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.~0 li <l h I. , J J .' h I 4-' Page 6, Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, September 8, 1993 The only Newspaper owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitby residents! MEMBER OF: ONTARIO CANADIAN COMMUNITY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION CANADIAN CIRCULATIONS CNA DIVISION AUDIT BOARD 25,500 COPIES DELIVERED WEEKLY Published every Wednesday by 677209 Ontario Inc. Box 206, 131 Brock St. N., Whitby, Ontario L1N 5S1 Phone: 668-6111 Toronto ýine: 427-1834 Fax: 668-05941 Doug Anderson -1 PubliSher Maurice Pifher - Editor Alexandra Martin - Production Manager Printed on newsprint with minimum 20% recycled content using vegetable based inks. © All written material, illustrations and advertising contained herein is protected by copyright. Any reproduction by any means for commercial purposes without the express permission of the newspaper is prohibited and is a violation of Canadian copyright law. Reproduction for non-commercial distribution should bear a credit line to the witby Free Press. Mission satisfying To the EdItor: We would like to take this opportunity to thank The Free Press for coverage of our recent Missouri Mission. We derived a great deal of personal satisfaction knowing we are able to contribute to the relief of the farmers in that devastated area. Again, thank you for your generous coverage and support. Bev & Don Rogers Signet Signs, Whitby By Ross Stevenson Durham riding MP Having spent a good part of my adult iffe in universities, first as a student and then as a professor, I was delighted to hear of the major improvements planned for Canada's Student Loans Program. This is an extremely important program that has made it possible for literally hundreds of thousands of young Canadians to continue their education beyond the secondary school level. In announcing the refàrms, Prime Minister Kim Campbell noted that she is one of the many who simply wouldn't have been able to go on to university without a student loan. The loan program currently helps about 250,000 students each year. Like any long-standing program, this one hasn't kept up with the times. Loan limits don't recognize the 30 per cent cost of living increase for students over the past five years. While part-time study becomes more common and necessary, such students aren't covered adequately. And some who really need loans cannot qualify or don't receive enough help. Over the next four years, the loan reforms will provide more than $4 billion in aid for students -- an increase of $1 billion. Starting next year, loan limits will be raised to $5,100 per year from $3,500 for full-time students, and to $4,000 from $2,500 for those studying part-time. Deferred grants and interest relief will be provided for neediest students, to help keep their debt loads at a manageable level. Special opportunities are to be offered to the disabled, to people such as single parents who often are shut out of the system and for women taking doctoral programs, particularly in science, mathematics and engineering. More efficient financing and administration will reduce operating costs, while also allowing more successful pursuit of loan defaulters, who now owe the program more than $1 billion. When former students who can afford to repay their loans don't, they, in effect, are depriving today's students of support they need. The improved loans program is part of a package to make our young people better prepared for the challenges of the future. As part of a plan to have all Canadian schools inter-connected electronically, old government computer systems are being donated and links established to world-wide communications and technology networks. A new education tax credit will increase help for those studying full-time and aiso provide child care expense deductions for single parents studyinq part-time. Our young people's educational needs can't be solved by throwing more money at them. Right now throughout Canada we are spending approximately $55 billion each year on education and training. On a per capita basis, that's more than virtually any other industrial country. The answer for our future is not spending more, but spending smarter. Impacts By Lori Graham So often I see young people huddled in groups in malls and lobbies, struggling to be noticed. Most of us recognize the loud, obscene language and the cigarettes sprouting from their lips as a misguided struggle for maturity. After all, some of us have been there, and know that these kids are responding to the world around them. Not all young people hang out at malls, however. Some kids gain our attention for far greater reasons, young people such as Chandra Hunter of the Students' Commission (Viewpoint, Free Press, Sept. 1). I've no doubt that this youth will continue to contribute to her community in great ways throughout her life. Chandra gave me hope. A few weeks ago my father-in-law, Terry Graham, passed away. He was the most amazing person I have ever had the opportunity to love. I saw him as a man who dearly loved his four grown sons. He kept all of the symbols of their successes hung on his wall -- diplomas, pictures, certificates. I saw him also as a man with many friends, and as someone who gave each person the feeling that he/she was always welcome. All the way from Boy Scouts to his involvement with the seniors' activity centre, Terry's giving lasted a iff etime. What I didn't fully appreciate, until his death, was the resounding impact that he had on others. He simply affected everyone he met. So many people came to say goodbye. The funeral hall had to open a second room across the hall from the chapel to accommod'te the crowd. This second room filled to capacity, leaving many people standing throughout the service. It became apparent qvickly that the entire community fet this loss. It was as if the entire worid stopped to pay tribute to this outstanding man. During the service Rev. Jeanette Millar asked us to look into our hearts and remember all of the ways that Terry Graham affected each and every one of us. In two rooms filled to capacity, and in many more hearts right across Canada, people reflected on the impact that Terry Graham had on their lives. I'm positive that I was not the only person in those rooms to hold, in that instant, the meaning of lite in may hands. Giving means living. I never had the chance to ask my father-in-law how he ever managed to become so involved with so many organizations: how he became so important to so many individuals. I don't know when he began his journey into the world of those who gave it ail, but i suspect that he was still very young. My father-in-law will continue to influence myself and my family for the rest of our lives. In fact, I will never again be able to let myseif get away with anything close to apathy. Chandra, too, will influence those around her. And someday, after a long time, someone will ask all those she's touched to reflect on the impact she left behind as an everlasting imprint of her time with us. Opinions expressed are those of the author. FoIlow Alberta's lead To the Editor: The Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services is planning the implementation of a new system tof"subsistence allowance" for inmates in provincial institutions. The allowance was introduced by the Ministry of Corrections to eliminate "free issue" -- the distribution of free tobacco to the inmate population. Instead, sentenced inmates receive $10 for each week served in a provincial institution. The money enables inmates to purchase items from the canteen, namely tobacco, candy and pornographic magazines. All sentenced inmates receive the allowance, although in a majority of provincial institutions, the inmates are not involved in any type of work program except maintaining the cleanliness of their own cells. Subsistence allowances cost $1,876,256 in fiscal year 1992-93. The Alberta government recently announced its intention to eliminate the inmate subsistence allowance altogether, as a cost-cutting measure. Now, in this time of financial hardship, social contracts and fiscal restraints, Premier Bob Rae and the Minister of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services David Christopherson are increasing the amount of our tax dollars that they give to the inmates in provincial institutions. Their plan will include all inmates, sentenced and remanded, plus raising the amount that each inmate will receive. This would effectively raise the cost to taxpayers to between $4 and $6 million. This action solidifies public perception that Premier Rae and the NDP party has lost all touch with the people of Ontario, and will only increase the disillusionment and anger of the ordinary taxpayer. Therefore, I would suggest that Mr. Rae re-evaluate the whole concept of inmate subsistence allowance to maintain the dwindling political support he now has. HopefulIy, he will follow Alberta's lead -- eliminate the allowance - and save taxpayers' moneyiin these difficult economic times, ',and prove that "crime doesn't pay." Duane Harrison Newcastle Stop whining To the Editor: Open letter to Drummond White, Durham Centre MPP Re: MPPs' pay cut For once, i commend Premier Bob Rae and Floyd Laughren for the MPPs' 5.5 per cent pay cut announcement. In order for the social contract to equitably cover all in the public sector, our provincial and local legisators have to share in the sacrifices that ordinary civil servants, municipal workers, teachers, nurses, doctors, hospital staff, college and university faculty, police and others, are now experiencing. i don't know why MPPs Karen Haslam, Sean Conway, Chris Stockwell, Randy Hope and others are complaining. They should stop their whining and look after the needs of Ontarians or quit political office atogether. I'm sure that many unemployed Ontarians would love to have their jobs. Rae and Laughren are only being fair. Now let's see cuts in MPPs' bonuses and double-dipping. Edward L. Sawdon Toronto The Whitby Free Press welcomes letters to the editor on any subject of concem 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 telephone number of the writer. However. on request, your name may be withheld from publication if we agree there is a valhd reason. The newspaper reserves de right to reject or edt ail letters. Send to: The Editor, Whitby Free Press, Box 206, Whitby. Ont. L1N 5S1, or drop through our mail siot at 131 Brock St. N.