Times Advocate, 1997-11-05, Page 6Page 6 Times -Advocate, November 5,1997
Irapaser
Remembrance Day is a very important day
"We who have never known war
owe a tremendous debt of grati-
tude to those who spent their
youth in defence of freedom."
Dear Editor:
The week leading up to Remembrance Day is of
very special and important significance. The Prime
Minister has declared November 5th -1 lth to be Vet-
erans' week; in recognition of the achievements and
sacrifices of Canadians during wartime and in
peacekeeping operations around the world.. Vete-
ran' week and Remembrance Day prompt Canadi-
ans to come together and honour the men and wom-
en who sacrificed so much, not just for their
community, but for Canada and for the world.
Few of us today understand that Remembrance
Day's origins go back to the eleventh hour of the
eleventh d iy of the eleventh month of 1918, the mo-
ment of armistice that marked the end of the First
World War. It is hard for us to imagine today that
over 80 years ago, Canadian teenagers from coast to
coast signed up to battle tyranny in a far of land.
Over 60.0(X) of those young people fell on the blood
soaked fields of Europe.
Only twenty years after the armistice, Canadians
were called upon once again to protect democracy
and freedom thousands of miles from home. Canadi-
an soldiers served with courage and distinction in
the Second World War regardless of their branch of
service or geographic. location. Evidence of their
courage and sacrifice can be found in Common-
" wealth Cemeteries around the world. Over 40,000
are marked byheadstones and cenotaphs.
The Second World War was scarcely over when
the United Nation called on the free world to fight
aggression in Korea. Canada answered that call with
the third largest contribution of fighting forces in
the UN command. Some people say that the Korean
conflict does not get as much attention as the two
world wars. I say that war is war. Korea was a
dreadful bloody event where over 500 Canadians
paid the ultimate sacrifice. I am delighted that, this
year, the Prime Minister has made special mention
of the contributions made by our Korean Veterans.
We must, of course, also remember those who
continue to serve, protecting not only our native
shores, but those who keep the peace in places of
turmoil around the world. For the past half century
Canadian service men and women have gone into
over 40 of the "hottest" hotspots on the globe; sav-
ing thousands of civilian lives in the process. Not
many Canadians realize this, but over 100 of our cit-
izens have died while on peacekeeping duty over
the years.
We who have never known war owe a tremendous
debt of gratitude to those who spent their youth in
defence of freedom. Their contribution is now part
of our history, their legacy part of our heritage. As
we approach the millennium, we owe it to the next
generation to recall the sacrifices of our past heroes. -
Many of those who have gone before have our re-
membrance, our gratitude and may they rest in
peace. -
Sincerely,
Paul Steckle, M.P.
.Support groups
"These groups offer support,
encouragement, friendship and
leisure opportunities..."
Dear Editor:
Understanding and support are essential compo-
nents in establishing working pecr support groups.
The consumer initiative has established five peer
support groups in Huron County. These groups offer
support. encouragement, friendship and leisure
opportunities to those with mental health problems.
Bringing these groups together is our next step.
Anyone who is experiencing mental health issues
can support the continuation of these groups through
their presence. You will gain friendship, a sense of
belonging and self esteem as you support others.
The community_ can help decrease stigma by
developing an awareness of mental health and an
appreciation of wellness through literature and direct
contact.
By understanding how difficult it is for these peo-
ple to feel empowered, we can help consumers
believe in themselves by promoting the work of
mutual aid in t{tetr,own recovery.
if you want to offer your service as a volunteer or
if you know someone with mental health problems,
please refer them to the consumer group in their
area. There is no cost to join and if transportation is
a problem, we will arrange a way to get you there.
You do not have to experience isolation and lone-
liness. There are people who care how you feel.
Take a risk...reach out and offer your presence,.
understanding and support. •
Your "helping hands" support can be given by
volunteering your time to these groups.
Groups are located at Wingham, "The Stepping
Stone", every Thursday, 7-9 p.m., 153 John Street
West, contact Carol at 375-3440; Exeter, every sec -
and Saturday of the month, 1-4 p.m. at Club Huron,
contact Patti at 1-888-875-2944 ext. 234; Goderich,
The Friendship Group, every Saturday, 7-10 p.m. at
Knox Presbyterian Church, Victoria and East Street,
contact Terry at 524-8678 or Marg at 524-6373;
Clinton, every Friday, 7-9 p.m. at Clinton Public
School, Percival Street, contact Pattie at 1-888-875-
2944, ext. 234; Seaforth, every Wednesday, 7-9 p.m.
at St. Thomas Anglican Church Hall, John Street,
contact 527-2364, 527-2133, 527-1492 or 527-1092.
Thank you,
Patti Colliver,
Consumer Initiative Coordinator
Teachers strike for rights
Helen Johns is not here in Huron
County to hear our concerns...
Dear Editor;
As a constituent and as one of this county's many
teachers, I have grave concerns about the agenda of
this government in its proposed bargaining reform.
The number of days lost to collective bargaining
during the time,Bill 100 has been in effect, has been
very minimal. Owen Shime, who has acted in many
grievance arbitrations over this time, was recently
interviewed on a cross -Canada radio program by
Ann Medina. He purported that the present collec-
tive bargaining system, one of the most successful
systems in North America, works very well indeed
and was not in need of major changes.
Teachers like myself are well aware that this gov-
ernment's agenda is not to fix a broken system, but
to dismantle a working system in order to extract
further dollars more easily from education.
Teachers like myself also know that we are all that
stands in this governments' way towards privatiza-
tion and centralization.
Teachers are well aware of the rising discontent of
other teachers in Alberta - a system touted by our
government as successful; by their teachers as a dis-
aster.,
are also'quite aware that the systematic
government attack on government sector workers in'
Healthcare, Education, Social Services, etc. will en-
able the government to systematically lower wages
and working conditions for all workers in Ontario,
and to put more dollars into the pockets of the gov-
ernment's corporate sponsors. Over the past six
years most teachers have had no raises in pay, and
their paychecks have fallen behind sixteen per cent
in purchasing power due to the increase in the cost
of living. Similar scenarios have occurred in all oth-
er government sectors.
Teachers are afraid that the government's "Fair
tax" system will mean the collective impoverish-
ment of all school boards. Huron County teachers,
who support urban economies in various ways, arc
asking why dollars from urban communities will be
staying within the urban areas and not redistributed
to rural area education systems.
Teachers are well aware of the attack on civil lib-
erties the government was proposing in its intitial
Bill 160, wherein the teachers' right to strike was to
be taken away.
Teachers are quite aware of the government's at-
tempt to divide them over the issue of secondary
preparation time. But what the public does not
know, is that the 'issue is not preparation time pr
class size per se, even though these are important to
teachers of both panels. The disagreement with the
government for both issues is actually one and the
same.
We, as teachers, have negotiated contracts in good
faith with our individual boards of education across
the province. Now the government wants to give it-
self the right to invade the individual collective
agreements and to change them by legislation!!! If
the government can do this to teachers, why not to
CAW workers, to CUPE workers, to SEIU mem-
bers, or to any other organized labour group? The
teachers federations are the "last bastion" of demo-
cratic collective bargaining between the government
and its privatization agenda, and the government
and the other labor unions are well aware of this.
This is why the negotiations at the table are at an
impasse.
The government agenda has never changed. The .
government has appeared to look flexible by pulling
out its proposed "Tool Kit" of almost two years ago.
But Bill 160 is simply the reintroduction of many of
the items in that tool kit - slipped in under the new
guise.
Teachers are well aware of the provincial power
grab over education dollars and control, and of how
it attempts to disempower teachers and trustees from
protecting their local education system. The public,
some of whom may have been deceived by the Pre-
mier's privately funded fireside chat last week, are
not so aware....
Civil liberties, fair working conditions, fair taxa-
tion, and a strong public education system that pro-
motes the democratic process are at risk. Indeed,
these ideals are only guaranteed to the extent that
we can trust our government representatives to pro-
tect them. Teachers like myself have been put
against the wall in this province. We, and other un-
ion supporters, are all that stands between these hard
won rights and the government. We are determined
to fight for these rights, for our students, for the tax-
payers of Ontario, and for the future of this prov-
ince.
We are gravely concerned that, as our members
are embroiled in the largest teachers' strike in North
America, Helen Johns is not personally here in Hu-
ron County to hear our concerns. Her absence dur-
ing Constituency Week and her unavailability to our
teachers' representatives on the cusp of this teacher
crisis are unconscionable. Helen, put aside your own
political aspirations with your political tasks on On-
tario Hydro and come back and deal with the situa-
tion at home!! 1 ask you, on behalf of the teachers of
Huron County and as our representative in parlia-
ment, to speak to the Education Minister and to the
Cabinet on our behalf, and to protect the ideals of
civil liberty, of fair working and bargaining condi-
tions, and of a strong public education system on
behalf of the people of Huron County.
A concerned teacher
Willi Laurie
For more letters, see page 35
TQ1flHI.1.I.TE EDITOR
Who deserves the blame?
"It is a sad case of affairs,
but blame the unions, not the
government."
Dear Editor:
There are always two sides to most stories; and
such is true of the Ontario Teachers' strike.
The teachers I know are fine people, well educat-
ed and well trained. We are lucky to have them!
But it seems is is not the government vs. the
teachers, but the government vs the unions. The un-
ions are making the teachers the "fall guys" in the
dispute. Meanwhile, the students are the ones who
suffer, and they are the hope of the country, am
"Buzz" Hargrove and his crowd. Surely reasonable
people, and there are lots on both sides, can settle
this problem.
It seems to me unprofessional and degrading to
have teachers parading Main Street with placards.
Some of those we see on Main Street may not be
teachers at all, not the way some of them lean on
buildings smoking, chewing gum and obstructing
the passage of citizens who pay the taxes that sup-
port the schools.
It is a sad case of affairs but blame the unions, not
the government.
Yours sincerely,
JM "Gibby" Gibson
Bill 160 undemocratic
This bill will not be defeated by
teachers alone....
,Dear Editor;
I believe that Bill 160•is undemocratic. It will not
only remove the right of local school boards and
teachers to negotiate teacher's working conditions,
but will also determine students' learning environ-
ment without any input from parents, teachers or
school boards. It will allow the government to cut
SI billion from schools without any consultation
with parents, school boards, trustees or other taxpay-
ers, by cancelling small classes, cutting special pro-
grams, closing small schools, declaring large num-
bers of teachers redundant and replacing them with
uncertified people. Once Bill 160 is passed, the gov-
ernment will be able to do any or all of these things
and teachers, school boards, parents and other tax-
payers will be absolutely powerless to stop or even
modify the government's actions. These measures
will not improve the quality of education for Onta-
rio's students. I believe they will undermine the
present quality of our education system, and will be
used to fund the promised Tory tax cut.
I am so convinced that Bill 160 will be harmful to
students, teachers and ultimately the entire province,
that I am willingly participating in a political protest
which Premier Harris and Minister Johnson refer to
as an illegal strike. Their terminology is ironic since
my lawfully negotiated contract with the Huron
County Board of Education will be rendered null
and void the instant that Bill 160 is passed.
Obviously, I am hoping to persuade readers of the
dangers inherent in Bill 160. This bill will not be de-
feated by teachers alone. We need the support of the
entire community to bring our concerns to the gov-
ernment.
Whether individuals support the teachers' protest
or support Bill 160, I urge them to talk about this
legislation with teachers to hear our concerns. There
are points of view which need to be heard other than
the one expressed by Premier Harris in his million
dollar 'Fireside chat" which aired last week on tele-
vision.
Mary Beth Jantzi
Takes issue with Lucan candidate
To target individual businesses
as not being competitive
is a mistake...
Dear Editor;
As a member of the Lucan and Area Business As-
sociation since it's inception and a small'business
owner, I take issue with candidate for Deputy
Reeve, Ms. Rosemary Gahlinger-Beaune's com-
ments at the "Meet the Candidates" night (spon- '
sored by the L.A.B.A.), in particular her comment
that Lucan businesses need to become "more com-
petitive". As small business owners, we fully realize
how tough it is to make a go ofat in the current busi-
ness climate. It is a misconception, even insulting to
assume that our local businesses do not try their
very best to be competitive. The rates in our small
business are lower than'the rates one would find in
London, as are many of the prices one would find in .
,
the local businesses, if one bothered to shop there.
For more of us, what may be lacking in pricing is
compensated in more personal customer service, an
added bonus to shopping locally.
To target individual businesses as not being'com-
petitive is a mistake, rather the whole picture should
be looked at (for example, promoting Lucan as a
competitive town to do business, to live, to buy real-
estate, etc.) as' Ms. Gahlinger-Beaune well knows
through her experience as a member of the now -
defunct Community and Economic Development
Committee. Indeed, the Lucan and Area Business
Association approached Village Council and with
their cooperation founded the Community and Eco-
nomic Development Committee, in the hopes that ,
Lucan would be promoted a whole village, not
"pieces of a puzzle."
Best regards
Mrs. Pat Van Geleukcn
An appeal to our Grand Bend neighbors
The more widespread gambling
becomes the more people who
abuse it and get into trouble...
Dear Editor;
In a recent issue of the T -A Grand Bend's Mayor
Ivey is quoted as saying: "there will be three differ-
ent types of voters casting their ballot opting foror
against a charity casino". I suggest there is a fourth
group.
It wasn't long ago that Grand Bend Council, to its
credit, was serious about amalgamating parts of Ste:
phen, Huron and North Lambton. Those of us in this
neighborhood were labeled the "area of common in-
terest". And so we are!
This fourth, and largest block, avail ourselves of
the services in Grand Bend, support its local busi-
ness people, and contribute our time, talents and re-
sources to the Legion, Playhouse, CofC, Rotary' ,
Probus, Golden Agers and churches to name a few.
But we don't have a vote on this important issue!
It, then, prompts me as one of those in their "area
of common interest" to appeal to our friends and
neighbors, who have been given this voting privi- ,
lege, by expressing one side of the information. And
that is what the mayor suggests should be gotten out
to the public "so they know what they are voting
for."
1) How much charity is there in charity casinos?
Despite serious efforts Grand Bend Council has not
been able to learn what share of the dollars will stay
in the community. One gets the sense that casinos
will be a tax grab by the province and the operators.
Such draining will not help the United Way, the
Playhouse, Rotary projects and the other charities
we are asked to support. There's something crass
about substituting provincial grants for this type of
"tax". To date, if our sources are correct, Grand
Bend charities have received little if any from the
periodic charity casinos operating in our immediate
area.
2) We are gong to hear that these are only mini ca-
sinos. But isn't that the old foot in the door ap-
proach? In Ontario's push to promote casinos (gam-
bling revenue is becoming an important part of it's
funding) the proliferation will reach the saturation
point. Then casinos will have to expand and intro-
duce new and more addictive games in an attempt to
keep up. That's the experience researches are point-
ing out is happening south of the border. Then the
traffic and infrastructure problems will expand as
well.
3) Video lottery terminals (VLTs) are considered
one of the most addictive forms of gambling.
Dubbed the "crack cocaine of gambling they have
shot to Canada's most popular form, after lotteries,
in just five years. Each charity casino will be al-
lowed up to 150 as part of the 8,500 that are planned
for charitygaming halls and racetracks. And if suc-
cessful Southam Newspapers states that another
11,500 will come to bars and licensed restaurants
(and there are 26 in the immediate area). Communi-
ties in Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia and
Nova Scotia have successfully called for a reduction
in YLTs, As one MPP has said: "the,y are economic
parasites that detract from the economic, viability of
the community."
4) The more widespread legalized gambling be-
comes the m )re people who abuse a and get into
trouble. Dir' fou see Mike Wallace's eye-opener on
the 1U(' C ntpry,,recently? Space does not allow ex-
p insion on this social concern but one of the main
th, mes was the impact on children "and its happen-
ing all over the country" warned on'e of the investi-
gators. Ron Frisch of the University of Windsor, in
a study of youth gambling, has found that as many
as 14 per cern of Canadian adolescents are already
problem gamblers. We tell our young people to stay
off drugs, alcohol and cigarettes but go out and
gamble. '
5) One cannot compare the business opportunities
of our border cities with smaller municipalities like
Grand Bend. My reading is that people coming to
casinos in smaller communities have one 'focus. .
Shopping will have little priority in their timetable.
And business people might consider that with so
much casino competition the main draw will be
from local residents. That means they will have
much less to spend states University of Alberta pro-
fessor Gary Smith referring to the many Alberta ca-
sinos sucking cash from local residents.
6) Grand Bend Council is attempting to make our
area more attractive to family tourists. Let's concen-
trate on'our strengths instead of the lure of question-
able gaming tables and VLTs.•
7) Senior citizens have been the strength of the
growth in this area and it is likely to continue. Ser-
vice providers have expanded as a result. Seniors
would be looking for an alternative life style if casi-
nos were the choice over the more positive plans for
Grand Bend's future.
8) Jobs. The question is- for whom? Is that the
ambition of our youth? You can be sure the profes-
sional lottery operators will be the main work force.
9) And lastly there is the moral issue. We need to
search our conscience as to whether integrity of
work and effort should be replaced by a "something
for nothing" approach. Which heritage do we wish
to pass on to our children?
We've got a great community. 1 hope that these
comments will help our neighbors make a decision
that will keep it so not only for them but for their
friends in Oakwood, Grand Cove, Southcott Pines,
Dalton, Huron Woods, Beach O'Pines, Van Dou-
gen, Maple Grove, Kingsmere and the balance of
the "area of interest."
R.M. Southcott
Grand Bend