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PAGE 6, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24. 1990 îblished every Wednesday By!677209 Ontario Inc. Phone: 668-6111 668-6112 VOICE OF THE COUNTY TOWN The only Whitby newspap r independently owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitb residents. Doug Anderson Publisher 131 Brock Street North, P.d. Box 206, Whitby, Ont. L1N 5S1 2 Maurice Pifher Editor Peter Irvine Advertising Manager Alexandra Simon Production Manager 2nd class PoÎtal riegist ration #05351 2nd Olasa Postal negistraîlon 105351 The Town appeared to have come up with a clever idea to avoid paying the Province's new commercial concentration tax when it made parking free on munici- pal lots. The move was much-admired by some municipalities, even if t wasn't by Ontario Treasurer Robert Nixon, who said the funds gained from the tax would go directly toward area transportation improvements, and that evasive manoeuvres to avold the tax wouldn't help that manner of tax-gathering intended to benefit residents. Now, h would seem, downtown merchants aren't Good intent· ex ctly enthused about non-shoppers, taking advantage Of hose free lots, filling the lots and forcing would-be sh ppers to hunt for space or go elsewhere. The BIA ha asked for consultation with the Town before the pa ing change was made - perhaps such consultation wo Id have Identified the problem now facing mer- ch nts. Now, t would seem, the Town's failure to do so wil lead to further modifications in parking. Upcoming is a meeting of merchants to discuss the plan, while the next Town action may be a three-hour limit on parkingln lots. The parking changes overal may be regarded as a scheme of good intent that didn't fully measure the consequences. -Meanwhile, the Town has purchased, at a cost in excess of $100,000, new parking meters as i soon carres out plans to double the fees for street parking. Time may prove that to be a small price to have been paid when the tax savings sre added - unless the rules of the tax game again change. Buying electrouic metres is "pretzel logic" To the Editor: With reference to Scott Laurie's article in the Whitby Free Press, Jan. 10, 'Town to buy new parking meters,' a resounding 'What For?' Is it just to accommodate the loonies? Whitby has finally scammed the provincial taxman out of his money, and just has to blow it on, of all things, 200 electronic, battery-operated parking meters! These, apparently, are to replace the archaic, albeit totally functional, metal monitors lining Whitby's main drag now. To this writer, this is pretzel logic! Last year, Whitby council decided to double the rates of on-street parking, effective in 1990, in order to sidestep the provincial government's commer- cial concentration tax on the Town's municipal parking lot revenue. This move meant that To the editor: Affordable housing should be a number one priority in Durham Region. It was available until the Durham official plan was enacted. Since that time and over the last 10 years we have witnessed a housing crisis. It is more evident all the time and these are the reasons: 1) controlled city development squeezing people in; 2) monopoly land control for select companies; 3) no rural development; 4) new housing areas only between the two nuclear generating plants; 5) thousands of farmers unable to freely sell their land, but forced to live off ever decreasing subsidies and smaller earnings; 6) more government-built houses each year, built at the expense of taxpayers; lot parking would be free. Well, it appears that truly nothing i free. Certainly, it will be a tréat to 7) more "non-profit" scandal- type housing built with greater profit for co-operative companies. If an ordinary laymen set out these planning principles they would be called insane. Wonder of wonders, our regional planners are advising council these insane principles are successful and should be continued. Successful for who? This is Canada, it is not some third world country where humanity means little. Let's put a stop to this insane planning which is robbing all citizens of their land rights. Thousands of young people died for this land. Millions lost their homeland to obtain this land right in Canada. Surely, we as citizens and our councillors will work to put a stop to this exploitation. Yours very truly, Doug Wilson RR2 Port Perry enjoy free lot parking whilst one is working, shopping or sleeping in beautiful downtown Whitby. However, don't expect a free ride where those new electronic, bionic, and (in this writer's opinion) moronic tin timers are concerned. What is the cost of SEE PAGE 33 Mulroney overlooked Canadianism To the editor: Mr. Mulroney may lose hih seat by unseating thousandý of passengers who commuted 4)y Via Rail for business and petsonal reasons. Mr. Mulroney claims be is trying to cut our debt by eliminating necessary utilities which the common herd use every day io maintain life and limb. Mr. Mulroney and his Mrs. (Mila) have no compunction about putting their jet into flight for a little jaunt here and there at a cost of about $150,000 per flight for a crew, security personnel and he and his spouse. Mr. Mulroney could easily hop aboard a Via Rail train for Canadian cross-country or even U.S. trips. Mila could use this time to sit in comfort and answer her fan mail, thus eliminating a costly office and staff at Sussex Drive. And Brian could plan his best-dressed politician wardrobe while enjoying trips through small towns and inner cities and observe the below-poverty level of some Canadians who do not dine on caviar and champagne; who do not make the best dressed list; and who must put forth physical and mental effort, not just insincere repertoire ... as rail tracks usually run through less affluent parts of town. Mr. Mulroney drones on about Canadian debt, unemployment and the environment, but his government is the worst offender. Mr. Mulroney, buy your own house ... Sussex Drive costs us millions of Canadian tax dollars to maintain; eliminate Mila's office and staff and renovations, upheld by Canadian taxpayers; withdraw your free trade legislation, send out specific brochures to regions and municipalities, put free trade to a provincial vote and let the Canadian majority decide; clear the environment of unnecessary gas fumes from cars by retaining Via Rail; and why don't you recycle your speech scripts which are insincere, and stop wasting forest products, namely paper. Mr. Mulroney, you should pay attention to men like Pierre Berton who know that the railway is as much part of Canadian history as the War of 1812. Mr. Mulroney, your name will not go down with MacDonald and Laurier and the Fathers of the Confederation as you will be known as the divorced father in the divorce of Canada from Canadianism who has -refused support for his children, namely, the Canadian people, and you will end up as the culprit. The U.S. is the correspondent and mistressin your case. As an old philosopher said "The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook" but where Mr. Mulroney and his Marauders are concerned, the adage reads, "The art of knowing what to overlook was the art of being unwise." Mr. Mulroney overlooked Canadians and Canadianism and, hopefully, he will not only lose his seat on the train but he will lose his seat in Parliament, bodily expelled by the seat of his best-dressed politician's pants. Barbara Black Oshawa Make affordable housing top priority LETTERS The Whitby Free Press welcomes letters to the Editor on any subject of concern to our readers. Letters should be brief and to the point - rarely more than 300 words. All letters must be accompanied by the name, address and phone number of the writer; however, on request, your name may be withheld from publication if we agree that there is a valid reason. The paper reserves the right to reject or edit all letters. Send to: The Editor, Whitby Free Press; Box 206, Whitby, Ontario LiN 5S1 or drop through our mailslot at 131 Brock St. N.