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Times Advocate, 1995-06-14, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, June 14, 1995 Publisher & Editor: Jim Beckett The Exeter Times Advocate Is a member of a family of community newspapers Business Manager: on smith Com,, providing news, advertising and information leadership «N_ Production Manager: Deb Lord �= Advertising; Barb Consitt News; Heather Mir, Chris Skalkos, Ross Haugh, Ingrid Nielsen Production; Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Robert Nicol, Brenda Hem, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner, Marg Flynn Ir 1 ortation; Al Flynn, Al Hodgert Front Office & Accounting; Elaine Pinder, Sue Rollings, Ruthanne Negrijn, Anita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple I • • inion n PublicatioMall Registration Number 0386, SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Ct4AAAA • + Within 40 miss (65 km.) addressed to net letter carrier addresses 913.00 plus 92.31 0.5.T. artside 40 miss (65 kn4 or any letter carrier address 933.00 plus 930.00,(total 63.00) + 4.31 O.S.T. Outside Canada 999.00 plus 96.93 OST (Includes 988.40 postage) Published Each Wednesday /doming at 424 Main St., Exeter, Ontario, NOM 138 by J.W. Eody Publlcatl°es Ltd. Telephoto 1,519.235.1931 • Fax: 5192360788 OAT. 001052101135 Preaching to converted t isn't surprising no speakers came forward to support Justice Minister Allan Rock's gun control legislation at the "referen- dum" and debate recently in Tara. The 2,000 plus residents from Grey and Bruce counties who showed up were obviously all on the same side....except for 16 coura- geous citizens who voted in support of the bill despite the fact they were outnumbered by 2,170 who would all like to tell Rock what he can do with his gun control proposal. Ovid Jackson, Liberal MP for Grey -Bruce made a wise decision in avoiding an event where discussion would be slanted to such an extreme against the government's position. When a letter from Jackson was read to the 650 who managed to squeeze into the Tara - Arran Community Centre stating that the MP was confident the overall majority of his con- stituents favor the bill, a chorus of boos quick- ly erupted. The people who attended the Tara meeting are not alone in their battle against the gun control legislation. They're backed by many thousands of other Canadians who share the same belief that the government is somehow infringing on their rights. But whether there's 2,000 in Tara or hundreds of thousands across the country, they're still in a minority position on this topic. The Liberals told Canadians they were going to control and account for the firearms in the country and there is no doubt they are using their huge majority in the House of Commons to follow through with their promise. In today's society, where death by shooting and armed robberies are an everyday occurrence, the gov- ernment must be seen to be doing something about it. Legislation on guns is unavoidable. Whether or not rural Canadians believe their rights are being reduced or eroded altogether doesn't really matter. Whether the gun legisla- tion actually works or falls far short of its intent is not of prime importance. What matters in Ottawa and in cities all across Canada is that our elected officials have recog- nized that crime is a major concern, that guns are linked to crime and that fighting crime is a popular position politically. In other words, meetings in communities like Tara won't sway how our politicians will vote. Jean Chretien's 65% approval factor, which is the higfest in Ca- nadian history, won't change if he hangs tough on gun control. Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle and two other area members who have voted against the legislation may have local support but in the big picture across the country there hasn't been nearly enough support from other Liberals. Anybody who thinks otherwise is simply out- gunned. Saugeen City News Health care for all o amount of money should afford you better health care than your neighbour. That has been one of the fundamental princi- ples of our medical system since the socialist CCF introduced medicare so many years ago. It is a tenet that is quickly dying. In the face of government waste, expensive foreign dinners and copious ignored studies, vital programs are being slashed in deference to the New York bond -raters. Alberta reports suggest clinics no longer capable of operating under Ralph "slash and burn" Klein's defini- tion of fiscal responsibility may be sold to southern investors. Private hospitals. Medicine American Style. Corporations offer executives special pack- aes that cover medical expenses in the United States. When Jean Creitien's mother got sick, she went south. When Robert Bourassa fell ill, he was tended by American doctors. Do we see a pattern here? The so-called "movers and shakers" of the country - the ones who set policy as well as those who indirectly control it through high- priced lobbying, direct party intervention or the simple weight of their opinion - they are the reason health care is falling away from us. They don't need it, so they are all too happy to see it go. One Tess reason for the rich and cor- porate to pay any taxes, let alone their fair share. In this climate of indebted grandchildren, of financial accountability, of the sincere belief that we can no longer allow our governments to borrow indiscriminately, the very fabric of our nation is being attacked. And we are not de- fending it. Education and health care may be the most expensive dishes on the menu, but they are also the most important; they define and protect the country and society we have developed since 1867. Our economic guilt excuses the measures the Elected seem forced to take. Most of us bite our tongues and mutter about bitter medicine curing fastest; it can't get much more bitter than this. In the face of supposed fiscal restraint, the federal government continues to support the world's most useless patronage trough, the sen- ate. The members have done nothing about the country's most generous - and probably most expensive - pension plan. eir own. Provincial_ legislatures mirror Ottaw s inaction when it comes to real reductions the administrative cost of government. We have been bullied by bankers and busi- nessmen (gender specificity intended) into be- lieving the debt needs to be broken, and that can only be done across our backs. That is a lie, but more of us believe it every day. We must tell the people we elect, in all levels of government, that slashing the programs most important to us while protecting their own com- fy chairs is no longer acceptable. If not we'll soon be budgeting a chunk of our cheques for private health insurance while they continue to draw fat pensions, and rent convalescent suites in Florida hospital., Ken Simmons • TORONTO - Mike Harris has a huge majori- ty, but the hard part is just beginning. The Progressive Conservative leader with the furthest -right agenda in Ontario history became premier surprisingly easily by trampling a New. Democrat government beaten by its own poli- cies long before the election and Liberals with fuzzy ideas and unable to communicate. Harris helped by addressing the issues that bothered people most, the high cost of govern- ment, deficit and welfare, and promising drastic change. But his next problem, putting it all into prac- tice, is more difficult to grapple with. He has promised to balance the budget while cutting provincial income tax by 30 percent and there is rightly scepticism that he can do both at the same time. If he gets even close, a lot of services people have grown to expect will be reduced and many will be hurt and resentful and show it. Queen's Parkj Harris will be challenged because he is focus- ing on cutting income tax. The fairest, most progressive tax, and giving more help to the af- fluent. Harris says he will not increase a tax without holding a referendum, but talks of 'harmoniz-. ing' the provincial sales tax with the federal tax on goods and services, which would extend it to a wide range of purchases and provokg a stiff fight. That may be mild compared to what happens when he makes able-bodied welfare recipients including mothers work or train for their bene- fits. Hams has no clear idea what jobs can be found or the cost of the bureaucracy or eventual savings and the demonstrators who rattled their chains at him in the election will become even noisier. Even this may seem a slight tiff compared to the fury when Hams repeals the NDP's law YoU ARE Now LEAVING CANADA Too many fatalities A recent press release from the Canada Safety Council pro- vides some interesting informa- tion on traffic fatalities and the Young Offenders Act. The projected 1995 traffic fa- tality total for Canada is 3,021. This represents a decrease of 16 percent over the average num- ber of traffic fatalities during the last three years. There are still too many traffic fatalities in this country of ours. However, the 1994 total is down dramatically from 1973, when 6,706 Canadians died in motor vehicle crashes, despite in- creased number of vehicles and drivers. This represents a 39 year low. According to the Canada Safe- ty Council, the impressive drop can be credited to a combination of factors, including driver edu- cation programs, public aware- ness, enforcement, safety belt use, auto safety features and others. About two-thirds of Canadians are licensed to drive. In 1994 there were 18,780,000 licensed drivers and 17,779,000 regis- tered vehicles. The average Canadian driver drives 20,000 kilometres each year, for a grand total of 375 bil- lion kilometres by all drivers. This means the projected 1995 fatalities represents one person killed per 12 million kilometres travelled. The Canada Safety Council and other traffic safety experts are confident this downward trend will continue. Alcohol is implicated in 40 percent of all driver fatalities. In 1992, drinking and driving was a contributing factor in 48 per- cent of motor vehicle deaths and injuries. The annual cost to Ca- nadian society is more than $30 billion. Alcohol involvement is a ma- jor conem for young drivers. Ontario data for 1992 show that 26 percent or 3,891 drivers un- der 25 years of age who were in- volved in collisions had been drinking prior to the crash. The fight against drunk driv- ing has been supported by pub- lic education, legislation, en- forcement and community action. Drinking and driving is no longer socially acceptable. A survey by Statistics Canada in 1993 revealed that in most provinces over 20 percent of li- censed drivers admitted to driv- ing after drinking within the past year. This shows the con- tinuing need for preventive ef- forts. Are the penalties for drinking and driving strict enough? Most people will likely say, "No, they are not". While the minimum penalty in Canada for an impaired driving conviction is a $300 fine and a licence suspension of three months, Ontario statutes call for a minimum licence suspension of one year. In provincial courts in Huron, especially here in Exeter the minimum fine for an impaired or over .80 alcohol content charge is $750. Federal law allows for up to 14 years in jail with a 10 year driving suspension, or life im- prisonment in certain cases where a fatality is caused. But deterrence through harsh- er penalties has not proven ef- fective. One reason is the likeli- hood of any punishment is low. Moreover, it is unoffidtally esti- mated that close to 80 percent of individuals whose licences have been suspended continue to drive, which would lead one to queston the effectiveness of such suspensions. Unless the attitudes leading to the irresponsible driving behavi- our are addressed, the likelihood of repeat offences is very high. Harris promises drastic changes making it easier for unions to organize and re- stricting replacement workers in strikes. Harris has no thought of giving organized la- bor anything in return and seems totally alienat- ed from it, unlike earlier tory governments which favoured employers most of the time but tossed unions the odd bone, as when Premier William Davis gave them the right to have dues checked off wages. One union leader has wared melodramatically there will be blood on the streets. While it is early to call for ambulances, Hams is on a col- lision course with unions which despite faults represent many workers and has no qualms about it. Hams is similarly unyielding in his pledge to . end the NDP law requiring workforces to re- flect the population, which imposes quotes de- spite all the denials. He has few alternative ide- as for helping minorities to the share of better jobs they deserve. 1 His rigidity is encouraged by those around him, because he is advised less by his MPPs who include moderates than by an unelected group which has little notion of conciliation. His chief adviser, former party president Tom Long, is a devotee of Ronald Reagan and Mar- garet Thatcher and once judged himself too far right to run for leader but will now help a pre- mier make up his mind. Harris is modest enough to avoid looking per- sonally arrogant, unlike two recent predeces- sors. he may find a recent Ontario tradition continues of ministers getting in scrapes be- cause their party has been out of power so long it lacks members with cabinet experience. Hams will have the advantage that the Liber- als are dispirited after squandering huge leads in two successive elections and must wonder what they have to do to get elected and the NDP is divided as well as conquered. But these are momentous issues and Harris will not lack opponents.