Page 14 THE HERALD Wednesday October 1989 Credit cards Canada Post on committee agenda OTTAWA The first week back in Parliament was I guess about typical The government guys pur sued their agenda cuts in federal spending like VIA Rail prepara tion of abortion legislation and refining of the GST proposal The Opposition members opposed and every day Question Period snarled result Behind this the real work started again I met with the Liberal and NDP leaders on the House of Commons committee I Garth I Turner MP Peel chair and together were setting a few goals for the coming months First we have to report to write on credit cards oh whether con sumers get enough on the true costs and also whether the banks unduly complicate the way interest is calculated or charge too much After that its on the Canada Post The cabinet minister respon Harvie Andre made a few noises over the summer about sell ing the post office which is a pret ty radical idea So because Canada Post reports to our com mittee weve decided to hold hear ings into what privatization might mearr Would to rural Canadabe cut as a result Who would keep th lid on postal costs How could the feds ensure levels of service remained high And whats bee the experience of other countries who have turned over to the private sector The other major thrust of my committee work will be something that I premised at Town Hall meetings across our riding a serious review of government spending Ottawa spends about billion a year billion on running various programs and the rest paying interest on the national debt This year we will be about 30 billion short in terms of taxes so the government will borrow the amount adding even further to the debt Raising taxes to help balance the books is one solution but taxes are already too high So the alternative is finding ways to slash the dollars that the government spends committee has almost 30 federal agencies and departments ting to it and collectively spend tens of billions So the 13 MPs who work closely with me will spend time scouring the books identifying areas where a few billion can be eliminated Our report will go to Parliament and hopefully be used by Finance Minister Mike Wilson when he comes to wntethe next budget Over the summer time and time again people told me they think Ottawa spends too much Manv people who wrote or came to the Town Hail meetings left me with some concrete examples of things they could do without Some seniors for example told me they agree with the govern menVs recent move to tax back pension benefits for those earning a year or more But other seniors raked me over the coals for the same move They see it as an attack on universality the idea that every person regardless of whether they MAID SERVICE WHOS BEST mm THATS WHO THEAWARD WINNER mm SHOW For FREE Estimates cali 87321 65 DAY CARE 1 2 Up am to pm Also Evenings and Weekends Pickup rnCu And Delivery Hot Lunches A Snacks Games Music Lots of Toys Car Trips VERY REASONABLE HATES- For More Information Please Call 8732577 Nam of Group Contact Addrett Brief Description of Float- neHentnntMshrm later than Mall to Lions Santa Claus Parade Box Georgetown L7G Marie Rush or Tom Cotton 8778769 8776206 Ho Political or Protest Groups please Pan nwti at Sinclair Avenue Georgetown Marketplace and ending downtown Georgetown need the money or not should get government benefits Personally I dont see hotf we can afford univer saltty at a tune when the teds are running billion a year the red I dont see why were in the business of giving people money who doot need it youve got any comments for me on that issue then please drop me a line Last week in Bolton and Georgetown the HaltonPeel Tax Committee held two more public meetings on the GST Thanks to Colin MacKinnon and the other committee members for their work and thanks as well to those who found the time to attend Now Colin and his colleagues will be finishing their report on GST and submitting it to Ottawa as the House of Commons Finance Com mittee holds its noisy and ex hearings on the tax A number of people have asked me if Wilson will consider changes including the ones Ive suggested fewer exemptions lower rate tough watchdog agency I think he will or else the hearings would be a waste of time Every day more people mail me responses from the GST guide I sent to every home Right now were tabulating those and when complete Ill personally had them to the Finance Minister Nothings carved in stone If it is a lot of us are wasting our time Finally if anybody is looking for a different kind of summer job next year then you might want to consider being a Parliamentary Guide Right now there are 37 openings for young people who want to work on the Hill giving visitors guided tours of our wonderful Parliament Buildings Which ways the centre By BETTY SOJKA Ballinafad Correspondent Gerry Andrews has very kindly donated his time and created a most attractive sign to point the way to the community centre Ap proval from Wellington County is all that is waiting for the sign to be erected at the cemetery corner It is an artistic twosided sign that will be seen by both directions on Trafalgar Road The community centre is presently unmarked with no sign at the intersection and no sign on the This causes great difficulties for people not familiar with the area to actually find the community centre Special thoughts go out to Kathy Taylor for a swift recovery period Kathy is now home from the hospital after undergoing an operation The Womens Institute will be holding their October meeting this week on Oct 6 Ticket sales for the Business Peoples Dance are going briskly The dance is to be held on Oct and will feature Marions Country Band Residents are also reminded that the Hall Board is putting on a Halloween Dance on Oct 28 GEORGETOlrVNS Compliments of AVAILABLE AT LEADING EYECARE PROFESSIONALS PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOUR SIGHT WITH A REGULAR EYE EXAMINATION OB1Loptical WHICH IS MORE VALUABLE Please check box AN UNBORN EAGLE AN UNBORN If you chose the unborn child sorry youre wrong at least according to some laws in this country You see the penalty for taking and destroying an eagles egg is up to or six months in but the penalty for taking an unborn childs life is nothing In fact people get paid a lot of for doing it Does something seem wrong to you It is Get in touch with us and well let you know how you can help to protect the unborn babies in this country Lets take our children off the endangered list If you or someone you know is facing an unwanted pregnancy wed like to help Your child has tremendous value and there are many alternatives to abortion We are here for YOU and your child Campaign Life Coalition S3 Street East Suite Toronto Ontario North Halton ProLife 8542318 Ad Sponsored 8y The Catholic Woman League The Parish Council The Knlghli of of Holy Georgetown