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~ OPINION Parking people were birthday party poopers ank economist Lloyd Atkinson, like all of his confederates, has cast an eye B into his crystal ball and what he sees can best be described as a murky sky with patches of blue. He was in town last week to give his views of Canada‘s economic present and future but he had little in the way of a timetable for the longâ€"awaited ‘recovery‘. Little wonder. Economists, political pundits and other fiscal soothsayers have gone on record at various times over the past two years declaring the recession over based on a variety of figures. At the end of the talk, one truth has come to light and Atkinson recognizes it...nothing will happen to improve the recovery until consumers regain the confidence to start buying. And Atkinson, this time being very pragmatic, doesn‘t see that happening in the short term. For the current world economy hasn‘t been seen before and the study of ecoâ€" nomics is nothing if not a discipline tied to history. It leaves everyone like Atkinson flying without a net and now the same can be said of Canadian conâ€" sumers. In the early 1980s, the personal savings rate was 18 per cent and that was in a time of inflationary salaries and skyâ€"high interest rates. There was an attitude in the retail and consumer sector that can best be described as frantic. Fastâ€"forward to 1993 and the scene is quite different. We now have interest rates verging on historic lows but we also have a 10 per cent personal savings rate and nationâ€"wide 11.5 per cent unemployment. Add to that a populace still carrying debt loads from the 1980s and you have economic malaise on a huge scale. One of Atkinson‘s more scary observations was that he didn‘t know where any new jobs would be coming from. He touched on the information area and the need for Canadians to embrace technological opportunities. But it all has a kind of holâ€" low ring to those displaced in the prime of life and unable to work and contribute to our society. _ We could well be witnessing the widening gap between the rich and the poor, and it‘s not a pretty picture. y Inflation, now at about 1.5 per cent a year has ceased to be a factor but what does it matter when the real damning statistic shows today‘s multiâ€"taxed Canadian has developed a siege mentality when it comes to spending. They‘ve been burned before and they don‘t want it to happen again. And who knows how long the job will last? When will consumers see their takeâ€"home pay relate to their gross salaries and thereby encourage spending, employment and prosperity? Good questions. Atkinson will admit that but he, like the rest of us, can‘t quite see through the fog in the crystal ball. # L _Keep it coming Dear Sir: I would like to congratulate the organizers of the Multiâ€"Cultural Committee for arranging such a successful International Party at Coronation Park to celebrate Canada‘s 126th Birthday, July It is with pride and joy that many persons who attended the celebration participated and mixed with each other in harmony and true appreciation. To quote our Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn "Before me lies a truly fabulous sight â€" thousands of people celebrating the most wonâ€" Dear Sir: HOME COURT BASKETâ€" BALL would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our fullâ€" Ist. Basketball program response overwhelming Dear Sir: It is the belief of the directors of the Trafalgar Chartwell Residents Association (TCRA) that our area is in serious jeopardy. New development will hurt quality of life Genstar and Kaneff are proposâ€" ing a development immediately south of the Oakville GO Train Station which will put approxiâ€" mately 2,200 people on that parcel of land. What kind of quality of life could exist in an area bounded, not only by a busy railway track, but also three major thoroughfares? What impact will all of their cars make on one of the busiest traffic sections in town? How will their children safely cross six lanes of traffic by foot or on bicycles? What impact will 2,200 people make on the residential area of TCRA which is currently populated by approxiâ€" mately 3,500 people? What will happen to current taxes in order to support these 2,200 apartment dwellers? o you thought it was hot last week? Well, you‘re right, it was hot but not so hot as to put undue pressure on Oakville Hydro or our water treatment plants. Last year at this time, we were lamenting the clouds, cold weather and rain that seemed to go on all summer. Come to think of it, it did go on all summer. The wonder of it all is that despite the heatwave last week, we didn‘t hear too many people complaining. The winter was a tough one, last summer was a disaster. Time to wake up and enjoy the sunshine, the hotter the better. We need answers to these quesâ€" tions. There will be public meetings in September at Town Hall regardâ€" ing Genstar. Kaneff is still behind closed doors with the town â€" a deplorable situation in a democracy â€" so I am unable to give an indicaâ€" tion of when they will come out in the open. If any of your readers care about the context of their quality of life in Oakville, would they please write Clear as mud EDITORIAL time sponsors, and the Bronte Village Mall Special Event Sponsors, as well as those parents and participants who unselfishly to me at: Trafalgar Chartwell Residents Association, 125 Cross Avenue, Box 150, Oakville, Ontario L6J 2W8. We need to get Dear Sir: The Family fireworks Committee of Scouts Canada, Oakville District wishes to thank all those wh~ purchase Family Fireworks and those who provided the necessary facilities. These included: Truboy Freight International Inc., Petro Canada, Century Cash Register, Hopedale Mall, Oakville Town Centre I, Rainbow Gas Bar 3rd Line, Levitt Safety Limited, Oaktown Supply Ltd. The proceeds will be used to help finance the participation of 84 Scouts, Venturers and Leaders from Oakville in the Canadian Scout Jamboree at Kananaskis, Alberta from July 10th to 18th. They all express their appreciation for your assistance. Dntario L6J 2W8. We need to get Janet Rodger Scouts thankful for fireworks support We trust you and your family enjoyed the Family Fireworks. ¢ PHONE CALL845â€"5585 HJ derful country on the face of the earth". The celebration was dampened, however, for numerous persons â€" who because of limited parkâ€" ing facilities at the area had no alternative â€"â€" but to park on the grass on Lakeshore Road West, near Woodhaven. These cars were parked away from the road reserve, yards away from the soft shoulder, causâ€" ing no impediment to traffic whatsoever, and were tagged for $30.00. Such actions by the staff of the Parking Operations Division of the Department of Public cUTi NE | SPEAK YOUR MIND | Got a gripe? Give us a call. Readers are invited to express their opinion on a topic of their choice by calling 845â€"5585, box 5250. All callers are allowed 45 secâ€" onds to express their opinion and must provide their name, address and phone number for verification. A cross section of the responses will be published in next Wednesday‘s Oakville Beaver. volunteered and contributed their time, money and energy to give of themselves in order to help make the Oakville Waterfront Festival 3â€" together to let Town Hall know that this infill project is totally inapproâ€" priate. â€" Tur O, 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 Oakvilie Beaver, 467 Speers RAd., Oakville, Ont. L6K 3S4 Martin Laretei District Commissioner Boy Scouts of Canada 467 Speers Road, Oakville, Ont. L6K 3S4 845â€"3824 Fax: 845â€"3085 Classified Advertising: 845â€"2809 Circulation: 845â€"9742 or 845â€"9743 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER AKVILLE BEAVER | Works, not only shows lack of discretion and poor judgement, but conveys a poor public perâ€" ception for Municipal Civil Servants who appear to indiscriminately abuse their official positions of enforcement especially on such a historic occaâ€" sion where no danger to life, health, or safety could have resulted. The Town of Oakville should be congratulated for sponsoring such an event, but should be ashamed at the action by its indiscriminate parkâ€" onâ€"3 Basketball charity fundraiser for the Oaklands Regional Centre a success. Their efforts to raise $1,000 for such a worthwhile cause for some of the most needy in our community, cannot go unnoticed. It was this attitude of giving rather than taking which distinâ€" guished these fine individuals, and acts as a positive example for othâ€" ers in the community. We were pleasantly surprised by the overwhelmingly, lastâ€"minute response to the 3â€"onâ€"3 Waterfront Challenge Basketball Tournament, however, we must apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. It was nice to see that even with the delays, and our attempt to schedule the large number of teams, the majority of the particiâ€" pants did not lose sight of the reaâ€" son we were all there: to gather as a community for a celebration, to enjoy the good weather and people we would meet, and to contribute to a very worthwhile cause. The feedback we receive from parents and participants alike is valued and welcomed and helps us to improve our programs. Bill Goodale & Carol Hamilton Goodale Dear Sir: Pardon my abuse of the English language, but, in response to your recent question regarding its aboliâ€" tion, I must say that â€" in my opinâ€" ion â€" the Upper House is an obâ€" senateâ€"ty. nough said John Lloyd Robert Glasbey Advertising Director Norman Alexander Edior Geoff Hill Circulation Director Terl Casas Office Manager Tim Coles Production Manager Tan Oliver Publisher I was one of seven members of the Conservative Caucus that spent two full days writing and reâ€"working 29 Amendments in conâ€" junction with school boards, municipalities and the Ontario Hospital Association, to name a few. I am writing in reply to your editorial of July 11th entitled "Playing Politics." f * + S e h Quiet frankly, the reason people are cynical about the political process is that not many people, including the press, are aware of what happens beyond the theatrics of Question Period. For the record, Premier Rae called Mike Harris three days before the debate on Bill 48 to ask for our amendments and told us he was sincere in his intention to improve the legislation. Faced with this scenario, my Party and I did what any responsible opposiâ€" tion is supposed to do. We brought forward our amendments to fix the flaws. Copies were sent to the NDP Caucus for their review. To our disappointment and dismay, the government refused to even debate our ideas and instead, used its majority to close debate and force the Bill into law. The real tragedy was not that our efforts were rejected, but that the savings promised by the government were not permanent. The whole clause by clause process was a farce but I know that I made my best, constructive effort to salvage the legislation. As a responsible politician, I will continue to offer my ideas to the government. I remain ready and willing to work with them if and when the open the door to coâ€"operation. . Po TCcs This may, in some small way help to end the cynicism which is prevalent across our nation today. I am one politician who is committed to making that happen. Gary Carr, M.P.P. We tried to be constructive in presenting our alternative ideas and offered to work with the government to improve the legislation and make it fair and workable. MPP condemns Rae‘s tactics Dear Sir: Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries Mining Construction Manufacturingâ€"durable Manufacturingâ€"nondurable Transportation, communication, and public utilities Wholesale trade Retail trade Finance, Insurance, and real estate Business and repair services Personal services * Enteitainment and recreational services Professional and related services Public administration _ _LETTER OF THE DAY WEEKLY FOCUS 41.6% 21.2% 21.9% 24.0% 25.3% 23.2% 41.3% 51.8% 34.9% 35.9% 32.9% 35.8% 25.9% 18.4% 12.9% 8.9% 15.2% 12.4% 25.3% 16.2% 18.1% 19.2% 10.1% 18.7% 18.5% 16.1% 15.2% 15.17% July 14, 1993