HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-12-23, Page 8PAGE 8—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1987
BOOK YOUR CHRISTMAS PARTY NOW
Free Banquet facilities when you have your party here.
SENIOR CITIZENS 10% off (Mon.-Thurs.)
BUY ONE DINNER (from menu - over $6) GET 2ND ONE FOR
HALF PRICE after 4 p.m. Monday - Thursday
;r
HARBOUR LIGHTS.RESTAURANT & TAVERN:
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 8 A.M. - 1 A.M..
HIGHWAY 21 - BAYFIELD 565-2554
DOUBLE YOUR
BUYING POWER!
...THIS IS YOUR
MAKE YOUR
LAST CHANCE TO
MONEY GO TWICE AS FAR!
Last minute Christmas shopping?
•Find some cash under the tree
with your name on it?
TREAT YOURSELF!
While you get double your
money's worth. Quality Watches,
Jewellery, Clocks and
' more...at last chance 1/2 price
savings!
FINAL DAYS OF O i�
GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE
VISA
IX MIMI.
ALL STOCK
1/2 PRICE
SALE ENDS THURS., DEC. 31st at 5:00 p.m.
III a
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A DIVISION OF
ORMANDY'S INC.
LLERY
(JTLET
366 BAYFIELD RD., GODERICH 524-2924
Hwy. 21 South between Home Hardware and Murphy's
Communit
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The first Christmas was performed with great vigour in a play Christmas concert. (photo by Sam Kinsman)
featuring these youngsters? at the St. Mary's Separate School
On behalf of all of us at Norholme Decorating, we wish
you all the special joys of Christmas and a New Year bright
with hope.
Thank you for your continued confidence in us in 1987.
Dbug
Joann Poelman - Bill Fowles
Cheryl Jefferson - Joe McMahon
Jenny.Langendoen
Doug Norman
53 King St.,
CLINTON
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SEASONS GREETINGS
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op, Chris 1\llerner, Bonita Brintnell, Wayne Dickins
ay Dave Hysan, Chuck Collins, Larry Couch ,
Marjorie Consitt, Sandra Dalton, Gayle Pepper,
a James Couture, Don Rock , Scott Feagan,
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Ontario government still
says free trade is a bad deal
By Jack Riddell, MPP
Hurn
Nothing has changed. The free trade
agreement remains a bad deal for Ontario
and Canada. Careful examination of the
final text of the free trade agreement con-
firms most of the worst fears of the Ontario
government about the deal.
Canadian and Ontario farmers and
businessmen remain vulnerable under the
final free trade agreement, with nothing to
stop new trade and countervail actions such
as those brought against our hog and soft-
wood lumber producers. The deal fails to
secure access to the U.S. markets for our
producers and processors despite the high
price we will pay for the deal in areas such
as energy and sov?reignty.
Our auto parts industry has also been
weakened substantia'' y because of the
agreement. Auto parts manufacturers will
be able to locate new plants in the U.S. just
as easily as Canada under the deal.
The legal text contains a new provision
not in the preliminary text. That provision
allows the United States to challenge and
retaliate against any existing or future pro-
vincial measure that causes "nullification
or impairment" of any benefit it reasonably
could expect under the agreement. This
would include any action, such as provincial
subsidies to domestic industries or regions.
Overall, the Canada -U.S. free trade
agreement remains a bad deal for both the
province,and the country.
ECONOMIC GROWTH TO CONTINUE,
PROVINCE FORECASTS
Ontario's economy will continue to grow
into 1988, according to an economic forecast
recently released by Treasurer Robert Nix-
on. "The rate of growth projected for next
year is very healthy," Mr. Nixon said.
The Government's Economic Outlook
says the Ontario economy will grow in real
terms by 2.8 per cent in 1988. Inflation in the
province will decline to 4.7 per cent from the
1987 projection of 5.1 per cent.
The forecast calls for 105,000 new jobs to
be created in 1988. Unemployment will
decline to 5.8 per cent, the lowest rate since
1974. As well, the Ontario economy is
heading into its sixth consecutive year of
growth, the second longest expansion since
1950.
Mr. Nixon said the generally optimistic
forecast should not be taken as an endorse-
ment of the proposed free -trade pact bet-
ween Canada and the U.S., because the On-
tario Government is strongly opposed to
many of its side elements.
These include the automotive aspects of
the deal, which Ontario feels may inhibit
further Asian auto investment in the pro-
vince; potential restrictions on electricity
pricing; and the virtual open door to foreign
investment and takeovers.
QUEEN S
PARK
NATIONAL CHILD CARE PLAN
MEETS ONTARIO'S CONDITIONS
Community and Social Services Minister
John Sweeney has received the federal
government's announced child care
strategy; saying it is in line with Ontario's'
New Directions for Child Care paper,
unveiled in June. The Ontario Government's
plan will increase provincial spending on
child care to $325 million by 1990. This is
about four times the province's child care
budget when the government came to office
in 1985.
The New Directions document marked a
significant turning point in the development
of a high quality, affordable and accessible
system in Ontario, one that recognizes child
care as an essential public service, not a
welfare service.
Mr. Sweeney said the Ontario Govern-
ment will be meeting with the federal
government over the next few weeks and
months to ensure that Ontario receives the
funding it needs to move forward with its
New Directions for Child Care.
"We are committed to ensuring we get the
federal dollars we need to pursue our long
term strategy for child care. (Now) I am
even more confident that we can build an af-
fordable, accessible child care system,"
Mr. Sweeney said.
SMALL BUSINESS HOTLINE NUMBERS
In addition to the current hotline available
for information regarding small business in-
itiatives, (1-800-387-6142), two new toll free
numbers have been established for advice
on the government's guaranteed loan pro-
gram, New Ventures.
The program provides loan guarantees of
up to $15,000 in matching funds to newly
established businesses who qualify, along
with advice and counsel to new en-
trepreneurs. Extensive support services
availale to the new business owner include
advice when problems arise and counselling
through seminars that teach business
management skills.
The program is accessed through lending
institutions who receive loan applications,
negotiate with borrowers, make decisions
on loan approvals, and administer the loans
on behalf of the Ontario government.
By calling one of the following numbers,
you will be put in touch with consultants
from the Ministry Of Industry, Trade and
Technology who can offer further advice on
the program. The toll free numbers are:
1-800-387-0070 and 1-800-387-0071.
Variety of theories on
origin of Santa Claus
Each year at Christmas, young children
the world over anxiously await the arrival
of the red -suited man known as Santa
Claus. There are a variety of theories on
the origin of Santa Claris," here's one.
The historical "St. Nicholas," as he is
sometimes called, was the Bishop of Myra
in Asia Minor during the the Third Century
The Bishop was known for being quite
charitable at a time when it was a rarity.
In fact, he was revered for his secret
charitry to the downtrodden and lowly. To-
day, we'd call him an anonymous giver.
Without fanfare, he provided gifts to
prisoners and to young women without
doweries (without a dowery it was just Santa's role is that of a gift giver. He.
about impossible for a woman to find a carries on a tradition that goes back to the
husband). Three Wise Men, bringing "gifts of gold,
Many of his unheralded gifts went to frankincense and myrrh," to the infant
children, too. While he gave in secret, Jesus.
word of his charitable acts became
legendary.
Today, the Christian calendar shows
Dec. 6 as a feast day in his honor.
The Dutch called him "Sinter Klass,"
and this name was brought to the New
World when the Dutch settled in America.
The sound of the Dutch name evolved into
what we today pronounce as Santa Claus.
Over the centuries, St. Nicholas has lost
his religious garb. Clement Moore's
famous poem described him as a "right
jolly old elf". It is Moore's physical
description that remains with us today.
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