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Canadian Statesman (Bowmanville, ON), 6 Oct 1982, p. 20

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I 2 The Canadian Statesman. Bowmanville, October fi. 1982 Section Two [ Editorial Comment ) No Room for Working People Two things happened today that set us wondering about the upcoming municipal elections. First, a costly, well-prepared glossy folder arrived, courtesy of the provincial government's Municipal Affairs Branch. The contents included à.large poster, a four page, two color brochure and eight publicity releases that we assume were written by Nigel Atkin whose phone number was listed for more information, if required. Unless our memory is out of whack, it's the first time we have received such a promotion piece concerning local municipal elections and it v s_ only part of the overall program that also is featuring television advertising on a total of 145 stations throughout the province. So far, they haven't mentioned including weekly newspapers in their program, but they may also toss us a crumb or two if our association brings to their attention that every weekly newspaper in the f irovince deserves some of its argesse because we've been announcing the names and background of candidates for several weeks and encouraging citizens to come forward as potential participants in this municipal election. Why, at this point in time, is the financially strapped province spending its money or rather, ours, to stir up interest when in years past it's been left to local newspapers, radio or television stations to do the job for free? Is it because they are fearful that the new three year term will turn out to be a flop and there will be a shortage of good candidates? We don't know, we can only guess. The other item that has us deep in thought is the fact that under our present system, at least the way it operates in the Town of Newcastle, it is almost impossible for a man or woman with a full time job to be a member of local council. And it would be completely out of the question for him or her to be a regional councillor. They just take too much time dealing with the problems and many of the meetings are held during normal working hours. Now, where does that leave us? We see what has happened here, where from the mayor down, every member of council is either retired, semi-retired or his or her own boss. There is nobody on council who is a full time business person or a full time employee. There are no teachers, no lawyers, no young people. Yet, the decisions that are being made certainly will be of interest to them and have an effect on their lives. Now, we have to leave the town's policies in the hands of housewives, the retired or semi- retired. It's unfortunate, but true. Nobody else has the time to spend. Other categories of citizens are members of the hydro commission or the board of education because most of their meetings are in the evenings, with the odd exception, but this doesn't apply to council affairs. They used to meet in the evenings, but now many of their sessions last a full day and sometimes into the evening hours. And there are times when it's doubtful if they have accomplished more than could be done in a few evening hours. But, they have plenty of time, so whb is in a hurry? Under these conditions, how can the province or anyone else expect citizens under the age of 40 to become intensely interested in local municipal elections when they know their age group will not be represented? Surely, there must be a better way. This one is discriminatory. The Best Way to Help The United Way is the best way to serve the many charitable, service and community organizations which make Oshawa, Whitby and Newcastle better communities in which to live. This year, during a more difficult economic period - - - the United Way's service agencies will play an even more important role. "Needed More Than Ever Before" is this year's Campaign theme . . . and it emphasizes the greater service required from the United Way's 37 agencies which help to build citizenship and to provide help to citizens with special needs. There is hardly anyone in our three communities who is not helped in some way by the United Way. Beginning in October, the Campaign has an objective which this Fall is greater, to meet the greater demands facing our United Way agencies. The 1982 objective is $1,500,000 - - - and increase over last year's objective of $1,300,000. The fair share guide is 15 minutes pay per week. We are striving to achieve a six percent increase from those currently contributing at their potential, and a greater increase from those contributing below their potential. This objective is to meet the increased need for service from our 37 agencies, and also to provide for the inclusion of two new agencies - - - the Oshawa Deaf Centre -- which fosters education, training and employment of the deaf, and Destiny Manor, a half-way house to help women with alcohol and drug related problems. The , United Way budget committee has carefully screened all requests from the agencies, and is convinced that they have done a good job in holding the line on costs. The need is there, and with everyone's help we can meet this year's objective. • Remember - - - through a single gift, you can make a contribution to 37 separate and important organizations serving your community. Such service could be blood through the Red Cross Blood Donor Service, Boy Scouts, St. John Ambulance First Aid Training, Community Care for the elderly, the .Boys' and Girls' Club, and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, to name only a few. Thirty seven agencies will be helped during a time when they are all needed by the community more than ever before. You can help meet this important challenge - - - with your contribution to the Oshawa - Whitby - Newcastle United Way. Once again it is important to be able to say "Thanks to you, it works for all of us!" Thanksgiving This weekend marks that annual time for us to stop and count our blessings. Thanksgiving is a holiday which dates back to the Pilgrims who instituted it as an occasion to give thanks to God for their survival in the new world. The tradition has lasted through, wars, depression and a host of other adverse factors which have affected life in North America since the landing at Plymouth Rock. As a nation Canadians have, like the Pilgrims, survived another year despite a serious economic recession and massive lay-offs putting many of the country's workers on the unemployment list. Nonetheless, most Canadians will sit down to a traditional turkey dinner and pumpkin pie Monday to mark another Thanksgiving Day. (Eairabian Statesman 623-3303 (?CNA Durham County's Greet Family Journal Established 128 years ago In 1654 Also Incorporating The Bowmanville News The Newcastle Independent TheOrono News Second class mall registration number 1561 Produced every Wednesday by THE JAMES PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED 62-66 King SI, W„ Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K9 1 6 JOHN M. JAMES Editor -- Publisher RICHARD A. JAMES Assislanl Publisher GEO. P. MORRIS Business Mgr. BRIAN PURDY Advertising Mgr. DONALD BISHOP Plant Mgr. All layout» and composlllon ol advertisements produced by the employees ot The Canadien Statesman, The Newcaelle Independent and The Jamea Publishing Company Limited are protected by copyright end must not be reproduced without written permission of Ihe publishers. >15.00 a year --6 month» 50.00 strictly In advance foreign -- $45.00 a year Although every precaution will be taken to avoid error, The Canadian Statesman accepts advertising In Ils columns on the understanding that II will not be liable lor any error In Ihe advertisement published hereunder unless a proof ol such advertisement Is requested In writing by Ihe advertiser and returned to The Canadian Statesman business office duly signed by Ihe advertiser and with such error or corrections plainly noted In writing thereon, end In that case It any error so noted Is not corrected by The Canadian Statesman its liability shall not exceed such a portion of the entire cost ot such advertisement as the space occupied by Ihe noled error bears to the whole space occupied by such advertisement. l«f. rY • -- ■-* * {.'it- : -.ÿiÆ V.,.-.', Y'*- 4 '.".-.-"".:. •• V> : V? C'*-. ' * ■> s,'- > O ■*. . v V A Y7»>V ? V ; ■*••••• * -v Massive James Bay Project SUGAR and SPICE • ! > \ y Take it Easy! All right, all right, everybody I apologize. It seems that I've been getting people's backs up all over the country: Small businessmen, bank managers, accountants, news editors. Jim Ross of Exeter, whom I kidded (I thought gently) after he'd written some pretty fierce right- wing stuff in,an original letter, sent, off a veritable depth-charge of a second letter, this time with his business letter-heading, and raked me, the educational system, welfare, and everybody in general who makes him fork over taxes, over the coals. He's a self-made man, and proud of it, and I admire that, but he's awfully angry about a lot of things, like a great many people in this country, including me. Cool down, Jim. The rest of us pay school taxes too, even though our children are long gone. And I'm sorry the teachers and postal workers in town are angry with you. I hereby order them to stop regularly at your store. I'll admit that you probably pay nearly as much in income tax as I. make in salary, but that's proportionate. About $2 of every four I make goes in taxes of one kind or another. Bank managers are on my neck, too. Just because I called them clueless. I did add that most of them were nice chaps, but they didn't read that part. What I was getting at was their extreme caution, their dependence on head office, their general insistence on an arm and a leg for security, before giving a loan, although that has changed since I went to the well and came away thirsty. Now they practically force loans on people. No wonder, at the interest rates they take. v Apparently I had an unkind word 13 ; to say about accountants, too, for I got a gentle and even friendly letter , from Paul F. Nind, Yellowknife, NWT,,who carefully pointed out the difference between Chartered Accountants, the real villains, and Certified General Accountants or Registered Industrial Accountants, most of whom have to take a five or six year program of home study to earn their designations. I quote from his letter : "Dear Mr. Smiley: You have a great writing style and I have enjoyed you, your grandchildren, your yard, home and sometimes golf game for many years, but please do your homework before you wrap all of us accountants up in the old newspaper and throw us out with the garbage." He was kind enough to send me a booklet about Certified General Accountants. I have read it, and done my homework, but too late. Sorry chaps. It's the C.A.'s who are the leeches, not you. But not everyone hates me. Ken Jackson of Port Colborne dashed off a breezy and friendly letter: "I find your letter in our weekly Port Colborne News the only bright spot in another dreary week." Ken, ex-Navy and now working on the locks, would like to write a book. Why not, Ken? Give it a whirl, even though author Hugh Garner in a nice note suggested you stick at tying up • ships. Any damfool can write a book nowadays. Not suggesting that you are one. That's the first thing I'm going to do when I quit teaching, and a great many people will testify that I'm a damfool. Let's go back for a moment to the people who are down on me. I mentioned news editors. The Toronto Star's Saturday edition editor called, and in dulcet tones, wondered if I would write a column for the paper, as they were doing a feature story on me. I wasn't keen, but agreed. He thought they could manage, in these depressed times, a fee of $200. That's about half for MacEachin and half for me. I wrote the column, which turned out, purely by chance, to point out the weaknesses of the three Toronto daily newspapers. It was fairly trenchant, but right on the nose. He called again, and this time, in aggrieved tones, said they couldn't run it, because, well, you know, in these difficult times for newspapers ... etc. No wçnder dailies are going broke across the country. They're chicken. And then the guy had the gall to run, an old column of mine, transmitted by phone to a stenographer. He sent a cheque for $100. I almost sent it back and told him what to do with it, but couldn't be bothered. Chicken is chicken, however tasteless. But all was not dark and bleak. David Crowther of Walters Falls wrote a letter congratulating me on my mention of newspapers not stepping on the toes of their biggest advertisers. He then launched into an attack on the large chain food stores which is too involved to explain here. Then he congratulated me on my column entitled Pity the Poor Banks. "Last year," he wrote, "I borrowed only $11,000 (on a good credit rating) as a mortgage on my small business. To do so I had to put a lien on my house and car and my wife had to co-sign the loan. I wonder what collateral Dome Petroleum gave?" I wonder, too. Mr. Crowther also suggested students should spend the fifth year of high school, not there, but in travelling or working. I thoroughly agree. Anyway, I came out about 60-40 on hate letters. Not bad. Just a little worse than that six-five abortion the Liberals are trying to stuff down our throats. At any rate, maybe I should stop being abrasive in this column ana attack only politicians and kids under five, who can't read yet. About the same thing. What do you think? Dear Editor: On behalf of the Newcastle Village & District Chamber of Commerce, I wish to thank all the people who were involved in any way - the citizens who attended, those that entered our parade, those who gave donations and others who had booths or displays - for their support of our recent Fall Festival Day and "Oktober- fest" making it the grand day and evening that it was. For your information, our net income was $1,100.00 plus. This has helped our bank account and the Chamber is now exploring ways of putting the money into some project or projects for thé good of the community. I, personally, thank the many volunteers who assisted throughout the day and evening. My special thanks to my Executive who worked many long hours, both before and during the actual day and evening of the festivities. 1 take my hat off to you and I am proud to he your President for 1982, Sincerely, Keith D. Burr, President, Newcastle Village & District Chamber of Commerce, FROM SEA TO SEA The late J. V. McAree, a noted Globe and Mail columnist, concluded: "Experience has taught us that there are some problems for which there is no answer, and there are circumstances in which the best of men cannot make a move that will not he regretted later. There is no right move to make. Every move will he wrong. The ancient wisdom of mankind sums up the thing in the saying about a choice between low evils." Canadian opinion is divided in the naming of July One, Dominion Day of Canada Day. The 'evil' would be in Liberals making a choice for Canada Day and Conservatives chtiosing Dominion Day, with I lie New Democratic Party opposed to both in ils cusloinary manner of political opportunism., There is a rigid move for Parliament to make, after briefs and letters on Ihe subject arc submitted early in October to Paul Delisle, Clerk of the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Ottawa; and that right move is an open vote beyond parly lines. This would remove the political evil in establishing freedom of choice. I presented a motion at the monthly meeting of Cobourg District Historical Society. The motion will go forward to Ottawa: "Cobourg District Historical Society recognizes July One as Dominion Day as an integral fact of history. "Dominion Day" has been used since lttf>7 to describe the federation established in Canada by the 13NA act. "Dominion Day" is inscribed in stone in the Parliament of Canada and on other monuments as part of this, country's insignia. Let us honor Canadian Heritage by retention of Dominion Day," Perhaps the most direct rebuttal to I lie use of Canada Day is to recall Ihe old aphorism : "A country without „n past has no future." "Dominion" was adopted in preference to "Kingdom" al the suggestion of Sir Leonard Tilley wlm borrowed it, from Psalm 72: "He shall have dominion from sea to sea". The arms of Canada hear Ihe motto, "A Mari Usque Ad Mari", meaning "from sea to sea", Noted expert on constitutional constitutional affairs, Eugene Forsey, stated that this country's founders wanted "Dominion" to show the country was not a kingdom or a colony. None other than a great Canadian, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Prime Minister, 1896 to 1911, had this to- say about Dominion Day: "We are here a nation composed of the most heterogeneous elements: Protestants and Catholics, English, French, German, Irish, Scotch, every one, let it be remembered, with his traditions, with his prejudices, In each of these conflicting antagonistic elements. However, However, there is a common spot of patriotism, and the only true policy is that which reaches that common patriotism, and makes it vibrate in all toward common ends and common aspirations." There remains the historic aura of Sir Wilfrid, a French- Canadian proponent of "sea to- sea"; the stalwart, legendary Sir John Alexander Macdonald, our first Prime Minister, and succeeding patriots, We are the progenitors. To us, Dominion Day is a day for all Canada. "Canada Day", flat in sound and uninspiring, is without tradition. "Dominion Day" should remain. Let us tamper no more with our heritage. Foster M. Russell, Box 636, Cobourg, Ontario K9A 4L3 Telephone: 416-372-9497 743 Ashley Crt. Oshawa, Ont. Oct. 1/82 Dear Editor: The Durham Region Horseback Horseback Riding for the Handicapped Association held our Fourth Annual Ridealhon at Hoskins Stables at Blackstock, on Sept, 25. Forty- six riders participated in this event and $4900.00 was raised, Our association would like to thank the following for their assistance in making our event a success: Shirley and Terry Cane of Hoskin's Stables; St. John's Ambulance of Bowmanville and the Durham Region Police for their attendance ; MacDonald's of Oshawa and Highland Beverages of Uxnridgc for providing the beverages; the North Shore Amateur Radio Club whose assistance proved invaluable, all the riders who rode for us, all who made donations, and especially your newspaper for your help in publicizing our event. John Burr Rideathon Co-Ordinator. PC Women Will Meet in Brooklin On Wednesday, October 13, 1982, 8 P.M. the South Central District of Ontario Progressive Progressive Conservative Association of Women will hold their founding meeting at the Odd Fellows Hall, in Brooklin. The guest speaker will be the Honorable Bud Gregory. This district consists of the provincial ridings of: York Durham, Durham West, Oshawa, Durham East and Northumberland, The purpose of this Ontario Progressive Conservative Women's Association is to encourage the women of this district to attend workshops and be up to date on current provincial issues and also develop communications with the Provincial Government and its members.

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