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i The Canadian Statesman. Bowmanville. September 16. 1987 Section Two Œfje Canadian Statesman 623-3303 Durham County's Greet Family Journal Established 133 years ago in 1854. Also Incorporating The Bowmanville News The Newcastle Independent The Orono News Second class mall registration number 1561 Produced every Wednesday by THE JAMES PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED 62-66 King St. W., BowmanviHe, Ontario L1C 3K9 JOHN M. JAMES Editor--Publisher GEO. P. MORRIS Business Mgr. RICHARD A. JAMES Assistant Publisher BRIAN PURDY Advertising Mgr. PETER PARROTT Associate Editor DONALD BISHOP Plant Mgr. All layouts _ Statesman, The. by copyright and and composition of advertisements produced by the employees of ' te Newcastle Independent and The James Publishing Company Limited ■nd must not be reproduced without permission of the publishers. the employees of The Canadian ~ ' 1 1 are protected >17.00 a year--6 months $9.00 strictly In advance foreign--$55.00a year Although every precaution will be taken lo avoid error, The Canadian Statesman accepts advertising in its columns on the understanding that it will not be liable for any error in the advertisement published hereunder unless a proof of such adyedisement is requested in writing by the advertiser and returned to The Canadian Statesman business office duly signed by the advertiser and with such error or corrections plainly noted in writing thereon, and in that case if any error so noted is not corrected by The Canadian Statesman its liability shall not exceed such a portion of the entire cost of such advertisement as the space occupied by the noted error bears to the whole space occupied by such adverlisement. A Hard Act to Follow There's an old saying that people should be careful what they pray for because they're likely to receive it. The Liberal party in Ontario is in that kind of predicament this week as it contemplates the kind of landslide landslide that is truly unprecedented in Ontario's history. But having received a bigger mandate mandate than anyone but the most cockeyed cockeyed optimist would have wished for, Liberals must tread carefully. That's because an overwhelming majority such as the one received last Thursday night can contain within it •the seeds of its own undoing. For one thing, this sort of election win creates high expectations and it will be difficult for any political party to live up to those hopes. People will be expecting Premier Peterson and his party to pull rabbits out of hats.If the government fails to do so, it will suffer from the shortfall between expectations expectations and achievement. The size of the Peterson government government is, in itself, a bit of a drawback because there is the task of finding meaningful jobs to keep all 94 backbenchers backbenchers and cabinet ministers happy. As well as the task of governing Ontario, Ontario, the Liberal administration also faces the human relations job of assigning assigning duties and keeping peace within the very large numbers of Liberal Liberal representatives who will shortly be hanging their hats at Queen's Park. Don't forget that all 94 newly- elected MPPs will have their own hopes and dreams for the communities communities they represent and then- own agenda for the things that they want done at both the provincial and local levels. They, no doubt, all have some highway they want repaired, some community centre which must be built or some industrial park which needs government funds for development. Many of the MPPs will be newcomers and. as such, they may be all the more zealous in getting down to the business ofgovernment. The Liberals must find the secret to staying humble even though they command the kind of majority which would allow them to do practically anything they wish. It need only look eastward to Ottawa Ottawa to see some of the pitfalls which can arise when there's a very large majority on the government side. Of course, the Liberals have at least had the experience of serving a two- year "apprenticeship" in government through their "understanding" with the New Democratic Party. Moreover, the government will be quick to point out that it will be able to maintain its popularity through its programs and legislation alone. And that brings us to the positive side of government by landslide. The fact remains that when you have a majority government, that government government can never claim to be thwarted by the apposition. If it fails to do something, it will have no one but itself to blame. It boils down to the fact that a majority government will be as good as its programs. If it introduces ideas that are positive and meaningful and in touch with the people of the Province, Province, then a majority government will have a good chance for success. But ifi à government has .no clear sense of where it's going, and has to contend with warring factions within the caucus, then it may turn out to be a one-term wonder remembered only for its election victory rather than the accomplishments which followed that win. Premier Peterson has accomplished accomplished much in the past two years and as he heads into a new term of office with a new government, he. should be congratulated. Without a doubt, there are some exciting exciting times ahead in the Province of Ontario. Readers and Equality Yet another salvo has been fired in the battle over gaining equal opportunities opportunities for women. We are referring to a recent study of children's readers used in the school system -- a study which discovered discovered that the books are sexually biased. ' The report from the Federation of Women Teachers'Associations of Ontario Ontario claimed that most role models portrayed in the readers and the world outlook contained within these books favors males. "The Reader world is not a shared world...Book covers, illustrations, some stories and many series have changed but the predominance of major role models, male images and a male world remains evident," said the F.W.T.A.O. study. This conclusion was reached after researchers considered about 50 readers and studied how girls and boys as well as men and women were treated in the stories. Factors such as their numbers, occupations, activities, activities, general image, and whether males or females carried the action in the plot, were considered. The report criticizes the books for depicting boys as doing such things as playing piano, piloting space craft, and handling equipment while girls go on a diet, dream sad dreams, and "cry soundlessly". The report concedes that the new readers have more exciting formats and show striking visual artistry. However, those who evaluated the books mourned the fact that "the contents contents of these books did not match the excellence of their presentation. In no series was there any sense of a world shared by women and men, girls and boys." What's the solution? Well, the news release from the F.W.T.A.O. suggests that stories should portray children meeting equal numbers of men and women who are intelligent and indcr L, Males should be shown • .uceiving help, friendship and at vice from females as often as fern a' is receive these from males." It further slates that children should learn that individuals arc lovable lovable despite differences in behaviour, behaviour, appearance or personality. "All people should be portrayed as genuine people and not as the hackneyed symbols for their race, their culture or their sex," the report concluded. It recommends that better material be found -- material which not only teaches reading but also equality between between the sexes. It seems to us, however, that the criticisms expressed by the F.W.T.A.O. should not be misconstrued misconstrued as a criticism of the readers readers as vehicles for teaching the skill of reading itself. Nor should the study be used as an excuse to indulge in a little more "school bashing". Modern readers are still miles ahead of the old-fashioned variety. They undoubtedly undoubtedly make reading more enjoyable. However, it appears from the research research cited above that even our most modern educational products may have certain shortcomings. The deficiencies deficiencies cited in the F.W.T.A.O. report report may be so subtle that they are not readily apparent to some. So it appears that more work has to be done. But, then again, we should never assume that we have reached the point where text books are 100 per cent perfect. And the process of improving and revising texts is just another facet of education. ERMAN.Iêp wrïirtk*»" 4 * re -iJBwreSiL .. «Ifs*" f iS' x.. Mammoth Crane Hoists Town Hall Roof in Place On behalf of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Durham Region, I would like to thank you for your coverage of the Jocelyn Muir Swim-A-Thon. Your pre-event coverage helped make this a very successful fundraising event. Please extend special thanks to Carolyn Hepburn • for her expertise in covering this event so capably,.,^ Sincerely, Marg Hart, Co-ordinator, Town of Newcastle, Durham Region MS Society. On behalf of the Newcastle Newcastle Lakers Baseball Club, I would like to take this opportunity opportunity to thank the Canadian Canadian Statesman newspaper for their excellent coverage of our ball games during the past season, also our thanks to the following: Department Department of Community Services Services Town of Newcastle, Fox Sports, merchants and individuals who advertised in our program, people who attended our games, Bowmanville Bowmanville Orioles Junior Baseball Club, Mr. Terry Donohue, Roger Newman, Newcastle Baseball Association, Association, Bowmanville Umpires' Umpires' Association, Roy Foster Foster of Kendal. To all the above mentioned mentioned individuals, groups, organizations and The Canadian Statesman thank you for your support and interest interest in the Newcastle Lakers Lakers of the Eastern Ontario Senior Baseball League. From Bud Fanning and John Robinson. Mr. Shane Peacock, 473 Palmerston Blvd., Apartment #3, Toronto, Ontario. M6G 2N9 August 27,1987. Dear Mr. Jamies: . Please accept my thanks for the piece you published in the July 29 Statesman concerning concerning Signor Farini. Several Several people, responded to it and the information, they had to offer was helpful. Farini's life is, at times, difficult difficult to uncover and a gesture like yours on my behalf is truly appreciated. Yours sincerely. Shane Peacock Re: Premier announces $31.7 million additional support support for the Disabled." Coverage for Ontario's entire Assistive Devices Program Program (ADP) will be extended extended by the Ministry of Health over the next two years to encompass people of all ages, including senior citizens, citizens, Premier David Peterson Peterson announced, August 18. The ministry, which pays 75% of the cost of approved approved assistive devices has already eliminated age restrictions restrictions for people who need prosthetic devices, such as artificial limbs and respiratory equipment and supplies. Tm very happy that the extension is coming but I still think it's a bit slow. They should have extended it simultaneously to all disabled disabled groups. They should have done it years ago. The program should also pay 100% of the costs. It's a good start. There's a lot of people who've been fighting for the extension' for years. It's good news, but there's still room for improvement for people on fixed incomes, such as senior citizens, medical medical supplies can take a hugh bite out of the monthly income. Even with 75% paid for by the provincial government, government, the remaining 25% could still constitute a hardship for some people. Before the announcement announcement was made, only 5 provinces had coverage for all age groups; they are B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec, three provinces, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland Newfoundland have coverage for seniors 65 years of age and up, and P.E.I. has none whatsoever. Before September September 15 of this year, only Ontario Ontario and P.E.I. had no medical medical coverage for seniors with some kind of disability, or ostomy. Ontario has been cautious and slow in im- plemenitng a program for all age groups. When the Liberals got into power, the old ADP program was only serving about 15,000 people. By the end of this year, the ministry will have spent 23.7 million to serve 83,500 disabled. The program will be fully expanded by March 1, 1989 and the estimated costs when fully utilized will be approx. $67 million to serve 150,000 disabled people. people. Most people who have no medical coverage at the workplace or home, will no longer have to go to Social Services and take a means test to get special assistance to buy ostomy supplies or get other devices for disabilities. disabilities. But some who cannot afford the remaining 25%, will have to seek charity, special assistance or go further further into debt or pay these supplies with whatever meagre earnings they may have. ADP should have covered covered people of all ages from the time of its implementation implementation in 1982, when it was introduced introduced as a Youth Program Program (18 and under age group) by the Bill Davis Conservative government. Peterson's Liberal gov't extended extended it to age 23 in 1985 and to cover respiratory equipment and prosthetic devices for all ages. Peterson's announcement announcement goes against what the premier, then leader of the Opposition said during the 1985 election to the March of Dimes. Peterson then said the Liberals supported the "immediate implementation of ADP to all age groups simultaneously simultaneously rather than the discriminatory and unfair unfair method of phasing inthe program by age groups. "Then, six months later, the Peterson gov't did not make the commitment. In a letter written to me, dated dated October 24,1985, Premier Peterson said; "Until we have had the opportunity to : fully review this complex is- , sue, it would not be possible to make a definite commitment commitment on the expansion of the program". Soon afterwards afterwards they expanded the program from 18 to 23 years. The Liberals have gov erned for 2 yeasrs but have not kept their promise to the disabled. Instead, they chose to continue the same discriminatory discriminatory system they condemned condemned when in Opposition. Opposition. The new announcement announcement means that ADP will be phased in groups not of age but of physical disabili- . .ties. While a person needing, / ■ an artificial limb, ostomy supplies, medical gases can get 75% financial assistance starting mid-September, someone requiring a wheelchair, wheelchair, orthoses, visual and communication aids and hearing aids will have to wait until that portion of the program is phased in. That in itself is discriminatory and unfair. I would like to give thanks to United Ostomy Assoc.'s Claude Campbell, Oshawa's NDP MPP Mike Breaugh, NDP Health Critic Dave Coke,. and- Oshawa ■ MP Ed Broadbent for,supporting for,supporting the extension. Now ■ let's get 100% medical coverage coverage for the disabled throughout the province. Ed Sawdon 1-90 Simcoe Street Oshawa. Ontario Phone No. 723-4259 Outlook By Carolyn Hepburn Are We a Nation of Spectators? Somewhere along the line, the true meaning of sporting competition and excellence has become lost. Sports means a lot to most North Americans. Just look at the amount of interest aroused by sprinter Ben Johnson's world-record performance -- interest generated not only by the competition on the track but also the subsequent controversy off the race course. These days, the fate of the Toronto Blue Jays has become a major topic of discussion even among those individuals individuals who, a few years ago, couldn't tell the difference between a fly ball and home plate. We have just concluded the Canada Cup hockey season. The NHL season is warming up. And (if anyone is still interested) the CFL is going down to the wire. Wo also have all-sport television networks in which, on any hour of the day, you can see hot only the big league baseball, football, and hockey but also the more obscure sports like demolition derbies or swamp buggy racing or perhaps, for all we know, underwater cricket. Moreover, those people who are fortunate enough to land a berth in the big leagues of sport often command command the sort of salaries that make income tax auditors salivate. It seems to us, however, that there's one major flaw in these sporting pastimes pastimes and that is the fact that so many of them arc spectator sports. Paradoxically, as our interest in sports grows, it just may be possible that individuals'fitness will decline. It fact, the major sporting activities may actually hinder participation in sports because we arc starting to de fine athletes as superior beings whose skills we can never hope to match. The day may arrive when we would no more try to be an amateur baseball player or hockey player or runner than we would try to be an amateur doctor, lawyer or engineer. And that, of course, would be unfortunate. Although the numbers of people participating in sports may indicate there's still a healthy interest in amateur sport, the situation may not always remain that way. If, as the experts suggest, we will need to find more productive use of leisure time in the future, then sports will undoubtedly have an important role to play. Let's hope that we will spend those leisure hours as participants rather than spectators. With the abundance of issues that could appear in this column it almost seems repetitive to expound expound again on the whole Courtice water issue. Yet, with my recent attendance attendance at a regional works committee meeting meeting and various comments comments that I have heard flying around the council council chambers and homes of area residents I feel that the situation does indeed deserve several more inches of space. I'm realistic enough to know that all the writing in the world isn't going to put water in the ground for the affected home owners. If that were the case, the total of the paperwork received received by both local and regional councils would have accomplished that feat months ago, It would seem as if regional regional council is finally listening and taking action action towards solving the present de-watering happenings and hopefully hopefully preventing similar occurrences in the future. future. Many folks are concerned concerned that the regional council who gave approval approval for the subdivisions subdivisions causing all the problems problems isn't living up to its responsibilities as controller over development. development. While the bureac- ractic process may not be moving at lightning speed for the people with no water, I don't agree that the region is wholly to blame. Those subdivisions went through initial approvals approvals at our local level and I thinkthatthcTown of Newcastle owes something something to the residents of Courtice if it wants them to stay part of our town. Yes, the present council may not have initiated the growth in Courtice, but it does control it now and if it wants to keep on controlling it, the council council better be viewed as caring about Courtice and its residents. There are going to be many homeowners affected affected by the regional works committee and subsequently the regional regional council's decision to apply for funding but still have some residents foot part of the water hook-up bill. I don't buy the shallow well or the low rainfall story. They are factors in the whole scenario, but they only serve to cloud the entire issue. The fact is that some people who have enjoyed enjoyed well water for many years arc having the wells on their property property drained. Even if they refused to hook up to municipal services when they had the chance in recent years, many did so because they wanted to continue using their wells. Now that the development in the area has increased at such a rate, I don't think the affected residents should have to pay for progress. Sure, I live in Bowman- villc. What do 1 care about a group of people 1 don't know who have been dominating the headlines and newspapers' newspapers' in the recent months? I am concerned because what is happening happening in Courtice says something about this town and this region. It is saying saying that in order to get results, you have to go past the point of comfort. One must endure the bureaucratic cycle. One must endure the bureaucratic game of pin-the-tail-on-the-don : key (and councillors better better pray that they hit the right one). I don't believe that it will be possible for homeowners in an area that is growing as fast as the Courtice urban area to pretend that they can continue on wells. It would be like having a farm in the middle of Toronto; Toronto; the two just don't mix. With the slow governmental governmental process it would appear that the timetable of the regional works committee doesn't predict water in the ground until the spring. I wonder who is going to tell homeowners that their water supply will continue to be provided at the mercy of obliging friends and relatives? To their credit, several developers have been more than fair at filling wells and continuing to deal with problems that arise with the area development. development. Still, that won't serve as a long-term solution to an already long-term problem. Councillors, both locally locally and regionally, better better keep plugging away at the situation, For some people they've a long way to go to prove to area residents that the problems in Courtice aren't falling on deaf ears.