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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1995-12-20, Page 4trbe : tngbant tbbante mtritne0 Published each Wednesday at: Box 390, 5 Diagonal Road, Wingham, Ontario Phone (519) 357-2320 Fax (51j) 357-2900 J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Second Class Mail Registration No. 0821 We are: Jim Beckett — Publisher Audrey Currie — Manager Cameron J. Wood — Editor. Cathy Hendriks — Ad. Sales Stephen Pritchard — Production Jim Brown — Reporter Margaret Stapleton—Reporter Eve Buchanan — Office Louise Welwood — Office • CL Member of: OCNA CCNA The Wingham Advance -Times is a member of a fatnily of community newspapers providing news, advertising and information leadership. Letters Policy All letters to the editor must bear the writer's name, telephone num- ber and address. The Advance -Times wel- comes letters. We re- serve the right to edit, but will endeavor to preserve the author's intent. Deadline for letters is Monday before 10:00 a.m. Some exceptions may apply. Fax: 519-357-2900 or mail to: P.O. Box 390, Wingham, Ontario NOG 2W0 • Focus `backwards' Does Simcoe Centre reform MP Ed Harper think Bill C-68 isn't going to prevent one woman from being shot to death every six days in Canada -- most in their own homes by someone they know and usual- ly with a legally -owned shotgun? Statistics show that women who are murdered or injured by a weapon previously report that they are assaulted and threatened with a gun. When women are killed in domestic disputes, guns are the weapon of choice .by a margin of two to one. Eighty-five per cent of the guns used to kill women ate rifles and shotguns. Eighty-two pe • cent of those fire- arms are legally owned at the time of the shooting. When domestic violence occurs, the offender acts impulsively, so the simple availability of a gun can determine whether or nor a homicide will occur. Harper has forgotten one of the most important purposes cif gun control -- to stop deaths in situations of domestic vio- lence. As Justice Minister Allan Rock has stated: death and injury by guns in the home is a greater problem now than the criminal misuse of guns on the streets -- and that relates di- rectly to violence against women. It's a sad reflection of our country's political progress when Canadian parliament pass- es the most comprehensive gun control law in North America and a member of the opposition swears that he'll scrap the legislation. • Harper argues that Bill C-68 will do nothing to prevent firearm crimes: "The focus of this government is back- wards," says Harper about the Liberal's initiative. "Canadi- ans want crime control not gun control. Canada needs tighter border controls to stop smuggling, and much stiffer sentences for the illegal use of firearms. We must come down hard on the criminals to keep our families and neighborhoods safe." How can anyone -- espe- cially Ed Harper -- think gun registration won't help prevent death by domestic violence? The purpose of gun registration is to allow police tocnow when to expect armed resistance from a scene involving domestic violence, plan their ap- proach to the home, and seize universally -registered weap- ons. A computerized, national gun registration system will make court orders prohibiting domestic offenders from keep- ing a gun more effective and allow police to seize and know they have seized all of the weapons which are owned bythe offender. If Harper intends to scrap the gun control legisla- tion, he will be working against the wishes of 68 per cent of Ontartans who support the legislation, the police associations which have called for a firearms registry to improve public safety and the ability to combat illegal firearms' use, and 79 per cent of Canadian women and 60 per cent of Canadian men who wanted tighter control on guns and ownership. Gun control will not end violence on the streets of Canada, but greater controls on the tools of violence will help make Canadian homes safer for women. . — Fergus -Elora News Express A reason to snide. 'HA 7ham The children. It's refreshing to see each year at this time, the numerous Christmas concerts and pagents. It reminds us of the true spirit and pleasure of the season and, our lives. As YouR LAWYERs, WEUGGEST You 4ThNCEYOURSELF flOM INcINVESTIGATION,.. -TAKE A I'IOLIPAY,, LIEON A BEU KIcK ACK? with Margaret Stapleton DECEMBER 1948 Old Man Winter has crossed up the plans to have a Winter Sport Festival during the Christmas hol- idays. The festival will be post- poned until we are sure of having enough ice and snow. Of course, we know that we might look rath- er foolish by this time next week, but the fact is that at the present time there will not be ice availa- ble in time =- due entirely to weather conditions. A complete new Northern Elec- tric sound system was installed re- cently in the Lyceum Theatre. This sound system makes our lo- cal theatre one of the best in Western Ontario. In a simple ceremony in the Senate chamber of the House of Commons in Ottawa on Dec. 11, representatives of Newfoundland agreed to unite their country with Canada on March 31, 1949. Clifford D. Walmsley, a mem- ber of the staff of The Dominion Bank here since 1936, has been appointed manager of the bank at Gorrie. He will be succeeded at the local bank by Charles L. Fox, who comes from Guelph. DECEMBER 1961 On Saturday afternoon, over 500 people visited the new Toron- to Dominion Bank building dur- ing its official open house. Nelson Higgins, treasurer of Morris Township., for 30 years, was taken by surprise at the Christmas party when he was pre- sented with a pen and pencil set for his many years of faithful ser- vice. Also recognized for their long- time involvement in municipal politics were retiring Wingham Mayor R. E. McKinney and Councillor William Burgman. They were honored by members of town council last Friday. Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Heughan of Carling Terrace in Wingham celebrated their 50th wedding an- niversary last week. The couple has lived in Wingham since 1937. Mr. Heughan operates a harness and leather goods store in town and still works every day in his place of business. DECEMBER 1971 Mrs. W. Lapp of Wingham was honored at the 4-H Homemakers Achievement Day at the high school last Sautrday for 10 years service as a 4-H leader. Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Heughan will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Dec. 27. They were married at Durham in 1911. M.r. Heughan retired at the end of November. Mary Stapleton was, presented with a pin in recognition of 15 years service at Wingham and District Hospital. The presenta- tion was made at the hospital staff. party last Friday evening at the Wingham Legion Hall. A color television set was pre- sented to the hospital last Monday night bt the Wingham Lions Club. The presentation was made by Li- ons Lloyd Casemore and G. -W. "Bud" Cruickshank to Mrs. I. E. Morrey. DECEMBER 1981 A group recently formed in Wingham hopes to instill in local residents a sense of respect and appreciation for the many fine old buildings to be found in town. Members of the newly -formed Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee include: Chairman. Ernie Eaton, his wife Marianne, Sandra Lee, Pat Bailey, John Pattison, Brian McKague, Murray Hunter and Rev• John Swan. Lorraine Poxton of RR 2, Wingham, held a premier show- ing of her own fashions. Doug Cerson of Wingham has been appointed plant manager of Stanley Door Systems Ltd. • • Ejection key for media focus TORONTO -- Premier Mike Harris h'as faced the two most significant anti-government demonstrations in many years and the score is oppo- nents one, Harris one. The Liberals and New Democrats clearly won the first round by sitting in the legislature and forcing Harris's Progressive Conservatives to allow an extra month of hearings on their so-called omnibus bill and events since have shown that it is a good job they did. The bill has emerged as having more impact than any in memory. As examples, it will give the prov- ince power to close a hospital or say what services it should provide, tell doctors if and where they can prac- tise and impose new user -fees in medicare. The province will be able to put li- ens on cars which electronic detec- tors claim failed to pay new highway tolls (oddly, because the Tories killed NDP photo radar which snapped speeders on the ground it was intrusive), force municipalities to merge without debate and allow them to demand all sorts of new tax- es and fees. The opposition parties have not been given enough credit for obtain- ing more debate for the bill. The To- ries claimed omnibus bills which combine disparate legislation so they can be pushed through and voted on in a hurry are routine, but no previ- ous government had one as sweep- ing as the Tories'. with Eric Dowd This was like a government wrap- ping its legislation for an entire ses- sion into one bill, except that some measures in Harris's have more im- pact than many governments' had in a whole session. Harris also want- ed it debated and approved in only two weeks and the opposition took risks to convince him to agree to longer hearings. To focus attention both Liberal leader Lyn McLeod and NDP leader Bob Rae got themselves ejected from the legislature, the first time two party leaders have been kicked out on the same day. Leaders usually leave the dirtier work to hatchetmen. Five opposition MPPs in all got ejected in one day, another first, and for a time it looked as if none might be left to ask questions. When the opposition parties tied up the legislature by refusing to vote or leave, the first use of this tactic, they expected to be and were quickly accused of game -playing and hijack- ing the legislature. The public is only too ready to believe politicians obstruct and waste time. But the need for delay and more thorough screening has been quickly proved. Three ministers so far have shown they are uncertain what „it means. Municipal Affairs Minister Al Leach had difficulty explaining what new powers it will give municipalities to tax and asked for more time to study the bill. Hams and Health Minister Jim Wilson both conceded that the privacy commissioner may have a point in complaining the bill violates privacy by giving the minister power to collect, use and disclose personal information from medical records and offered to change it if examina- tion warrants -- yet this is the bill the Tories wanted almost rubber- stamped. In the second demo unionists who stopped work for a day in London to protest Harris's budget cuts and re- strictions on labor should have earned some respect by showing they could use moderate language and avoid violence. This was no easy feat when 10,000 demonstrators were gathered. Police who paraded against the former NDP government were more unruly. But the demonstrators may he re- membered more for causing incon- venience and lost production and in any case Hams will not listen to them. Harris has to stick to cutting costs if he is to keep his promises to balance the budget and cut taxes -- he could not back down. even if he wanted. • }