Clinton News-Record, 1986-07-02, Page 4Page 4--CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY', JULY 2,1986
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A
MEMBER
BLUE
RIBBON
AWARD
1985
For the first time in stay short journal' .
career, I have hail the opportunity to shin
provincial court. It is an experience- ail
citizens should try because it is .Doth
enlightening and a little bit scary.
The case I Went to hear in Wingham was
over within a few minutes, hut I decided to
stick around and see. what else, the stern
looking man in the 'black cloak had on his
agenda for the morning. And I. was glad I
did.
If any .one has any doubts about the
chances of getting caught While drinking
and driving they should take 30 minutes and
witness the number of cases that go through
the court system in that short a time.
I'd say that out of 12 cases, nine dealt with
impaired driving. The offenders were both
young and old, employed and unemployed.
Regardless' of their financial status or their
age, the penalty was the same.
I chose a seat at the back of the courtroom
and scanned `those in front of me with a
rge ale lodgment h eye, trying a guess their reason
Acts are u n f' for being there. I had the younger men peggolder ones I suspected for other offences.
Sooner or later the past comes to haunt you says the Listowel Banner. The court process is very simple, but in -
Not since U.S. President Richard Nixon was toppled frpm power has
that old maxim been so clearly demonstrated as it is now in the case of
Kurt Waldheim. 'Waldheim easily won the June Austrian election and
although he is the president of that country, is a ruined man.
The fault is Waldheim's, but ribt his alone. Along the way, down through
the years, many people in many lands have been derelict in their duty.
How else could one possibly explain the fact that a former Nazi with a less
than glarnorous war record could gain one of the most powerful positions
on earth?
-
As secretary-general of the United Nations, Waldheim had a position of
respect and trust - a position for someone beyond reproach. To gain such
an exalted position on his part, took years of diplomatic achievement. On
his climb up the ladder, he even stopped for a bit in the Austrian embassy
in Canada.
-Therefore Canadian officials responsible for checking Waldheim's
credentials were as negligent as any number of officials elsewhere.
Why? How could a former Nazi whose war records now reveal
Knowledge,, complicity and according to some, involvement in war
crimes against Jews and Yugoslav partisans have escaped detection for
so long?
There is no evidence of a cover-up on the part of anyone except
Waldheim himself. That Waldheim concealed his war record, there now
can be no question. Moreover, he has continued to deny his past.
The Waldheim record has now been revealed not only, by the World
Jewish Council but the head of the U.S. Justice Department's Office of
Special Investigations which after studying hundreds of pages of' United
Nations documents stated there was grounds for barring Waldheim from
entering the United States.
That Waldheimw•s records are on file at the United Nations only con-
founds further this puzzling case.
For his part, one can comprehend Waldheim concealing his past. What
did he have to lose? However, his conduct from the time the case
unravelled has been despicable. Rather than owning up to his past and
withdrawing himself from the election for the Austrian presidency,
Waldheim endeavored to maintain a position of innocence..11 was a
• preposterous charade that has placed not just him, but his nation in an
untenable position.
' Now that he is president, howdoes a nation go about banning another
nation's leader without severing -diplomatic relations? Should such a na-
e tion be admitted in international circles?
The nations of the world have to address these questions.
ed for impaired driving, but some of the
Perhaps the darkest side of all to thia-Waidheiln affair -is the -sentiment
being expressed by many, not only in Austria, but in this country as well, nCe a,that the WJCshould have left well enough alone; that here is a man who JOhn: Sveeneyannou pians
has gone on to make a con-
has successfully put his past behind him, who
' tribution and should be allowed to continue his career.
If one is to embrace that line of thinking, then one must accept that 120
tlnaidatin . Your name is called off and you
are asked if you have legal counsel or if yeu
would, like to get legal counsel. Not too bad
so far, hut then they read off your charges in
front of everyone in the court and ask how
you plead.
After the plea is made, you are asked to sit
and listen to the facts.
For some, this process wasn't very pain-
ful, but for others; an account of the entire
incident must have been embarrassing.
Much to my ' surprise, the ones which' I
thought should squirm a little in their seats,
just sat there, looking very calm and cool.
Those being charged with lesser offences
seemed the most uncomfortable, tapping
their feet, shifting in their chair and not
looking directly at the judge.
Although these f," ses were interesting, the
highlight of my mr+ruing came when an of-
ficer of the + ' asked if two prisoners.
could be. broug t in - wearing handcuffs.
This, I thought, was going to be exciting
action.
The two prisoners that were brought in
looked like your typical "bad guys." I'm not
,sure whether the court was told why they
were presently serving a sentence, but they
were brought before the juijge'for breaking
and entering this time.
Now the one part of this charge that puzzl-
ed me was the fact that these men were
from the Kitchener area 'but apparently
chose a Huron County home to burglarize.
And they had obviously been convicted of
another crime in Huron County 'prior to that.
Another interesting case involved an
18 -year-old youth who had an extensive.driv-
ing record and has threatened police of-
` ficers on more thanone occasion;
Putting myself in the officers' " position, I
thought of pulling over a vehicle simply for
having „a broken tail light or for speeding
and then being threatened and maybe even
assaulted - I think I'll stay with journalism.
My first experience in court was,
enlightening. It made me realizehow much
time is taken up with impaired driving
charges, it showed me how some people like
to conduct their lives, but I also gained a lot
of respect,: and . sympathy, for. . -those who
work within the court system.
Having a person appear before provinical
court a number of times on the same
charges must really try the patience of the
judge and even the lawyers. I know it would
stretch my patience to the limit.
Three balls, three hits and the bottles tumbled at the Fun Day held
in Goderich Township on Saturday. Bradley Rodges was on hand to
re -stack the bottles in this ball throwing contest. It was one of
several held for children hi the area. The event took place in
Holmesville at the ball park. (Shelley McPhee-Uaist photo)
rimes against humanity are not only forgivable, but forgettable.
•
Goderich Signal Star
Response was good
Dear Editor:
The Canada Employment Centre for
Students (CECS) in Goderich would like to
thank the people of the Clinton area for their
great response to the ptudent program. Dur
ing May and Julie, Faye Carnochan, a -Stu-
dent Placement Officer from the Goderich
office, was stationed in. the Clinton Branch
Library. Clinton area- students and
employers in the past have not, enjoyed the
advantages offered by the CECS because of
the distance involved.
The Outreach program began last year to
improve accessibiltiy to the CECS. The good
response this year will almost assuredly
mean • the program will be continued. We
hope students and employers will continue
to turn to the Canada Employment Centre
‘for Students for help with their summer
employment needs. And again thank you for
giving_ the student program a warm recep-
tion in the community.
Jeff Surridge,
Supervisor,
CECS.
Goderich.
iprove access to information
mu
Comnity and Social Services Minister is released. The government is also remov-
John Sweeney today outlined changes ing the requirement that adoptive parents
designed to significantly ease Ontario's give their consent to the release of identify -
laws governing the disclosure of adoption ing information.
information. • The consent of both parties will also be re -
The changes follow years of public con- quired before any contact or reunion takes
sultation and debate and represent the place. -.
government's response to Dr. Ralph • Under the changes, adoption agencies and
Garber's report on adoption disclosure, the ministry will be required to provide in -
which was tabled in the legislature last terpretive couselling to anybne receiving
November. sensitive or identifying information.
The issue indirectly touches the lives of • The. , government also wants to offer
more than one million people in Ontario. assistance to adult adoptees seeking facts
There have been more than 200,000 adop- about their adoption. Under the plan, the
tions- in theprovince since 1921. About province's adoption disclosure registry will
100,001 adoptees are now adults.
Sweeney announced the changes in a
statement to the legislature: He said they
are in line with the government's belief in a
more open approach to disclosure while at
the same time recognizing the right to
privacy of those involved in the adoption
process.
The minister will be introducing amend -
Act
e fall.
put in
ments to the Child and Family Servic
after the legislature re -convenes in tp
The amendments will be designed tb
place the changes announced ia
id�
• The first change involes non -identifying in -
New position on impaired driving
formation. This information includes data
on the health and development of the
Dear editor, t., sanction teenage drinking, or that any adoptee or general background information
Due to the surge`in'publicity for organza- amount of drinking is acceptable as long as on birth parents but does not disclose the
tions and issues connected with drinking you stay off the roads. identity or location of any of the parties.
d r ies. The
and driving,and in this season of graduation ' TOL" ALPHA believes that drinking/driv government Will require ��.,
parties, in- contr is and other'safety measures are . societies, private licensees who p1ac
ith TOC members
in a Ontario,oh organization
eloped a means of opening up channels of tom % children for adoption and the ministry
wito 600 members in ssue has developed �ication between teens and adults with release non -identifying information on re -
We
its own position on this issue. man
e d groups whieh.have initiated regard to drinking and driving. quest to adult adoptees, adopting patents,
comme g p We feet that the realproblem is notjust birth parents, grandparents and adult birth
drinking of preventing the consequences of , p r g p
d i k' it d but in the decision siblings of adoptees.
e
• • drinking and driving ie buses hired for r n ing an riving,
• The government is also going to' take a
more open approach to the release of identi-•
tying information --- information that
reveals the identity and/ot location of in-
dividuals involved in an adoption Access to
identifying information wilt only be
available When the adopteed child becomes.
au adult. In addition to birth .parents, adult
.birth brothers,. slsters, ant grandparentn•.
will also have Aec to this inforoiationr
The consent of both the adult adoptee acid
the relevant birthrelative will be required
before identifyi tg nfor tion about either
graduations, designated driver programs making process' involved in drinking
and parent/student drinking/driving con- behaviour.
tracts. These measures are -making -a dif •
ference; most importantly they are saving
lives..
However these are safeguard measures
only and the underlying issueof teenage
drinking is not being ,questioned For all
these good intentions it still most be ,
recognized that underaged dreg is il-
legal. By removing the consequences a
teenager must' face when Militia& adult
leaders may be gluing a roaaaga. that they
• Yours sincerely,
Ms. Kelly Lougheed
President,,,
TOC ALPHA
- (705) 887.6669'
11ilike Degagne
Youth Co -Ordinator,
'OC ALPHA
m.0208406',
•
he authefized==to perforin` discreet .an
reasonable searches only on behalf of adult
adoptees .who are looking • for their birth
parents or other biological relatives. The
searches will be conducted in absolute con-
fidence by well-trained professionals.
• In certain exceptional circumstances,
adoption agencies will be able to withhold
information. For example, if an applicant is
clearly planning to use adoption information
to harm someone, the agency will withhold
that information. There will be an oppor-
tunity for appeal to a review board for,
anyone denied information to which they
would otherwise be entitled.
• The government will undertake further
consultations before introducing any.
changes in legislation governing tl)
disclosure of information about the adoption
of native children.
In making his statement to the
legislature, Sweeney said "I know there will
be .mixed reactions. to the changes I've
announced".
"However, I feel they strike the best
possible balance. They are sensitive both'to
the individual's basic right to privacy and
an adult's right to know about his or her
past."
Chronic care patients
could live in the community
TORONTO _ The Ontario Association of Unduly dependent on doctors and institu-
Registered Nursing Assistants released an tionalized care, seniors are suffering the
$11,000' report on health services quality for most from the current physician fee dispute.
the province's 900,000 seniors at Queen's "By supplementing the current medical
Park. The report makes eight recommenda- model of health in institutions with an ap-
tions for improvements to the Ontario proach that emphasizes illness prevention,
Minister of Health Murray Elston. individualized care and rehabilitation pro -
Up to 25 percent of the elderly in chronic grams, Ontario's care of those elderly who
care settings could live normal lives in the Must be institutionalized would be more
community if proper support services and' cost-effective, more productive and finally
trained staff existed, says the 100 page more humanized," Association President
report. The report notes alarming gaps the
Verna Steffler said. "Frustrated with the
care at commercial care settings for the quality of care RNAs know should be give
- i - and the quality of care we are able to give i
elderly, compared to non-profit homes for Ontario's medically biased health system,
the aged.
The current dootors' strikeroqnly highlights Registered Nursing Assistants are cocain -
the problem of of rcom miercial, medically ing forces with other health care providers
biased, health system, says the Association, to recommend improvements."
I