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4 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, December 26, 1979 The Day After Christmas We've taken the liberty of writing this editorial ahead of time for several reasons, the main one being the need for meeting a deadline that doesn't leave much time for a last minute effort. We also know from past experience that inspiration very rarely follows hard on the heels of over-indulging in turkey dinners complete with all the other excesses that accompany celebrations such as Christmas. There have been many bright spots over the Yuletide season and some extremely sad ones. Signing all those Old Age and Canada Pension cheques so we'd receive them and be able to cash them before Christmas must have put too much strain on Health Minister David Crombie and brought on a slight heart attaçk. Happily, he is recovering and will be participating in the upcoming election when we old folks,will have an opportunity to express our appreciation to him. The sad part is that it's going to be several weeks before the January cheques arrive, but that's life, you can't have it both ways. We're feeling very sorry for those friends who have been hit by sudden and unexpected tragedies in the past few weeks. We're thinking especially of Bob Dykstra's family and others who have lost loved ones recently. Christmas for them must have been a nightmare, testing their faith. No doubt there will have been others in the area between the time this is being written and appears in print, whose Christmas joy will have een replaced by grief. It seems to happen every year at Christmas for some reason, possibly because tensions build up, many are tired from overworking or from long hours trying to find suitable gifts and maybe aren't concentrating quite as much as usual on their The future of Darlington nuclear generating station has taken prormniinence again. After studying the report of the Select Committee on Hydro Affairs, both opposition parties in the Ontario Legislature have come out against completing the power station. I oppose the opposition parties' stand on Darlington for two basic reasons. Firstly, I do not think their argument makes much economic sense and, secondly, I do not think their stand makes sense in light of present energy shortages. To begin with, the construction of the Darlington station has been of great benefit to Durham East and the surrounding region. An aggregate of about $44 million has already been allocated to local firms, Alnor Earth Moving Limited and, more recently, St. Marys Cement, in construction contracts. Hydro's on-site officials are eager to involve local entrepreneurs in the contracting for the construction of the nuclear generating station. When the building of the permanent structures begins, sometime in driving, so an accident occurs. Our sympathy goes out to them. But, enough of the mournful side of things. Now, as the year end approaches, everybody is wondering what's ahead in 1980 and beyond. There's an election on at the moment across Canada that should be most interesting. It won't get warmed up for a couple of weeks as the candidates are chosen at nomination meetings and the issues begin to hit home. But, give some thought to the candidates who will be spehding from now until Election Day, struggling through snow drifts to reach meetings on time, spending long hours preparing speeches and encouraging organizing helpers to lend a hand. We've been through the procedure and while there are many aspects of campaigning that are satisfying, there's a great deal of hard work and strain to it as well. The men and women who are allowing their names to stand are to be commended not scorned for their willingness to take on the job, with very little certainty that their efforts will meet with success. We certainly need the finest people available to deal with the many problems that will be confronting this country in the months ahead. Hopefully, they will be the ones who are elected to office. In conclusion, we do hope you and yours had a good Christmas and will have a good New Year. We at The Canadian Statesman will be embarking on our 126th year of bringing you the news each week and will do our utmost to maintain and improve our products.- Our appreciation goes out to those who have been using our papers for their advertising messages and those who purchase them each week either by subscription or otherwise. A Happy New Year to all and thanks. 1981, over 100 contracts will be available, many of which local firms can take advantage of. in Novem ber, officials of Hydro met with the Bowmanville Chamber of Commerce to encourage local businessmen to take an interest in the activity at the Darlington site. The potential that these contracts wil offer, in the way of jobs and investment, will be very beneficial to Durham East, and the region as a whole. When Darlington Generating Station is completed in 1990, the energy that it will provide to our region wihh be an added incentive forindustry to locate here. As well, the demand for electrical energy is on the increase in the United States. If Hydro Quebec can sehi ehectricity to the Arnericans, why cannot we? As a question of energy supply, it rnikes sense for Darlington to be completed. Recently, the Minister of Energy set the priority that by 1995, 35 per cent of Ontario's energy supply will come from recoverable and renewable sources. To help us achieve that goal, I believe it is necessary for Darlington to core on strearn in 1990 as originally planned. If the generating station is not completed however, our province will find it difficult to meet the Minister's goal, and will be forced to continue to rely on expensive coal and petroleum for energy. Even the staff of the Select Committee r ecognized that Darlington is justifiable because it is cheaper to produce electricity from a nuclear station than from an oil or coal fired station. It is reassuring to see that the Town of Newca stle Works Committee of November 19, 1979 recommended that Council adopt the preliminary design for the widening of Hwy. 115/35. Some of the residents in Durham East will be busy in the New Year. The President of the Oshawa Rotary Club will host the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Larry Grossman at a meeting on January 7th at the Genosha Hotel, and the co-ordinators of the Orono Arena Fund raising committee, of which Charles Gray is a member, will host a Wintario draw on Jan. 3rd at Clarke High Owing to the exigencies of the Canadian winter, the decrepitude of the Canadian postal service, which can't handle the mail in the height of summer, let alone the Christmas rush and various other factors, too miscellaneous to mention, this may not reach you until after the holiday, when all you have left of Christmas is the colors, a red nose and a little green around the gills. Howsomever, (and I do, this only about every 12 years,) I am going to extend that hoary old cliche of the 20th century, "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year", to the whole world. First, to the editors and publishers who have stuck by me for more than 25 years, even when this column was puerile, pernicious, petty, or political (on what they thought was the wrong side). Bless you, chaps and gals, for allowing me into the homes of so many Canadians. Were I writing for only one paper, I would be in a fury of frustration that these Great Thoughts of mine were being read by only a paltry couple of thousand. Second, and more important, to my faithful readers, who scold me, admonish me, weep for me, pray for me, and laugh with me, as we proceed together through this vale of tears. And third, to my wife, who has borne the slings and arrows of outrageous Bill Smiley for longer than she cares to think about, and with remarkable equanimity. She has never responded in kind when I was less than kind to her, and through her, to all women. Oh, she has responded. Yes, she has responded. And I have a broken nose,,and a lump over my right ear, where she hit me with a plate of roast beef, potatoes and gravy, from a distance of eight feet, some years ago. Ah, those great old days, when you could sling roast beef around., Today it would be a plastic plate and hamburg, and I wouldn't ëven have a lump. Finally, to my children and grandchildren. Just by being so rotten, they have provided me with acres of material for this column, and brought me into touch with hundreds of parents of equally rotten kids. Last, and absolutely last, to the members of my English department. You notice I said "my". I don't own it. I merely serve as surrogate uncle, father figure, psychiatrist, and wailing wall for the odd assortment of human beans in our department. But they stand by me: like reeds in the wind; like twigs in an ice storm; like snow in a March sun. And they also stand behind me - well behind, when someone is after my scalp. But I depend on them. To slander me; to mock my partial plate and hoary hair. I think that covers a fair assortment of the people I want to say M.C. and a H.N.Y. to Except for all my friends, and they both know who they are. Now, I don't wish to be anything less than benign on this occasion. But it may be more of a hairy Christmas and a crappy New Year than the other, if what our new Tory government has produced so far is any indication of our future. Not another word. Il get to that in the new year. Mustn't spoil this jovial mood I've built up. Must stick to Christmas. Well, there's been some dandies and some stinkers. Like most people, the stinkers are the ones I remember. One was when my mother had prepared a great Christmas dinner, for about five o'clock, working from 6 a.m. My older brother and sister went off skiing with a friend. My kid Christmas Was Too Much for Him! Béy, am I tired! I waited up for Santa Claus to give him some cookies and milk and then fell asleep before he came down the chimney. It's been a rough night. But, Happy New Year to everybody. We've put a few words in the mouth of Michael Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Doug Smith of Bowmanville who loaned us this cute1'morning after' picture. brother and I went off to the special Christmas matinee. We'd all promised to be home by four. We ail got home about six, the dinner ruined. A modern mother would have bawled the daylights out of us. My mother just looked so hurt it hurt my heart. Another was when my total loot under the Christmas tree was one suit of long underwear, with the. back-flap. That wasn't so bad. We knew there was a depression on, whatever that was. But going out and meeting the other kids, some of whose fathers were working, and exchanging, "Whadja get!', was painful. How do you describe to a guy who has just got a pair of skates the joy of receiving longjohns? But there have been some great Christmases too, and they linger. Decorating the tree with tiny kids looking on. Then going out to a Christmas Eve party, (the most stupid social occasion in our calendar), arriving home at 4 a.m., doing up the kids' stockings and hanging them up, and getting one hour's sleep before tiny hands are plucking at your hair, eyes nose and treble voices, "Daddy, get up. We want to see what Santa Claus brought." Oy veh! Another great Christmas strangely enough, was in prison camp. We had saved for months th- choice items from our rapid. diminishing Red Cross parcels. From the graham crackers, chocolate, powered milk and other stuff, we'd made a magnificent Christmas cake. From the prunes and sugar, we'd made a potent Christmas brew, enough for about a uart each. Dinner began with hors ' oeuvres, a piece of cheese the size of a dime on a piece of sour German bread the size of a quarter. Then the entree. Canned salmon and smashed spuds. Then the coup de grace, the cake, like lead but full of calories. And all washed down with a wine that was neither red nor white, but sort of mud-colored. A memorable evening. Enough, Enough. Think back about your dandies and your stinkers, and make this the best holiday season you've ever had, with a sober thought about the reason for it all, and what it means to you. SMALL Fy T ALK Donna Faire y Today is Boxing Day. Among other things, it's a sigh of relief day, a leftover turkey day, and a time to package up all the crumpled Christmas wrap of yesterday. Pine needles from your Christmas tree have made a fine mess on the carpet. And your Boxing Day plans may include formulating the strategic removal of the dried up coniferous specimen from the house without stripping off every last needle during its extrication. Children have descended from their fever pitch highs, now that they have received many of their longed for toys and games. If parents are lucky, all of Boxing Day may go by without a single child' saying he doesn't have anything to do. Boxing Day is a time for mothers to organize drawers and closets to make way for the hoards of new clothes and toys. Some may use Boxing Day as a time to reflect how much folding money was spent on the entire Christmas extravaganza. Some may clutch deflated pocket books, seriously contemplating whether or not it was all worth it. Others may bemoan the fact their charge card looks a little worse for the wear. Nothing short of a mail strike will alter the inevitable stinging blow of receiving the bill for Christmas in January. Then there are always those perennially organized perfectionists who have budgeted and planned for the festive season. Meticulous planning has earned them the right to sit back smugly counting their blessings. These same people probably have their Christmas tree dismantled, chopped up mto little pieces and burned in the fireplace. Some individuals are even bears for punishment on Boxing Day. Department stores annually provide shoppers with an opportunity to pick up wrapping paper, cards and bows at half price. Those who have the mammoth constitution to face crowded department stores the day after Christmas deserve the bargains. I wouldn't burrow my way through shoppers on Boxing Day if the merchandise was being given away. Enough is enough! Although most of us probably feel like well used punching bags in the wake of the Christmas scene, the name Boxing Day apparently has nothing whatever to do with the sparring sport of boxing. Our office research indicates Boxing Day was so named in old England for the first weekday after Christmas at which time gifts were bestowed upon employees. If anyone can provide a reasonable explanation why presents were given on the day ollowing Christmas, the enlightenment would be more than welcome. In fact, a poll here in the office disclosed little or no knowledge of why Boxing Day was called Boxing Day. When the editor didn't know I quit asking. The only plausible explanation we could come up with was that a gift the day after Christmas increased the possibility an employee would return to work after the holiday. Somewhere along the line someone must have had a change of heart about having employees come to work the day following Christmas. With our limited knowledge on the subject, we don't know exactly when it came about but it was nevertheless a sterling idea. Now you may wonder why I so heartily applaud the merits of a Boxing Day holiday and appear to have worked today and written this column. Things are not always what they seem. Though the paper was published this morning, I wrote the column last Tuesday based on the bittersweet memories of other Boxing Days. Take today to savour the afterglow of Christmas and I bid you all a happy Boxing Day. uleen s Park Report by Gord Cochrane In the unlikely event you haven't heard that the season to be jolly is upon us, might I suggest a few deserving names you've probably forgotten to add to your shopping list. Considering their needs (what do you get a man who has nothing?) please take note. For Bill Davis, the Scrooge who wouldn't fork over a few million bucks for Toronto's energy- efficient, yet uneconomical transit system last spring; a year's supply of the new TTC 60-cent tokens. For Liberal leader Stuart Smith, who has a most liberal view of his own worth: a six-pack of humility. For NDP leader Michael Morris Cassidy: an appreciation of capitalism and everything Ontario has going for it. For lotteries minister Reuben Baetz and treasurer Frank Miller: a new daily, or even hourly, lottery to help balance the provincial budget. For Frank Drea, the Consumer Minister who does his best to protect us from ourselves: a pass to the Ontario Board of Censors' screening room to see what he says we can't see. For Larry Grossman, the Industry and Tourism Minister whose nanny is being deported from Canada: a new nanny (presumably referred to him by Otto Lang). For Management Board Chairman George McCague, who spends most of his time huddled over ministerial balance sheets: a little name- recognition among the public. For Speaker Jack Stokes, the ringmaster of the daily question period in the Legislature: a hockey referee's whistle. For former Liberal leader Bob Nixon, still in the thick of things: one more shot at the Liberal leadership (either federally or provincially). For Mel Swart, who has made a career out of complaining about the high cost of toilet paper: a Canadian-produced consumer item that actually costs less in Thorold than in Buffalo. For Education and Colleges and Universities Minister Bette Stephenson, who is sure that she's never wrong: a little self-assurance. For Liberal MPP Eddie Sargent, who last summer had a secret source handing hir information on safety problems at the Bruce- Nuclear Station: another "Mr. Schultz" to prove to the world, or at least to his constituents in Grey Bruce, that while there may be snow on the roof, there remains a raging fire in the old furnace. For NDP member Ed Ziemba, who has spent more time behind bars, jail bars that is, than most of the crooks in Canada: a "get out of jail free" card. For Ed Havrot, the Conservative backbencher who has publicly uttered racial slurs of Italians and native peoples: a multilingual television station in his Northern Ontario hometown, Swastika. For Agriculture and Food Minister Lorne Henderson: an understanding of something besides patronage. Don't forget now! There are only four more shopping days till Christmas. SUGAR and SPICE Season's Greetings