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- ~~ 2 7 |W wp" 6 -- Scugog Citizen -- Tuesday, October 8, 1991 sos EDITORIAL Ontario in crisis If there is any doubt that the province of Ontario is in the middle of its worst crisis since the Great Depression, consider a couple of events that happened last week The Federation of Independent Business held a press con- ference 10 say that as many as 33 per cent of businesses in this province "have considered" pulling Gp stakes and moving south of the border. If that should ever happen, 500,000 jobs would disappear. We are sure that a lot of business owners and managers "have considered" moving out, but that certainly does not mean that all of them are packing their bags today to hike down the QEW 10 Buffalo tomorrow. Still, when a federation representing independent business says 33 per cent "have considered" what kind of message does that send out 10 the rest of the tountry and the rest of the world The message, and there are numerous others, is tha¥Ontario has some major problems. Investor confidence" Forget it With business and industry talking seriously about pulling out, are there any considening a move into the province? Not mahy, that's for sure Ontano has already lost some 200,000 jobs in the manufac turing sector, and there is scarcely a community anywhere that doesn't Have at least one deserted factory collecting rust and cob webs The loss of jobs has a double-barrel impact on Ontario Firstly, 4ahe payrolls disappear from the local economy, but they have to feed and clothe their familics and pay the mon gage When UIC runs out, they tum to welfare or social assis tance. Last week, treasurer Fred Laughren announced a series of "mid-year spending adjustments." What Ofitano plans 10 do is take $600 million from various areas and re-direct it 10 other arcas. Nothing unusual about this, but $240 million of this total is for "additional costs for social assistance." Note the word "additional." This $240 million is over and above what the goyemment budgeted for back iff Apnl This government is fighting torkeep to its original budget of $52.5 billion for 1991, including the $9.7 billion deficit duct a rigorous review of all spending." Whew. Isn't that good news? ' Maybe one of the reviews will be into why Ontario teacher pensions need-another $215 million thi€ year. The teaching profession is one of the best paftl, best protected and best pen- sioned anywhere Yet an extra $215 M. is going into the fund this year. How ud What the govemment does intend 10 review next year is the Ontario drug benefit program, funding for hospitals, commer- cial health labs and other insured helith benefit programs, Clearly, there is a mood of desperation in Ontario these days as government, business, industry, labour and the average guy on the street struggle to cope. Laughréfoan "re-direct" $600 million in October, but the fact remains that in 1991 the government will spend $9.7 billion more than it takes in. And that may be low as revenue from sales taxes may fall short of anticipated. The line-ups at welfarg offices are long right now, and yet business continues to talk about "Pulling up stakes." Where will it all end? Who knows. But clearly, this crisis is deeply in-grained and threatens every citizen of Ontario More than anything else, Ontario must find a way to restore the confidence of its own -Peopleggnd hose who may want to invest here } Down by the river The Nonquon River is as pretty as a picture country roads and forests, which are donning these days; patiently winding past marshland, their coats of many colours. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Maybe residents should plan an Easter Parade le To the editor: Talk about opening a can of worms since the first item appeared in this newspaper - about the Vanedward-Jelfrey Subdivision In the past few weeks, | have Jreceived numerous phone calls on * the subject. It would seem that many resi- dems (taxpayers) in Scugog Township are not at all impressed the way Port Perry' and Prince Albert taxpayers could and should be treated (Vancdward-Jeffrey Subdivision) Each caller felates yet another horror story, and it has me won dering? Spegilically, | wonder how many more stories exist? | wonder if anyone has a positive story 10 relate about this vital picce of Avenue. And, | wonder why if so many people are not satisfied with this choice real estate property (Vanedward-Jeffrey Subdivision) more people in Scugog Township should be writing a letter (To the Editor) of this newspaper. As onc pine caller put it - Why should | write a letter complaining about this subdivisfon? It makes you wonder doesn't it! Maybe the people in Prince Albert and Port Perry on Union Avenue should be thinking of Easter Parade - Like in thordong These mid-year adjustments don't reduce the budget; they property known as Vancdward- "Easter Parade" - On the Avenue -+ simply move the money around Jeffrey Subdivision in Port Perry Union Avenue - well you must Next year, Laughren promises, "the government would con and Prince Albert on Union know the rest of the song. If well planned it just may pre- serve the one and only Avenue in Scugog Township. Come on folks in Prince Albert and Port Perry, think about it. "Few politicians are successful unless a lot of other people want them 10 be." Roy Walker Smith Port Perry. P.S. Lew all the politicians know you are alive. Letters to the Editor are always welcome here at the Scugog Citizen, but the editors reserve the right to edit all letters for length and content, Always include your name, address and telephone number. No 'anony- mous' letters will be published. 36, Water Street Published by : 3 Port Petry, Ontario Seon Citizen Publishing Lu Proud Phone: 985-NEWS Valet Els. Job B. McClelland - Cathy Oly Canadians Fax: 985-1410 John B. McClelland - Cathy Ollie Proud to call The Scugog Citizen Is delivered free of Advertising Matagen BOB charge to 9,000 homes and businesses in Advertsing Seton Cirenlation: Township Scugog Towpship every Tuesday. Olliffe ~ 'home'. A Proud Voice For Scupog Printed on 10% fecycled newsprint, Bookkeeper: Darlene Hiozan Reception: Mary Wallis } ab