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2 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc, Wednesday, November 13,1991 Section Two Former Publishers Rev. W. R. Climie, 1854-1878 • M.A. James, 1878-1935 • George W. James, 1935-1957 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited For 137 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher - John M. James Assoc. Publisher - Richard A. James Plant Manager - Donald J. Bishop Ad. Manager - Brian G. Purdy Editor - Peter Parrott Production Rick Patterson, Julie Cashin-Oster, Laurens Kaldeway, Doug Lugtenburg, Sharon McMullen, Barb Patterson, , Sean Pickard, Ralph Rozema, Jim Snoek, Vance Sutherland, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Laveme Morrison, Pat Patterson-Savage Editorial Brad Kelly, Lorraine Manfredo, Laura J. Richards Office Angela Luscher, Junia Carnegie, Grace McGregor, Nancy Pleasance, Marilyn Rutherford, Barb Schouten P.O. Box 190,62 King St. W., Bowmanvillc, Ontario, L1C 3K9 416-623-3303 Fax 416-623-6161 Municipal Election Draws Attention to Government Issues By the time you read this, the 1991 municipal election will be history. So, perhaps it's appropriate to write a brief epilogue about what has to be one of the most fascinating campaigns in recent history. We have no idea exactly how the election will turn out as we write these comments on Monday. So, we'll limit ourselves to a few general observations. We have been impressed with the quality of the candidates in the running and also with the quantity. The slate this year had a total of 44 names and nobody got a free ride into office through acclamation. There was also a record number of candidate meetings and good crowds at each of these meetings. In short, it seems as though people arc taking an active interest in the local political process. And they ought to do so. Because, after all, the grassroots government has a profound impact on the quality of life we lead here and now. Surprisingly, there have been no new issues raised in the past six weeks or so. The things that concern local citizens are relatively predictable. A few of them include: taxes and government spending; residential development; the creation of commercial development opportunities; the future of the lakefront; garbage disposal; and, of course, the changing of the municipality's name. One interesting new topic is just a local election issue. It has to do with whether or not facsimiles of registration or nomination papers can be accepted in place of the original document. There's every indication that we haven't heard the last of this issue. And, you can certainly rest assured that because faxes were a factor in at least two Ontario municipal elections, there will be some serious thought on the part of the provincial government to alter the Municipal Election Act. Clearly, the Act will have to specifically say whether faxes are in or out. We wouldn't be surprised if faxes will eventually be mled acceptable, provided that the original copy of the document is also submitted. After all, this is the 20th Century. Look for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to come up with a new directive on the topic in about a year or two. All we can say after watching the level of interest in the recent election is that we hope the interest carries on throughout our elected officials' term in office. It's one thing to take an interest in the weeks surrounding the municipal vote. But, it's equally important to keep informed between elections. Municipal government has become rather complex. And sometimes there is a shortage of general knowledge among those of us who find it difficult to be dedicated watchers of councils or school boards. How many voters could explain, for example, the difference between a regional or a local councillor? How many can describe the functions of the Ontario Municipal Board? What percentage of voters could describe the difference between regional government responsibilities and local government responsibilities? The election campaign is a good opportunity for the public to leam more about how our government works. We leam, for example, that over half of the money we pay in taxes goes not to the local or regional councils but to the school board. We leam that the local Hydro commission spends about 85 cents out of every dollar just to purchase the electricity which it then distributes to homes. We discover why it is that municipalities hoping to attract industry or commercial development cannot offer incentives such as reduced land prices or tax incentives. It's a fascinating process. And, the learning doesn't have to stop when the last ballot has been counted on election night. Let's promise ourselves that we'll prepare for the next round of civic elections by taking a day-to-day interest in local government. That way, in three years' time, we'll be even more informed about the issues and the candidates. "So here he is folks, back for yet another term as Mayor of the North Pole, and ready to deliver on his "Presents for All" campaign promise!" by Laura J. Richards Lighting Candles to Remember Santa's first official post-election appearance will be at the Bowmanvillc Parade this Saturday. While searching for an issue issue to discuss in this week's column I came across an article article in the local daily regarding regarding a piece of hate mail received received by Surface, a bimonthly newspaper at Queen's University. The letter, a collage on newsprint, said, "Congratulations! "Congratulations! Here's your politically correct death notices...we're gunna rape u dykes." The letter contained a list of every female editor's name which appeared on the paper's masthead numbered one to eight. In Thursday morning's Toronto Star there appeared a letter via Canada Press from Katie Driscoll, who states why she is a radical feminist. "I will not, I cannot, silence silence my voice of radical feminism. Not until the exact moment that I have freedom and true equality." She wrote her letter in reference reference to how women are still controlled by outside forces, battered, raped, and trapped within their bodies. She also spoke out on how our gender is entrapped into the idea that we are not supposed supposed to talk about what our bodies do. In Maclean's magazine this week, the editorial presents facts which may (but then again may not) surprise folks around Canada. They are worth repeating. -- About 60 per cent of female homicide victims in our country are killed by current current or former husbands or male companions. -- Ten per cent of the female female population in Canada is physically or sexually assaulted assaulted by intimate partners. In four weeks' time, on Dec. 8, 1991, women around Canada will be lighting candles candles to honor the 14 women who were murdered at the Université du Montreal. Before Marc Lepine killed them, he shouted, "You're all a bunch of feminists, and I hate feminists." Enough is enough. The time has come for women to come to the aid of their sisters. So many of us (and I include include myself) have rested on the laurels of the sisters who came before us. The radical feminists. If it weren't for them, most of us would not be in the positions we're in today. My friend Teresa would not be a civil engineer, my friend and roommate Karen would not be a metal fabricator. fabricator. My aunt Linda would not be heading up the Capital Region Region Development Commission Commission back home. God only knows where they would be and what they would be doing. I probably would not be a reporter, in fact I would probably probably be married and looking after a van full of kids. It is time to say something and not let anyone push us back. The tide is swelling, the time is right to let the governments governments know where women, all women stand--together. However, we must remember remember that not all women have the same goals. Let us face facts--not all women consider themselves to be feminists. Not all feminists are radical radical and not all radical feminists feminists are lesbians. The most radical feminists I know are married and have children. I consider my mother mother to be a radical feminist. If you've not figured it out yet, I consider myself to be a feminist. However, what I believe in my pursuit of feminism is not really a lot different than what many of my radical friends back home believe in. I just go about things differently. differently. I work with the systems. I always have. The thing is that now we have to gather our strength against: the people who abuse other people, the Canadian legal legal system and the people who enforce it. We have got to redefine our education material to fit the new waves of horror-- people not caring who is murdered, murdered, as long as it is not someone they love. People have got to slop laughing at "jokes" about domestic domestic violence or rape or incest incest or any other topic considered considered unacceptable at the dinner table. Laughing at these "jokes" helps make the subjects become become more tasteful. The more we grow to accept accept the more we grow lazy and unfeeling. It makes us stop thinking for ourselves. On Dec. 8, while many people across our country light candles in remembrance of the young women who, died at the hand of Marc Lepine, Lepine, remember this: Although Although a candle is symbolic of hope, hope does not come unless people work towards it. It is time for everyone-- women and men--to work together. by Rick James Report from Queen's Park.. .by GordMiiis,m.p.p. Have you ever seen so many election signs in a campaign? campaign? Seeing as this has been written well before the outcome outcome of the election, we cannot say whose sign strategy was most effective. Some candidates have opted for thousands of brightly colored signs littered across the town, while others have been more frugal by placing a few large signs at heavily travelled intersections. With the push for environmental friendliness on everyone's everyone's mind, we were expecting to see more candidates not use lawn signs. There are so many out there now, you can't see the forest for the trees. It might have been part of a good platform and could have helped gamer some votes. It would have saved some bucks too. The best lawn sign we saw during the campaign appeared appeared just south of Nestleton. We accompanied Preston the Movers...a.k.a. Maurice, Marty, and Wayde...on a golfing trip to Wolf Run. On our way back, we saw two ducks eating Scugog candidate Glenn Malcolm's signs. Now that's environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, we didn't have a camera. Regardless of which sign strategy wins, we hope that all the candidates are out bright and early Wednesday morning collecting them. No, we win...Yes, we lose. Keeping in mind that this is being written on Sunday night, we are speculating on the outcome of the referendum vote. From a scries of surveys that we have taken leading up to the election, we found that approximately 70% would like to see the name "Town of Newcastle" changed. However, anything can happen on election day. Even if the "No" vote wins, there's a very real possibility possibility that the whole issue will be buried again by the new council, We strongly recommend that this not happen. happen. As the saying goes, "Don't mess with the guy who buys his ink by the barrel." Did you sec where youth crime has increased by 45% since the Young Offender's Act came into being? That's the slap on the wrist policy that is driving police and lawyers nuts, But the powers-thal-bc in Ottawa say lliat the increase in youth crime is not related to the new Act. It's just a coincidence. Yup, the country's in good shape isn't it. Without a doubt, discipline is falling apart in our society. society. Parents arc now being challenged by their misbehav ing children with the line, "You can't touch me." We love the little punks downtown, especially the ones that wear their hats backwards, who boldly force pedestrians off the sidewalk. We were challenged a few weeks ago by two tough guys who wanted our chicken chop suey. We declined with thanks. When we refused, they demanded a ride to Oshawa. We obliged by saying, "If you can get in the tmek, you can have a ride." The young boys didn't realize that man's best friend was waiting in the truck. Maverick hates punks even more than we do. They declined with thanks. At the time we didn't think much of it because the brats were so young. But, as we drove home, we started getting mad that a kid would even try such a circus stunt. If we weren't in such a hurry to get home with the chop suey, we probably would have called the cops, or slapped them silly. But why, the Young Offender's Act says you can't touch them. Plus, we'd probably be charged with assault with a vicious dog. Discipline is slipping because the old mles of enforcement enforcement are becoming too lax. One of our favorite teachers was A.A. Merkley, an exceptionally wise principal who believed in strict discipline. Play by his rales and you would do well. On one of the very rare occasions when we crossed the line, Mr. Merkley ordered us to go home and tell Ma and Pa what a bad boy we had been. He would phone them later to make sure that we told all. We debated for a split second as to whether he would phone, and whether we needed to tell. No, if we didn't and he did...oh boy. He never phoned, but the scare factor factor worked very effectively. Last week in the Legislature, Legislature, the Minister of Citizenship, Citizenship, the Hon. Elaine Ziemba, announced the introduction of a discussion paper on Employment Employment Equity Legislation. Employment Employment equity is a broad process process that means changing the way we think about the workplace. workplace. While almost everyone I have spoken to agrees on the principles of employment equity, equity, fair representation in the workplace and the removal of barriers in employment, the challenge which faces us all is how to achieve these goals. The consultation process being implicated will encompass formal formal hearings, public forums, and round table discussions with local leaders. If you arc interested, the discussion paper is now available at my constituency constituency office. Tire Minister of Labour, the Hon. Bob Mackenzie, also launched the consultation process process on reform of the Labour Relations Act with the release of the discussion paper in the Legislature. In this time of rapid rapid economic change, we must all work together - labour, management and others - to look at new ways to respond to the need for a highly-skilled and motivated workforce. Employees Employees cannot afford to ignore management's concerns about survival, about costs, about markets and productivity. At the same time, management cannot afford to discount the contributions that employees can make in improving the workplace. Last week, I continued meetings with the Minister of Natural Resources in regard to the future of the Orono Tree Nursery, Discussion is ongoing, ongoing, nothing has been decided decided upon as yet. I also had a meeting with the Minister of Transport in respect to Hwy. 7A at the Causeway in Port Perry, and other local Township Township of Scugog-issucs. The visibility problem en countered at Bennett Road on Highway 2 and other concerns on the same highway at the approaches approaches to the Village of Newcastle, will all be dealt with in 1992. The improvements improvements to Bennett Road will be much appreciated by the folks at Wilmot Creek. On Wednesday morning, I was very pleased to take part in the official opening of the new IGA store and complex at Jan- etville. Great credit must go to the Bums Family for having the fortitude and vision to go forward with their business in the small community. All too often these days, entrepreneurs turn their backs on small town Ontario. On Thursday in the Legislature, Legislature, I was honoured to be given given the opportunity by the Premier, Premier, to speak to Remembrance Day on behalf of the government. During the weekend, I enjoyed enjoyed good comradeship at the Canadian Legion in Port Perry and Bowmanvillc. It was encouraging encouraging to sec so many people people take lime out to attend the Cenotaph Services, and to pay tribute to those men and women women who made the life we have today in Canada possible. Until next week - try to be kind to each other. m Finally, we always try to give credit when credit is due. We love to go into a business that treats you like a customer, rather than an inconvenience. We dropped our chainsaw off at T & C Small Engines in Hampton on Friday afternoon for some minor repairs. We received the usual courteous welcome from the owners, and were told that our saw would be ready on Tuesday. Later, we received a message that we could pick up the saw that same day. Despite being busy, the sctviccman made the effort to get toe saw ready so we could use it over the week-end. Service is the secret to success in the 90's. If every store would treat their customers the way they like to be treated themselves, there would be a lot of happy repeat customers. m We Asked... Do you think Highway 407 is needed? ... And You Said Linda Hann Enniskillen The building of the 407 is not going to affect our business. I cion't feel it will even be in our life. time. Some houses will be affected, but for us we won't be. I would be happy if it never happens. Barb Graham Haydon Yes, the 401 is too crowded. 1 use the 401 to go to lots of doctors' appointments. Carol Lament Orono Personally, I won't use it. I rarely travel that way. Possibly it would elinimate some of the traffic flow up the 115 but hopefully people won't stop coming to Orono. Jackie Borremans Orono The 407 won't be built for 20 years. Not in my back yard. There will be too much valuable farm land used for it. Next week's question: Do you have any advice for the incoming Mayor? m