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The Citizen, 1998-07-08, Page 6REBECCA VANCAMP Rebecca, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Van Camp of RR4, Brussels, will study Health Sciences at the University of Western Ontario in hopes of becoming a nurse. JAMES THOMAS James, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Thomas of RR1, Ethel, will attend Wilfrid Laurier to study Honours Computing and Computer Electronics. ADAM GARNISS Adam, son of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Garniss of RR4, Wingham, will study Agriculture at the University of Guelph. CHRISTOPHER ARMSTRONG Christopher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Brian Armstrong of RR1, Ethel, will study Civil Engineering at the University of Waterloo. COREY NEWMAN Corey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Newman of RR3, Brussels, will study English at the University of Western Ontario. CANADA A POSIES POST CANADA Contact: Customer Service 2701 RIVERSIDE DR OTTAWA ON K1A OB1 Tel.: 1-800-267-1177 You may also refer your concerns to the Postal Service Customer Council in your area. Tel.: 1-800-204-4189 If you have not been satisfied yet, contact: Ombudsman 855 BROOKFIELD RD SUITE C0081 OTTAWA ON K1V 1J8 Tel.: 1-800-204-4198 \ CANADA POS7E5 111P* POST CA NADA • PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1998. 5 local teens among Madill scholars MPP argues editorial points r Letters THE EDITOR, I recently went with a friend and my daughter to the Blyth Theatre to see Wilbur County Blues and was so moved by this play that I had to write and encourage others to take the time to enjoy it also. This play covers a whole host of important and timely issues including single parenting, the love parents have for their children (even through the dreaded teenage years), racism, the flight from a large city to a rural environment, and hard and real decisions that every family must face. The playwright dealt with these and other issues with such sensitivity and caring that when it was over, I couldn't help feeling a personal and lingering connection to the messages he presented. In addition, the cast and crew did an excellent job of ensuring the integrity of the message was left intact with their professional and dynamic performances. I intend to see this play again, and would like to invite others to take part in this positive and touching experience also. Sincerely, Kathey Cochrane. THE EDITOR, Upon reading the editorial written in the June 24 Citizen, I believe some clarification must occur. It incorrectly asserts that provincial revenues have declined as a result of a tax cut to the people of Ontario. Let me be perfectly clear, tax revenues have increased since the Harris government was elected in 1995. How could this be, even when we are taking fewer and fewer dollars from the hard working people of Ontario? The answer of course is that more and more people are working, more jobs are being created and consumer confidence is up — so more people are spending dollars. If we followed your premise, as the NDP and Liberals increased taxes 65 times in the 10 years they governed, revenue would have increased substantially but in fact revenue fell. The editorial also that the provincial government has a radically different vision of Ontario. It would agree. In 1995, the province was spending $11 billion more each year than they were collecting in revenue and the province was $100 billion in debt. Interest payments were larger than what was spent in hospitals or in classroom education. How could we continue on? I believe that eventually interest payments, that must be paid, would take money away from health care and education and this is not what any of us want to see. So, how is this government radically different? It has managed the province and will have the deficit balanced by 2000, jobs are being created by the private sector and we have had a net increase in jobs of 350,000 compared to the 10,000 net loss in jobs in the NDP term in office. In health care the province has increased its spending from $17.2 billion in 1995 to $18.6 billion this year. This is in spite of the fact that the federal government has reduced transfer payments to Ontario. Not only have they been reduced to this province, but, on a percentage basis Ontarians have taken a far greater reduction than the balance of the provinces. The province has increased health care spending by $1.6 billion from 1995 and the federal government has decreased transfers to education and health by $2.1 billion. Therefore the taxpayers of Ontario have increased their spending in health care by $3.7 billion. The last point is that municipalities have suffered reductions and you believe the provincial government should return funds to them. Let me be very clear — the provincial government reduced office wages for MPPs by 20 per cent, eliminated gold plated pension plans for MPPs and consolidated regions moving from 130 MPPs to 103. In Huron County despite the hard work of some council members and the warden, there has still been no '-consolidation. We still have 26 clerk-treasurers and in fact Seaforth who has just had their clerk- treasurer leave is looking for a new one. Why can they not utilize one of the other clerk treasurers? We have approximately 200 municipal politicians and we have road superintendents, secretaries, etc. The years of swelling governments are over and it is time that we look long and hard at the municipal situation. Put more money into the system? I don't think so, I believe the taxpayers want us to look for government efficiencies. Will the provincial government use the money wisely? I believe we have proven that we will. Yours truly, Helen Johns, MPP Huron. SHARP DEALS ON QUALITY - CLEAN READY-TO-GO USED CARS Great Savings on These Used Cars & Trucks. 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