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The mind is still reeling from B.M. the PM’s announcement that he will no longer lead Canada down the garden path. I had a strange dream the other night. I’m not sure whether it could be considered a nightmare or some sort of vision. In my dream, a voice from not- so-high called a federal election and no one got elected. The Houses of Merriment in Ottawa were silent and oddly enough, the old structures seemed to settle more comfortably into their foundations with what might be termed an architectural sigh of relief. Unemployment offices across the land were swamped. Extra security shad to be added as now out-of- work politicians jostled with the now-unemployed, self-proclaimed “political analysts” whose jobs had been trimmed from newspapers, radio and television stations as redundant. Cries of “I used to be Jean’s speech therapist”, “I was only fol- lowing my leader” and “I never really liked Audrey’s hairdo”, min- gled with equally strident exhorta- tions along the lines of “I didn’t write the story that the country would fall apart, it was a total mis- print”, “They trapped me in my office, I wrote what I did just to escape” and “Don’t blame me if I misjudged the mood of the people, my makeup was running”. And the lady behind the UIC desk kept nodding “uh-huh, uh- huh, step to the back of the line” and the beat goes on until the next political bandwagon rolls into town. I woke up in a cold sweat and needing a quick dose of reality, flicked on the tube desperately channel-scanning to find Sesame Street. Then the grey cells started nudg- ing each other again and a flashing thought - much like a rent-a-neon- sign - started edging into my con- sciousness. “It just might happen!” t was time for breakfast and some serious thinking. Grabbing a cold piece of pizza from the soggy cardboard carton next to my bed, I ticked off our fed- eral political party possibilities. The now rudderless Progressive Conservatives, about as popular as a communicable disease. The Jean Chretien-led Liberals, still suffering through Trudeau political-pause. The Audrey McLaughlin-led New Democrats. Still waffling on issues, still perceived as “No Damn Policy” buffoons. Colin Gibson Then we have the Reform Party. The latest rumor had Preston Manning urging restraint at a white supremacist campfire outing. Mel Hurtig, the non-elitist leader of the new non-elitist National party was last reported sighted at a very elitist book-swapping soiree. The Bloc Quebecois is still look- ing for a hockey player (preferably French-speaking) to lead them out of their own zone and then we have the Libertarians. When last spotted, these galloping galumphs were try- ing to organize an ABBA reunion tour. Scary thought! More brain food needed. I commence diggin: through old newspapers for that Halton Hills This: Week, Wednesday, March 3, 1993 — Page 7 What if no one got elected to parliament? suddenly remembered carton of Chinese food. Then, an illuminating thought takes hold - like a fishbone caught in the throat. Maybe finally, appropriately, Canadian voters can really choose how-they want to be governed and by whom. Politicians are out, peo- ple are in. Toss aside the pork-bar- reling party system that ignores voters’ wishes; that allows a combi- nation of dreamers, schemers, incompetents, party bagmen and party hacks to be foisted on the public - at the respective party’s whim - come election time. Let’s finally really grill those running for elected office. Let’s be unmerciless in demanding account- ability for the actions - or inactions as the case may be - of those who hold elected office. Let’s disregard empty promises and similarly, disregard with dis- dain the same empty candidates who promise pie-in-the-sky, never- never lands. Let’s require each candidate to sign a pledge on what he/she will do, or attempt to do, and which leg- islation the candidate will or will not support, if elected. The pledge will at least remind those elected that they are morally responsible to their constituent’s wishes. It would also allow voters an easy reference in terms of judg- ing the performance - or lack of same - of their elected representa- tive, when the next election rolls around. And most important, let’s vote for the most qualified candidate, regardless of political party affilia- tion. Those against these suggestions will moan that nothing will get done; will cry out that fringe parties will sprout like weeds, that Parliament Hill will be mocked as a conglomeration of iconoclasts total- ly out of touch with the people. My reply is simple! Isn’t that what we have now? Maybe I’m dreaming in techni- color, but at this particular blip in Canadian history, I feel the people really do have a choice and a voice in how they want to be governed and in the molding of the future of our country. Of course, the ultimate decision will be up to the voters - as it should be. Here’s hoping people think long and hard about the future implications to themselves and the country when they exercise their franchise in the upcoming federal election which must be called this ear. As I see it, anyway. The Kiwanis Club of Georgetown gave a generous $20,000 donation to Georgetown hospital, pictured here last Thursday in the hospital’s board room. The money purchased stress testing equipment. Cheque presentation left to right: Kiwanians Lynn Ferguson, Dennis White, Chairman of the hospital board Connell Smith, lab technician Debbie Cock, Chief of Medicine Dr. Craig Browning. Kiwanis Club aids Georgetown Hospital The Kiwanis Club of Georgetown has donated $20,000 to Georgetown and District Memorial Hospital.This contribu- tion. has been used to purchase stress testing equipment. A stress test is a continuous elec- trocardiograph (ECG) monitoring of a patient while walking on a treadmill. The purpose of a stress test is to study the cardiac rhythms while the heart is under some work requirement. Dr. Craig Browning, Chief of Medicine, notes that a doctor would order a stress test for a num- ber of reasons. It is used to investi- ASSOCIATE TAX CONSULTANTS gate cardiac symptoms (example: chest pain) which may indicate heart disease or to follow the recovery of a patient who has had a heart attack. A stress test can also be used to assess a patient with risk factors which could result in heart disease. Some risk factors include a family history of heart disease, smoking, or an elevated cholesterol level. The new stress testing equipment (Quinton Q4000K) is fully comput- erized and provides a detailed reporting to assist the physician in the diagnosis of heart disease. Connell Smith, chairman of the hospital board, on behalf of the hospital extended sincere apprecia- tion to the Kiwanis Club for their donation and for their ongoing sup- port of the hospital. The donation is to the hospital but the benefits of the equipment is for the entire com- munity. Georgetown hospital is a 112- bed primary, acute and long term care facility. As a primary health care provider, the hospital is com- mitted to identifying the health care needs for Halton Hills, and devel- oping programs in cooperation with other health care agencies. Elks national leader to visit Georgetown Jim Taylor, Exhaulted Ruler of Halton Hills’ Elks Club has announced that Mr. Joe Calder of Plenty, Saskatchewan, Grand Exhaulted Ruler of the Elks in Canada, will be visiting Halton Hills Elks Lodge No. 540 on Monday, April 19, 1993 on their regular meeting night. The local Elks Lodge is located in Norval just off Winston Churchill Blvd. The Elks of Canada and their auxiliary, the Royal Purple, are a fraternal organization founded in ada in the year 1912, and have a total membership approaching 50,000 members. The organization is dedicated to working for the good and welfare of the community with priorities for the needs of children, senior citi- zens and many others in need. They have provided playgrounds, chil- dren camps, senior citizen housing and special equipment for hospitals and regional health units. Special concern has been placed ) Joe Calder on the need for the early identifica- tion and rehabilitation of hearing impaired children. Funding is pro- vided by their National Charity, the Elks Purple Cross Fund. Money from this Fund is also made avail- able to provide assistance for the good and welfare of other children when finances are not available from other sources. ye [HIS WEEK Halton Hills This Week is publishe ed and is printed in Oakville by Q.£. Web Printing. Iph St., Georgetown, Ont. L7G 481, Inthe event of typ not be sold. an offer PUBLISHER: Ken Bellamy OFFICE MANAGER: Jean Shewell HALTON HILLS THIS WEI PHONE: 873-2254 INCOME TAX RETURNS DONE ¢ SAME DAY SERVICE CIRCULATION MANAGER: Marie Shadbott PRODUCTION MANAGER: Kathleen Topolsek EK IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED. FAX:873-3918 , goods or services may ~ Monday - Thursday 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM Returns 9:00 aM-1:00Pm Electronically Filed We are fully computerized and can prepare tax 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM returns while you wa 101 GUELPH ST. GEORGETOWN 877-2217 Friday Saturday