HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1978-12-07, Page 4Page 4
Citizens News, December 7, 1978
Reflections of winter
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Government cut-backs
Earlier in the year, this newspaper commented
on a private members' bill introduced by London
MPP Gord Walker which would see the automatic
termination of government agencies, boards or
commissions unless they could justify their ex-
istence to the government.
While little was heard of Walker's bill after its
introduction, the spirit of the legislation was taken
into consideration by a four member committee of
the Ontario legislature that was charged with the
duty of determining if there were government
bodies which where becoming redundant.
The report authored by four Conservative
members of the legislature recommends the
elimination, merger or revision of 46 agencies,
boards and commission.
Many of those agencies affected have functions
which can be assumed by other agencies that deal
in similar areas.
Needless to say, a few feathers have been ruffl-
ed by the report which has received cabinet ap-
proval, among those being former cabinet minister
John Yaremko, whose present $35,000 a year posi-
tion as head of the Liquor Licence Appeal Tribunal
would get the ax'.
Some of the agencies which are to be
eliminated completely have names which prove
government no -speak is alive and well in Toronto.
No longer playing an "important" role in the
day to day lives of Ontarians will be the Pregnant
Mare Urine Licence Review Board, the Artificial
Insemination of Livestock Advisory Committee or
the Professional Credentials Committee for Public
Health Nursing.
The main affect by the reduction in the number
of government agencies will be to reduce the
amount of paperwork, as the cost savings of $800,-
000 a year are comparatively inconsequential in the
overall government budget.
Very few people will lose their jobs as a ma-
jority of the appointees to such boards are paid on a
per meeting basis.
While there seems to be a definite trend to less
government, the indiscriminate slashing of a port-
folio's budget is not the proper way in which fiscal
restraint should be practised.
The approach taken in this reduction of agen-
cies is one that other governments should examine
closely.
FIRST WITH LOCAL NEWS
Published Each Wednesday By J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd.
Member:
CNS Canadian Weekly NewspapersAssociation()Mario Weekly Newspapers Association
News Editor - Tom Creech
Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385
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Miscellaneous
Ruimblaings
By
TOM CREECH
It's the
Christmas
season
As this column is being typed, the day which is set
aside for dear old St.Nickis only 21 days away.
To quote one Archie Bunker "wop-te-wop."
As any of you would have guessed if you read my
column from last year, Christmas is not one of my
favourite times of the year.
One of the reasons has to be the fact that I'm not
exactly your type of person who likes to spend hour
upon hour in some store attempting to find that
perfect Christmas gift.
The only perfect Christmas gift is something
which the person needs and by the time one gets past
the teenage years, most people have already acquired
more than the basic necessities of life.
This writer refuses to buy "Baubles" (i.e. junk)
for Christmas gifts. There are too many left handed
toasters in this world, the way I figure it.
As such, this writer is reduced to purchasing
items for Christmas which he likes; what the person
enjoys on the receiving end is quite secondary.
Luckily, the items which end up in Creech's
Christmas sack are things which the gift receivers
also enjoy.
Yes that's right, antiques.
So right from square one the gift receivers know
that what they'll be receiving doesn't come with a five
year guarantee, doesn't have solid state circuitry and
does not give a back rub while playing Beethoven's
Fifth at the same time.
I like old so that's what people get. Mind you, my
taste for old runs the gamut from "Art deco" water
pitchers to storm lanterns which, have survived two
barn burnings and a kick from the old milking cow.
About a week from now, I'll be rambling off to
Stratford to find out what's new in old,
purchase it in as swift a fashion that's feasible, and
sequester myself with last year's Christmas wrapping
paper.
At this juncture, Christmas will be forgotten until
that Monday which is only three weeks away.
* *
My apologies to those people who detect a "Bah,
Humbug" attitude towards Christmas.
In my mind it's a pretty sad commentary on socie-
ty when only at Christmas do people begin to think
about their fellow man, put their arms down during a
violent dispute or give some real thought to the plight
of their less fortunate citizens of the world.
One Christmas custom that seems to be on the
wane thanks in part to our postal service, is the sen-
ding out of a multitude of Christmas cards to people
one rarely sees.
While this might sound like a commercial for Bell
Canada, a few words with people whom you care for,
and for various reasons you don't see much of, is a
more personal way of showing affection.
* * *
On the other side of the ledger is the feeling it's
better for people to show at least some' concern for
their fellow human being at Christmas instead of ig-
noring them completely. Some kindness is better than
no kindness at all.
Like any event, Christmas is what you make it.
The joy of seeing one's youngsters the night before
Santa arrives, the expression of joy on a person's face
as he or she receives a gift and a general attitude of
friendliness that's a part of the Christmas spirit.
As one person put it, each individual who reaches
adult -hood is aware of the true meaning of Christmas
even -though he or she might not practise the true
spirit.
When you get down to the basics, the realization of
the true meaning is the most important part of Christ-
mas.
In January,this writer lamented over the fact that
the village did not put up a Christmas tree beside the
village's office, contrary to what was stated at last
December's council meeting.
As of Monday morning, there was still no Christ-
mas tree beside the village's office.
Why not?
Hopefully my "Bah Humbug" attitude has not
spread to the village's fathers.
Another point of Christmas criticism now that I'm
Please turn to page 5