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The Huron Expositor, 1999-01-20, Page 5(Rx Central Keating's Pharmacy) t Even rumours can bring on an investigation FROM Page 4 of a Premier. Even the rumour of wrongdoing can bring on an investigation where one's personal life might be scrutinized to the point of harassment. Forced to appear and testify under oath and be questioned by assorted groups. Like the Gtfvemment Public Accounts Committee, a select committee of the house, a special legislative committee of the house or even a Royal Commission set up by the Provincial or , Federal Parliament. They have the power to force a citizen to appear before their tribunal and testify. It may be that I am the only civil servant. who had a special meeting of the Public Accounts Committee held in his own office. There was great clamour in the House and in the press about the use of government aircraft. The meeting was to review the manifest and flight records of all government executive aircraft - and was done in secret. The committee chairman, Liberal M.P.P. James Brcithaup inspected the documents on behalf of thc committee and they were scaled. The "in camera" meeting was at the request of the O.P.P. for reasons of security. One of the hest examples (or should I say worst) of a kangaroo court is the Canadian Human Rights Commission. I know for I've been there. And we have pretty much matched the Ottawa boondoggles and witch hunts in Ontario. The Mission given to founding chairman Louis Fine by the Premier over forty years ago has gone from a composed, solution seeking. process searching for reason and understanding to a team sweater street fight with its own money pit. Fortunately the last couple of years has seen the return of sanity and a degree of common sense. The seventies were sometimes turbulent at Queens Park. There were rumours of patronage and suggestions of possible' corruption in the dredging business and favoritism in large hydro construction projects. The building of the Workmen's Compensation head office on Yongc Street and the O.I.S.E. building on Bloor and the new head office for Ontario Hydro on University Avenue were meaty topics for investigative reporters and battlegrounds for political brownie points. Even a ride in an executive jet was sinful. Because the contract for the hydro building was awarded to a company owned by Gerhart Moog, an acquaintance of Premier Davis, the Opposition cried foul and it was fought out in the Legislature...and in the media. Both the Liberals and the N.D.P. demanded an investigation. It was an issue that made the front page most every day and the Toronto dailies loved it - for it helped sell papers. The Premier announced the establishing' of a Legislative committee with judicial powers made up of members of all parties under the chairmanship of John MacBeth, M.P.P. for Etohicoke. Although I worked closely with Mr. Davis for many years and I knew Mr. Moog...and from 1959 to 1962 I was executive assistant to the vice-chairman of Ontario Hydro I knew little or nothing about hydro's new building beyond what 1 read in the newspapers. It was a surprise when I was summoned to appear before the committee. I resisted the suggestion that I needed the assistance of a lawyer. Why should I have a lawyer if I knew nothing. The wisdom that prevailed was that I should have legal counsel.' My small town native intelligence kept telling me that committee ,members will ask themselves, "whydoes he need a lawyer if he has nothing to hide". I took the advice the lawyer offered and told him I would appear before the committee alone. It was a Tuesday morning and •I was the first to be called. I read a prepared statement saying little or nothing beyond the fact that I was not aware of anything concerning the hydro building contract that would be of interest to the honourable members of the committee. Chairman MacBeth thanked me and asked members if they had any questions. I did know however that committees like this, made up of members of all parties, love to go on fishing expeditions. There is a tendency, almost a compulsion, for Opposition members to grandstand in front of the media - asking questions in a serious tone with a furrowed brow. Especially if the red light on the tv camera is on. Indeed it was not a way I liked to start off a day. A couple of Auestions were asked by, committee members about my connection with hydro and the building that I had expected. Somehow the direction of the questioning changed and I was asked if 1 was a friend of Richard Doyle. editor of the Globe and Mail and if I ever tried to influence the editorial policy of the paper. My answers were yes and no. I was hoping it would wind down and end, before I was asked if I had stopped beating my wife...when a question came from James Renwick. Mr. Renwick was a Toronto lawyer and N.D.P. member of the Legislature from Riverdale. I was not overly nervous but I was fully aware that he was a skilled lawyer and a sharp politician: I was fair game for I worked, for Mr. Davis and well aware that questions could be asked to elicit ' answers the Opposition members hoped could cause embarrassment and possible • political damage to the Premier. When Mr. Renwick asked his first question, "Mr. Westcott, would you mind telling this committee what you do in the Premier's office," a bright light went on in my head. A bit like the feeling when three bells come up in a row on a slot machine. "Mr. Chairman," ,I said, "It's very difficult to fully answer Mr. Renwick's question without going into a lot of detail and take up a lot of the committee's time:" I directed my response through the chairman and offered a suggestion. "It might be simpler and serve the wishes of the committee if I simply picked a day and explained what I did from the time I arrived until I left my office at the end of that day." I had both hands behind my back with my fingers crossed hoping`for the answer I wanted. "If Mr. Rcnwick and the committee agree," I continued, "I have my diary with me, and I could go through what 1 did yesterday. It would, i think give an overview of some of my responsibilities as Executive Assistant to the Premier." Mr. Renwick agreed. I began by saying that I Snowy weather postpones Legion The snowy cold weather essay. these past few weeks has Congratulations to these resulted in some events students. being cancelled or First place entries arc now postponed. entered in the district level of The Ladies Auxiliary the competition. • The General Meeting, twice certificates and prize money postponed, will he held will he presented at the Wednesday. February 3rd at general meeting on Thursday 8 p.rn weather permitting. he following students were at 8 p.m. The Sunday dinner will - successful in the zone The zone euchre now he held Sunday. January contest. Wendy Glauser, tournament is being hosted 24th. weather permitting. SDHS, 1st intermediate by Branch 156 on Jan. 23. The Branch General poem: Joseph Louwagic, St. After the cards there wilt be Meeting is Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. Columban School, 1st horsc races and more. in the Remembrance intermediate coloured poster Come out and welcome the poems. essays and poster and Lcah Craig, St. James euchre players and join in the contest held last November School, 3rd intermediate fun. , Legion News arrived at my office at 6:30 a.m. armed with a coffee and a toasted danish from Fran's Restaurant on College Street. This was a daily ritual. My early arrival brought out a chuckle of disbelief from some. It was not untrue for I came in early almost every day of the many years I worked at Queens Park. Don't forget, I knew my limitations. I was a high school dropout so coming in early all those years gave me a bit of an edge. 1 added that from 6:30 until 8:30 I usually listened to the music of Bobby Hackett on my stereo. I went on, telling them of the telephone calls I received from people who knew I came in early...and I named some callers and even told them the gist of some of the conversations. As I continued, I told them that about 8:45 as I was checking over some of the letters the Premier received' the day before. a call came from a lady with a request. "I understand," she said, "that Mr. Davis has two tickets for each game at Maple Leaf Gardens in a box right behind the team." Indeed, Mr. Davis had these tickets, but unless it was a football being played on the ice he wasn't greatly interested. The lady went on to say that a relative was coming to Toronto and wondered if the Premier would be kind enough to give her the two tickets for the upcoming Saturday night game. I could sec Mr. Rcnwick was becoming impatient with the rather deliberate mundane answers I was giving to his - original question. He looked in my direction and spoke, "Mr. Westcott, information that will aid this committee in its investigation." I tried to look serious and respond. "Mr. Renwick," I said, mustering as serious a tone as I could. "I thought - you might be interested in the call I received from the woman asking for the Premier's hockey tickets...for that lady was your wife." The members of the committee chuckled and the press grinned. Mr. Renwick looked a lot like he wished he had not asked the question. No other member of the committee wanted to question me further - so i was off the hook. I was thanked by the chairman and dismissed...but it was not a good way to start off a day. activities Al Nicholson, membership chairman reports that the deadline for payment of all dues is Jan. 31. Please play your ducs as soon as possible. The branch public speaking contest is scheduled for Sunday. February 21. Registration is at 1:30 p.m. Speeches at 2 p.m. Plan to attend this very worthwhile event. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them. Huron County talent and venues part of plowing match Plowing and the tented city arc traditionally the first things that come to mind when someone thinks of thc International Plowing Match. But Heather Klopp and her Special Events Committee want people to also think of Huron County venues and talent when they visit the 1999 iPM ncar Dashwood. Klopp's team has announced a lineup of talent for the five-day plowing match from venues throughout the county for thc main stage. show ring. horseshoe and tug of war arca and VIP plowing. "The special events will provide entertainment for people aged fire to 95," Klopp said. The main stage will feature talent from a different arca of the county each day. East Huron will provide entertainment Tucsday, the first day of the match. Thc lineup includes thc Seaforth Marching Band and other E local talent. r Thc parade and opening ccremonies•will also be held at the main stage on Tuesday. Wednesday, North Huron takes the ' main stage highlighting the CKNX Barn Dance and the Wingham Heritage Theatre. Fiddle and step dancing are also part of the schedule. West Huron shines on Thursday with talent from the Godcrich arca. Queen of thc Furrow speeches will also takc place at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on main stage. South Huron has a full schedule of entertainment on Friday including a children's hour, musical tributes, a stand up comedian, the South Huron District High School band, the Barvinok Ukranian Dancc Troupe and other musicians. Saturday, the last day of the IPM, will feature Central Huron highlighting the Blyth Centre for the Performing Arts, Blyth Festival Orchestra, community shows and children's entertainment. The, show ring will feature the West Coast Equine Showcase under the direction of Adriaan Brand. Each day of the IPM will include a morning and afternoon show of Huron County horse breeds. Horses and their riders will compete in team penning Thursday and Friday in the show ring. Horseshoes and tug of war competitions arc also on the agenda of special events. No IPM would be complete without the ViP Plowing competition The first MY of the match kicks off with media, MP and MPP plowing. The Queen of the Furrow competition takes place on Wednesday. Mayors and deputy mayors show off their skills on Thursday while wardens and regional chairs vie for the trophies on Friday. The Saturday competition is open to anyone. The IPM executive has given the go-ahead for tht special events to have a higher profile than previous matches:" Klopp hopes the special events will draw more people to the 1999 International Plowing Match and make the event more interesting for rural and urban visitors alike. if people are not sure which days they'd like to attend the iPM, thc special events may help them decide, Klopp said. Each special events presentation is an hour or less in duration, giving people a chance to relax yet not interfere with the rest of the activities. "it's also an investment in the future," Klopp explained. "It will give people a preview so they'll come back to the attractions in the future." The 1999 International Plowing Match is Sept. 21-25 north of Dashwood. For more information on the special events, call Heather Klopp at 519-236-4291. THE HURON EXPOSITOR, January 20, 1999-5 COUNSELLING • Marriage • Family • Personal Growth • Learning Disabilities BRIAN O'REILLY, 160n St CLINTON482-9249 CLION Complete Automotive Repair "Class A Mechanic" TIRE SALES, SERVICE & REPAIR ARCHIE'S scwice eear e ® 527-0881 24 Godcrich St. E. Sca ort DUBLIN DESIGN * Interior Specialists * 35 Matilda Street, Dublin, Ont. NOK 1E0 Ph./Fax. (519) 345-2760 1-800-638-4429 Linda Markle Dana Phillips NEW SHOWROOM HOURS Mon.,Tues.,Wed - by appointment Thurs., Fn - 9 - 5 Sat. - 10 - 4 FREE CONSULTATION Contact Linda or Dana for your complimentary in home consultation. Watch for the latest decorating ideas from our Professional Interior Designers in Mitchell Photographics display window. LIMITED TIME — CA11 TODAY 000 • FO0T ARE C FRIDAY, JANUARY 22 10 AM to 2 PM Registered Nurse on site for speciality care in: CORNS CALLOUSES TOE NAILS Call 527-1990 to make an appointment •a $5.00 charge applies 67 Main St. Seaforth 527-1990 "One day' there'll be an empty chair.." Q. Can discussions about our funeral pre -arrange- ments be made in the privacy of our home? If some- one from the funeral home comes to our home, is there any obligation on our part? A. Funeral arrangements are quite often made in the privacy of a home. Virtually everything that can be dis- cussed in a funeral home can also be discussed in the comfort of your home, even to the casket and vault selection. And all discussions are conducted without any obligation on your part. For your het copy of Dm' Day There'll Br An Empty Clair, the new 24 - page booklet from the best-selling book. AfterLou, A Recovery Companion for Thole Who Are Grieving, by Bubua LesStrang; please call or stop by. Whitney-Ribey Funeral Home 87 Goderich Street West, Seaforth - 527-1390 01997Afs7Lwr Inc • 800-163-9572 Church :Services You ore invited to attend these area churches St. Thomas -Anglican Church Jarvis St. Seaforth Rev. Robert Hiscox 482.7861 NORTHSIDE (Godench St..Seaforth) )9.30 a.m. (Winthrop) 11:00 a.m. & UNITED CHURCHES Minister. Rev. Jane Kuepler Sunday Jan. 24t" 527-2635 Service of Morning Please note the change' Prayer at 11:15 am in times for the services. followed by annual Cavan Annual Meeting after lunch. Vestryby an g Sunday School during services. nursery provided. • First Presbyterian = Church Goderich 51. W. Seaforthlk 1115 AM - , *0 1, , �/1�• Sunday School - during church ,y�(((1 ^` ' 1' "li . Minister Rev. Nicholas Vandermey 19 4 Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church Meeting at Seatorth High 9:45 a.m. Bible School 11:00 Worship Worship: Our ultimate priority Small Group Meetings Weekty Pastor Doug Cornveau 522.0070 Catholic Church -Masses Saturday - 5:15 pm St. James Parish. Seaforth Saturday - 7:15 pm St. Joseph's Parish, Clinton Sunday - 9:00 am St. Michael's Parish. Blyth Sunday - 11:00 am St. James Parish, Seaforth Father Dino Salvador