The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Home Newspaper of Halton Hills WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 1177 A Division of Canadian Newspapers Company Limited Main St South Georgetown Ontario WILLIAM P Publisher BOB RUTTER Editor PHONE Mall RMtIrtd Nurnbti A backlash may backfire Death knell for Acton group Officials of Halton board of education have said they fear a backlash from parents over the French immersion course which will begin next year Taken In light of the emotionalism that now surrounds the issue of the French language in Canada their prediction Bears reflection upon by any mother or father wanting nothing but the best for his or her offspring We have no argument with emotionalism being brought to bear in an argument even though past ex suggests that decisions and actions taken in the cold light of reasons are less cosUy sometimes it isnt until youve had a good jolt of emotionalism that you learn where you really stand and perhaps for the first time take interest in what around you But as is usual in such situations where federalists are calling separatists traitors or worse and there s a real danger no matter how much the may try to minimize it that the country may crack up a voice of cold reason is little heard An early second language start improves intellectual performance in thelaterstagesof education Theway to make a country bilingual is to let the children hear the second language very early Those are the words of Wilder Graves a director and consultant of the Montreal Neurological Institute for over years and professor of neurology at University Dr Penfield who died last year made the statement in an article titled The Superiority of the Bilingual Brain in his book Second Thoughts Science The Arts and the Spirit There Is good evidence that familiarity with additional languages even though limited in the first decade endows the normal child with a more efficient and useful brain wrote And for a child to have a second language preferably started on before the ages of six or seven does not detract from the academic performance in the mother tongue but gives him a real ad vantage It enriches family culture and gives it strength It increases earning power The decisions we as a community make are justified often by the claim that they are in the interests of the But a vision of Canada split and of its unable to talk to each other for want of a second language because Were not going to have French rammed down our throats is almost too to contemplate It s time we stopped gambling our futures on the cast of an emotionally loaded pair of dice They have more than enough to berate us about without that as well Armed forces public support Canada should consider closely the role of its armed forces before any consideration is made on conscription for either a standing peacetime army or to alleviate the unemployment rate among young people The country must reevaluate what it sees as the role of the force which for the past decade or more has suffered from large scale com mitments lack of manpower and inferior equipment In the same period three sue government white papers have given the forces the mission to become unified to protect our shores to continue supporting NATO and engage In United Nations peacekeeping operations and to protect in the Arctic Todays youth are better educated enlightened and eager to they can contribute to society hey can not however realize the fulfillment of their aspirations if they are saddled with a challenge which offers no satisfaction but heavy workloads continually changing policies and a lack of acceptance by the community at large Whether challenge can be provided by conscription is anyones guess But the route to achievmg this challenge will have to be accepted by the community and support given to the policy The support will not be great since any move into this area will be seen as a copout by the government in its efforts to overcome unemployment Defence Minister Barney is reported this week as saying his remarks on conscription were misinterpreted He wants young people to consider the military as part of their job search program That would be ideal if only such a suggestion were to work With manpower stretched to the limit enrolments In the Canadian Forces are limited by the ability of the military to train people for a particular trade role There are now waiting lists for most trades except the combat roles of Infantryman some sea trades artillery technican or tank crewman which means that many unemployed youth will likely stay unemployed while awaiting intake into the forces In the end the procrastination of the government In freezing the defence budget reducing the numbers of the military and the governments political decisions or trade concessions as in the trade agreement with European Com monmarket to reequip the forces will have to end before the military gains credibility among young people By BOB Herald editor Acton for Actonlans may have Beard Its death knell within the past two weeks The sound of defeat comes at a time when optimism is running high that some action to reconstitute Acton as an area municipality might result from a meeting between com members and officials of the ministry of treasury economics and affairs Oct 3 First and foremost Actonlans are fight They believe and they are right that Acton has lost Its I den Illy through regional government They also believe that regional government is costing too much Events in the past two weeks however may have refuted the second argument Milton Mayor Donald Cordon released a report compiled from audited municipal statements for the year the last year of county government and the three years of regional government ending Hisconclu which I might add most observers tend to agree with shows Milton bearing the brunt of the cost of regional government because of its large rural areas with low assessment But the most astonishing fact Is that comes out the winner with a net decrease In taxation revenue of fit Then lo add a further twist to argument Ontario Treasurer Me released his own figures lost week showing Kills with the lowest three- year increase In municipal taxes of 31 comparable communities Mr McKeough also praised the concept or budgeting low debt charges and control over municipal spending This has been the concept embraced by the former town of Georgetown and became policy for Hills II was also at this Hamilton news conference that Mr responding to questions from a Herald reporter virtually quashed any possibility of a reconstituted Acton when he said he will not review regional government in Halton nor would he allow creation of a fifth community A further development however ques tions the purpose or the Actonlans committee in seeking secession from Hills In a teller Sept to Mr McKeough Aclon Word l Coun Pat who served on the Acton council for many years stated he former Mayor odd Coun explained the 1973 fiscal position of Acton a the committee but their comments in support of Hills went unheeded In the letter Mr McKenzie pointed out the areas where Improved services have come about these include a fulltime planner which Ac loo did not have extensive and sanitary sewer improvements and maintained a per capita debt of He also called unrealistic a proposal for Acton to take part of the and Townships areas into its boundaries to form a new town Such a new town with increased rural services upkeep mainly roads would likely not survive especially Mr McKenzie says since Acton only pays about per cent of the mill rate for Hills Considering the fiscal situation of Acton in 1973 regional government may have been the salvation of the community Mr McKen refutes In his letter an argument made to this writer during the election campaign by a genUeman from Acton that local municipal cost would be tailored to fit the town ability to pay Acton was required in Its last year of operation to sell townowned land There Is confusion among politicians over AMP THAT a or CANADA AMD Change is a double edged sword Change and changes are daytoday happenings With changing of he seasons I always seem to pause for a moment and reflect on the effect of all the changes that are a part of our lives For me fall has always had a sort of melancholy note to It As beautiful as the changing colors are and fresh as Tall air is we quickly become aware that another summer has slipped away and the long days of winter will soon be with ua again It Is this change both in the seasons and in ourselves that we sense so strongly Summer days have a sort of carefree and easy going air about them nothing is of any great urgency Yet as soon as the leaves start to fall we find ourselves snapped back like an elastic band into the routine of tilings and the lazy feeling of summer days are left behind What we term a feeling of melancholy at the falling of the leaves Is the sudden reminder that winter is approaching and once again its time to knuckle down set goals and look forward to seeing them accomplished The plight of many writers is that they procrastinate right up to the last possible moment before getting down to brass lacks and summer offers almost endless excuses far procrastination The effect of the constant changes going through our Uvea brings to mind the changes in the school for young people In order to give them the benefit of knowledge outside the confining walls of the classroom some Individual came upon the idea of field study trips Such a wonderful Invention on someone parti Vet what actually happened is that the basics seems to have suffered at the extra benefit of study outside the classroom is of course necessary as winter a blowing snows promising the change lle new growth of spring change can be doubleedged sword and it is not always for the good alive in the sense of alert and aware and part of life instead of being dragged along we that though changes ore necessary nothing in fife Is an absolute certainty Scientists regard absolute certain as an impossibility and the scientific approach is one of checking and double- checking all the time So the intelligent thinking person accepts that mistakes occur as quickly the changes In life Some areas of education today are a mistake a per cent failure in bears this out Whenwcspeakorgcttingback to the basics we don mean that oil Is lost and the only approach is to go back to the whole system of bygone days What going back to the basics means Is the realisation that field trips cannot be made at the expense of fundamental studies Reading and the comprehension of the written word Is Ifte stone for all other learning Change is also toe ability to see the mistake admit it and make another change Changes are an inevitable part of our society but In order for all to benefit from change we must make sure that be changes continue to push us forward not further behind To see a mistake and admit it is to make a change The only people I know that don t moke any mistakes are dead and buried to live Is to grow lo grow Is to change to change is to challenge and In this proctAS we all are open to error To sec a mistake and admit it and to make a change Is what we call being In tell gently alive regional government Some people say it was In the red an HMs h Mr McKenzie also touches on a recent Acton issue when he states that for years the old Acton has been crumbling and falling apart with no one expressing an interest in Its restoration It appears that the decision to tear down the building was made by a council is not considered local there was a hue and cry culminating in formation of a citizens group save the building Acton is faced with an identity crisis Anyone would admit as much But to consider now trying to become something II hasnt the resources to become is not the answer The creation of a strong downtown business association creation of a business improvement area saving the town hall and a continuing community spirit ore steps toward restoring Identity Instead of seeking to disassociate itself with Halton Hills and regional government Acton Tor should be striving to develop an Identity within the existing framework of government After years of regional government the time is right Private sector flexes muscles By DON If EARN Queen Park Bureau The Herald The three essential voices in running the province today aside from the public are government labor and the private sector In the deliberations which decide on the courses to be followed there has been one noticeable absentee the private sector Government of course always has had a united voice and labor through Its sea has been able talk with some over all and common approach But business has not had one central It has had the Canadian Manufacturers Association which essentially is concerned with big enterprise It has had the Ontario Chamber of Commerce which historically has been a catchall of small and medium sized business And then there have been groups such as John Bulloch association for small busines industry trade and business associations Bui there has been no organization which has spoken and spoken with muscle for the private sector HOW MUSCLE It appears thai now the Ontario Chamber of Commerce may be in first stages of moving Into this vacuum Over the years the Chamber has come in here annually and made a presentation This has been pretty well a nothing thing A lot of generalities presented by people with obviously very little muscle But the Chamber has been going through a resurgence Lost spring at Its annual meeting it had heavyweight speakers and a heavyweight audience Then a few days ago it was here for its annual presentation And what a difference from former years There possibly in fact most probably has never been such a showing of brass in one group In these buildings The president of Shell Canada was there So was the president of Dow Chemical So was the chairman and chief executive officer of Inco In fact of more than 100 men in the delegation nearly everyone in the delegation was a president chairman chief executive officer or senior vicepresident And he presentation was impressive Factual tough and covering a broad NEED VOICE If the Chamber Is moving Into a senior and responsible position this Is welcome Our major problems today are economic In planning meet them Industry voice is Also the private sector needs to under government jng contact with a central group can abet this Looking through our files Trudeau s cabinet changes baffling By STEWART Ottawa area a Of The Herald Being bedded down with a minor ailment I should have had plenty of time to rationalize all the moves in Prime Minister Trudeau a 12 person cabinet shuffle But I must plead for a further delay Some of the changes Just baffle me I am not talking about the key appoint that of Jean Chretien to the all Important portfolio of finance Everyone who has followed the determined career of the 43yearold smalltown lawyer will ap plaud the promotion of this competent and congenial minister And it rather difficult to argue with the prime minister for selecting Chretien as Canada flrat FrenchCanadian finance minister But since that finance portfolio is a traditional graveyard for aspiring politicians and since Chretien Is obviously the moat valuable and popular Liberal MP from Quebec I wonder whether his future should He will be clearly needed to our marathon unity debates prime ministerial ointments is one of the easier undertakings at If was determined to have a Frenchspeaking finance minister I would have thought that Marc Lalonde who had been his health minister for five years would have been a reasonable choice all the necessary qualifies lions including an established ability to reorganize the bureaurcracy round him Chretien has just as many qualifications of course along with a down to- earth wit and charm but these are attributes that might be more useful In federal provincial relations the new respons ibilities of GOOD NEGOTIATOR I have a feeling that Chretien while he may perform marvels In Inspiring Canadas business community could make an even greater contribution in dealing directly with the provinces im same wave length as prime minster has an inherent inflexibility when It comes to constitutional matters He may relieve of some chores in this area but he is unlikely to alter any basic federal approaches to the provinces Chretien would have left his own trade mark on these responsibilities And if federal provincial relations were his sole responsibility he would have found the lime to go Into Quebec to lead the forces of federalism When he speaks In Quebec people listen As finance minister he will no doubt spend a good deal of time In that province but the very nature of hut responsibilities will restrict his activities For the foreeeable future he will be kept busy talking about unemployment and inflation I found a few other cabinet changes baffling That was quite a promotion for M unique Begin a oneyear veteran of the revenue portfolio who now becomes a minis ter of health and welfare Thats a massive department and she Is also in charge of the status of women IRONIC TWIST This has a rather Ironic twist because under the umbrella of Begin department lies the secretarial for fitness and amateur sport a group headed by cabinet colleague One keeps hearing reports that these ladles are not he closest friends in cabinet which raises all sorts of interesting possibilities about the status of women in government I am not baffled by the transfer of Warren Allmand from Indian affairs to consumer and corporate affairs but it a shame felt a change was necessary Officially the prime minister said he wanted closer to central Canada and particularly closer to the minorities in Quebec who feel that he is their able spokesman But I am willing to bet Trudeau wanted Allmand his senior Englishspeaking close to the null of Quebec as batllellncs stiffen over language rights As for some of the other changes I think it good for the West that Jack Horner becomes our new trade minister We have a tendency to think of trade and commerce as en eastern specialty And think Its just great that the deserving Allan MocEachen assumes the title or deputy prime minister Now If lo will just tell me what that means YEARS AGO Movie houses recently acquired by Theatres of Canada in Gcorgetowr Acton will show pictures six nigh week four as had been the case formerly whlchwnscallcd Gregory Theatre will be renamed the Jock Polly was theatre manager in Georgetown Town council decided to ask voters in next municipal election if they were in favor of a municipal board of education elected annually In Georgetown and if they would support a one mill grant approximately SI 339 for the Lome Scots Regiment Band YEARS AGO Bill MacCormack of MacCormack Drug Store was appointed a director of the Georgetown Rotary Club An editorial In The Herald noted that council had decided to buy a chain of office for mayor They planned to have the names of all former mayors of Georgetown inscribed on the chain Claude and Norman Incam won county honors in lawn bowling when they were awarded the Bank of Commerce trophy at a tournament In Milton jo LARS AGO A course on driver education was Introd uced for students at Georgetown and district high school Jim Snowdhe Progressive Conservative candidate in East said the GO train may be extended to Georgetown The new rapid transit line along was started on an experimental basis six months earlier his year Phone 877 KHflKSisMrili lie OK leu