votes of 80 and 86 per cent at the annual party zeal/ , ,iie±t John Turner may not come out of this as lucky. If he is lucky, the final results of the vote on Sunday afternoon will be pre- empted by the Grey Cup Game in Van- couver between Edmonton and Hamilton. Turner could easily be likened to the underdog Tiger Cats who clawed and mauled the hapless Toronto Argonauts to earn a berth in Canada's answer to Super Sunday. He may have to hammer away at delegates to earn his 65 or 70 per cent re- quired to stave off a leadership review and he may need a healthy block or two from Liberal heavyweights to clear a path. Senator Keith Davey has openly criticiz- ed the man and taken some healthy swings at his credibility in a recetn book and then former cabinet minister, Marc Lalonde, went public with his own jaundiced view of the liberal party's leadership problems. Pack in ahnost 3,000 zany liberals into a convention centre; add 1,000 slovenly media types and about 9th► ohservors and workers and you have the maiuIgs of pretty fair party. Well, at least itr.eGuld be better than the Grey Cup. But then again, I've always been partial to national events where people spend days holding brightly colored signs while jumping up and down incessantly. Many of them may be there just for the tax deduce - tion their registration and accomodation fee brings. Or, perhaps, an autographed picture of Mike Duffy. Who Knows? THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 theGEST ALL ROUND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN CANADA ucvldyon ,mesa 3500 450010 C ^i 4 Bcucr Newspaper Compupuun19B4 ocIeric SIGNAL-STARP.O. BOX '•120 HUCKINB BT. INDUSTRIAL PARK 'DODERICH, ONT. N7A 4BB PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded In 1048 end published every Wednesday et Ocderlch, Ooterl°. Member of the CCNA end OCNA. Subscriptions payable In advance $2.00, [9enior Citizens $19.00 privilege card number required) In Canada, $90.00 to U.B.A., $80.00 to ell other countries, Bingle copies BOC. Display, National end Classified edvertlsing rates available on request. Pismo ask for Rete Card No. 10 effective October 1, 1900. Advertising ie accepted on the condition that In the event of a typographical error, the advertising specs occupied by the err Item, together with the ressoneble allowance celo rate. the eventwill notft ba charged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for et the Epp typographical error advertising goods or services et a wrong price. goods or services may not be sold. Advertising le merely en offer to sell, and may be withdrawn et any time. The Signal -Star Is not responsible for the loss or damage of . nsoli©ited manuscripts, photos or other materiels used for reproducing purposes. General Manager Editor Advertising Manager .SHIRLEY J. KELLER DAVE SYKES DON HUBIGK FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES—Please phone [619)524-2614 Second class mail registration number 0716 ' Member: *CNA CCNA Safety issue ssue a ddresse .a. With the implementation of an arduous campaign to deter drinking and driving in recent R,1Cilrig Along years, the number of alcohol-related accidents and fatalities has decreased proportionately. But the dangers of impaired driCing extend beyond the provinces highways. The Public and Safety Information Branch of the Ministry of Transportation and Com- munication reports that about 70 per cent of all drivers involved in fatal motorized snow vehicle, accidents last year were impaired. There were 17 fatalities last year and 12 of the drivers, minister Ed Fulton reports, had been drinking. From November 1985 to the end of the winter season, there were a total of 558 on and off- highway accidents involving snow vehicles. The statistics reflect a 15 per cent increase over the 487 accidents the previous year. The minister said that it's imperative for people to realize that snow machines are just toys and that the operation is no less important and dangerous than the operation of automobiles and that regulations must be adhered to. More than half of the 558 accidents were on -highway and there were 17 fatalities in 16 fatal accidents. More than 390 people were injured in accidents las year as the number of injuries Climbed by 22 per cent. Last year, the ministry reports that three drivers and one passenger were killed when they drove their vehicles into open water or broke through thin ice. Almost 60 percent of the on -highway accidents took place on weekends and most of those were at night. Operators of snow machines must be 16 years of age, but in Ontario, many accidents in- volving snomobiles, involve children under 16 years of age. Five children under the age of five were injured in accidents last year. With winter approaching, mahy people will be anxious to get out on their snowmobiles, especially during holidays at Christmas when friends and relatives visit. Keeping basic safety in mind and using common sense will help reduce the number of ac- cidents this winter. And it is also wise to remember that driving snow machines under the influence of alcohol can be dangerous sport. Refrain from parking Last week's ample snowfall brought grim reminders that the winds and snow of winter are on the way. And the snowfall brought the town's works department out in force for snow removal duties. In order for snow removal crews to do the job effectively, residents are reminded that overnight parking on town streets is prohibited until March 15. Vehicles must be removed from town streets between the hours of 2 and 7 a.m. each day to facilitate snow removal. By Dave Sykes Reader questions compassion Dear Editor: I'd like to repeat the meaning of "com- passion" as quoted by Reverend Clare Geddes (Nov. 19) and taken from' Webster's New World Dictionary: Compassion - sorrow for the sufferings or troubles of another or others accom- panied by an urge to help them, deep sym- pathy or pity. I firmly believe in showing compassion. The Young Offenders Act falls short in many ways. If we are really concerned about our children and young people, we teach them respect and discipline: if we don't care about them we allow them to do as they like as they demonstrated this summer by walking away from the correc- a LETTERS tional centre and only two weeks later three more escaped. I am not recommen- ding harsh corporal punishment, but discipline. Another quote from Rev. Geddes: In humble obedience to Jesus' command that we "go and do likewise" (Luke 10:37) we may be led to show compassion for our neighbours, all of our neighbours, in a new and wonderful way." I attended many of the meetings in our community this sum - mer and saw the fears of our retired neighbours. Has there been compassion shown to them? I have seen a lack of con- cern in it all. If people live a few miles from here and are not likely to be molested, they show no concernfor those who are. Another group that was not shown com- passion was the handicapped, who were taken from the Bluewater Centre when it was closed a few years ago. ,They were re- located and many suffered from it. I haven't heard many suggestions for com- passion for them. Surely it should be shown for all our neighbours. A concerned neighbour Grace McClinchey Christmas Seals are important Don't let that envelope containing Christmas Seals remain on the mail desk - open the envelope or, if you have opened it, put this year's beautiful seals to use now. "Each donation - is urgently needed," says Betty Hunter, Executive Director. The funds received go back into your com- munity to help in many ways. For example, the Family Asthma Program benefitseach member of the family. Betty says there is a noticeable difference in the families after attending the program. They seem more confident - able to cope with their asthmatic child. Adults with Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease are presently attending a Better Breathing Course in Goderich and are very appreciative of the help and guidance they are receiving. If you have a family member or close friend suffering from emphysema or lung disease, you personally know how important it is to fund researchers who are working towards a cure for these diseases. This year the Lung Association through its medical section will contribute more than $685,000 to further research in medical schools in On- tario and to individuals with new or on-going research projects. More funding is needed. "The Lung Association must remain strong in the community and it must in- crease research funding. All are vital to the health and well-being of Canadians," states 1 O Betty Hunter, Executive Director. "Join with us in the fight against lung diseases. Community support can win the battle." CORRECTION In the Nov. 12 issue of The Signal -Star, an error was inadvertently made in the heading on the Trustee Talk column, which appeared on Page 4. The column was actually written by Joan Van den Broeck, not Mary Ann Dempsey as the heading indicated. We appologize for any inconvenience which may have resulted from this error. Dining out on the way to the polling booth When it comes election time, people make their political decisions based on a. wide variety of methods. Some people vote with their head, which must make marking the ballot somewhat difficult (Do they stick a pencil in their nose, or what?) Others, l have heard, vote with their heart, choosing the candidate they emphathize most strongly with, despite overwhelming odds against him– despite even overwhelmingly odd behavior on the candidate's part. Still others vote with their feet, by refusing to even set them in motion to transport them to the polls, when they feel there is no candidate worth dulling a pencil over. Since voting can be accomplished with so many different parts of human anatomy there must, I am sure, be some citizenry out there who vote with their stomach. If you are among this number, this column is for you. During the dwindling days of any elec- tion, Voters will notice a dramatic' change in campaign tactics. Candidates generally make their final appeal for support at the polls not with promises and rhetoric, the tools with which they kicked of their cam- paigns, and instead ply their constituents with food. Meet the Candidate gatherings featur- ing: wine and cheese, wieners and beans, soup and crackers, beef on a bun, beef on the hoof–all manner of vittles–become the order of the day. For all but the most dedicated partisans, party loyalty goes out the window at these affairs. Our editor here at the Signal, who knows about such things, tells me the same people seen at a Liberal conclave cleaning out a bowl of hot stew, can be found 30 minutes later washing it down with Conservative coffee, before heading off to dessert with the NDP. Nobody hates to see an election com- ing more than Colonel Sanders and Ronald McDonald. However, in non -election times - like these, the cookie crumbles in a slightly dif- from this angle Patric -k Raft's tion Meetings and the like, which are at- tended soley by the party faithful and 'of course, the story -hungry news media. As a member of the latter category, I have recently had occasion to attend gastronomic events in the camps of the two largest federal. parties, I feel obligated to in- terest to c�ulrt inar findings ed voters. which of in - To establish a fair base for comparison, it must be noted the Conservative luncheon being discussed was actually billed as a "non-political" event, hosted by the federal government on the occasion of finance minister Michael Wilson's recent visit to Goderich. Still, the Tory presence in the crowd was large enough to give the affair a Conservative flavor. The Liberal dinner was part of the local federation's annual meeting last week. ISI both cases, the featured speaker ar- rived late, which is standard practice at political meetings. Since the bar was open on both occasions, most people didn't seem to mind. However the newsmen present, bastions of sobriety that they are, tend to get fidgety when kept waiting. The Liberals however, had a table laid out with veggies and dip nibble in the meantime, so score one for the Grits, The Tory main course was roast beef, in portions that in no way could be called sciirlpy. However, since the Grits also pro- vided a "liberal" portion of their entree, roast turkey, I have to call things even on this score. Dessert was also a draw, but one has to give the PC's an edge where cof- fee was concerned because people kept coming around to fill your cup even as you tried to get out the door. At the Liberal event the media table in the corner was overlooked and we had to scrounge up a cuppa java on their own. One of the subtleties of dining at political tables is the ability to chuckle just as con- vincingly when the Grits mock the Tories as when the Toriesoke about the Grits. Generally, it works .better when the jour- nalists are grouped together so they can make jest of the entire political process instead. Actually, ithas been my experience that political cuisine is as good in one ramp as another. Therefore, whichever party first comes up with some mode of transporation which would ensure the timely arrival of the guest speaker, will probably get my vote. 1 ��k