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THE HERALD Wednesday February IMI Page Political Forum Ottawa Report Town hall meetings a healthy experience When word came out that was going to have a number of public Town Hall meetings to discuss the Persian Gulf war there was a flurry of media activity Several radio stations called up and interviewed me I did an openline talk show with another And the local newspapers helped me out by printing details of when and where those would take place Last week I had meetings in Burlington Acton and Georgetown This week there are more in Campbellville and Bolton Each time one of these takes place its a unique ex perience There is no way of knowing how many people will show up or what brought them out Some are regulars but most of the faces are new with each event When there are big issues in the news ar or the GST or abortion then the debate can be hot and the criticism intense It would certainly be easier not to have these meetings In variably a number of people come out because they hate the government and I have to stand there listening to them run down the prime minister tell me I dont deserve the money I make or swear theyll never vote for me again At the front of the room this is not always easy to take But there are also the people sometimes the ones who were most vocal who stand at the end of the meeting and thank me for letting them have their say and that wipes away all the negativity The best part of a Town Hall meeting is empowering the peo ple it gives back to those who come some of the democratic power that our system always seems to be stripping away legislation This week I would like to outline some of the legislation in troduced by the provincial government during our fust Ses sion from November to December 1990 Bill 28 an Act Respecting Class Proceedings received first reading on December 1990 The purpose of this bill is to facilitate class proceedings in Ontario Bill an Act to Amend the Law Society Act to Provide for Funding to Parties to Class Pro ceedings also received first reading on December 190 The Bill amends the Law Society Act to provide for the Class Pro ceedings Fund and establish the Class Proceedings Committee The Class Proceedings Fund is to be administered by the Law Foundation of Ontario Bill Mortgages Amendment Act received first reading on December 20 1990 The general effect of this Bill is to make the provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act that govern residential tenancies ap plicable to various situations where a mortgagee of residential premises has dealings with the tenant Bill 30 an Act to Amend the Education Act received first reading on December 17 1990 The purpose of the Bill is to up date the Education Act to con form to freedom of information and protection of privacy legisla tion and to give legislative sup port for new and ongoing Ministry initiatives Bill 24 an Act to Control the Private Use of Cards Issued and Numbers Assigned to Insured Persons Under the Health In surance Act received first reading on December 13 The purpose of this Bill is to con trol the use of health cards and health numbers by the private sector Bill 14 an Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act with Respect to Pregnancy and Paren tal Leave received Royal Assent on December 199u This Bill amends the Employment Stan dards Act to change existing scheme for pregnancy leave to in troduce a scheme for parental leave Bill an Act to Amend the Municipal Elections Act and Cer tain Other Acts Related to Municipal Elections received Royal Assent on December The Bill would make numerous changes to Municipal Election procedure in respect to voting accessibility accountability in campaign financing and administrative ef ficiency Bill an Act to Amend the Retail Sales Tax Act received Royal Assent on December This Bill implements the Noel North Haw Democratic Party Governments policy not to have purchasers pay retail sales tax on top of the Goods and Services Tax as well as the proposals contain ed in the Budget of April 24 1990 The above list is by no means a complete one Some of the other Bills- I have already discussed in previous reports I would also like to mention that the Select Committee on On tario in Confederation chaired by Tony Silipo for Dover- court will be travelling throughout the province for the month of February The Commit tee will be asking Ontarians to tell them their views on the challenges facing our economy and our society and discuss what those mean for the structure of governments and our nation Hearings most convenient to this riding will be held in Kitchener on Wednesday February 20 or Toronto on Monday February 18 or Thursday 28 Anyone wishing to make a presentation should contact the Clerk of the Committee at to register and to find out the exact time and loca tion of the heanngs Copies of the governments discussion paper on the Constitution are available at my constituency offices My Milton office is located at Main Street East and my Georgetown office is at Main Street South For information about office hours please call or The Heart Facts major signs of a heart attack An uncomfortable pressure squeezing fullness or discomfort in the center of the chest behind the breastbone which may spread to the shoulder neck or arms the pain may not be severe Other signals include sweating nausea shortness of breath and a feeling of weakness Signs may appear In co mbi nation For more Information contact your local Heart and Stroke Foundation hi Canadas HI killer Everybody should have the right and the ability to hoot and stomp and yell at the politicians I cer tainly used to do that In fact Im probably more ex perienced leading a tax revolt than I am being in government Maybe I can figure out a way of doing both Anyway there were 30 people at the meeting in Burlington a dozen in Acton and about 40 in Georgetown We were there to discuss Canada at war along with what to do about Quebec im migration and the countrys crip pling debt These are major topics They can be emotional and divisive And they certainly need to be completely discussed I thank those people who gave up an evening to come and talk with me and with each other The debates particularly on war and Quebec were full and most in teresting It was moving for me to enar the sincere comments of those for example who have liv ed through wars as both civilians and as soldiers It was equally important to hear the views of national unity from peo ple who have lived here and in the west and in Quebec I only wish more people could have heard these things joined the debate and gave me their thoughts Political advisors tell me Im nuts to want jammed meeting rooms because the chemistry of a large crowd can turn it hostile in a hurry But I still hope for masses of people who want to influence or change or contribute to the political system So please come Everyone is welcome It is a healthy ex perience for me and those who come to give me a message Ill be at the Royal Canadian Bolton tomorrow night Feb from At least come and let me give you a Maple Leaf pin that you can wear in sup port of our brave troops in the Persian Gulf How can you turn down that of fer By the way I was proud to buy the Toronto papers last weekend and see the picture of David Deere from Georgetown in the cockpit of his CF18 jet in the Per sian Gulf He was holding up a sign saying Hi Mom Im sure Audrey Deere got the message Drop everything Try the Weight Loss Program that includes a variety of delicious meals and snacks nutritional and behavioraT counseling light activity and weight maintenance 3 weeks only 49 OVER CENTRES WORLDWIDE weight loss centres Call Today For A FREE NoObligation Consultation GEORGETOWN ORANGEVILLE BROADWAY 8731900 Eichnin of hod