The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY, MAY 30,_1979, WHITBY FREE PRESS whitby by M.B.M. Publishing and PhotographylInc. Phone 66-6111 The Free Press Building otheCounty Town Michael an Burgess, Publisher- Managng Edtor131 Brock Street North, 'fe only WVhitby newspaper independently owned and ôperated by Whltby residents for Whitby residents. P.O. Box 206, Whitby, On Community Editot Contributing Editor Production Manager Pne&rPromotional Manager Mailing Permit No. 460 Member of the: Better Business Bureau of Toronto Whitby Chanber 0f Commerce Botter Business Bureau 0f Toronto 't. Whltby Chamber cf Commerce rb -i. I Record turnout shows interest The winds of change were blowing across Canada during the May 22 Federal Election, and they were particularly noticeable in Ontario Riding. Norm Caf ik, a member of Parliament since 1968 when Pierre Trudeau came to power, and Minister of Multiculturalism, was swept..out by the voters, along with Trudeau's government and 1i other cabinet ministers. There was surprise expressed by many at the runaway win by Progressive Conservative Scott Fennell. He defeated Mr. Cafik by 6,985 votes, many more than had been expected by his supporters and campaign workers. The voter turnout was at an ail-time high in this riding, 83 per cent, says the Ontario Riding Returning Officer. Of an eligible 60,000 voters, 50,000 cast their ballots, (better than twice the turnout at the iast municipal election last Novemeber). The defeat of Mr. Cafik was not so much a defeat of the man himself, for he was an able member of Parliament, but an expression of the country's dissatisfaction with Pierre Trudeau and anyone in his cabinet. . The high voter turnout showed that the people of Ontario Riding, as well as across the country were concerned and are concerned about the actions of their federal government. It was time for a change, they said. Scott Fennell is our new member, untried in the Parliamentary arena as yet, but a man who offers youth and business experience to a difficuit job. We wish hm well and expect much of hlm in the months ahead, especiallyWlth the problems the country faces from the economy and a minority government situation. To Mr. Cafik we offer our thanks for a job well done while In office. He was a victim of the winds of change, but there must be change in order for this country to progress.. Walking tours are good . iea On various occasions in the past, we have taken the town council to task for some of the decisions it has made. This tirne however, we offer them a pat on the back. Last week's walking tour of the downtown by the, operations committee was a highly successful foray out into the community and showed the local residents that the coun'cil cared about the little basic things that mean E so much to them.* The residents who saw the committee on tour expressed pleasure that the council was taking an a interest in their area and looking at such things as broken sidewalks, stagnant pools of water, and unkeptV property.9 This grass-roots level approach to municipal mattersc deserves the support of the citizens and will get it too, if r action is taken on the problems the committee r members witnessed.T We hear that at least two more walking tours of the p town are planned by members of council, and are c pleased at this decision. The people need to see that their council is not sitting h up on the hill, dickering away their future, but is c coming to their neighborhoods to see the local problems a first-hand. Drumm s art Dear Sir: It was -indeed hearten- ing to read the article by Councillor Joe Drumm dealing'with the future of Brooklin. The issue of developîment plans should be considered in economic terms with respect to the impact on Whitby & Durham, Region as well as Brooklin. icle praised If the other elected off i- cials who must weigh whether or not to bow to the pressure 0f the developersscan be as thoughtful and thorough as Joe Drumm, I feel sure that Brooklin's future wile be safeguarded. David Denison Way Road Brooklin, Ont. * EDITOR'S NOTE The following is a response by Durham West MPP George Ashe, to a letter about nuclear plants and OHIP pre- miums which was printed in the Free Press, April 25. Mr. Ashe also devoted his comments to nuclear plants in his Report from Queen's Park of May 9, as a result of the letter sent to us by Carmen Vella, of Whitby. The following is Mr. Ashe's response to~ the comments made in Mr. Vella's letter: Dear Mr. Vella: I really must thank you for taking the time to address a letter to me through the editor of the Whitby Free Press, sug- gesting that I should comment on the safety of nuclear power plants as,,a result of incidents at hree Mile Island in Pennsylvania, and on the ost of servicing nuclear Power plants. I was very esitant to burden my onstituents with yet nother opinion on these very crucial issues, and t the same time 1.was nxious to present the eople of Durham West Riding with. the facts. Your letter was the decid- ng factor in my proceed- ng with an article. I enclose for your in- erest a copy of the olumn on nuclear safety nd security of supply I lm submitting today to he weekly papers. Next eek, I will be preparing sirilar article on the. v a a p R Y in ir te c ai ai th w a both in economic and en- vironmental terms. I would like now to address the other con- cerns outlined in your letter. 1979/80 PROVINCIAL BUDGET As I am sure you are aware, the Ontario Employment Develop- ment Fund was the major initiative of the Treasurer's Budget. I enclose a copy of an article recently submit- ted to the localpapers on this item. I am also for- warding you a copy of the complete Budget which will indicate to you that no drastic monetary changes will be happen- ing in the coming fiscal year. If is anticipated that this action will create an atmosphere of stability in the Ontario economy thus encourag- ing investment of private funds. It is hoped this will stimulate the economy, and assist our working poor by providing addi- tional money in circulation. I have previously explained the increases in alcohol prices in my weekly Queen's Park Report to the local news- papers, and enclose, a, copy of this article for' your interest. I agree that the cost of cigarettes and tobacco are higher in Ontario then in the United States. However, as a matter of preference, most smokers carry their own brand of cigarettes with them when travel- ling, so It Is very doubtful to detract too many people from visiting our Province. Gasoline prices are, in fact, now a big attraction to tourists. Our government subsidized gasoline rates are pre- sently much lower than fhose in the Sfates, and many residents of Detroit are driving to Windsor regularly to fill up their tanks. The Treasurer elimi- nated the succession of duty in the year's Budget because this tax caused considerable agitation to the people affected (and many people who per- ceived they would be affected), particularly small business owners and farmers. Costly and complex legal procedures were required to keep farms and businesses in the families. In weighing the amount of revenue gained from this tax against the difficulties and anxities it imposed on small business owners' and farmers, it was -decided that the tax should be eliminated. OHIP PREMIUMS This issue has received a great deal of publicity' in the past year, and I enclose for your interest a copy of five articles I have prepared on the sub- ject of health care ser- vices and premiums. As well, some three weeks ago, I requested informa- lion on programs insti. tuted by the Ministry of Health to coincide with the closing of hospital beds. lmmediately I am in recelpt ,of the facts, I will be writinc a further column on this subject. I do want to stress one point to you. It Is esti- mated that the cost of health care services in the Province will increase by $213 million . this year. The proposed increase in premiums will raise about $40 mil- lion in additional dollars to apply against the increase in the cost of the service. Of every tax dol- lar collected this year in Ontario 27 cents will go to pay for health services, and 24 cents will go' to education. That leaves 49 cents of every tax dollar to be divided up amongst all our other programs, i.e. social services, roads, local government, energy, job incentives, agricultural needs...the list goes on and on. I hope the foregoing and enclosed will ade- quately explain the var- tous issues you raise in your letter to the editor. I would - not presume to believe that you will agree with all of the measures taken by the Government of'Ontario, but would hope that you will acknowledge we have tried to resolve each of the issues In a logical manner. Once again, I do appre- ciate your providing me with an opportunity to present the facts, and hopethat you will contact me again if you have further questions. Yours sincerely, George Ashe, MPP Parliamentary Assistant to the Minlster nf -Brian Winter -Jim Quail -Marj Burgess -Robin Lyon -Leesa Menard George Ashe responds to reader's questions ,1 nt. 1