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4 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, August 22,1990 S&t Canadian Statesman Durham Region's Great Family Journal Established 136 years ago in 1854 © Also Incorporating . I a The Bowmanville News MA The Newcastle Independent The Orono News Second Class mail registration number 1561 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited 62 King Street West, Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K9 416-623-3303 Fax 416-623-6161 cn John M. James Editor - Publisher Richard A. James Associate Publisher Peter Parrott Associate Editor Brian Purdy Donald Bishop Plant Mgr. rdy Advertising Mgr. All layouts and composition of advertisements produced by the employees of James Publishing Company Limited are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Subscription Rates Six Months --$11.00 One Year--$20.00' Foreign -- $60.00 pèr year Although every precaution will be taken to avoid error, The Canadian Statesman accepts advertising In lt« columns oh the understanding that it will not be liable lor any error In the advertisement published hereunder unless a proof of such advertisement Is requested In writing by the advertiser and returned to The Canadian Slates min business office duly signed by the advertiser and with such error or corrections plainly noted In writing thereon, and in that case H any error so noted is not cortecled by The Canadian Statesman its liability shall not exceed such a portion ot the entire cost of such advertisement as the space occupied by the noted error bears to the whole space occupied by such advertisement. Andrea Adair Editorial Comment " I Fixed Terms Make Sense Much has been made over the timing timing of the provincial election which is currently under way in Ontario. In fact, the calling of the election is almost the biggest issue to emerge thus far. Many have stated that the Ontario Premier had no need to send the voters to the polls when he had barely passed the mid-way point of a potential five-year term. Of course, under our present rules, the federal or provincial party in power power can call an election whenever it feels like it. It's a power which, according according to some, gives rise to exercises in political opportunism. Whenever the governing party sees that its opponents opponents are weak and it stands a half- decent chance at the polls, it customarily customarily seeks a new mandate from the public. But the rules could be changed. In fact, the solution is so obvious that it is staring everyone in the face. Why not enact legislation which would make each term of office a specific specific length of time? Why .not create a term of office with a specific starting date and an equally specific concluding concluding date. Municipally, we are doing this already. already. Municipal elections take place every three years, as regularly as clockwork. They are not called whenever whenever a mayor and council feels that their popularity is at its peak. South of the border, terms for presidents, presidents, senators and congress representatives representatives are all for a pre-aetermined period period of time. There's no reason why a similar arrangement arrangement could not take place in Canada. Since we do, however, have a parliamentary tradition, we. would undoubtedly undoubtedly want to reserve the right to have an election called whenever the government loses the confidence of the legislators. That is to say that any time a government did not have a majority majority of votes in the legislature, it could. be defeated and the election writs could be issued. But otherwise, a majority government government would be obligated to remain in office until its term expired. The possibility that we have described described above makes a considerable amount of sense for several reasons. There is, of course, the practical consideration. The fixed term of office described above would normally produce produce fewer elections and that would translate into a savings to the taxpayer. taxpayer. On the philosophical side of the argument, argument, the idea of a fixed term of office office makes sense because it would ensure ensure that the timing of an election gave all parties a "level playing field." At the moment, the party in power has an advantage because it can choose to call an election at the time that suits it best. It can make an election election call based on the latest popularity polls, a weakness in opposition, an expected expected downturn in the economy, or any number of factors which are guaranteed guaranteed to give it the best chance of winning. Wouldn't it be fairer for all political organizations if the election date was fixed and everyone took their chances? In fact, governments might have more stability if this system were adopted. Political parties would find it much easier to plan their futures knowing the dates when they would be going to the polls. Ideally this would give them time to work on governing rather than politicking. We can see few flaws in the fixed term concept outlined here. Some might argue that it would enable a corrupt or incompetent government to automatically stay in power for a set number of years. Büt if we gave parliament parliament the right to unseat a government, government, that wouldn't happen. If a government government were totally inept, it could be * "id booted out by any kind of coalition among opposition or government MPP's. Some might suggest that the year date, to before the mandatory election the party in power would begin hand out pre-election "gifts" in the longstanding tradition of bribing taxpayers taxpayers with their own money. But this occurs anyhow, under the current system. system. A term with a stipulated length of' four or five years may result in à lack of initiative by the elected officials in the first one or two years; since they know they will not be held accountable for several years. But the same can be said of a government elected with a fat majority. Everyone knows that such à government can afford to rèst on its laurels for a few years. No politician with a majority government would want to call àn élection -within a year or t\yo of the last vote. It may be argued that there are times when a government should call an election on a mattér of principle. For instance, Prime Minister Mulron- ey interpreted his latest victoiy at the. polls as a vote of confidéncé for Free Trade and he went to the voters claiming claiming that he needed to see their support for the free trade initiative. If governments were forced to serve for a set number of years, they wouldn't be able to call an election on an important single issue. But, then again, do we really want to elect people people on a single-issue campaign? If politicians politicians felt they needed to consult the public in the middle of a term, they could opt for a public referendum. Given the obvious solution to the problem of elections called unnecessarily, unnecessarily, one cannot help but wonder why the subject hasn't been discussed by the major political parties. Although the opposition parties have criticized Ontario's premier for calling an unnecessary election, they haven't yet gone so far as to suggest a scheme which would do away witn unnecessary unnecessary elections entirely,. We could have a system in which the public only goes to the polls as the result of a vote By a majority of parliament parliament or the expiration of a fixed term of office. But don't look for any of the big- name parties to adopt that idea. The reason why they wouldn't make such a move is simple. Although politicians hate to see their opponents call elections only because because of political opportunism, they wish to retain the right to indulge in the same kind of opportunism if they are in power. It makes you doubt the sincerity of some who would criticize the timing of this Ontario election of 1990. Thé NDP will never make it to power because they use the wrong colour for their party . The Liberals have red and the Progressive Con- sérvatives blue. But the NDP are orange. Orange, quite frankly, just isrvt a colour most people can wear. And in the powerful game of politics, now you look is often more important important than what you say. Fashion, whether you believe it or not, plays a role in eliciting a response response from the public. People vote for the party not because of what they believe in but because of the predominant colour in its supporters' wardrobes. wardrobes. For example, if you have more blue clothes than red, you don't want to spend a fortune to revamp revamp your wardrobe just to become a Liberal. I think it's a stipulation stipulation of membership for supporters to toe the party party colour line. Attend any political meeting of one of the three big parties and it will be quite the eye- openirig experience. Thanks to Mr. Peterson's Peterson's election call, I've attended attended a few political meetings recently and I must say I often left those meetings with strained eyes from. looking looking at the colour of the clothes of those attending. attending. If I didn't know I was attending Kirk Kemp's nomination meeting I would have known it by looking at the audience. At least 80 percent of the members were clad in blue. The color varied from light, dark and medium medium blues but there was no doubt in my mind these people were Tories. The only difference I found with the Grits was the color they wore. The few meetings I've attended of theirs, I came away rubbing my eyes after after feeling swamped by a sea of red. Then there is the New Democratic Party. To be fair, I have only been to one of their meetings in the two years I have been with this paper. The numbers attending attending that meeting were few and, I am happy to report, not one person was wearing the colour of the party -- not even a tie. Which leads me to the answer political pundits and political candidates have been asking since the September 6 election was called. David didn't call it because because the Patti Starr affair affair is on the horizon and its outcome may affect his popularity. David didn't call it because because the economy in Ontario Ontario could take a down turn this fall. And David didn't call it because voter apathy is at an all-time low, meaning meaning only the committed will vote. David called the election election because his consultants consultants informed him that "red" is in this fall. Liberal supporters will be subconsciously swaying swaying the uncommitted voters voters just by' wearing their everyday clothes. People will look at the colour .red and automatically automatically think of the Liberal party. Mr. Peterson will get back into office because he has "read" up on the latest fashion trend. The Progressive Conservatives Conservatives have fallen behind behind lately not because of Mulroney but because blue simply is not a fashion fashion hit. It is one of those stand by colours that is always around but not always popular. Who, this past summer, summer, would buy a blue t- shirt when they could instead instead buy fluorescent pink. Which is why the NDP will never make it to the big time at Queen's Park or in the House. Who wears orange? Unless you're a pumpkin pumpkin or dressed up for Halloween, Halloween, orange just doesn't send the average Canadian bounding to clothing stores to pick up designer orange jeans or an orange dress for Christmas. The only hope the NDP has to make it as the party party in power is if an election election is someday held in October when harvest colors colors are.more acceptable. ' Or the NDP can gradually gradually change the colour of the party. This, my sources sources tell me, they slowly are doing. But, until then, my pick this fall is David's team because although red may be painful on the eyes, it is visible everywhere everywhere this year. Letter Writer Worried About 'Frenchification' Dear Sir: Premier Peterson has called a provincial election for g September.19.9Q. To be able to vote intelligently intelligently on issues each voter must closely and critically examine the record of the Liberal provincial government. government. , Not the least of issues should be the current Ontario Ontario frenchification program under Bill 8 -- The French Language Services Act. Initially, Mr. Peterson maintained there would be no frenchification program. That changed on November 18th, 1986 when third reading reading of Bill 8 (85% of which was in french) occurred. Thus, the frenchification of Ontario began and only now are the Anglophones realizing realizing its full extent. French colonization of the province is under way and the francophones are being isolated from all other cultures, cultures, and being given political political preference in job hiring and promotion. And what else does Mr. Peterson's record show? He was a dedicated supporter of the Meech Lake Accord (so called) -- with all its flaws and favors for Quebec. His forecast of the results of a failed Meech included -- the disintegration of Canada; Canada; the Canadian dollar would plunge in value on the international market; and, interest rates would skyrocket. Would you have this man (party) represent you with his grossly misleading statements statements which are often quite untrue, vs/inom .v;>. Also, Mr. Peterson agreed whole heatedly that Quebec should be/rijje'd as a distinct society, -ie.'supériôr and exalted!, exalted!, leaving the rest of us as indistinct ie. diill, blurred and stunned!, by dictionary definition. In addition he approved of Quebec having its own immigration immigration policy, which, with Bill 8 and the Federal Bill C-72 would ensure the rapid french colonization of all of Canada. This makes us wonder if Mr. Peterson's agenda is that of Mr. Bou- rassa and Mr. Mulroney. In November of 1989 I sent a questionnaire to MPs, MPPs, MLAs, and Senators to determine their stand on vital issues of the day. I included included a comment that a non-response within 60 days would signify a Yes response by the addressee -- Mr. Peterson Peterson DID NOT REPLY! Typical questions were: 1. Do you believe that English English should be repudiated and made virtually illegal in Quebec while French is being being forced down the throats of Anglophones across Canada? Canada? 2. Do you believe that Canada Canada should be spending at least 22 million dollars a day on bilingualism while we have such a huge gross national debt? 3. Do you believe MPPs should ignore how their constituents constituents want them to vote on issues, but vote as directed directed by their party leader? 4. Do you believe that Quebec Quebec should be favored over other provinces? By a non-return, Mr. Peterson Peterson signified a yes vote for all of the above questions, questions, plus many equally contentious issues. A leader ready to give Canada to Quebec. Regardless of the three "mainline" parties (Liberal, NDP, Conservative) there is a marked similarity in their views and policies, and definitely definitely forming a three-party combine for the frenchification frenchification of Canada. It is time for the Ontario electorate to "wake up and smell the coffee"-- there are alternatives--The Confederation Confederation of Regions Party, The Reform Party, The Christian Heritage Party, and even qualified Independents who stand for returning "power to the People" through: The right of initiative***!^ initiative***!^ right of referendum***1!^ referendum*** 1 !^ right of recall. You folks in Ontario are the first in the "firing Line" after Meech. Make no mistake mistake about it, every community community should ensure their candidate candidate favours English only for all levels of Government. Yours truly, L. Krnm 6091 172 A St. Surrey, B. C. Canada V3S 4V8 z IA/ELL of COURSE, MR, PRESIDENT,,. THE CANADIAN MAW would be Glad to send you TWO moke SHIPS fog THE IRAQ. MISSION,,, ... ONCE I0E Get them OUT OF THE BOTTLES, Reader Criticizes Record Dear Editor: PETERSON DESERVES THE BOOT! This is why Peterson deserves deserves to be beaten at the polls. The introduction of nofault nofault insurance. Peterson has given us 33 different tax increases. He supported Mulroney and Bourassa on Meech Lake to give Quebec special status in Canada's constitution as a distinct society. society. Calling an election when his popularity is high so he may get re-elected and get an extra two years which is going to cost us $40 million dollars. We also have two costly school systems when one Rail Route Not Feasible for 407 Dear Editor: The Honourable David Ramsay, Minister of Agriculture Agriculture and Food, has referred to me your letter of May 14, 1990 regarding one of your constituents suggestions for the routing of proposed Highway 407. The Havelock subdivision of CP Rail passes through many small hamlets as it Ê roceeds easterly through lurham Region. In addition the right of way for the rail corridor is considerably less than that required for a highway. The rail line also penetrates penetrates the Oak Ridges Moraine Moraine and a highway corridor corridor in this area would have significant environmental impacts. For these reasons the CP Rail Corridor is not being considered as an option for Highway 407, however, the study team is sensitive to the impacts on the agricultural agricultural community and that concern will be an important evaluation factor. Thank you for bringing this concern to my attention. Sincerely, William Wryo Minister of Transportation Transportation should be enough and if anyone anyone wants different education education they should also pay for it themselves. Since 1961 tax increases have outstripped wage gains by 455%. An average Canadian family income will be $49,500, of that $24,569 will go to taxes of all kinds, with Ontario paying taxes to August August 5th next year. Peterson has also made English speaking citizens 2nd class by introducing Bill 8 requiring French for hiring hiring and promotion in Ontario Ontario provincial government jobs. This election is about who we can get to represent us and be accountable. It all boils down to who can we vote for? Who has the vision? vision? Who has the integrity? Who can we trust? It is time that we demanded demanded action or refuse to pay the taxes until we get action. This is the time to ask questions and not expect an answer but Demand an answer. answer. Yours truly, Robert E. Stiles Newcastle, Ontario Writer Disappointed by Town Council Decision Dear Mr. James: Thank you so much for your excellent editorial of August 1st explaining the difficulties of Participation House. Many dedicated people people have questioned its delay delay after giving so freely of their time, talents and money. money. It is a great disappointment disappointment to learn that the latest proposal for Participation House has been turned down by Newcastle Council. As you travel around Bowmanville you see beautiful beautiful orchards Being destroyed for monster houses, productive productive farm land being used for low-rent housing. Building Building is everywhere. Participation House has had their property for sixteen sixteen years, long before the Bowmanville building boom Thanks for The Publicity Thank you very much for your usage of the two papers for publicity for our Orange parade. Thank you also for the wonderful pictures and articles. articles. They were all very kind. Thanks again, Sincerely, Richard Lowery, The Parade Committee and yet it is rejected as not suitable for the area. We should remember that one of America's greatest greatest Presidents was in a wheelchair, Canada's Rick Hanson won the hearts of everyone from a wheelchair. Bowmanville had a mayor in a wheelchair who did a fantastic fantastic job of running the town. That was in the days when we didn't need the Bowmanville Boosters to tell us where Bowmanville was located. Sincerely, Kay Samells. Searching for loyalist Grads Dear Editor: The Loyalist College Alumni Association is pleased to announce our second second Homecoming Activity, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 29,1990. Our graduates from the past 23 years are scattered throughout the country, and we are hoping that local media media will help in our efforts to contact our "long-lost" alumni, alumni, and help spread the word about our fledgling organization. organization. Sincerely, Dawn Ecke, Placement/Alumni Officer, Officer, P.O. Box 4200, Belleville, Belleville, Ontario K8N 5B9. Tel: (613) 969-1913 Reader Critical of Participation House Decision Group Pushes Peterson For Pause Day Legislation Dear Editor: During the 1987 election campaign, Premier David Peterson said ho believed "Ontarians generally support support the concept of a common common pause day. IIo said ho had "no plans to mnko major changes" to Ontario's Sunday closing law. In Mny 1087, an till-party committee of the Legislature unanimously recommended provincial legislation which "supports the principle of a common pause day in Ontario." Ontario." The Premier responded: "I accept that advice...and I don't plan any immediate changes." We nil know what happened, happened, The Government broke Its promise, changed the law, permitted munici palities to approve wide- open Sunday shopping, and allowed supermarket-size drug stores and multinational multinational food chains to break tho law without fear of prosecution. To add insult to injury, tho Liberals' new law was found to bo "constitutionally invalid and of no force or effect." effect." So, now Ontario has no law, and wo have wide- open Sunday shopping, causing major problems lor retail workers, tnoir families and others, I wonder what Premier Peterson will promise us in this election? Will ho pledge to pass legislation legislation that protects people's people's human right to a common common pause day that is enforced throughout tho province? Will ho offer to re introduce the old law which was declared to be constitutional constitutional by the Supreme Court of Canada? As a province-wide coalition coalition of businesses, churches, citizens' groups, retailors associations and trade unions, unions, Fairness For Families urges Premier Peterson to introduce legislation that will ensure a common pause day across Ontario for as many retailors and retail employées as possible and that will effectively protect tho rights and freedoms of nil religious groups. Gerald Vnndothndo Executive Director Fairness For Families P.O. Box 1310 Station B Downwview, Ont. M3H 5W3 Dear Sir: I was quite dismayed that physically handicapped people in Bowmanville have been denied a much needed facility because the Newcastle Newcastle Town Council turned down tho application from Participation House after some residents presented a petition against it. Council scores a zero for yet another short-sighted planning decision. Accommodation that allows allows physically handicapped people to live independently but have access to full time attendant enro is very hard to come by and you would think that Council would bo proud to have such a facility in our municipality, Tho recommendation of town staff was to approve tho application from Participation Participation Houso. So, whatever nncy language tho people who signed tho petition have chosen to use, tho end result is that physically handicapped handicapped people have boon denied denied a place to live because of tho actions of R. Lnngo (who presented tho petition) and hih follow residents. I hope that makes tho poll- r, tioners feel safer. It was explained quite clearly that having the 23 r o n t-gc are d-to-i nco m e units included in the project was NOT Participation House's choice but the only way that they could receive tho government government funding that is necessary necessary for their survival. It was also made quite clear that if this application wns turned down that it would bo impossible to provide provide tho housing for tho hnndicnppod because of deadlines that had to bo mot before tho end of 1990. At this somo meeting where tho petitioners protested. protested. tho consultant for Participation House showed everyone tho plnns for tho development. Despite having to work with an odd-shaped piece of land, tho two-story town- houses wore quite attractively attractively designed to encourage everyone who lives there to fool like part of their community, community, with ample play space for children and made to blond into tho nearby groon space. Will the nearby residents who objected fool botter il land and puts up an ugly apartment building that is filled with people paying market prices? The protesters glossed over the fact that some of the townhouses would be at market value prices. The 23 ront-gcared-to-income units that upset the petitioners nro really such a small component component in such a largo area. If tho petitioners had wanted to protest against people who were loss financially financially secure than themselves themselves without jeopardizing accommodation for physically physically handicapped people, then they should have objected to tho plans for tho G8 affordable affordable townhouses in tho MGS development and tho GO non-profit houses planned by tho Region of Durham. I do not recall them being at tho meetings where those developments were approved. approved. I wns oven loss Impressed with Councillor Doognn. IIo flits through most council meetings without imying anything. Then when ho does speak ho comes out with a statement statement that makes it sound like those 23 ront-gcared-to- income townhouses arc going going to create a hotbed of crime that is worse than the Jane-finch corridor in Toronto. Toronto. Better he should have kept his mouth closed! I would expect someone who is paid to hold public office to be bettor informed. Councillor Councillor Ilainro quickly pointed out to him that there wore no facts to support his statement statement but ho did not alter his position. Mayor Hubbard was certainly certainly not impressive with her lolly statements nbout wanting to send a message to tho other levels of government. government. She's been a politician long enough to know that other levels of government nro not going to oven honr her statement - lot alone do anything nbout it. It did not seem to bother her that she was sacrificing tho hopes of 10 disabled people people for accommodation just ho «ho could pontificate! I was proflont at tho council council mooting whore tho plana for tho largo MCS project which contai nu G8 affordable townhouflCB wore panned by Council. Tho only coinmontfi made by Town Council was that Councillor Wotten called for a recorded vote and Mayor Hubbard asked him what ho wns up to? It would be interesting to know what stirred the local politicians to speak and act on this much smaller development development which will such a important effect on tho physically handicapped people people in our region. Recently, there wns a re- zoning matter brought before before Council for Cnreviow Manor which is a boarding house which takes in people who nro unable to live on their own, usunlly duo to montai or emotional handicaps. handicaps. , , Local residents objected and tho CPA committee recommended recommended to council _ to deny tho rozoning which meant a number of tho Cnreviow Cnreviow Manor residents would have had to leave. At tho council mooting which wns hold a week later, later, many people came to attest attest to tho good that Care- view Manor did and tho benefits it provided and, li ter hearing them, Council rovorned the CPA decision and allowed Cnreviow Man or to continue to opevnte. Pnrticipnction House did not have that opportunity to have members of the community community come forth and counter counter arguments from the protesters protesters and talk nbout what it would mean for themselves themselves or members of their families to bo able to live in their own community - not far, far away in institutions. Because, instead of holding holding tho council meeting (which ratifies tho decisions made by CPA committee) one week Inter ns it always does (and thereby allowing people time to speak nbout decisions), tho Council mooting mooting took place just minutes after tho CPA without any public notice Hint I saw or hoard and certainly denied Participation House supporters supporters a fair chance to present their side of tho story. story. I think that it is n real flhnmo that tho physically handicapped people in this region nro being denied accommodation accommodation bocmiflo of such flimfly protoxln, Sincerely, Evylln Stroud Bowmanville, Ontario