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Phone : (905) 985-6397 Fax : (905) 985-1410 [EDITORIAL Subscriptions sold outside Scugog Tc h User fee overdue Nobody should quibble with the decision by Scugog Council to charge $5 for people to put their boats in the water at the municipal boat launch in Port Perry. Certainly not the tax-payers of Scugog who will have to foot the bill when the launch area needs to be expanded or repaired. And certainly not the boaters wherever they come from. Sure, by all means, we want visitors to feel welcome when they come to Scugog for recreation, but there are no free rides. Council agreed to test the user fee idea for July and August this year by charging the $5 from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays. It really is a small price to pay for a day's boating on Lake Scugog. ' Now, maybe our Township council should come up with a way to charge people to use the municipal parks that stretch along the' lakefront, if for no other reason than to cover the cost of collecting, trucking away and disposing the mountains of trash left behind every weekend. More than one ratepayer has commented that it's not fair that Scugog tax-payers must pay for the up-keep of those parks when most of those using the parks don't pay a single sous in taxes to the Township. Whether we like it or not these days, user Toes are the way of the future. Keeping it alive A sincere "paddles up" to the more than 150 people who didn't let the rain stop them as they glided down the river and Lake Scugog on Saturday for the 27th annual running of Canoe the Nonquon. Organizers of this event have been fearful in the last few years, that this bit of local tradition might be running out of steam. However, with over 85 canoes and kayaks entered for the run last Saturday, organizers were more than pleased and believe, if anything the Nonquon may be "picking up steam," and will be part of the community for many more years to come. 'While the number of canoes and kayaks was up over last year (by about 20 entries) overall pledge totals were down slightly, no doubt a function of the lousy economy. The money raised is of important of course--very important-- as it goes to the Scugog Shores Museum on the Island--- a museum which strives to keep the rural traditions and heritage of this part of Ontario very much alive for the enjoyment of today's and future generations. But from our perspective, keeping the tradition of Canoe the Nonquon alive and healthy as part of this community is as important as anything. It is now the longest running event of its kind anywhere in Ontario. Not only do canoe and racing enthusiasts from all over keep coming back year after year, it continues to attract first time paddlers as well, many of whom find canoeing an in-expensive and environmentally friendly form of outdoor recreation very much suited to their life-styles. More and more newcomers and more and more young people taking an interest now in Canoe the Nonquon will help to insure its survival in the future. This is a community that seems to take special pride in its history and heritage. Canoe the Nonquon may still be a "youngster" in terms of years when compared with other community events. But it's fast approaching 30 and has earned its rightful place as a significant annual event that adds to the richness of our community. The paddlers deserve a pat on the back. But likewise the dozens of volunteers who work long hours well in advance of the race and from dgwn to dusk on race day to make sure the race goes with as few hitches as possible. The 1995 Nonquon was dedicated to the memory of Yvonne Christie who spent many years of her life dedicated to the Nonquon and the Scugog Shores Museum. Seeing what appears to be renewed interest in the 1995 event held last Saturday is certainly fitting and gratifying. Care about the traditi of your y? Make a mental note about Canoe the Nonquon 1996. It's the first Saturday in Juzp. Get out there and get involved. ublshed by : Scugog Citizen Publishing Ltd. THE SCUGOG CITIZEN OHA Member - "weakly ea Yd preaed p-- sons d accounting : Sibylle Warren is distributed, free of charge, | reception Janet Rankin 10.0ver 13,500 homes and businesses => biiiabad production : Tanya Mappin 54 WATER ST. PORT PERRY, ONT. L9L1J2 in and around Scugog Township. feature writer : Heather McCrae CCNA Verified p. co-publishers : John B. McClelland, Valerie Ellis editor : John B. McClelland advertising manager : Valerie Ellis senior advertising sales rep : Chris Hudson "Proud Canadians, prowd to call Scugog Township home." OF (DURSE WORKFARE WILL WORK... THERE ARE LOTS OF JOBS OUT THERE... UM, ON MONDAY you CAN WASH MY CAR. TUESDAY CUT MY LAWN, WEDNESDAY PEEL MY GRAPES... A MEANINGLESS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR « Exercise your vote with care To The Editor: As a teacher who lives in the community in which I teach, I have been reticent to express opinions in an open forum. With the upcoming election, however, and my concerns over what might result from it, I have decided to take the risk and express openly my thoughts on what is at stake. Let me begin by saying that I am extremely upset with the NDP over several educational issues not the least of which is the recently proclaimed College of Teachers. But this party, which has broken our collective agreement and forced through educational change based on philosophical rather than educational reasons, is benign when compared to, the malignancy which exists within the fabric of the Conservative Party's philosophy. ; It has been said by many that a society should be judged by how it treats its weakest members, and yet many in Ontario and in particular in the Conservative Party, are suggesting that there is something wrong with Ontario because we have the best welfare programs-in the country. This should be a boasting point. Who has convinced us otherwise? Only the Conservative Party suggests that people on welfare need to be forced to work. Are they so naive as to think that the majority of welfare recipients would rather live with no job and the resultant drop in self respect than work for g living, or are they tountind on voter ignorance? Other than the fact that people on welfare have no job, how is it that they are so different from you and me? What makes a society work is the people within it working together. The NDP attempted to force this working together with their social contract. The Conservative Party's platform is based on us working in hostile competition with each other. Although social contract legislation caused a considerable loss in pay for my family, it certainly did save others the devastation on losing their employment. Only the Conservatives and Liberals plank their platform with job loss guarantees. Only the Conservative Party suggests that Klein in Alberta may be following the correct path in forming charter schools; independent schools funded from the public purse. Providing a break-up of the one institution in our society where pdople from all walks of life live together, work together, play together and learn of each other is certainly contrary to any idea of society building that I have. We are all tired of the money markets of the world controlling our society, Mike Harris and the Conservative Party are these money markets personified. The proposed 30% tax cut can only weaken our society to the point where we can't care about anyone but ourselves and our immediate family. The loss and ing of social insti as a result of these cuts will fragment our society, making the split more extreme between those with power and money and those without. On election day look deep inside yourself, into your soul and ask yourself "Is my vote meant only for me, or is this franchise, this responsibility, this right granted so that I can make choices that will benefit society as a whole?" If you feel as I do that our actions should be grounded in a sense of the common good, vote for the party which you feel is most likely to work toward that end? Gord Humphrey Port Perry. Hospital care To The Editor: Just about 3 weeks ago the Port Perry Hospital had the official opening of their new wing, with Bob Rae helping to cut the ribbon. Now there are rumors that they are going to close down the new emergency section. In the last month I have been admitted to this emergency department 3 times. Each time I was impressed with the efficiency and expertise of the staff. This staff rotates, so each time I had a different doctor and nurse in attendance. One of the times I spent the whole day in Emerg, waiting for a bed, and watched all kinds of troubles come thru that front door. Each was treated quickly and efficiently and in most cases sent on their way after treatment with instructions on how to handle their individual problems. Not only is the staff efficient but encouraging and pleasant. I do hope something can be done to ensure that this much needed facility is kept open. Frances Graham Janetville, Ont.