Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1985-10-09, Page 2Huron po.e E x sitor SINCE 1860, SERVING THE COMMUNITY FIRST BLUE RiBBON AWARD 1985 incorporating Brussels Post 10 Main Street 527-0240 Published in SEAFORTH, ONTARIO Every Wednesday morning ED BYRSKI, General Manager HEATHER McILWRAITH, Editor The Expositor is brought to you each week by the efforts of: Pat Armes, Bessie Broome, Marlene Charters, Joan Gulcheiaar, Anne Huff, Joanne Jewitt, Stephanie Levesque, Dianne McGrath, Lois McLlwain, Bob MaMllan, Cathy Metady and Patrick Rallis. Member Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc. Ontario Community Newspaper Association Ontario Press Council Commonwealth Press Union International Press Institute Subscription rates: Canada $20.00 a year (in advance) Outside Canada $60.00 a year (in advance) Singie Copies - 50 cents each SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1985 Second ;class mall registration Number 0696 Broken promises The main victims of the recent federal budget were to be two very disadvantaged groups - senior citizens and mothers. Strong political pressures have succeeded in reinstating the full value of old -age pensions but mothers are still in jeopardy. In September, Bill C-70, a bill to de -index Family Allowances, was introduced to the House of Commons. It was approved in principle last week. The bill calls for the reduction of family allowances by three per cent starting in 1986. This means family allowances would lose a third of their value in 10 years, two-thirds in 20 years and so on, The bill doesn't come as much of a surprise since the history of family allowances is one of constant erosion. Twenty years ago, family allowance represented a six per cent expenditure of Canada's gross national product. By 1973 the Liberals reduced it to three per cent of the gross national product. In 1974 the New Democrat Party launched a fight to have the family allowance doubled and won, Now the Conservatives are attempting to take the benefit of fully indexed family allowances away from children and families. in future months further measures will be introduced to change the Child Tax Credit, the Child Tax Exemption and to impose unfair taxes on families. The combined effect of these measures will take over 1,000 annually out of the pockets of two -child families by 1990. The hardest hit will be the poor families. In proposing these changes the Conservative government argues it has to cut back on spending because of the deficit. These same Conservatives gave a half a million dollars capital gains tax holiday to the wealthy in the last budget and just recently bailed out the banks for over a billion dollars. Why should a family with three children and an annual income of $26,000, which stands to lose $270 next year, make sacrifices in order to bail out the Northlands Bank? Any why don't we forget about the planned cutbacks of $55 million in family assistance programs by 1987 rather than spend $56 million to change the color of our soldiers' uniforms? Family allowance, for one, recognizes the value society places on child rearing. It is more than just an amount of money, it is a recognition that children•are the future's most valuable resource. Family allowances are paid for by everyone without making a contribution to the next generation. Bill C-70 is an attack on children and especially on women who receive the monthly family allowance cheque. The bill runs totally contrary to the Conservatives' election promises of giving priority to the interests of women. It also contradicts Brian Mulroney's personal assurances that universal benefits would be a "sacred trust" and that no monies would be taken out of children's benefits to reduce the deficit. In most parts of Canada, family allowances now amount to $31.27 a month for every child under 18. The latest statistics from Health and Welfare Canada show the monthly payments go to 3.6 million families. Lacked freedom Canadian lawyers have long lacked the freedom to advertise their services, enjoyed by their American counterparts. The restrictions against advertising are kept in place not by law, but by law societies. In Ontario it is the Law Society of Upper Canada which holds sway over the promotional privilege of Ontario barristers, and that body is now under pressure to relent. A recent report by the Ontario division of the Canadian Bar Association Indicates the time has come to allow lawyers the thrill (or burden) of competition, by easing advertising restrictions. Legal societies should take heed. The report contends that giving lawyers access to marketing tools common in other service business or professions would lower legal fees and increase public awareness in matters legal. Who, in need of legal assistance, has not bemoaned the high price of justice? Here is a chance to do something about it. The main argument against advertising by lawyers seems to be a fear that hard -sell, misleading advertising practices common in today's marketplace would damage the image of the legal profession and cause public mistrust. It is unlikely this would happen for the simple reason that the Canadian lawyer is not a media creature. This became evident when. attempting to elicit the views of local lawyers on the subject of advertising. Of three Seaforth lawyers, one declined to comment on the issue when informed he would probably be quoted; another returned not one, of several telephone calls; while a third expressed only guarded enthusiasm for the proposal. Surely a group so reluctant to gain media exposure by simply replying to a reporter's queries, is unlikely to become Involved in promotional campaigns worthy of a used -car salesman. The one local lawyer who did offer his views on the subject was adamant that advertising should only be used to give the public much-needed information on the mysteries of obtaining legal assistance. Lawyers are now placed on a pedestal which tends to inspire awe in the people they have been trained to help. if advertising would narrow the gap caused by such near -idolization, perhaps the average person forced to seek justice in the courts would feel more comfortable in doing so. It is time to life the mythical aura which presently surrounds the legal system and give the courts back to the people for whom they were originally designed to protect. — P.R. NEW LOOK—The Commercial Hotel, built In 1885 has undergone extensive renovations over recent months. Brick work, wood work and landscaping_ have all combined to give It Its new look. (Mcllwralth photo) Made out the bad guys again Darn that David Peterson. He's made us the bad guys again. Mr. Peterson is the only politician in power in Canada who is against free trade between this country and our giant neighbor to the south and as such, he's cultivating our image as the "ugly Ontarians" again. I listened to a radio interview with Peter Lougheed the other day and knew I should feel ashamed to come from this province. We're a greedy, ignorant lot. We know nothing about what the Prairies are like, or the Maritimes or B.C. either. like the Americans, we can see only the picture postcard scenes of those far off parts. We're not like the Albertans who know so much about how we live. They know we all live in Toronto or Hamilton, that we all live fat -cat lives and want to keep everyone else in the country from living the same way. W e' re a sneaky, greedy lot, not looking out for the good of the country at all but simply what's best for ourselves. That's why Mr. Peterson is trying to block free trade. We can't compete with the rest of the world so we rig the rules in our favor, We're always scheming and conniving like that Trudeau fellow to help us set the rules to help us stay on top of the country. Everybody knows the National Energy -Program was a plan to destroy those upstarts out west who were getting too uppity. BEHIND THE SCENES by Keith Roulston Mr. Lougheed can speak with perfect conviction that his province is always the victim and we are the bullies. Like a victim of a traffic accident, he knows none of what has happened is his fault. It was always the other guy (that'stt s) who was at fault. Questioned if he was unhappy so many negotiations he had taken part in as premier of his province had been so acrimonious. He was, he said, but what could he do? It was all that man Trudeau's fault, or that man Bill Davis or that man David Peterson. When things go wrong with the dream of western supremacy such as western banks going broke, it is not because management was bad (or perhaps even a little dishonest) it was because that man Trudeau ruined the economy with his national Energy Program, and because those horrible eastern bankers pulled their loans so as to destroy the western banks. All that industry irk Ontario isn't there because by.afreak efggpgraphyjlpd history, there is a finger of Canadian land that stretches right down into the heartland of the major population centres of the U.S. Our growth, Mr. Ihugheed and all westerners know, is because we rigged the railway rates to keep the West producers of raw materials and consumers of manufactured products. Probably we even rigged the weather so there were more frost -free days down here so our farmers (woops, we have farmers? 1 thought we all lived near Bay Street) can grow crops like soy beans and tobacco that really make money. Now I know Mr. Peterson likes to think of himself as a nice guy. So do our local cabinet ministers Jack Riddell and Murray Elston. But they can't be nice guys because they come from Ontario. Being a nice guy from Ontario is like Ronald Reagan discovering a nice guy in the god -less evil empire of Russia, like saying the New York Yankee fans who boo national anthems are nice guys. If you guys want to be nice guys on the side of righteousness, with no feelings of guilt, you'd better move west. Summers not like they used to be Ah, summers are not what they used to be, except for the young. They're not as long, not as hot. and not as mysterious. That's the story of our recent one, at least in my books. it was cool and wet, fine October weather in ..July, not one night sweltering in bed, listening to the one mosquito that had penetrated the screen In fact, even the bugs were hibernating' "Too cold for me, Mama. Too wet for me. Daddy." Only a few intrepid earwigs seemed to tough it out " Do you panic and start smashing and squashing when an earwig scampers across your bathtub? i do. August was even more of a disaster, at least for me. The toilet tank on my downstairs Johnny burst one night after a fierce thunderstorm. I'd heard water running. but thought it was off the roof Went downstairs and walked (in my slippers) into half an inch of water on the kitchen floor, a river running down the basement stairs, and, when i waded to the basement. two inches down there, with more pouring down every second. Started throwing towels all over the place The water kept gushing out of the tank. Fiddled with it It kept spurting through the busted tank, like an elephant having a leak. Thank the Lord for plumbers, especially when they're old friends and good Anglicans. We got her stopped That is, I dashed about in my sodden slippers, trying to keep it from flowing onto the hardwood and under the rug, and Tom had enough sense to turn the water off, at some secretive tap in the basement, which f hadn't been able to find. Then came a man from the insurance company, with a sixty -foot snake that sucked up all the water Jolly good. But it was not to he. Next morning. my upstairs toilet SUGAR AND SPICE by Bill Smiley overflowed and I went through the throwing - towels routine again. Oh, well, these things are sent to try us. i don't know for what. I don't want to be in charge of the towel -throwing department when the next flood comes along. Meantime, I'm going to have an awesome plumber's bill, Summer, of course, was not all bad. Some old friends sought me out. i was invited to Victoria, B.C., the Ottawa Valley, to Godericir, Ont., by old airforce friend Anderson, to Georgetawn• _for a meal any time, to the Bruce Peninsula, and so on. And I got gifts. Don McCuaig, an old newspaper friend, gave me a copy of Dieppe and Beyond by John Patrick Grogan (isn't that a lovely Ottawa Valley Irish name?) describing the life of a young Canadian captured at Dieppe, and his life as a P.O. W . it is a good read, and can be bought from Juniper Books, RR 2, Renfrew, Ont. . Another old newspaper friend, George Cadogan, dropped around and I stuck him for lunch and a good reminisce. An old golfing buddy, Bruce Coran, turned up. Hadn't seen him for twenty -odd years. He didn't bring me a present, but a memory. One time, he took four swings with a 4 -wood and moved the ball forty yards. Then he calmly took his golf club, put his foot in the middle of the shaft, bent it double, and threw it into the woods, without altering his composure, except for the face turning purple. Back to gifts. My son. Hugh, brought me an eight -pound Arctic char (frozen, of course ) from Baker Lake, N.W.T.. Hugh was quite pleased with himself, but what does an aging widower do with a great, hairy eight -pound fish? We solved it by giving half to the neighbors, cooking up some steaks. and making a massive fish salad. it's delicious, just like salmon. Even Ben. my grandboy, left me a souvenir. Of course, he usually does. Last March Break, it was a rung kicked out of the bannister. This time, it was a baseball through a storm window and screen. And i received numerous gifts by mail everything from being accused as a male chauvinist to an excellent writer: but i'll deal with these in another column. Another gift, as summer waned (how does one wane?) was an evening with old student and comrade, Julie, home after a year In France, and oh, so sophisticated We split a bottle of wine (not chilled. as she scolded(, she gave me good advice, and we parted with a hug and kiss. First time i've kissed a girl in a year or two. It wasn't bad. In any way. The lady who keeps my house from looking like a hovel, Evelyn, keeps bringing me corn and tarts and muffins. Gerry, the young guy who keeps my place from looking like a jungle, kept it looking like a well-bred jungle Not a bad summer? Except. Except, f got word that my little brother had died. I'd thought of visiting him this fall, in England Too late. Lieutenant Governor sworn in Amid the skirl of bagpipes and the booming echoes of a 15 gun salute, the Honorable Lincoln Alexander was officially installed as the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario last week. Met by Premier and Mrs David Peterson. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander were escorted up the front steps of the legislature at Queen's Park and into the house. There before family, friends, mem- bers of the provincial parliament and other groups, the installation ceremony took place. In his first remarks as Lieutenant Govern- or, His Honor acknowledged his office is designed to be apolitical. He stated, however, he has strong convictions when it comes to addressing the hopes and dreams of young people and the concerns of the many people who are not in the mainstream of like in Ontario. The lieutenant Governor said he will raise their concerns as befits his office. "in a dignified but forceful whisper." Outside Queen's Park, both the Cabinet and Caucus of the Liberal government held day long meetings in Haliburton. There they reviewed the items of concern to be on the agenda for the sitting of the Legislature which begins on October 15. During the sessions, the Cabinet announced the decision to give the Canadian Red Cross $500,000 to JACK'S JOTTINGS by Jack Riddell, MPP help relief efforts for the destruction caused by the recent earthquakes in Mexico. Turning to health, Minister Murray Elston has released the report of the Task Force on Kidney Donation. Mr. Elston said the key recommendation of the report calls for the development of programs to educate both members of the public and health care professionals about the need for more organ donors as well as the success of kidney transplants. Each year there are 400 patients in Ontario who need new kidneys, but only half this number are donated. As well, a study conducted in Ontario in early 1984 revealed about 72 per cent of those surveyed had not signed the donor consent form on their driver's licences. Acting on the recommendations of this report, said Mr. Elston, "will mean that many kidney patients who now must undergo dialysis, can receive the transplants they need to live more normal and healthy lives." Meanwhile. Consumer and Commercial Relations Minister, Monte Kwinter recently endorsed a compensation plan which would protect policy holders and claimants from suffering a financial loss resulting from the collapse of a general insurance company. • Speaking to a conference of insurance superintendents in Toronto. Mr. Kwinter supported the idea of a compensation plan which would be financed by the insurance industry. The plan would cover individual claims up to $200,000 against companies which fail or become insolvent. Pointing to the need for such a plan, the Minister said six general insurance comp- anies have failed or become insolvent in the past four years. He said even the remote possibility another company might fail made it essential a plan be put in place to protect consumers. On another track, Premier Peterson announced Frank Drea will become the full-time Chairman of the Ontario Racing (Continued on page A 10 )