The Times Advocate, 2004-08-11, Page 44
Exeter Times–Advocate
Wednesday,August 11, 2004
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EDITORIALS
Damage
control not
enou
fter just 10 months as this province's pre-
mier, Dalton McGuinty finds it necessary to
epair his reputation.
The Liberal premier has embarked on a month-
long road trip across Ontario and wants to explain to
Ontarians why he broke his promise of not raising
taxes by installing the new health-care premiums.
McGuinty says the Liberals were left with a $5.6
billion deficit by the Conservative government and
had no choice but to break their promise.
That's all fine and dandy, maybe it is Mike Harris
and Ernie Eves' fault, but it doesn't change the fact
that McGuinty failed to live up to his promise not to
raise taxes. Ontarians were justifiably outraged with
the provincial budget was announced in May and are
still upset that, with the new health-care premiums,
even more money will be deducted from Ontarians'
paycheques.
Will McGuinty's attempts to mend fences work? It's
doubtful. Canadians are increasingly cynical about
politics and seem less forgiving with provincial gov-
ernments than they do with federal governments.
The fact the federal Liberals were able to win yet
another election in June speaks mainly to the fact
the opposition was weak. The newly -created
Conservative Party simply wasn't ready for the elec-
tion.
That isn't the case on the provincial scene, where
Ontario voters won't soon forget McGuinty's broken
promises, which could be the albatross around his
neck when he eventually seeks re-election.
UNHAPPINESS IN BLUEWATER
If nothing else, the Municipality of Bluewater likes
to keep things interesting. First comes word a few
weeks ago that some residents in Hensall want to
leave the municipality, now it turns out people in
Bayfield feel the same way. It remains to be seen
whether or not anything will come from the com-
plaints in Hensall and Bayfield, although the unhap-
py residents appear determined to be heard.
Perhaps — as some suggested years ago when the
former municipalities of Hensall, Zurich, Bayfield,
Hay and Stanley began amalgamation talks —
Bluewater really isn't a match made in heaven.
Bluewater council's response to this issue (if they
have a response at all) should be interesting.
About the Times -Advocate
Editorial Opinion
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2004 Distributed by Canadian Artiste Syndicate Inc,
Along cold winter
As the days start to slip toward Sept. 15 and the dead-
line for the NHL collective bargaining agreement to
expire, hockey fans are starting to grip their remotes a
little tighter with the prospect of a long cold winter with
empty arenas.
Owners and players long ago staked out their positions
with the players determined to hold onto what they have
gained and the owners wanting to turn the clock back to
somewhere circa 1962.
The two sides continue to hold meetings for
the sake of public relations to try and hold the
high ground by making it seem they are will-
ing to deal. The players are even more vulner-
able to the usual bleating from uninformed
fans and tame media about how wrong it is
for any athlete to make $10 million a season
for something as simple as firing a puck,
throwing a football or making a basket.
What isn't nearly as clear cut is the amount
of money owners are making. Despite the
report the owners trotted out last year saying
they were bleeding red ink, they continue to
hold onto their franchises Millionaires and
billionaires like Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk
continue to buy sports teams for some reason. And the
people who think ticket prices will fall if salaries come
down are probably the same ones with short memories
who voted Liberal in the last election.
Despite the "boys and their toys" way many owners
handle their teams, most businessmen aren't in the
habit of flushing money away. Although they point to
their books as proof of the need to change the system,
the ability to move money smoothly between companies
controlled by the same owner is a talent much in
demand for accountants in the last few years.
Although $10 million a season is ridiculous for an ath-
lete, it is a result of the system put in place by the own-
ers themselves in the good times of the '90s.
Receiving $50 million a franchise from expansion
teams, it seemed the party would never end and the
money would never stop flowing.
For 60 years the owners had used supply and
demand to their benefit. With only six teams, the
supply of players far outweighed the demand
and owners used it like a hammer to bleed the
players dry.
But players were quick to realize anyone who
displayed any amount of talent was worth his
weight in gold and demanded to be paid accord-
ingly. Desperate for anyone who could stickhan-
dle without looking at his skates, the owners paid
up.
The NHL has the ability to correct itself if a hint
of control could be applied by the ownership, but
even as negotiations continue, rich teams are opening
their wallets for the must have player they need to
either sell tickets or break that 38 year (or is it 39 now?)
drought.
It could come down to a last minute session to save the
season or one side might break the other after a long
siege. The only certainty is whichever side wins, the fans
will lose.
PAT BO
BACK 40
VIEW
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