Times Advocate, 1991-03-27, Page 1Sunday shopping may be gone, but Grand Bend is still exempt
GRAND BEND - While other
shopping ccnues in the province
are smarting from having to close
their doors on Sunday, a few Grand
Bend businesses were open foe
business as usual.
When the Ontario Court of Ap-
peal turned over the Supreme Court
of Ontario's 1990 decision that the
Retail Business Holidays Act was
unconstitutional, police forces
across the province were given the
green light by solicitor -general
Mike Faman to lay charges on
those stores found open on Sunday.
"I have asked the police to en-
force the Retail Business Holiday's
Act immediately," said a release
from Farnan's office. "This is espe-
cially important to avoid confusion
over store openings on Good Fri-
day. We expect retailers to comply
with this."
Nevertheless, some shoppers
across the province appeared upset
to have lost the option of seven-day
shopping. Retailers, however,
complied with the new ruling in
most cases, likely because the re-
cession slump in sales did not offer
much incentive for opening the ex-
tra hours.
Pinery OPP staff sergeant Gerry
Hillman said he hasn't received
much information on the return of
the Sunday -closing Act except for
what he has read in the newspapers,
but he understood that Grand
Bend's resort -area exemption is re-
tained.
"Until we hear otherwise the ex-
emptions in resorts will, still apply,"
said Hillman, but he noted while
the exemption covers businesses
within village boundaries, he was
not sure if it covered those south of
town on Highway 21.
"Well have to check on that,"
said Hillman. "I'm not positive an
that."
The OPP sergeant pointed out he
understood automatic exemptions
were still in effect f r businesses
under a certain size, and with a
minimum of employees.
"A lot of it has to do with size, et-
cetera, etcetera," said Hillman.
T -A
Classifieds
They really
paCall
235-1331
Serving South Huron
10�
ik
Gaiser-Kneale
Insurance
• CaII us for
Comprehensive
Competitive
HOMEOWNERS
235-2420
North Middlesex & Lambton
Since 1873
Wednesday, March 27, 1991
75 cents
Ball control - Sivichay Sengkhounmany, left; and Mark Brintnell took advantage of the warm weath-
eron Thursday to try out for the South Huron Panthers high school junior boys' soccer team. The
team opens their season at home on April 17 against St. Marys.
Helmet requirement
cancels Lucan school
skating events
LUCAN - While an afternoon at
the local arena used to be a favour-
ite diversion from school activities
for Lucan Public School students,
that will no longer be. The school
was forced to cancel all its skating
programs due a ruling by the Mid-
dlesex Board of Education requir-
ing all students to wear helmets
during school -organized skating ac-
tivities.
Lucan principal Gerry Adlington
said the school was not prepared to
purchase helmets for its skating
programs and could neither expect
parents to ptirchase them for a pro-
gram that might be as short as four
weeks.
Adlington said he had mixed feel-
ings about having to cancel the
skating activities. On the one hand,
he said he could understand the
safety considerations involved, but
on the other he said the activity
would be missed.
The helmet requirement came
from the board's solicitor who had
concerns about the board's liability
in case of an accident.
When asked if he thought the hel-
met requirement was an overreac-
tion to against an activity that has
been a traditional part of school
recreation, Adlington said he
blamed the current increase in lia-
bility suits.
"I don't know. I think it's the
times," he said, adding that he sup-
ported the board's ruling because he
understood its need to protect itself
from liability.
While Adlington said it was pos-
sible to use Home and School As-
sociation funds to purchase hel-
mets, he said the school has
"greater needs than helmets".
He also noted helmets would not
help the frequent outbreaks of head
lice.
While calling the loss of skating
programs unfortunate, Adlington
noted mom time will be opened up
for other schooltime activities.
"To tell the truth, it's nice to have
the time for other things," he said.
SpicerCommission lold Quebec can
others say it hasto stay at all costs
By Adrian Harte
EXETER - While some called the separation of Quebec away from Can-
ada as a possible future option, others disagreed saying we should be rea-
sonable enough to find ways to accommodate the needs of our disparate
provinces. Others took a more emotional response, and simply referred to
separatism as unthinkable.
William Kershaw
All this, and more, was openly
discussed in the Exeter council
chambers when the Spicer Commis-
sion came to ask people from this
locale what they thought about Can-
ada's future.
The meeting attracted 17 peoplz
from their Friday morning routines.
Some came to complain, some
came to be heard, others came just
N. to listen.
None were more organized than
William Kershaw from Grand Bend
who came with a prepared written
report on his views.
Kershaw described this "once
clean and pleasant land" as some-
thing now corrupted by "sleazy
Quebec labour lawyer" - his term
for Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.
Kershaw said any accord with
Quebec would require a balance of rights and powers, and added that Que-
bec's Bill 101 was an obscenity to the English-speaking population of
Quebec and an example of an imbalance.
Kershaw pointed to his 50 years of living in Quebec as evidence of his
understanding of the subject.
"This country is too valuable to be emasculated by a self-serving clutch
of politicians," said Kershaw, who offered his vision of Canada as an asso-
ciation of equal provinces - "no more, no less."
In order to keep geographical integrity of the nation, Kershaw said Ru-
pert's Land (northern Quebec) should return to Canadian territory.
Lloyd Brown -John, moderator of the session, noted the Cree Indians
have threatened to leave Quebec under separation.
"How do we get those lands back. What are our options?" asked Brown -
John, who asked those present if sending in troops was the answer.
"Definitely not," said Andy DeBoer.
Brown -John agreed from his travels with the Commission, Canadians
appear committed to a peaceful settlement with Quebec.
DeBoer said he wasn't concerned about Canada's land claims as much as
he would be about the rights of native pcopk who might want to leave
Quebec after separation.
Kershaw agreed and noted Quebeckers have a different attitude to native
populations - a common term is "sauvages'.
i could see the rest of the country resorting to violence to protect native
rights...1 don't want to see thig becoming another Lebanon," said Kershaw.
While Kershaw said he could see Quebec's separation he insisted sove-
reignty association was unworkable.
"i heard it described as being divorced and retaining bedroom privileg-
es," joked Brown -John.
But Kershaw demanded the Prime Minister play no part in negotiations,
calling him "flagrantly Quebec -biased" and asking for an appointment by
the Governor General.
Joe Wooden disagreed with Kershaw's views.
1 share virtually nothing with what was said," stated Wooden, who said
the blame for Canada's present problems cannot be placed on individual
politicians. He noted ethnic groups all over the world are presently seek-
ing similar rights and freedoms.
"I think this present federal government is being maligned unfairly,"
said Wooden.
"Our need seems to be in Canada to find ways of retaining Quebec's in-
terest...Quebec has been special and we've accepted that as part of Cana-
da."
Wooden said Canada was held together more by economic forces than
anything political or legal.
' It seems to me to sit here and make the assumption Quebec is going to
separate...is not reasonable. It's not going to happen," insisted Wooden,
who suggested the rest of Canada should be prepared to offer Quebec a
distribution of taxes and power that would make the country's union work-
able.
"This is essentially a country based on regional differences. I think it's
Small-town views
perhaps most valuable
to Spicer Commission
EXETER - Although the Spicer Commission, more correctly re-
ferred to as the Citizen's Forum on Canada's Future, came to Exeter
to near the local point of view, a few things were revealed about the
Commission itself.
One of the first statements moderator Lloyd Brown -John told
those who assembled in the council chambers Friday was he did not
receive the high salaries quoted in the media.
"I do not receive the enormous $600 a day that the other people
do," said Brown -John.
Although Brown -John did not say exactly what he was paid for his
actions as moderator for smaller communities in the 519 area -code
part of Ontario, he later said he was paid an honorarium for his work
and confessed he could make more money at home where he is a
professor at the University of Windsor.
Brown -John said his report would become part of the Commis-
sion's overall report to the Prime Minister on June 1. He noted that
the Spicer Commission would be one of the shortest -lived Royal
Commissions in Canadian history, but has an important mandate.
"We're asking for constructive ideas. We're asking you to think
about the future of the country," said Brown -John told the small
group in the chambers. He appeared encouraged by the less than 20
people present, saying the group was an almost -ideal size.
Brown -John said that although it was not part of the original man-
date, parliamentary reform has become a very important issue during
the commission travels across the country - likely because of the re-
cent events in the Senate.
Brown -John, during the two-hour discussion, suggested the loud-
est voices in Quebec today - and those who attract the most media
attention - are the radicals demanding separatism. An equally loud
group in the rest of Canada are those who say Quebec should be al-
lowed to go and suffer the consequences.
When asked if the true agenda of the Spicer Commission is to gain
access to the more moderate, and naturally quieter, mrtjority of Ca-
nadians who may not share those radical views, Brown -John con-
ceded that could be the hidden goal.
With a commission document proving' most Canadians - and espe-
cially Quebeckers - firmly supportin? a unified Canada, the govern-
ment could sidestep the media -manipulating radicals and make its
case for a ratified Constitutional accord.
1
unfortunate the Meech Lake Accord failed," said Wooden, blaming Eng-
lish Canada for not having as clear idea of its future as does Quebec.
"I think that's a fault of education, but that's a whole other issue," said
Wooden. "We must search for ways to accommodate Quebec and Que-
bec's legitimate desires for protection for the special conditions Quebec
has."
Brown -John said he has heard
that the general consensus is Que-
bec has special status in Canada,
but arguments from the chambers
insisted Quebec does not deserve
such status. Brown -John noted a
popular misconception is that
Quebec gets more special "deals"
than the other nine provinces. All
receive funding and government
contracts, but those offered to
Quebec are usually seen as brib-
ry.
e "This is what Canada seem to
have problems with," said
Brown -John. "They're all milk-
ing the system for what it's
worth...every province is doing
the same thing."
Kershaw disagreed and asked
why Quebec had the right to sup-
press a basic civil right with Bill 101 and got away with it, while other
provinces gre being forced into offering more French services.
"I am not anti -French, but I am anti what I see being perpetrated on the
rest of Canada," said Kershaw.
DeBoer said he could open a business anywhere in Canada and put a
sign up in any language - except in Quebec where it must not be in Eng-
lish.
Brown -John noted that official bilingualism only means that federal gov-
ernment services must be offered in both languages.
"Does that bother people - that the post office has bilingual signs?" in-
quired Brown -John. Most agreed it did not affect their lives.
"I feel that the ordinary French-speaking person does not want to break
away from Canada," said Mary Thompson. "They are proud to be part of
this country."
"I'd be heartbroken if they broke away," she added.
Brown -John pointed out that Canadian cultural tradition is deeply rooted
in those two cultures and most Canadians seem to reflect that belief.
"I think the whole problem is that we don't like change...l'm not saying
progress, I'm saying change," said Andrew Dixon from the back of the
room, stating he was 85 years old.
"We no longer have any room for the multiplicity of languages we
have...and that is going to change."
Dixon predicted all cultural divisions will disappear, inevitably, because
the country's populations are going to mingle more than ever as transporta-
tion and communication becomes easier.
"French is doomed. There aren't enough people who speak French." he
said.
"Certainly we should be trying to fix up the English language," he add-
ed, noting if it was to become a world language, it should be easier to
learn.
Dixon said he wanted to keep Quebec as part of Canada.
"1 can't see any reason for sovereignty association or distinct society or
anything," he said.
Do be prepared for change within the next 100 years. If ; had to make
a prediction I would say Canada will not exist." he concluded.
Flora Doerr took a more emotional position, and asked those in the room
Continued on page 3.
Andy DeBoer
1'
s
Inside
Carnival
Exeter Club
h its
the ice
page 2
Beach issue
Will it be
leased out?
page 3
In the slot
Gilfillan's
vending
machines
page 5
Hawks
'
Take charge
of
Lakers
Second front
10�
ik
Gaiser-Kneale
Insurance
• CaII us for
Comprehensive
Competitive
HOMEOWNERS
235-2420
North Middlesex & Lambton
Since 1873
Wednesday, March 27, 1991
75 cents
Ball control - Sivichay Sengkhounmany, left; and Mark Brintnell took advantage of the warm weath-
eron Thursday to try out for the South Huron Panthers high school junior boys' soccer team. The
team opens their season at home on April 17 against St. Marys.
Helmet requirement
cancels Lucan school
skating events
LUCAN - While an afternoon at
the local arena used to be a favour-
ite diversion from school activities
for Lucan Public School students,
that will no longer be. The school
was forced to cancel all its skating
programs due a ruling by the Mid-
dlesex Board of Education requir-
ing all students to wear helmets
during school -organized skating ac-
tivities.
Lucan principal Gerry Adlington
said the school was not prepared to
purchase helmets for its skating
programs and could neither expect
parents to ptirchase them for a pro-
gram that might be as short as four
weeks.
Adlington said he had mixed feel-
ings about having to cancel the
skating activities. On the one hand,
he said he could understand the
safety considerations involved, but
on the other he said the activity
would be missed.
The helmet requirement came
from the board's solicitor who had
concerns about the board's liability
in case of an accident.
When asked if he thought the hel-
met requirement was an overreac-
tion to against an activity that has
been a traditional part of school
recreation, Adlington said he
blamed the current increase in lia-
bility suits.
"I don't know. I think it's the
times," he said, adding that he sup-
ported the board's ruling because he
understood its need to protect itself
from liability.
While Adlington said it was pos-
sible to use Home and School As-
sociation funds to purchase hel-
mets, he said the school has
"greater needs than helmets".
He also noted helmets would not
help the frequent outbreaks of head
lice.
While calling the loss of skating
programs unfortunate, Adlington
noted mom time will be opened up
for other schooltime activities.
"To tell the truth, it's nice to have
the time for other things," he said.
SpicerCommission lold Quebec can
others say it hasto stay at all costs
By Adrian Harte
EXETER - While some called the separation of Quebec away from Can-
ada as a possible future option, others disagreed saying we should be rea-
sonable enough to find ways to accommodate the needs of our disparate
provinces. Others took a more emotional response, and simply referred to
separatism as unthinkable.
William Kershaw
All this, and more, was openly
discussed in the Exeter council
chambers when the Spicer Commis-
sion came to ask people from this
locale what they thought about Can-
ada's future.
The meeting attracted 17 peoplz
from their Friday morning routines.
Some came to complain, some
came to be heard, others came just
N. to listen.
None were more organized than
William Kershaw from Grand Bend
who came with a prepared written
report on his views.
Kershaw described this "once
clean and pleasant land" as some-
thing now corrupted by "sleazy
Quebec labour lawyer" - his term
for Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.
Kershaw said any accord with
Quebec would require a balance of rights and powers, and added that Que-
bec's Bill 101 was an obscenity to the English-speaking population of
Quebec and an example of an imbalance.
Kershaw pointed to his 50 years of living in Quebec as evidence of his
understanding of the subject.
"This country is too valuable to be emasculated by a self-serving clutch
of politicians," said Kershaw, who offered his vision of Canada as an asso-
ciation of equal provinces - "no more, no less."
In order to keep geographical integrity of the nation, Kershaw said Ru-
pert's Land (northern Quebec) should return to Canadian territory.
Lloyd Brown -John, moderator of the session, noted the Cree Indians
have threatened to leave Quebec under separation.
"How do we get those lands back. What are our options?" asked Brown -
John, who asked those present if sending in troops was the answer.
"Definitely not," said Andy DeBoer.
Brown -John agreed from his travels with the Commission, Canadians
appear committed to a peaceful settlement with Quebec.
DeBoer said he wasn't concerned about Canada's land claims as much as
he would be about the rights of native pcopk who might want to leave
Quebec after separation.
Kershaw agreed and noted Quebeckers have a different attitude to native
populations - a common term is "sauvages'.
i could see the rest of the country resorting to violence to protect native
rights...1 don't want to see thig becoming another Lebanon," said Kershaw.
While Kershaw said he could see Quebec's separation he insisted sove-
reignty association was unworkable.
"i heard it described as being divorced and retaining bedroom privileg-
es," joked Brown -John.
But Kershaw demanded the Prime Minister play no part in negotiations,
calling him "flagrantly Quebec -biased" and asking for an appointment by
the Governor General.
Joe Wooden disagreed with Kershaw's views.
1 share virtually nothing with what was said," stated Wooden, who said
the blame for Canada's present problems cannot be placed on individual
politicians. He noted ethnic groups all over the world are presently seek-
ing similar rights and freedoms.
"I think this present federal government is being maligned unfairly,"
said Wooden.
"Our need seems to be in Canada to find ways of retaining Quebec's in-
terest...Quebec has been special and we've accepted that as part of Cana-
da."
Wooden said Canada was held together more by economic forces than
anything political or legal.
' It seems to me to sit here and make the assumption Quebec is going to
separate...is not reasonable. It's not going to happen," insisted Wooden,
who suggested the rest of Canada should be prepared to offer Quebec a
distribution of taxes and power that would make the country's union work-
able.
"This is essentially a country based on regional differences. I think it's
Small-town views
perhaps most valuable
to Spicer Commission
EXETER - Although the Spicer Commission, more correctly re-
ferred to as the Citizen's Forum on Canada's Future, came to Exeter
to near the local point of view, a few things were revealed about the
Commission itself.
One of the first statements moderator Lloyd Brown -John told
those who assembled in the council chambers Friday was he did not
receive the high salaries quoted in the media.
"I do not receive the enormous $600 a day that the other people
do," said Brown -John.
Although Brown -John did not say exactly what he was paid for his
actions as moderator for smaller communities in the 519 area -code
part of Ontario, he later said he was paid an honorarium for his work
and confessed he could make more money at home where he is a
professor at the University of Windsor.
Brown -John said his report would become part of the Commis-
sion's overall report to the Prime Minister on June 1. He noted that
the Spicer Commission would be one of the shortest -lived Royal
Commissions in Canadian history, but has an important mandate.
"We're asking for constructive ideas. We're asking you to think
about the future of the country," said Brown -John told the small
group in the chambers. He appeared encouraged by the less than 20
people present, saying the group was an almost -ideal size.
Brown -John said that although it was not part of the original man-
date, parliamentary reform has become a very important issue during
the commission travels across the country - likely because of the re-
cent events in the Senate.
Brown -John, during the two-hour discussion, suggested the loud-
est voices in Quebec today - and those who attract the most media
attention - are the radicals demanding separatism. An equally loud
group in the rest of Canada are those who say Quebec should be al-
lowed to go and suffer the consequences.
When asked if the true agenda of the Spicer Commission is to gain
access to the more moderate, and naturally quieter, mrtjority of Ca-
nadians who may not share those radical views, Brown -John con-
ceded that could be the hidden goal.
With a commission document proving' most Canadians - and espe-
cially Quebeckers - firmly supportin? a unified Canada, the govern-
ment could sidestep the media -manipulating radicals and make its
case for a ratified Constitutional accord.
1
unfortunate the Meech Lake Accord failed," said Wooden, blaming Eng-
lish Canada for not having as clear idea of its future as does Quebec.
"I think that's a fault of education, but that's a whole other issue," said
Wooden. "We must search for ways to accommodate Quebec and Que-
bec's legitimate desires for protection for the special conditions Quebec
has."
Brown -John said he has heard
that the general consensus is Que-
bec has special status in Canada,
but arguments from the chambers
insisted Quebec does not deserve
such status. Brown -John noted a
popular misconception is that
Quebec gets more special "deals"
than the other nine provinces. All
receive funding and government
contracts, but those offered to
Quebec are usually seen as brib-
ry.
e "This is what Canada seem to
have problems with," said
Brown -John. "They're all milk-
ing the system for what it's
worth...every province is doing
the same thing."
Kershaw disagreed and asked
why Quebec had the right to sup-
press a basic civil right with Bill 101 and got away with it, while other
provinces gre being forced into offering more French services.
"I am not anti -French, but I am anti what I see being perpetrated on the
rest of Canada," said Kershaw.
DeBoer said he could open a business anywhere in Canada and put a
sign up in any language - except in Quebec where it must not be in Eng-
lish.
Brown -John noted that official bilingualism only means that federal gov-
ernment services must be offered in both languages.
"Does that bother people - that the post office has bilingual signs?" in-
quired Brown -John. Most agreed it did not affect their lives.
"I feel that the ordinary French-speaking person does not want to break
away from Canada," said Mary Thompson. "They are proud to be part of
this country."
"I'd be heartbroken if they broke away," she added.
Brown -John pointed out that Canadian cultural tradition is deeply rooted
in those two cultures and most Canadians seem to reflect that belief.
"I think the whole problem is that we don't like change...l'm not saying
progress, I'm saying change," said Andrew Dixon from the back of the
room, stating he was 85 years old.
"We no longer have any room for the multiplicity of languages we
have...and that is going to change."
Dixon predicted all cultural divisions will disappear, inevitably, because
the country's populations are going to mingle more than ever as transporta-
tion and communication becomes easier.
"French is doomed. There aren't enough people who speak French." he
said.
"Certainly we should be trying to fix up the English language," he add-
ed, noting if it was to become a world language, it should be easier to
learn.
Dixon said he wanted to keep Quebec as part of Canada.
"1 can't see any reason for sovereignty association or distinct society or
anything," he said.
Do be prepared for change within the next 100 years. If ; had to make
a prediction I would say Canada will not exist." he concluded.
Flora Doerr took a more emotional position, and asked those in the room
Continued on page 3.
Andy DeBoer
1'
s