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Page 4 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc. September 9, 1998 ®Iie Canadian Statesman M ^ Former Publishers and Partners Rev. John M. Climie and VV. R. Climie 1851 - 1878 M. A. James, 1878 - 1935 • Norman S. 15. James, 1919 - 1929 G. Elena James, 1929 - 1947 • Dr. George VV. James, 1919 -1957 p Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited Also Publishers of The Claringtonl Courtier Independent P.O. Box 190, 62 King St. VV,, Bowmanvillc, Ontario L1C 3IC9 Tel: 905-623-3303 HOURS: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Fax: 905-623-6161 Internet - statesman@ocna.org Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 Assoc. Publisher - Rick James Editor-Peter Parrott For 144 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher - John M. James Plant Manager - Rick Patterson Ad. Manager - Brian G. Purdy Production Supervisor - Ralph Rozema, Suzanne Bennett, Tim Bowers, Kevin Britton, Sharon Cole, Laurens Kaldcway, Barb Patterson, Scan Pickard, Tyler Sellick, Jim Snook, James Stephenson, Vance Sutherland, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Editorial Laverne Morrison Office Brad Kelly, Lorraine Manfredo, Jennifer Stone Supervisor - Angela Luscher, Junia Hodge, Grace McGregor, Nancy Pleasancc-Sturman, Marilyn Rutherford, Libby Smithson Editorials It's Queen's Park's Responsibility Events unfolding in the Ontario high school system over the last few days point to the need for province- wide bargaining between teachers and their employers. In effect, Queen's Park is now calling the shots when it conics to education. Does it still make sense for the local school boards and local teacher groups to go through the motions of bargaining? Thanks to the provisions of Bill 160, all teacher contracts contracts are up for renewal at the same time. This has created created a hodge-podge across the province in which some school boards have reached agreements, some are still bargaining, some arc locked out and some are on strike. Teachers from most high school systems have already opted for work-lo-rule campaigns, withdrawal of voluntary voluntary services and, in some casts, rotating strikes arc a possibility. Most recently, Ontario's education minister has declared that a compromise agreement reached in one school board may not be acceptable. That agreement would have seen 1 teachers working the extra hours required by Bill 160 without having to teach an additional additional period. All of this uncertainty is creating chaos in the high schools. And, it goes without saying that this cannot be good for the students affected. Parents can only thank their lucky stars that the same process is not under way in elementary schools or the start of the school year would be even more chaotic. If the provincial government has stripped school boards of their powers to levy taxes and, through Bill 160, has further removed the independence of the local boards, then shouldn't the province simply bargain province-wide with all teachers? It won't solve the controversy over Bill 160 and its many implications, but it might lend some semblance of order to the bargaining process. Essentially, we have a school system that is now controlled controlled by the provincial authorities. Reaching an collective collective agreement should be Queen's Park's problem. How can a local school board make decisions if its choices are to be second-guessed by the provincial government? government? It makes you wonder if, in fact, there's any role left for the school boards. Climb on Board - The extension of GO Transit service to Nevvcastle may only add a few kilometres to the bus route. But, it's an important first step on the road towards a true municipal municipal transit system. Councillors John Mutton and Charlie Trim both said, at the launching of the Newcastle bus service that they see the potential for additional inter-connecting transit links in the future. But first, the lengthened GO Transit line will have to prove itself. The extended bus service should be a major improvement improvement for the citizens of Clarington. For instance, students students could use it to attend Durham College. Teens and seniors (both age groups that do not always have access to cars) could use the service to get to other points in the Durham Region, Toronto and beyond. More importantly, people with cars just might opt for the GO system to avoid traffic jams, parking hassles and to help the environment. It's a well-known fact that a single single bus filled with travellers is a more environmentally friendly option than a licet of cars holding one or two people and generally crowding the highways. Unfortunately, in these cost-conscious times, elected officials must see definite proof that the GO system is being used. Otherwise, if there's a lack of passengers, the future of quality municipal transit cannot be assured. In municipal election campaigns, citizens frequently said the town needs belter transit service. Now is the time for those same citizens to vote with their feet by walking to the nearest bus stop and climbing on board. Once local residents get in the habit of utilizing public public transit, the service will not only remain, but also expand. He Will be Missed Clarington lost an outstanding citizen Wednesday, September 2nd, with the death of Carson Elliott. There are few people in this municipality who were more recognized than Carson, as he was known to his many friends. Carson Elliott was a modern-day renaissance renaissance man, who was successful in business, local politics, politics, community service work, and in pastimes such as skiing, fishing and even rollerblading. It is safe to say that there was virtually no volunteer effort to which he would not generously lend his talents. He was famous for his knack of selling tickets for worthwhile worthwhile causes to anybody at any time. His interests in the Bowmanvillc community included the founding of the Santa Claus Parade in 1961, shortly aflci he arrived in his new hometown. They continued to the present, with the founding of an informal guild of volunteers who served "Dinner for Agnes" to the town's most needy people. people. But, those are just two examples of how Carson helped those around him, especially folks we might describe as society's "underdogs." It would he literally impossible to list the many causes he helped during his time in Bowmanvillc. But, as a volunteer, Carson Elliott was no solemn do- gooder on an overly-earnesl mission to change the world. An irrepressible sense of humor and fun accompanied everything lie did. He may have taken his causes very seriously, but not himself. Carson often called upon this newspaper to render some favor in the field of publicity or fund-raising. But, we were more than repaid by his tips on some interesting interesting news tidbit from the community or his spontaneous phone calls in which he asked nothing more than a chance to share a joke. It's those phone calls we will miss the most. In this community there are many people who might he able to fund-raise, run a business, leach a spoil, volunteer volunteer for community service, tell a joke and lie a good friend. But nobody could combine all those gifts in quite the way Carson Elliott did. Until Next Summer â (rteatZil CHECK OUT THE BIRDS -- A flock of sparrows found their way inside Bowmanvillc's Loblaws store over the Labour Day weekend and were flitting around above the cashiers' counter. Perhaps the onset of cooler weather gave them the birdrbrained notion to check out the grocery store as a possible possible winter nesting ground. Anyway, unusual unusual sightings in grocery store shouldn't raise many eyebrows. It was only a couple of months ago shoppers at the A&P on Liberty St. had their eyes peeled for Elvis. Seems some wiseacre had chalked in reserved parking spaces for The King and a handful of other celebrities. MEMORIAL TO AN UNFORGETTABLE UNFORGETTABLE FRIEND -- The late Carson Elliott, who died last week, will not be 1 forgotten by townspeople who knew first-hand of his generosity generosity and good humour. A group of local residents will appear before town council on September 14 at 7 p.m. in hopes the municipality will back them up on. plans to create create some kind of lasting memorial so future generations generations will be reminded reminded of his legacy. Right now, according to Viv Wool ford, the group is thinking 1 about commissioning commissioning a bust of Elliott for the town courtyard, naming a park after him or recognizing him in connection with the Santa Claus, parade which he founded in 1961. The committee welcomes your input. Church Shows People are Not Without Power Orono United Church Session has been concerned concerned about the eagerness of the Ontario Provincial Government to promote gambling by means of charily casinos and video slot machines. Their concern has been shared by the United Church of Canada, other religious bodies, and citizens' citizens' groups. All these groups consider that government government promoted gambling gambling is an exploitation and corruption of citizens and an encouragement of the public in behaviour which will add to the destabilization destabilization of families and society. society. At its June meeting the Orono United Church Session reviewed the most recent position adopted by the General Council Executive of the United Church. It calls for a federal federal inquiry into 'the social, ccomomic, and legal impact of legal and illegal gambling and charitable gaming in Canada' and 'to halt all gaming/gambling expansion until such time as a full federal review has been completed and the recommendations acted upon'. The Session of Orono United Church decided that they wished to support this stand by the General Council Executive and to share it with their local elected representatives. They also urged the Council of the Region of Durham and the Council of the Municipality of Clarington "to resist and reject all approaches and proposals to establish permanent permanent casinos or the introduction of Video Lottery Terminals or Video Slot machines into their respective jurisdictions'. A few weeks later, the Reverend Dr. Mervyn Russell, the ordained minister minister of the congregation, received a letter from the Council of the Region of Durham staling that the Council had endorsed the resolution of the Session of the Orono United ; Church and a letter from ■ the Municipality of '■ Clarington quoting résolu- lions by the Council advising advising the Provincial Government that they did j not want a charity casino or video gambling machines in the municipal- . ity. It is encouraging to know that our elected representatives representatives will listen and adopt well thought out positions on public policy. It is time to reduce personal income taxes at the federal level. Why now rather than years ago? Well, the government needed to get its house in order. Reductions in costs of operating the federal government from reducing the number number of civil servants, to closing military bases, needed to occur to balance balance the annual deficit. By the way people talk about balanced budgets, you would think we had also eliminated the debt, which now stands at $583 billion. We collect over $65 billion from personal income taxes, by far the single most important source of funding. When you start analyzing where the majority of this is coming from you see it is on the back of middle income earners. Lower income earners have often been taken off the tax rolls and there just isn't enough high income earners earners to shoulder the weight. Small improvements by creating annual surpluses will allow government government some maneuverability in the area of tax reductions. They will of necessity, be initially small, but it is important to embark on a continuous plan of ratcheting down rates. Some will suggest you simply apply the money to the debt and fundamentally I would agree with this approach. However, it occurs to me when you run surpluses suddenly there is no end to the good ideas people and politicians can dream up to spend it. In other words, it is like your household. If money is in the hank, suddenly a new couch urT.V. looks more attractive than paying down the mortgage, I think removing the money from the table and giving it to the people is far more productive than all the tinkering a lot of our social engineers would lead us to. Alter all, isn't that why we have a debt problem in the first place? Over the last decade middle income earners, those earning $30,000 to $75,000, have watched their disposable income decline as taxes increased. When they get these reductions to some extent they will save, (pay down the mortgage), and they will spend it, which will of course generate economic economic activity. It is all about timing. The Ontario Government's reduction of personal personal income taxes was premature. They still have to borrow money in the market place to allow them to make these reductions. It's something like increasing your mortgage so you can spend more. Canada is one of the most highly taxed regimes in the world. We can not he a competitive place, in which to work and live, if we continue continue with such high personal income taxes. Indeed, discussions with our high tech sector leads to the inescapable conclusion we arc losing knowledge-based workers, mainly to the United States, where personal income taxes are lower than ours by almost 30%, I am pleased Paul Martin and the Prime Minister are now in agreement about lowering personal income taxes in the next budget. How much, and over what period of time, is something I am now working on. Government is about ranking priorities, I am happy the priority of getting off the hacks of everyday people is now moving in the right direction, ) Parliamentary Report by Alex Shepherd