Loading...
Times Advocate, 1997-01-15, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, January 15, 1997 Publisher & Editor. Jim BeckettThe Exeter Times Advocate is a member of a family of community newspapers e Business Manager: Don Smith ""o.M ` Alm ", providing news, advertising and information leadership Production Manager: Deb Lora Mimitlsing: Barb Consitt, Chad Eedy ► s -ASM News; Heather Mk, Chris Skelkos, Ross Haugh, Brenda Burke Production; Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Brenda Hem, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner Transportation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgert Front Office & Account] L Elaine Pinder, Sue Roltings, Ruth Slaght Ruthanne Negrijn, Anita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple • • Publications Mail Registration Number 0388 SUBSCRIPTION RATES; One year rate for Ontario subscribers - 835.00 + OST . .. Two year rate for Ontario subscribers - 883.00 + OST CANADIAN ADDRESSES OUTSIDE MAii;IQ One year subscription - 883:00 + OST Two year subscription - 8119.00 + OST QTHER RATES. Outside Canada - 8102.00 1.1)1"1'OI 1;\ 1, A matter of perception arta Homolka is now eligible to apply for day parole. It appears she is in no hurry to do so. - This may well be a wise move ori her part. People have not forgotten the mur- ders committed by Homolka and her husband Paul Bernardo. The moment Homolka sets foot on the streets she will be a target for someone who be- , lieves justice was not done in giving the woman such a light sentence for her role in the torture and murder of two schoolgirls,and the assault which re- sulted in the death of her own sister. That someone may be a grieving par- ent who has lost a child to a violent criminal. Or it may be someone who seeks the notoriety of killing a person like Homolka. It may even be someone who feels contempt for a legal system which hands out a 12 -year sentence for the most horrible of crimes, and re- quires the criminal to serve only a small portion of the sentence. This in no way condones vigilante justice. In many ways, vigilante justice is merely another term for anarchy. The presence, or threat of vigilante justice is likea quick punch in the nose. It warns of the inherent danger in a general view that the formal legal sys- tem has failed. And in the case of Ho- molka, there certainly is a widespread public perception of misjustice. The Homolka case is only one exam- ple'of a situation where this perception exists. There are many others. At present, many people are asking why the investigation into the so-called airbus scandal, and the possible role of former prime minister Brian Mulroney in it, continues. If Mulroney's name has been completely cleared by the out-of- court settlement, as Mulroney is an- nouncing to the world, one would also expect an announcement stating that the investigation has been completed, and showed no wrong -doing or kick- backs. The public perception is not that Mul- roney is innocent - or guilty - but that his lawyers have been successful in making a deal. Plea bargaining, the legal version "of "let's make a deal", has -become a fact of life in our courts, While this practice, which consists of Crown and defense coming to an agreement outside the court room, saves time, money and frus- tration, it can easily create the impres- sion that law has become a game of chess or poker, with players moving pawns and more important pieces around a board. Sacrifice a game piece or two, make your move, win the match. When it appears the law has become a game, and anyone can play if he has the cash, the nerve, or; like Homolka, a val- uable bargaining chip,,then we all lose. Canada's legal system has long had a reputation for flexibility. Rather than be- ing "written in stone", our system can change in response to changes in socie- ty. And it has had the reputation. of be- ing fair and open. There are no secret trials. Everyone has the right to a fair hearing before the law. But it appears too many important le- gal decisions are being made behind closed doors. And too many decisions are reflecting what is expedient rather than what is right. There is a growing public perception that the letter of the law can be followed without justice being served, and that paves the way for tragedy. The legal system can never be viewed as a game if • it is to be effective. The old line, a Smith and Wesson. beats four aces, really isn't very funny. Saugeen City News What's on yourn in The Times -Advocate continues to welcome letters'to the editor as e forum for open discussion of local issues, concerns, complaints and kudos. The Times -Advocate reserves the right to edit letters for brevity Please send your letters to P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario, NOM 1Sfi Sigtryou letter with both name and address. Anonymous letters will not be published.. A View From Queen's Park By Eric Dowd PubHshed Each Wedn.sday Morning at 424 Main St., Exeter, OntMb, NOM 1S8 by 1.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Telephone _1.519.235.1331 • Fax: 519.233-0788 0411e0 address: tknss.sdrocataaerdy.corn 0.5.1. IR106210e35 I'LL HAVEA MEGA - BURGER, MEGA-FRJES, AND A MEGA-DRiNKI,, -AND MAKEITFAsr,IM IN A MEGA -HURRY/ McAMALGAMATION Simpie Cruelties. Brenda Burke Weedless What? Weedless Wednesday. No, it's not a phrase referring to valiant efforts of communit' s everywhere tio destroy Onoxious weeds. Nor does it have anything to do with marijuana: Arriving across Huron and Perth Counties on Jan. 22, Weedless Wednesday is a chance to support a "Smoke -Free For The Day" initiative that urges restaurants " to provide a total smoke-free dining atmosphere for their customers for the entire day: Wow. Imagine it. (If you are a non-smoker, that is.) Imagine not having to think about tit grand question, "Smoking or non?" before you get your hands on a menu. Imagine not having to worry about sitting too close to that erie cut-off point in a room that divides those who puff and those who don't. Which makes me wonder...is it actually possible to avoid second-hand smoke when people in the same room are forced to share the same air? Is it even possible to exist in the same building as others who smoke. without inhaling the 4,000 dangerous chemicals we're constantly warned about? I wondered about that on Christmas day at a huge family gathering where I thought I was .safe coloring Dalmatian pictures _in the basement with the kids while most cif the adults puffed , away upstairs. I. may have been breathing normal air. But after dinner was done, the dishes were cleared and everyone's bellies were plump and satisfied, it -was downstairs for the whole gang for the opening of the presents. k was here where I was gagging for air and crawling up the stairs with watery eyes'and parched throat, begging for mercy. Now the real test between smokers and nous is. just how do you compromise personal rights without being, you know, a party pooper? How do you tell a friend who has slaved away cooking an excellent supper for you not to smoke afterwards in his own home? And how do you tell countless relatives you can't visit unless you can get normal - oxygen to your bloodstream? In a list entitled How to' - protect yourself and your family - from second-hand smoke, the , answer seems to be there in plain words: Ask smokers not to smoke in your presence. , Who has the nerve to announce to a bar room full of hip people not to smoke in your presence while you enjoy your favorite jazz band? Who has the gall to say, "I can't.visit you because that means I'll be inhaling cancerous substances"? And who has complete knowledge of who is smoking near or around their children at all times? How do you control it when you step onto a bus and the guy beside you is wearing a leather jacket saturated with enough nicotine to strangle a horse? Or when it's part of your job to interview people in their homes where they may or may not smoke. according to how they feel? Trying to provide a smoke-free world. or even a single smoke-free day, will be just as easy as squeezing Vitamin C out of a bag of cheezies. TORONTO -- Premier Mike Harris and two of the country's biggest newspapers have formed an apparently unstoppable combination to create a so-called megacity over the objec- tions of at least half those who will live there. Harris and his Progressive Conservatives. bent on cutting politicians everywhere, have in- troduced legislation to merge the six municipal- ities in Metropolitan Toronto, and with some cajoling and browbeating they have enough .votes to ensure that the legislature approves it. The Toronto Star and Sun are making sure the merger is seen as desirable and dissent takes a comparative back seat. The Tories and Star seem an unlikely combi- nation, because the Star traditionally supports the Liberals, but the paper has long been para- noid that Toronto is not accorded the impor- tance it deserves and seems to feel amalgama- tion will rectify this and perhaps sell a few . more papers. The day after the Tories revealed they were considering amalgamation, the Star ran an edi- torial demanding "One government for Metro, not seven." The Star, which does not place much store in readers thinking things out for themselves, followed up swiftly with others de- claring, as examples. "Time to proceed on uni- fied Metro," "Why we need one Metro munici- pality", "Supercity savings" (although no one has produced proof amalgamation will save money), "Reassuring citizens about unifica- tion"" and "A gutsy Tory plan for unifying Me- tro". The Sun, which sees so eye to eye with Har- ris they should be pronounced man and wife, has run similarly supportive editorials under heads like "United we stand", `Togetherness", "One big solution", "Come Fon Metro, think big", "One big city equals big savings" and "Damn the mayors, full speed ahead!" Star columnists have rallied around, pro- claiming "Unified Toronto will be a better place to live", "Megacity will propel Toronto into future", "Go for it Al" (a plea to Municipal Affairs Minister Al Leach not to back off), "Amalgamation is a big step, but worth taking" Amalgamation "Merger is long overdue" and even "Megacity would make politicians more accountable", try- ing to counter a basic criticism it will provide fewer,and less accessible elected representa- tives. A notable absentee from this cheerleading was the Star's own legislature columnist, who persisted in writ;ng that there was no proof amalgamation would save money or change was needed and has been switched to writing on other issues and will no longer rock the boat: The Sun's columnists came to the aid of its editorials with pieces including "Time to unite Toronto", "All hail the power of one", "Amal- gamation is long overdue", "It's time for Toron- to to grow up" and "Let's just do it". The two papers' news reporters quickly found stories to back their editorial stands. The Star discovered: "Many MPPs back megacity", "Business applauds megacity", "Supercity could save millions", "Megacity 'is the only an- swer' ", "Developers back megacity" and even "'Megacity could get us 2008 Olympics". The Sun found "Supercity gathers steam", "Raves for supercity" and "On with supercity". The Star has become so infatuated with the push to amalgamate it calls it a crusade and tries to discredit municipal politicians who dis- sent by calling them fearmongers, self-serving, petty, whining and fighting to keep fiefdoms and create petty dukedoms (this sounds like the Middle Ages.). The Sun, not to be outdone, dubbed mayors the Gang of Six and Little Piggies (at the trough) and their arguments a propaganda war, although they were merely replying to govern- ment and media attacks on them. To stamp ot,9y remaining spark of dissent, the Star has reclaimed, "Amalgamation is in- evitable"and the Sun "Supercity is unstoppa- ble" and the papers have moved the debate con- veniently for the government to who will be chosen as "megacity czar" or "Mr. Big." Harris is single-minded and difficult to stop at any time, but will be even tougher when lie has such influential allies wh9 smooth the road for him.