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O r t1l e Wry, da4 nuary 15, 1997 J From Parliam'ent Hili Alex Shepherd, M.P. Durham In these times of govemment and personal financial restraint can Royal Bank's chairman, John Cleghomn, justify a remu- neration package in excess of $2.2 million annually? .1 According to Royal's board of directors Cleghorn shouldn't even have to justilv it to share- bolders. Matthew Barret, CIBC's chair recently stated that he sbouldn't have to deal witb "know nothing" backbench MPs. Is there a growing feeling in the banking communîty that tbey are answerable to no one? There are some parallels between a government and public corporation. By defini- tion the board of dire ctors are supposed tO act in the best interest of the sharebolders. This is no diffrent than a MP who acts in the best mnterest of ail Canadians. Imagine an MP or cabinet ministe r telling the taxpayer lt's none of their business wbat salaries elected representatives set, for them- selves. Madame Justice Pierrette Rayle of the Quebec Superior Court ruled in favour of a reso- lution affectlng both the Royal and National banks. The resolution requires the banks' board to set a chalr's remuneration package no greater than twenty times the average salary of $40,750 earned iast year by the bank's fuil-time employees. - Local ban empîoyees would say $40, 750 Is rather bigb but this averages in ail the high- priced employees in Toronto. The resolution would fix Cleghorn's remuneration at $815,000 not the $2.2 million he presently enjoys. Bank executive salaries in Canada and the U.S. bas been a bone of contention for years. Most financlal institutions in the world, some of the largest are Japanese, come nowhere close to this level of remunera- tion. The deviation between lower- paid bank employees and direc- tors and officers is oflen haif or less of wbat you would find in North America. Banks clamour for deregu- lation. Let the markets decide they argue along with ail the other misplaced free enterprise rhetoric they spout. It seems this neyer applies to, their own institutions. I've heard many bank execu- tives Justi1ydng profits by point- ing out that over haif of al Canadians own bank stock. This may be so. 'StUR there is the question about how they are treating over haif of the Canadian population when it comes to consent over execu- tive remuneration. How do you justify such unconscionable wages anyway? Maybe this is why sharehold- ers aren't consulted because the bottom Uine is that you can't People will draw the parallel with sports and entertainment people. At least these people are fired when they lose their pub- lic appeal. This lsn't so for bank execu- tives. Wben they were screwing up in the late '80s tbey didn't get reductions tbey got promo- tions. Most of us lived through downsizing and job losses dur- ing that period while bank exec- utives got richer. 1 believe amendments to the Bank Act shouldn't be about expandlng the banks' power into auto leasing and insur- ance. Amendments to the Bank Act should be about how banks are executing their own respon- sibilities to shareholders (haif the country according to them) and the nation generally. As we change the role of gov- ernment from player to referee it seems to me that the banks are in major need of more ref- ereeing. by Phyllis Lowery Once again tragedy bas struck a Kendal area family when fire caused the loss of the Rlgger's home. Thank goodness the motber's qulck tbinking got tbem ail out and we hope she was not seriously burt. If you can help tbem in any way, please do so. 1 arn sure everybody must be tired of hearing about the flu bug. It seems that everybody you talk to either bas it, is j ust getting over it, or bias someone in the family that bas it. I thougbt that 1 had played it safe this year, 1 got flu shots early but, at Cbristmas I got it, final- ly the last day or two I'm start- ing to feel close to normal. On Sunday I got out to Cburch, on the drive there 1 noticed Parking Lot signs at the ski bill said, full up. First Sunday for a full crowd. There was good attendance at church. We were pleased to have Mrs. Virginia Brand as guest Preacher. Rev. Black introduced ber and toîd us that Mrs. Brand bas studied to be a Presbyterian Minister and is just waiting to be accepted at a Cburch she bas applied to. Mrs. Brand welcomed al and lit the Christ Candie. The gathering hymns were "To God Be The Glory, He Is Lord 0f Ail" and "Everyday People". The choir sang "Oh Soul Are You Weary And Toubled, Tun Your Eyes Upon Jesus". The cbildren were called for- ward. They were told about a story told in one of the Scripture readings was about a woman who asked Jesus for help. She asked them if they had ever had to ask someone for belp? What did they need help with? They answered with many different reasons. She then went on to tell them that this woman needed help because her daughter was very ill. She cailed out to Jesus as he passed by. Jesus did flot recog- nize her as one of his followers but she was so eamnest in ask- ing Hlm for help He said, "Woman how deep is your faith"? and at that instant her daugbter was healed. The childrens hymn was, "Jesus Bids Us Shine". The Prayer of Self- Examination and the Words 0f Assurance were repeated. The Scripture readings were from Genesis 45:1-8, Matthew 15-21-28. The Sermon was titled -The Power 0f Perspective. Mrs. Brand sald that she had found a bit of TrMva that told that through research they have found that how we look at life, has a great effect on your life. If we were to go into a store looking sour and cranky, we would find that we could not flnd a clerk to help us. If we think negative, things always seema to go wrong. A smile, a positive attitude makes life appear brigbter. Look at Joseph, sold by his brothers as a teenager, taken to a foreign land, yet despite this. Joseph did not turn agalnst them, he told tbem he did not blame them that it was God's will that be go. Joseph had a positive per- spective on life. He knew that God had a plan for him. When he returned and faced his brothers he told them to pre- serve life. In a time of trouble and turbulence in your life there is one question you should ask, "what is God doing bere? Wbat is. God's plan"? There was another Joseph wbo faced a great change in his life. W~ faced it with a positive perspective. He heard God's voice and he accepted the guardianship of Jesus. Joseph probably neyer thought of wbat effect this baby he beld in his bands would have on the world. We need to live wth a posi- tive perspective, sometimes we lose this. What do we do then? How do we keep that positive perspective on a daily basis? How must that woman have feit when she asked for help and Jesus appeared to ignore her? She did not give up, she knew Jesus could help. When we learn to trust God to-know, whatever the circum- stances, God is always with us. We can then learn to live with a positive perspective. The Prayer of Tbankfulness was given, the Offering received, and the Prayer of Concern and Commitment given. The clos ing hymn was "Ail The Way My Saviour Leads' Me". 1 have been asked to let peo- pie know that once again Line C Newcas On January 8 the Newcastle Lions held their flrst meeting for 1997. Twenty-slx Lions and three guests were on hand for a great roast beef dinner catered by The Massey House. President Tenry Graham presid- ed over the meeting. Mter dinner, Lion Dick Lovekin gave the members and guests an overview of the pro- posed expansion of Durham College. Lion Dick is on the Expansion Committee and plans to visit ail the service clubs in the community. 1Blrthday salutations were made to Lion Amos Langley and reports were made by various Committee Chairmen. Lion Dennis Walker reported on Tell thern the facts of life and deatb. Tell them the number'one killer of teens in Canada is car crasbes! ~ Collisions! Bad drivingl Then tell them you're giving them the Young Drivers of Canada program the most demanding driving course in North America. They'll learn risk perception. Emergency ma Dancing is taking place on Monday evenings at Newtonville Community Hall, 7 p.m. Everyone welcome. $2.00 an evening., Bingo every other Friday at Kendal Hall Jan. l7th and 3l1st. If you have anything you wish me to include in this col- umn, please cali me at 983- 5477. This littie quip that I saw in a book makes just as much sense as what is prlnted in our phone books, -Cail receptionist if you wish your telephone con- nected". This was on a Motel notice. Have you ever tried to cal for assistance and you only were able to get through to a recording, neyer getting through to a human being, that is the most fru.strating feeling. I know that everybody seems to have an answering service but I just cannot get used to talking to a machine so nine times out of ten I will bang up, perhaps this is frustrating to the one I am calling but it is tbem I want to talk to not a machine. ;tIe Lions another very successful New Years Eve Dance and thanked ail the Lions that came out to help set up and clean up. Lion Murray Paterson reported that everything is in place for the clubs' 50th Charter Anniversary Celebration In the spring of 97. Lion Ron Locke reported that plans are well underway for a "Down East Show" on March l5th starrlng local recording artist Charlie Anderson. The next regular meeting of the Newcastle Lions will be on January 22nd in the Lions Room at the Newcastle Community Hall. Guests are welcome, cail Lion Amos 987- 5260 for details. .-d braking.The secrets of collision avoidance. And so mucli more. Kids are always thrilled to get Young Drivers as a present. But as a parent, you know you could be giving them the gift of a lifetime! Young Drivers of Canada 1 1 That's what'parents are.for. 98 King Street W., Bowmanville Next Course Dates: February 3rd (Mon./Wed. - 4 wks.) February lltli (Tues-/Tliurs - 4 wks.) March lOth (Moni.-Thurs. - 4 Days) Cail 623-7017 for information. your teelns the, facts of life 0'