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PAGE 6, WMifrY FUEPRESS, I NESÀf LNJARUAI 31,19 Publishd eer ee Py rodc ionMaaer VOICE720F OntaiCOUNTY ETOWN The on/y hitby nespaper idependenly ownedand operted byhn:5Sà-111 dCaaPsa ~eItaln$55 Whitby reidentsvfrrWhitby esidents Rather than -get back to the 1bargainlng table or at ieast hint at the possibiiity of f urther taiks, "the- Catholil sohool board and striklng secondary'school teachers preferto engage in a war 0f words. The board has even gone ta the extmeme of taking out advertlsemepts ta expýlain the board position on the. Resume. talks. matter. Is this ta somehow appease.ratepayers ýwhose children may beaffected by a prolonged strike? Both sides have -made a case.'But rather tha n seek public favor or understanding, words from bath 'sides shouid be exchanged In contract talks, or ln a forum that at ieast hints of attempt at seulement lime Ils now belng wasted..Some students are gettlng fed up, agsshown ln a demonstration at board offices ti week.. Students and ratepayers want some Indicatio n that an end. is ln sight, flot a disappointing silence, betweenthe board and teachers. More côoorination urged for eye patient ( c.a.re To the editor.: R:Article about Region Ilealth Counc role in Wednesday, edition of The Free P It w6uld appear again we have a case of the Ieft hand not knowing whatý the right Durham had is doing. il' futureý I refer ta, eye care facilities at Jan. 10 the Oshawa' and Whitby Iress. hospitals. The situation at thathereOshawa hospital is that they are thatherese crowded that it takes six ta, I .Poils apari By Terry O'Shaughnessy. If the federal government had been expecti ng the Canadian public ta fait ail over itself with glee at the prospect of paying a, 7 per cent Goods 'and Services Tax instead of the originally proposed 9 per cent rate, it was wrong. According ta the resuits of a recent poli conducted by thé Angus Reid Group for the Canadian Feder- ation of Independent Business, a large majority of Canadians are still opposed ta the GSI, despite Finance Minister Michael Wilson's twa-per-cent rate reductian last December. The pol asked 1,501 people across the country, "would yau be in favor ai, or opposed toaa 7 per cent Goods and Services Tax? " On a national basis, 68 per cent ai respondents are stili appased ta the new GSI, while 27 per cent stated, they were in favor and 5 per cent expressed no opinion. The strongest apposition came from Alberta where 77 per cent of respondents said they were against the 7 per cent GSI, while 20 per cent expressed support, foiiowed closely by Saskatchewan/ Manitoba at 72 per cent opposed and 22 per cent in favor. Quebec 'vas next with 71 per cent in opposition ta the GSI and 23 per cent in support. Atlantic Canada respondents matched the national level ai oppo- sition! with 68 per cent opposing the revamped GSI and oniy 26 per cent backing the new tax. 'In British Columbia, 65 per cent ai respondents said they were not supportive af the 7 pKr cent GSI, while 32 per cent said they were. Ontario came in with 62 per cent opposed and 32 per cent in favar of -the, reévised rate.-, CFIB President John Bulloch cailed the poli resuits somewhat sur- prising and admits that his organiza- tion had expected gréater public support for the new GSI once the ~rate was dropped. He adds that the poli shows a strong majority ai Canadians don't accept the two-tiered federal /provincial GSI concept and realize it is a seriously flawed tax.* "The poli miakes it. clear that a major reason public opinion remains 50, negative cancerning the GSI is the lack ai trust in -the government," Bulloch said. "The new iower rate has obviously nat taken away the anxiety amang the general public that it won't eventuaily be hiked back up ta 9 per cent or more." The poil supports Bulioch's con- tention in that 83 per cent ai the respondents nationally said they believe a 7 per cent GSI would likely be raised after the next federai election. Alberta respondents were the most certain that the 7 per cent rate is onIy temporary, as 88 per cent thought it would likely rise ater the next election. Saskatchewan /Mani- toba and Ontario respondents, ta the extent ai 87 per cent, were almost as certain as Aibertans- that the rate woutd be raised. British Columbia respondents were aiso above the national average at 85 per cent, while 77 per cent ai Quebecers and 74 per cent ai Atlantic Canadians felt the 7 per cent rate would be temporary. What are the politicians ta make ai this recent poli ai Canadian opin- ion? If they're smart, they'li realize that the GSI is flot acceptable ta the very peopievho wiil decide the next appointmnent with an eve surgeon. ýCampaign appecated To the editoir: As chairman of '- the 1989 campaign for,' the Oshawa-Whiftby-Newcastle United *Way, I would like ta, express our appreciation 'for your coverage of aur 1989 campaign. Our commùunities are indeed a better *place because of your 1cammitinent and support., We do so appreciate your coverage of the carnpaign itself. We are grateful for your continuing involvement with the United Way and look forward ta aa long and satisfying relationship in the years ta, corne. Once again, thank you for your support. Sinoerely, Walter Beath Many patients are referred ta, optometrists as a first step and, ai course, anoptometrist is flot a qualified eye doctor. Oshawa hospital is now trying ta recruit the. services of twa More eye doctors ta, assist in coping with -the overload. For the last five years a qua]ified. persan bas been available in Whitby, but due ta lack of funding Whitby hospital. is unable ta use his services. Whiitby -hospital' does notý receive grants for eye servicesand have ta, use their -own funds ta deal, with eye patients which are treated by them. Facilities for eye operations are available at Whitby hospital, but due ta lack-'of funding, cannot be used ta the fuitý extent, thus lying idie for part of the time. 1 Surely ,it, would be mare economical ta use;the- facilities in' place at Wihitby ta their- full extent by provicling a provincial grant ta caver the cost and thûs reduce the, overload and delays within the region. It wauld, appear that with a littie mare ,ca-ordination something suitable cauld be worked. out and at the- saine ztre funds can' be saved by- using available facilities. Yours truly, J. A. Jonies Oshawa federai electian. -- CFIB Feature Seivice 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. Ail letters must be accompanied by the name, address 'and phone number, of the writer; however, on requ est, 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 ail letters. Send to: The Editor, Whitby Free Press, Box 206, Whitby, Ontario LiN 5S1 or drop through our mailsiot at .131 Brock St. N.