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36 WATER ST., PORT PERRY, ONT. L9L1J2 Phone : (905) 985-6397 Fax : (905) 985-1410 EDITORIAL The Hoop games | As expected, the Ontario government and the National Basketball Association worked out a compromise last week on the prickly issue of government sanctioned betting on NBA games. The NBA demanded that betting on its games be removed from the government Pro Line as a condition for awarding a franchise to Toronto for the 1996-97 season. The NBA, the provincial government and the people who are getting this franchise have been trying to work out an arrangement for the last three months. And to the surprise of nobody the deal came down last week in which the province will take the betting off in return for contributions to a variety of projects by both the NBA and the new Toronto franchise. While Ontario's government may not have liked the dictat laid down by the Americans who run the NBA, there is no way that Premier Bob Rae wanted to take the blame for losing the Toronto franchise. After all, basketball betting generated some $6 million annually for the provincidl coffers. It has been estimated that the NBA franchise in Toronto will mean an initial economic impact of $550 million for Ontario, $260 million in extra tourist spending each year, another $81 million in taxes for all levels of governments and team spending of about $44 million. Up against those kind of numbers it was simply no contest for Mr. Rae and the betting on basketball games. The compromise allowed all sides to come away from the table with big smiles on their faces in a win-win-win situation. Nothing wrong with that--it was inevitable. The problem now v facing the cash-strapped NDP government is that other | sports izations on which legal betting is allowed are going to demand the same thing. Our cash-strapped government came up with a way of generating money (a discretionary tax, if you will) through legal betting on sports events. And the government has every right to do so. The NBA applied a most effective full court press and it worked perfectly. It is now just a matter of time before other big league sports organizations flex their muscles. Maybe that's not such a bad idea. Perhaps the government ought to get out of sports betting and d that the franchises pay for more social programs. They seem to be the ones with no shortage of big bucks these days. Town Hall 1873 For almost 20 years, Town Hall 1873 has been Scugog's showcase for the performing arts. It has been the scene for countless dramas and musicals by local talent that have thrilled and delighted audiences. Now, a committee from the Borelians, the Choral Society, the Millar Lights and the Town Hall Board have identified $56,000 worth of needed up-grades---things like new seats, floor risers to improve the sight lines for audiences, a new furnace, repairs to the landmark bell tower, air conditioning so the theatre can be used during the summer months. The committee appeared before Township council on Monday afternoon asking for help in getting the work done. What was not asked for is a tax hand-out. Instead, the committee wants either a re-payable loan over five years, or Township backing for a bank loan. Thankfully, the council was warm to the request, and agreed to first explore the chances of securing provincial grants for some of the costs. That's a good first step. Town Hall 1873 is one of the finest treasuresScugog has. It deserves support from il and our y. ZL @ published by Scugog Citizen Publishing Ltd. co-publishers : John B. McClelland, Valerie Ellis OCNA Member editor : John B. McClelland advertising manager : Valerie Ellis advertising salé : Chris Hudson accounting : Sibylle Warren fr eternal optimist : Liz Drebit feature writer : Heather McCrae "Proud Canadians, proud to call Scugog Toumship home." THE SCUGOG CITIZEN CCNA Member an independently owned and operated ccna, weekly community newspaper, distributed, free of charge, to over 12,000 homes and businesses CCNA Verlfied in and around Scugog Township. } Circulation Controlled Subscriptions sold outside Scugog Township. BEFORE THE OLYMPIC JUDGES WILL GIVE ANY SCORES THEY "WANT TO CONSULT WITH THEIR LAWYERS. Our sidewalk problem is that it doesn't exist To the Editor: 1 read With i Luckily he wasn't seriously t the letter in last weeks Citizen from Meridith Peaker regarding the new sidewalks on Simcoe St. 8 We too are having problems with our sidewalks but our problem is a little different-we have no sidewalks!!! We live on Queen St west of Old Simcoe Rd. and have been petitioning the Town for the past 5 years for new sidewalks but to no avail. We have been told time and time again that they will get around to it when they have the money in the budget to do 00. They found the money to put in sidewalks along Simcoe St. 8. where there are very few residences but don't have the Funds to put sidewalks along the road which leads into our beautiful downtown. How impressed tourists and newcomers must be with the lack of sidewalks let alone the poorly maintained road itself. As parents we cannot take our baby out in the stroller without using the road which can be very busy at times and therefore dangerous. Why should we have to put our baby's life in possible danger? Our neighbors can no longer take their wheelchair bound son out for a walk for fear of it toppling over as was the case several years ago! - We appreciate that the town budget is maxed out to its limit but we pay our taxes every year and the question is for what? The road is in poor shape, the sidewalks are non-existent and believe it or not we're still on septic systems. So what exactly are we getting for "our money". If someone from the Town could answer this question, we would really appreciate it. - Sincerely, A Queen Street Resident P.S. If we get new sidewalks, we promise not to complain if the snow is not removed in the winter! We're always glad to be able to help a cause To The Editor: On behalf of the Canadian Liver Foundation, I would like education in the cause of liver disease. to exp our appreciation for Sincerely, » your generous support. Lorraine Gallagher, By publishing a story about Jsinal Manager of our "Ultimate Goal" featuring Wendel Clark, Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, in the Scugog Citizen, ers you hae Seabled } the Got a beef about something? re au Or do you have something nice our ge to to say? more Canadians than If so, the Scugog Citizen previously possible. welcomes letters to the Editor on Once again, thank you for your consideration and please continue to help the Canadian Liver Foundation communicate the need for more research and just about any topic under the sun. Mail them to 36 Water Street, Port Perry LOL 1J2. Or fax to 985-1410.