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John Wells and Jeanette dance on roller skates'at the Arena. Armstrong demonstrate roller show at the Orono j Chris Bruton in a fine solo demonstration held at the evening, effort at the roller skating Orono Arena last Friday Sam at Queen's Park Wiretaps Threaten Members' Privileges Last June a Special Committee Committee of the British Columbia Legislature reported that an authorized interception of the communications of a Member of the Legislature amounted to a Breach of Privilege and Comtempt of the House. At the time the findings of this Committee were not understood by the media 1 , and were reported as recommending recommending a différend law fori. Members of Parliament than for the ordinary citizen. This however, was not the intent ' of the Special Committee's recommendations. The chain of events which led to the calling of a Special Committee began when members of the R.C.M.P, put a wiretap on the phone of a Provincial cabinet minister while the Legislature was in Session. The cabinet minister had been mentioned in con- versations by two persons under investigation by the Mounties. , ■ > The Committee, discovered during its investigations that the wiretap of the Minister's phone remained in place for approximately a year. Police also tapped conversations at the minister's home, his constituency constituency office and his office in the Legislative buildings. Before the Committee, the R.C.M.P. defended its action as necessary to their investigation investigation and said they had gone through all the proper channels to receive authorization authorization for the wiretaps. Members of the Committee appreciated the need for police use of wiretaps to collect collect evidence in an investiga- tion. What concerned members however, was that any Member of Parliament, not directly implicated in any crime, should be able to talk to his constituents without fear of his conversations being being intercepted. The R.C.M.P. knew, before they applied for permission permission to wiretap the Minister's phones, that the two suspects under investigation investigation were planning to approach approach the Minister with a bribe. At no stage in the investigation investigation was the Minister ever suspected of wrongdoing. wrongdoing. This case, and the recommen- dations of the B.C. Legislature's Special Committee, Committee, brings up important points about our basic liberties liberties and the extent of power which should be granted the ' police during investigations. .. Stringent procedures on the use of wiretaps are outlined in the Canada Criminal Code, yet wiretaps are fairly " commonplace tpday. It is also worth considering that any abdse of laws regulating wiretaps would be next'to impossible impossible to challenge. One of the pillars of our free society is the ability for members of the public to speak with their elected representatives on any issue, without fear or obstruction. In this case, where the elected representative was only only indirectly connected with the case, the use of wiretaps is questionable. In other instances instances however, such as a situation where a Member of Parliament is directly involved involved in wrong-doing, the police must have the power to investigate investigate and prosecute as they would any other person. In todays's complex society, society, the police need many powers in order to combat crime and maintain order. The war against crime is a desperate one, but we must not endanger our basic freedoms to convict felons. . . The recommendations of the Special Committee of the British Columbia Legislature provide a useful precedent • Start 115 work 1982 According to a recent report in the Peterborough Examiner and statements by C. Lumley, Senior Project Manager with the Ministry of Transportation and Communication Communication work could start this spring on a section of the re-developement of Highway 115 from Hwy. 401 to Hwy. 2. It was stated that the contract contract for work from Hwy. No. 2 to Enterprise could well be let the following spring, for politicians and police alike. This precedent should be considered with care by both police and members of t parliament should another case of wiretapping involving an elected representative occur. occur. In Durham Region, I am pleased to note that the Minister of Community & Social Services, the Hon. Frank Drea, has promised to launch' a study of the area's need for homes for the elderly. elderly. ■ One report says that in June there were 522 people waiting for beds in Durham's homes for the elderly. It is my hope that Mr. Drea's study will come up .with practical •and economical solution to this serious problem. Conw|ayations are in order to Marilyn Pearce on her award for her active participation participation in ihe Village of Newcastle bowling programme. programme. .May I compliment Marj Freethy, President of the Village of Newcastle Horticultural Horticultural Society, and Rev': Alan Haldenby on the wonderful agricultural show on August 20th. i Good luck to Peter Flanagan's new restaurant in the Veltri complex and to Sherry Rupa's new store, Leisure Lady, on King Street West in Bowmanville. 1 1983. , It was also reported in the article that the new highway 407 is eventually to lihk, with Hwy. 115 at Enterprise Hill at the junction with Hwy. 35.. Highway 407 already started in the Toronto Airport area is to continue north across the top of Toronto and eventually eventually join with Hwy, 115 at Enterprise. Cavan Township recently gavé approval in principal for re-development of Highway 115 through their municipality municipality with work in this area expecting to start sometime in 1987. This section of highway wiü be. totally controlled- accéss highway with an overpass overpass at Cavan County Road 6 as well as at Manvers County Road 20 and Road 10. It has also been reported when construction starts' on Highway 115 south from hwy. 28 work will also start at Enterpyse going north to meet the south-bound construction. construction. It has been estimated that construction of Highways 115-35 and Hwys. 115-7 will cost in the neighbourhood of $75 to $80 million.