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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1983-05-04, Page 4HE Cf icsisrutt}. P BBuiN: a�•,ak[�I 1982 Vie kihbanet-eimeg Published at N ingham, Ontario, by Wenger Bros. Limited Barry Wenger, President Henry Hess, Editor Robert O. Wener, Sec.-Treas. Audrey Currie. Advert sing Manager Member Audit Bureau.of Circulations Member — Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc. Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc. Six months $11.50 Return postage j uaranteed i Subscriptions $20.00 per year Second Class Mail Registration No. 082i Thriving local industry Few in this area would describe the Wingham and District Hospital as an industry; without exception it is thought of as a service, and a vital one, for the wide area it covers. However, when one looks at the figures in the hospital's budget it becomes clear that its payroll contributes substantially to the economy of the community. The hospital's budget for the com- ing year has been set at approximately $6 million, of which more than four million will be spent on wages. Such a payroll places the hospital definitely in the class of a major local industry as far as wages are concerned. Nor are the benefits confined to the town alone, for hospital employees reside in all the rural municipalities as well as in Wing - ham. The amount the hospital returns to the community in the form of wage spending is, of course, only one aspect of its benefits locally and much less important than the health care it pro- vides to its supporters. Since a recent comment in this column about the need for improved emergency facilities at the hospital we have had a great many comments from readers who are in full agreement. The great question mark No one could ever downgrade Premier William Davis as a master of the political art. While Canadians from Victoria to St. John's are speculating about the comparative chances of the announced candidates for the leader- ship of the federal Progressive Con- servative party, Mr. Davis succeeds in keeping the spotlight squarely on him- self — by saying nothing. Most informed observers seem to be betting on a close race between Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney — all the while adding that important "but". The "but" indicates the pundits' doubts . about what would happen if the Ontario_ premier-_ finally—decides- to- enter The race. Cursory examination of the facts might indicate that Davis should not be a logical choice for the PC leadership. He and his Ontario following epitomize hatred of central Canada In the West; Davis is not bilingual and has long re- fused to consider making Ontario an officially bilingual province; the econ- omically depressed Maritimers carry resentment against an Ontario 'which has traditionally been the supplier of high=priced manufactured goods; the Davis government has made no ob- .servable approaches to better under- standing with Quebec, as did the Ro- berts government which preceded the present Tory regime in Ontario. All these drawbacks withstanding, experienced political observers still feel that Davis would pose the greatest possible threat to Clark, Mulroney, et al. First, he knows how to win elec- tions, proven by his trips to the polls over the years; second, he is one of the cleverest speechmakers on record. He can turn on the charm and wit like water from a fire hydrant. Third, he possesses one ofthe most- smoothly- working moothlyworking pollti'caf machines this coun- try has ever seen. As these words are written at the weekend there is every possibility that the Davis hat may be in the ring before you have a chance to read our specula- tions. Why he is even interested in the leadership of a party which has so fre- - quently failed to seize and hold the reins of government, it is difficult to say. Possibly he is motivated by the challenge. Maybe he wants to climb the political Mt Everest simply because it's there. Is awareness dangerous? An editorial in last week's issue of the Madill Mirror, the high school page in The Wingham Advance -Times gives rise to some serious self-examination. Kendra McKague, writing under the heading "Man and The Media", takes the stand that the news media have been responsible for the spread of some types of crime because the press and the broadcasters published the details of the fist: instance cases. She points to the "copy -cat attempts by unknowns to duplicate the lacing of Tylenol with cyanide. Kendra's editorial was a well -rea- soned and capably written piece, indi- cating a thoughtful young person with a mature sense of public responsibility. In fact we have often pondered this very question ourselves — the respon- sibility of the press in crime reporting. In a democratic society, however, the press has a responsibility to report facts as they are — not as editor's wish they might be. Admittedly the copy- cats might have been deprived of moti- vation had the facts about the Tylenol murders been kept secret. In that case the police and the families of the vic- tims might have been the only persons to know what actually happened. Humans being what they are, the grim facts would have leaked out and would probably have been exaggerated to such a degree that widespread panic might have resulted. Secondly, if the police are granted powers of secrecy in the case of a crime of this sort, it would become impossible to delineate the public's right to information about other and less heinous offenses. For example, a young person might be ar- rested, charged and sentenced for minor drug offense without the public knowing of police abuse of power. In Poland, in Czechoslovakia, in the Soviet Union, that's the way it works. The press can be irritating. The press can be wrong. But a country without a free press can become a state, under oppression. But to Kendra we say, . "Well done." The first duty of a good editorial writer is to stimulate thought — and thought leads to argument. And that's the way it should be. A bit behind the times Finance Minister Marc Lalonde's recent budget speech has kept the writ- ers and commentators busy for the past couple of weeks, largely over- shadowing the unusual error which preceded his words to Parliament. The occasion to which we refer was the pre -budget press conference in his office, during which Lalonde gleefully held up the budget papers and invited the cameramen to zoom in on the evi- dence of his achievement. Mr. Lalonde, like many of the older generation, was blissfully unaware of recent tech- nological advances, for a cameraman from CHCH, Hamilton, did as he was asked and got such accurate pictures that under re-examination the page could be 'clearly deciphered. Within hours the public learned that the budget figures were no longer a secret. The Opposition parties screamed for Lalonde's resignation. However, when the budget was read in the House of Commons the finance minister had covered his tracks by adding $200 million to the sum he was setting aside for a job creation pro- gram. Rather a large figure (in your money) for a futile attempt to prove the press wasn't too smart after all. Then, of course, came the now -fa- miliar government dodge. According to Mr. Trudeau, it was time to change the rules. Budget secrecy is an outworn tradition. (Reminiscent of his observe - tions when a favorite ex -minister breached the rules of access to the cab- inet.) The basis for budget secrecy is that no one should profit from intended changes in financial and tax regula- tions before they become law. In this case there was no benefit available from knowledge of the dollars involved in the job -creation program and La- londe might as well have left them un- changed. But then, what's a couple of million bucks of somebody else's money? Information not really free Did you ever hear about the freedom of information bill? Three years ago the feels trumpeted their love of democracy and all its rights by in- troducing a piece of legislation under which Canadians could not be kept in the dark about the kinds of Information which Iles in secret government files, about themselves or their possible de- tractors. Information is not so free after all. The bill is still awaiting final action to make it law. A page of e itori opinion Wednesday, May 4 u IF THEY ONLY KNE(d) I USED A GNOS'j" LORITER 1 New conflict of interest act explained to area politicians By Susan Hundertmark prophecy.'' terest in a matter concerning the matter, and refraining The new municipal conflict Mr. Judson and Charles council. If the matter in- from trying to influence the of interest legislation that Godkin,_ of the Ministry! .of _ _volves a financial interest of— of—voting--- Is Municipal Affairs-andltous a spouse, parent, child, a "It's a useful symbolic nothing to be "hysterical ing, held their third in a business partner, or an em- gesture to move back from about" or "ashamed of" series of seven meetings in ployer, the councillor is in the council table when you London lawyer John Judson Western Ontario last week at conflict. Also, if the council declare a conflict of inter - told close to 70 elected of- Huronview to educate member is .a member of a est," said Mr. Judson. ficials from Huron County municipal politicians about body or has a controlling in- If the meeting is closed to last week. Mr. Judson was the revision of the act and to terest or is a senior officer of the public, the councillor is the chairman, of the Associa- clear up any concerns or tion of Municipalities in On- misconceptions. tario (AMO) when it review- The act, which was first ed the legislation before it passed in 1972, has now been was passed. revised so that a municipal politician must explain the "The act is not intended to nature of any conflict in ad - expose ,you asi conpected dition to declaring it in the with sorne'llnsid ous involve- first place:' And.,any citizen ment in the community," he who suspects a council mem- said. "If you're honest and ber of not declaring a con - frank, nobody can condemn- flict can report the member you. But, if you act guilty, the press will see you act guilty and you'll find it in the paper the next day. I think it's a self-fulfilling to a judge within six weeks. A councillor can `be in con- flict if he or she has a dilrect or indirect pecuniary in New Books in the Libraryi THE DIAMONDS OF DESPAIR by Troy Chester When Pete Troy finished up in an African prison under a sentence of death, the only way out was to take his ship to Despair, a remote island in the South Atlantic, to search for a cache of diamonds hidden there by the Germans in 1942. Other people were after those diamonds, and too many ships already had been lost around Despair. As he finds himself becoming involved with a mysterious girl he rescued from the prison, he has to face murder on the ship and storms at sea before he learns the secret of that mist -shrouded island. ISLAND OF FEAR by Freda Bream An island off the coast of New Zealand has a way of life which is slow, serene and behind -the -times. Judy Marling has been loaned a cottage there in the hope the leisurely atmosphere will help her convalescence. At first all is peaceful and relaxing, but before long Judy is fearing for her life. a corporation in which the council is concerned, he or she is in conflict. "The act does not care if you are voting for or against your interest or even if you don't affect the outcome; it only cares that you have a pecuniary interest," said Mr. Judson. Even if the councillor is a member of a local group that wants a grant from the government for a charitable cause, he or she is in conflict. "If you're the recreation director of the local Optimist Club and also sitting on council, you'll have a conflict of interest if you ask council for a grant for hockey equip- ment for the boys. It doesn't matter if you're not going to benefit personally." Some exceptions to the conflict of interest act in- clude members who have a financial interest in common with the rest of the electors and members who have an interest in land affected by work under the Drainage Act or the Local Improvement Act. "T think the exception from the Drainage Act is an important relief especially in rural areas," Mr. ,Judson said. The act states the elected official is responsible for de- claring his, or her interest and its nature, keeping out of any discussion or voting on SPARKY AWARDS went to Laurie Klumpenhower and Angela Musgrove at last Friday's A WANA awards ban- quet. AWANA, a Christian club for young people, has been operating for several years at the Wingham Bible Chapel. 0. responsible to declare the conflict and leave the room while the matter is discuss- ed. When the meeting is again open to the public, the councillor must then declare the conflict and its nature once again. This section of the act does not cover committee meet- ings such as those of Huron County Council which are never open to the public. The way the act now stands, a conflict declared during closed meetings would never be known to voters since the meeting is always closed. There are three penalties for councillors . who do not declare their conflicts. They are removed from office and either disqualified from running for office for seven yearsor required to pay restitution if they received personal gain. However, if the judge determines the council member made an er- ror in judgment, was ignor- ant of the law, or received badiegal advice, the penalty could be waived. Policing is done only by citizens and other politicians even though the AMO ,rec- ommended the attorney general be given some of the responsibility. "The odds of you being caught in a conflict of inter- est are the same odds as be- ing hit by a car tonight when you leave," said Mr. Judson. TODAY'S CHILD BY JUDITH ADAMS Christopher is an attractive 10 -year-old who is very eager to find a secure family of his own. A rough and -tumble, friendly boy, he enjoys all out- door activities including baseball and bike riding. At school, Christopher enjoys math, art and gym class. He has a learning disability and is in a "communications development" class at school. His potential is average and it is expected that after a couple of years in this special education he will be able to go into a regular school class. He needs lots of encouragement to reach his potential, without the stress of high academic expectations. Chris has allergies. eczema and asthma, which may have been triggered by emotional upsets. However, he no longer needs allergy injections and hasn't had an asthma attack in over a year. The right family for Christopher will be skilled at applying firm. consistent rules in a loving sup- portive atmosphere. He has experienced many disappointments, including an adoptive breakdown that happened through no fault of his own, and these memories may cause Chris to test his family at first. An active, involved family with brothers and sisters both younger and older than Chris would provide the right atmosphere for this affec- tionate boy to thrive in. THE LITTLE DOLL, LINDSAY. gave the big doll, Lucy, some help to sit up in her seat at last Thursday's Kindergarten registration held at the East Wawanosh Public School. Parents and children went to school for the afternoon to get a general feel of things before the youngsters actually start to school this fall. Lindsay is the daughter of Mr and Mrs. Lloyd Michie. YOUNG ENTERTAINERS—Glen Aitken (right), and Duane Steckley won first and second prize respectively for the 10 years and under instrumental class at the Howick Optimist Club's talent competition held at Howick Central School (Staff Photo) To inquire about adopting Christopher. please write to Todar '' ('hild, Ministry of Community and Social Services. Rox 888. Station K, Toronto, Ontario MVP 2H2. in your letter tell something of your present family and your way of life