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Page 6. Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, January 19, 1994 The only Newspaper owned and operated by Whltby residents for Whltby residents! MEMBER 0F: -- ONTARIO CANADIAN COMMNITYCOMMUNITY ~jNEWSPAPER rCN NWSPAPER - ASSOCIATION cASSOCIATION I!~L!UCIR~CULATIONS CNA DIVISION AUDIT BOARD ISSN#0844-398X 26,500 COPIES DELIVERED WEEKLY Published every Wednesday by 677209 Ontario Ime. Box 206, 131 Brook St. N., Whitby, Ontario Li N 5S1 Phone: 668-6111 Toronto Line: 427-1834 Fax: 668-Q594 Doug Anderson - Publisher 'Maurice Pif her - Editor Alexandra Martin, - Production Manager Printed on newsprint wth minimum 20% -O recycled content using vegetable based iniks. t Q Ail wrtten material, illustrations and advertising contained herein la protected by c.opynght. Any reproduction by any means for commercial purposs without the express permission of the newspaper la pmohibited and la a violation of Cadan copyih law. Reproduction for non-commercial distribution should bear a credit line to the ltby Free Press. To the er *tor.,, Change or fail To the Edlior: I have read with great interest (and some amusement) the letters ta the editor regarding the Dawntawn Business Improvement Area (DBIA) and the Jan. 12 front-page article (The Free Press) outlinng Bill Little's concernis over the proposed commercial expansion at Brock and Taunton raads. I think it is time 1 added my two cents worth. My family has ived in Whitby for more than 75 years. I was raised here and, alter living in Toronto for almost a decade, my husband and I bought a house here in October 1992. One ai the major reasons we chose Whtby was the new f acelit ta the downtown. After years of having a dawntown that was a complet e eyesore (Who doesn't remember every .ather shap being a resale/j unk store?), there were individuals such as Bill Little, Judy Morg an, Gene Peacock, George (Valentino's) wha had the foresight and cammitlment ta invest in aur downtawn area ta give it a new look and a new direction. Perhaps I am naive, but I somehow daubt the success ai OakviIIe and Markham in attracting bath homebuyers and industry had little ta do with strip mails and plazas in and around tLhm. Bath Markham and Oakville invested heavily in the downtown areas, attracted the people and then developed on an as-needed basis. The local government, town and region must have the same level af commitment as the above individuals and ail others who have put their businesses and mortgages on the line by operating in the downtown area. 1 appreciate the fact that the Town and Region are trying ta attract developers who want ta cut themselves the best deal possible, bct Whitby is a corporation and, as such, must be prepared ta do the same. How many businesses wouîd continue ta thrive if, in tough times, they stopped servicing their current client base ta bend over backwards for clients they are trying ta pitch? New business develapment is crucial in any business venture. in conjunctian with the maintenance and further development af your current customer base. My point is this, Wf your customers aren't happy with the service, or Iack thereof, listen ta their needs or they will go elsewhere. #f you made promises (i.e. B. Little), keep them. There are few businesses that have survived this recession without realizing that the way business is done is changing. On. af the key elements ta how i's changing is service. You efther change with it or you fail. My second point is, Ioyatty deserves ta b. rewarded. The businesses downtown are fighting ta survive. If you tax themn into bankruptcy, everyone loses. Isn't it time they gat a littîe support? If they succeed, Whitby succeeds. If the majority feel they aren't getting their money's worth f rom the DB A, why should they have ta buy into it? DaIe (Vlckery> Rider Whltby Spirit of giving was evident To the Editor: I would like ta express my heartielt thanks ta each and every r orson involved in aur Christmas food and toy drive for 1993. 1993 saw the Salvation Army, Whitby iamiîy services, assist 390 needy families in Whitby. This has, indeed, been the largest number ai families seeking assistance in recent memory of the Salvat ion Army, Whitby Chiadel. T he true spirit af givinq was evident in how the community, as a whole, responded ta aur needs once again with their support. Times are tou,_h, but thet did nat stop the cizens of Whitby tram digging a little deeper and supotn us at the Saîvation rMy. Our citizens are ta b. commended for such a fine job. Congratulations, Whitby, for a job weII dane. To each and every one, thank yau and God bless you aIl. May yau ail enjay a healthy, happy and prosperous 1994. Erlc Watklns Director, famrlîy services B y Paul Pagnuelo Ontario aoyrs Fedoration Some of you wha are counting on colîecting a pension from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) may be in for arude shock lt mig ht be a good idea ta invest a few-bucks in a private pension plan ai your own. lt's been said that if you want ta really screw something up, just turn it over ta the gavernment. The Canada Pension Plan could be considered a classic example. Like many people, I thaupht my CPP contributions were beîng put aside until my golden years. However, upon further investigation, it seems that nathing couîd be furiher from the truth. Surprise I CPP is actually a tax by a diff erent name. According ta the off ice of the superintendent oIf fmiancial institutions, CPP has a current uni unded liabiîity of more than $330 billion. That's because today's contributions ta the f und are beinq used ta pay today's beneficiarîes and are not being set aside for future pensions. In other words, the plan is broke. lt's similar ta a large-scale, government-sanctioned taxpayer- funded chain letter. If you happen ta get in-on the schemne near the begînning, you're a winner. On the other hand, if you happen ta be under age 35 or so and an the tail end of this expensive chain letter fiasco, yau lose. The reason younger Canadians wiII las. is because they're the ones wha wiII b. forced ta pay the $330-biîîion shortf ail. Since 1970, the empîoyees' and employers' share of contributions HeIp s To the EdItor: The arganizing g roup for the Wheels ta Meals, B rookl in area, would like ta thank ail helpers, entertainers and diners who participated in any way during 1993 ta make aur luncheons a success. We had proceeds left ta danate ta Participation House, Denise House, the Hostel and continuing care unit at Oshawa Ge.neral Hospital. Luncheons begin -again on Wednesday, Feb. 9. Burns Presbyterîan Church, Ashburn Myrtîs Unted Church Brooklln United Church St. Leos Roman Cathodec Church, Brookln St. Thomas Anglican Church, Brooklli ta the pension scheme has increased from 0.5 per cent of earnings ta its present level of 5 pe ent. However, in order to markeu the shortfaîî, this wili have ta be. increased ta 6.1 per cent by the year 2001, 7.6 per cent by20i and 13.9 per cent of earnings by 2025. This represents yet anot her example aif te huge intergenerational transfer af weafth that is taking place in Canada. Young er wage earners, children and t hase yet ta be born wîillbe forced ta pay for the benefits received by today's current crap of Canadian adults. In addition ta the $330-billion pension liabiîity, they'lI also have ta pay off the $670-biîîion debt racked up by the federal government and the provinces. In addition, someone wiII have to pay the $40-bilîion debt of municipal governments, the roughly $180-biîlion debt of government-owned businesses and the $100 billion in liabilities in the gavernment emplayee pension To the Editor: An open .lotter council. ta Whftby You asked for public input regarding signs that are used by businesses ta attract customers. Personally, 1 think they're great and do a gaod service when you can read them. But when they are in need ai paint and repair, they do a discredit ta the area they are in. These signs shauîd b. on their own property. There shauld b. no flashing or strobe lights as these tend ta distract drivers ai vehicles and, believe me, we dan't need this on the busy streets. Sa, really, ail you neeu~ are rules and r~ ulatianis and ta enforce tem. (Idn't mean by mail, either. )This happens too aten -- two or three bad signs. and you send out letters toalal sign owners. Whalever happened ta personal visits ta tell owners what is wrong with their sig ns? On the matter af sidewalks, inform drivers that sidewalks are for pedestrians, nat parking lots or for tow mators with laads or vehices moving from one part of a yar ta another yard. This is a standard procedure an Dundas Street East, south side. Believa me, 1 have had ta get off the sidewaik and give themn the right ai f unds that includes the shartfails in the ML-As' pension plan. t's easy ta understand why many people suggest that the standard af living for the next generatian wiII b. substantially lower than that of their parents. Christmas is just past. Families gathered araund the tree ta exchange gifts. Grandmas and grand pas, moms and dads pravided gifts ta chiîdren, nieces and nephews and g randchildren. Ironicaîly, most adults weren't thlnking about the huge gift they are forcing these child ren ta give them. 1 wonder how these chiîdren wiII feel when ttîey become adults and have ta start payig for the lifestyle enjoyed byt heir parents and grandparents? How wili they feel about Christmas past when they realize that their parents and grandparents were the ones who really got something for nothing, not the other way around. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Wa more than once. Sýnawclearing: inform your crow how ta put the blade down when clearing sidewalks on Dundas Street East. When clearing sidewalks in the downtown, they do go lower than six inches, don't t hey? G. Kerr Whltby Many toiys donated To the Edîtor: On behalf of Whitby McDonald's Restaurant,1 I would 1ek.ta extend a special thank you toalal who donated tays ta aur annual 'Glit for Christ mas' tay drive. Rt is with thie generous support af people like you that aur toy drive continues ta b. a success year ater year. And, it is the chiîdren who benefit. A special thank you ta all communîty groups who made the toy drive their speciai project for the holiday season. Wishing ail residents af Whitby a very happy and sale New Year. Ray Glichrlst Ownsroporator Tax by a different name. About signs Viewpoint 1 To the editor... 1