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Who do you think would make the best Progressive Conservative Party Jeader: Patrick Boyer, Kim Campbell, Jean Charest, Jim Edwards or Garth Turner? Campbell: 8 _ Charest:2 Boyer:0 Edwards:0 Turner:0 Perhaps now is the time the ministry to reâ€"think its position on kindergarten and its relevance to the requirements of the 1990‘s child. With all the shortfalls in social program funding, for example, it seemed folly to even propose a provinceâ€"wide JK program. The fact is that aside from the massive costs, what was to be gained? Children today are exposed to more stimuli than preâ€" vious generations and in most cases, a strong case could be made for the complete elimination of kindergarten as we know it. In the 90s, more families have both parâ€" ents working meaning that children are placed in daycare and nursery schools that serve the same function as kindergarten. Little wonder then that many children are bored to tears when they hit kindergarten. By that time, many have already been exposed to kindergartenâ€"like learning and are now ready to proceed. Instead, they are forced into a year of relative nonâ€"productive time that could better be spent in a more structured learning environment. It was yet another example of the province trying to shove its own initiatives down the throats of local jurisdictions without consulting them. The tragic thing in all of this is that instead of standing up to the ministry on this issue, 144 of the province‘s 162 school boards, just went along with the JK plan. Seventeen other school boards, in addition to Halton, cried foul and fought the deal. Good for them. The Halton Board of Education has long lobbied against the plan, citing its masâ€" sive cost in terms of staffing and facilities. Other school boards were in the same economic boat. It also didn‘t make sense given the present financial problems facâ€" ing the province and the apparent lack of interest on the part of parents. government, there was some positive news that few could criticize. That issue was Junior Kindergarten (JK) and the decision by Queen‘s Park to delay implementation of the scheme from next year to 1997. The decision by Education Minister Dave Cooke makes sense from a number of perspectives. * Wlth all the controversy surrounding the planned spending cuts by the Rae Robert Glasbey Advertising Director Norman Alexander Editor Geoff Hill Circulation Director Teri Casas Office Manager Tim Coles Production Manager Rae wants union members‘ pay frozen for three years and have public employâ€" ees take 12 days of unpaid leave a year. And while some union groups have decidâ€" ed not to cooperate in the process, other unions, like the 46,000 member Ontario Secondary School Teachers‘ Federation wants to present some alternatives to the province. Their views , along with other suggestions, are to be presented in the next few weeks. Who knows, the whole process may see everyone emerge a winner...even the taxpayer. Good riddance to JK Little wonder then that union members are confused. They thought that the New Democrats were ‘their‘ party and to be counted on to deliver unionâ€"friendly govemnâ€" ment. Not! Ian Oliver Publisher Aside from the fact that just about no one in the trade unions appeared at the meeting yesterday, the amazing issue here is the stance the government is taking against organized labor in the province. If a Progressive Conservative or Liberal government had done the same thing, Rae would have likely been the first one to stand in the provincial legislature to condemn the plan. 3 ark down Thursday April 29, 1993 as a unique day in Ontario political history. That was the day when Premier Bob Rae started the first in a ries of meetings to try and wring out a ‘social charter‘ between the govâ€" emment and its 900,000 employees. Union dilemma RESULTS OF LAST WEEK‘S POL 467 Speers Road, Oakville, Ont. L6K 354 Classified Advertising: 845â€"2809 Circulation: 845â€"9742 or 845â€"9743 845â€"3824 Fax: 845â€"3085 Results of the poll will be published in the next Friday edition of the Oakville Beaver. Cast your ballot by calling 845â€"5585, box 5008 to vote. Callers have until 12 noon Thursday to register their vote. Do you think the North American Free Trade Agreement has been good or bad for Canada? 2 . 00200 0w _ 5 VERTaTE®Nurora Eraâ€"Banner, North York Mirror, Oakville Beaver, Onllia Today, Oshawa/Whitby This Week, Peterborough This Week, Richmond HilÂ¥Thomhil/Vaughan Liberal, Scarborough Mirror. All material published in the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyri?gt Any reproduction in whole or in part of this material is strictly forbidden without the consent of the publisher. The Oakville Beaver, published every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, at 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, is one of the Metroland Printing, . Publishing Distrbuting Ltd. group of suburban newspapers which includes: ajax-Pickeling News Advertiser, Barrie Advance, Brampton Guardian, But ingion Post, Collingwood Connection, Etobicoke Guardian, Georgetown Independent Acton Free Press, Kingston This Week, Lindsay This Week, Markham Economist and Sun, Stoutfville/Uxbridge Tribune, Millon Canadian Charnfivion, Mississauga News, Newmarketâ€"Aurora E raâ€"Banner, North York Mirror, Oakville Beaver, Onllia Today. Oshawa/Whithy This Waek ‘ Patarhaminh This ww My thanks to the Dooleys for the amount of work they must have done to come up with these figures and comparisons while I â€" sniping from the sidelines â€" and aware that something was rotten in Oakville Dear Sir: Atlong last, we are seeing some basic figures on the Town expendiâ€" tures courtesy of Kathleen and Peter Dooley. All Oakvillians should sit up and take note of these figures that illustrate quite clearly the profligate rise in municipal expenditure that, obviously, takes no account of population/staff ratios and salary scale comparisons that, especially today, are mandatoâ€" ry in any organization. Review of Oakville expenditures badly needed Throughout the years, there was still the willingness to start working at Mack Oakville and a pride in what they did for a living. After each plant shutâ€"down and layoff, these men kept returning to work, eager to begin againâ€"after all, they were family, The Mack Family‘. These men have given their lives for this company. Most started as young men in their 20s, eager to learn and work hard. As years passed, some came and went but the majority stayed, dedicated employees who gave their all. They raised families, bought homes, dreamed of a bright future. These loyal men fast became friends and confidants. They worked together, socialized together and in some cases, the wives even became friends. Dear Sir: There was a time when the kids were little and saw a Mack truck on the road they would yell, "Look, a Mack truck, maybe daddy helped build it." We would boo at the competition when we saw one on the road. When a trip along the QEW took us past Mack in Oakville, they would yell, "Look, that is where daddy works." There was this family pride about the Mack truck and the plant. Now an era is about to come to an end. Mack Canada is to be no longer. Lament for the breakâ€"up of Mack family The Oakville Beaver welcomes your comments. All letters must be signed and include the writer‘s address and phone number. Letters should be typed, doubleâ€"spaced and addressed to: Letters to the Editor, The Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, Ont. L6K 354 t This whole issues of course, begs the question as to why such comparisons are not routinely pubâ€" lished by the bureaucracy for all, including cur councillors, to see? Further, one has to ask why we do not see the same comparisons from our regional and educational estabâ€" lishments? Personally, I am sure that the general public â€" and possiâ€" bly some of our councillors â€" Until our Mayor or councillor, Kevin Flynn, issues a rebuttal in print for us all to see, the figures from the Dooley‘s remain in my files, as correct. was too lazy to do my homework and dig around for the basic statisâ€" tics. These men are older now, perhaps wiser. Would they do it again? Probably yes. I know, I am married to one of these men. The cards are on the table and the Mack Family is now going through a separation and divorce. It will be hard to say goodbye. There will be tears, bitâ€" temess maybe and a loss of belonging. But these men are survivors and they will, indeed, survive along with their families because they are tough, loyal, honest and hardâ€"working. This is the end of an era in our lives, all our lives, but one that will not be forgotten for life does indeed go on. Good Luck to everyone. Now it seems ‘business is business‘ and the Mack Family is no longer important. Mack Canada will cease to exist. These men once again had to swallow their pride and go home to tell their families there was to be no more jobs, no more dreams and no more future. Everything has been shattered, put on hold. So dedicatâ€" ed and hardâ€"working, these loyal men were willing to ask their families to sacrifice wages to stay but to no avail. After all, profit is profit, busmess is business. The decision has already been made. Surely, if ever, this is the time to look back at past performance and expenditure to see just where the money has gone and who has been the primary beneficiary. If it is proven that increased expenditure was necessary â€"â€" allowing for social programs that support the needy â€" all well and good, we have no arguâ€" ment. If, however, it reveals a creeping expansion of salary scales, pension, and fringe benefits beyond what, today, can be judged reasonable. Cutbacks should be made. would be devastated to see such comparisons covering the past 20 years. Name withheld by request LL. Davies