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THE NEW TANNERTHURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2007 7THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 20076 GRAPEVINE with Mike OLeary The Way I See It Prime Minister Stephen Harper ordered an independent review of the relationship between former Prime Minister Mulroney and German-Canadian businessman Karlheinz Schreiber last week. A sentence from a court affidavit caught Mr. Harpers eye and he subsequently ordered the inquiry to protect the office of the Prime Minister. This whole mess dates back to the summer of 1973 when Schreiber alleges that then P.M. Mulroney agreed to a business deal that eventually resulted in a $300,000 payment to the ex-P.M.. This payment was made, it is al- leged, to Mulroney in return for him lobbying for the Airbus deal to go through. Its important to note that none of the allegations have been proven in court. This latest political foo-for- rah should not be confused with the $2.1 million payment Mul- roney was awarded in an out of court settlement with the federal government in 1977. That case involved some justice department jerk who named the former P.M. in a letter which the court judged to be libelous. The $300,000 payment is not new news. The fact it was made was fairly common knowledge. That Mulroney didnt pay taxes on the income in the year it was paid came as something of a shock. I would assume that someone in his snack-bracket would have financial advisors to keep him on the right side of Revenue Canada. The claim that the pay- ment was made to Mr. Mulroneys lawyers in Geneva added a little international intrigue to the afore- mentioned affair. The Airbus affair has dogged Mulroney since he left office. The $2.1 million judgement came as a result of a Federal Govern- ment employees gaffe. As I remember the case, it did nothing to dispel the rumours about Mr. Mulroneys involvement, or lack of it, in the negotiations leading up to the awarding of the Airbus contract. Bazaar time Its Christmas bazaar time this Saturday in conjunction with the Santa Claus parade with one event at St. Josephs Church, Acton and another at a book and bake sale at St. Johns in Rockwood. Look in the classifieds for information. Bazaar at Bethel Church Sat., Nov.17, 10am-1pm -Bazaar at Bethel Church, 365 Queen E., Acton. Light lunches, crafts, baked goods (including nut-free), used- item sale, childrens grab barrel, white elephant table. This event is run by the Knit & Chat group and in the past donations have been used to buy cows in Africa, stock medical clinics, dig wells, adopt a World Vi- sion Child, and more. Bazaar at Knox Ospringe Please join Knox Ospringe Pres- byterian church for their annual Christmas Bazaar. Back again this year with beautiful pointsettias plants. Yummy baking, crafts, new and gently used items and tasty hot roast beef on a bun lunch menu. Climate Change P.OW.E.R. is welcoming one of the foremost experts on climate change, Dr. Gordon McBean, at their annual meeting in Georgetown Christ the King school auditorium tonight (Thursday). Doors open at 6:30 with a silent auction. The busi- ness portion of the Annual Meeting begins at 7pm. There will be a short break before Dr. McBean speaks at 8pm followed by a question period. Road improvements What a difference a road makes. Repaving of Barden St. in Eden Mills from the York St. bridge over the Eramosa River to Wellington Rd. 29 is an improvement long awaited. Now if the township and Milton could put their heads together and reconstruct the Town Line between the two municipalities which runs from Hwy 7 into Eden Mills it would be another blessing to motorists and easier on repair bills. Photo session Acton BIA is sponsoring a photo session featuring Santa Claus with children before the Santa Claus parade this Saturday, Nov 17 from 11am to 12:45pm at Off the Wall Youth Centre on Mill St. Photo can be picked up after the parade. Back to normal Water levels on Fairy Lake are get- ting back to normal after recent rain has alleviated some of the effects of the summer drought. Old timers say the swamps must be full before the winter can set in, an observation this column cant dismiss. Most swamps in this neck of the woods look like gigantic sponges with lots of room for water. Foul time Its migration time for waterfowl and the waters of Fairy Lake are welcome respite during the day for hundreds of them as the head to more southerly climes for the cold winter months. Not all go. Some stick around and use cornfields for fodder. Residents around Fairy Lake are treated to the sight of the huge Canada Geese circling over the lake chattering back and forth with their brethren swimming below. Sounds like a multitude of rusty gates opening and closing. The Mallards are not so noisy, just a bunch of quacks. Crossing fixed Work on the Mill St. railway crossing on Tuesday diverted traffic to Church St., Eastern Avenue and Wallace St. for motorists and trucks going east and west. IT has been a summer of detours for drivers but the improvements on the rail crossing is surely the last. Big Brothers/Sisters Help a child find their place. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton is holding a volunteer information session Thursday November 15 at 7 p.m. The session will be held at The Hub office, Our Lady of Victory School, 540 Commercial St., Milton. The agency is looking particularly for adults interested in supervising a small group of children at a home- work club at an Acton school. Call (905) 878-8840 for more informa- tion or email. United Way Holiday House Tour The United Way of Halton Hills is once again holding the annual Holiday House Tour. Enjoy touring seven beautiful homes all uniquely decorated for the Christmas Season by local decorators and florists. These lovely homes will be featured on the self-guided tour Saturday, November 24/07 from 10a.m. to 4p.m. Tickets $25.00 proceeds to the United Way of Halton Hills. For fur- ther information call (905) 877-3066 or e-mail unitedwayhh@bellnet. ca. Also support your local United Way Village young people at Bethel Church, 365 Queen East, Acton. Members of one of the singing group will share through music and testimonies how they escaped the teenage nightmare of drugs, abuse and suicide attempts. Youth are in- vited afterwards for a free lunch and an opportunity to meet the Freedom Village gang. Acton High School Craft Sale On Saturday, November 24, from 10 4 p.m., the Acton High School Advisory Council will be sponsor- ing the 12th Annual Acton High School Craft Sale. This is a non-profit event with all proceeds directly benefiting students through the support of athletic teams and the purchase of equipment for school wide use. CBC comes to Georgetown Literacy North Halton, CBC and Maple Lodge Farms are pleased to present the 3rd annual reading of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, featuring Metro Morning radio per- sonality Jill Dempsey. CBC radio personality Jill Dempsey will be in town on December 8th, 2007 participating in a dramatic reading of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol at 7p.m., St. Johns United Church, Georgetown. This event, sponsored by Maple Lodge Farms and other community businesses, is the 3rd annual fund- raiser in support of Literacy North Halton. Jill will be reading along- side actors from Georgetown Little Theatre, which is also producing the event. The reading will be enhanced by seasonal music performed by the St. Johns United church choir, along with other music guests. Tickets are available through the Georgetown or Acton branches of the Halton Hills Public Library and the Milton Public Library. Not suit- able for children under 12. Over the years Mr. Mulroney has made a big deal about defend- ing his fathers good name. Thats something I can relate to. I have been called all sorts of things over the years. The only time I usually react is when those names call into question the honesty, integrity, eth- ics and honour I learned from my dad. I owe that to his memory. Prime Minister Harper has avoid- ed any situations where opposition M.P.s were angling for a full- fledged judicial inquiry. The review he is proposing falls short of that. Harper has said that, if the review indicates further action is advis- able, an inquiry might be necessary. Dont bet the mortgage on that ever happening. Harper and Mulroney appear to be friends. Nothing unusual there. The problem seems to be that it is alleged Mr. Mulroney agreed to act on a deal while he was still in office. Thats a giant no-no. Still, there have been allegations involving other sitting P.M.s. Im thinking about the Shawinigan Golf Course and deals written on the back of cocktail napkins in this instance. Im sure Mr. Harper was reluc- tant to call this review. What does he have to gain and he has lots to lose. The last thing Harper needs with a minority government is any type of scandal, especially one involving delayed tax payments, involving a former Conservative Prime Minister. For all his faults, and he has more than a few, Harper is an ethical man. I believe that once the question arose regarding the alleged actions of a former sitting Prime Minister he had to, in good faith, launch an inquiry to protect the office of the Prime Minister. Canadians, despite the suspicions of all things political, have to have confidence in the high- test political office in the land. As for Mr. Mulroney, expect him to vigorously participate in the inquiry. Of all the things you or I might think of him personally, hes a skilled, experienced lawyer. And my sense tells me that this is- sue will come down to a question of law. Justice will have little consideration in this debate. With all the news coming from stateside having to do with the me- teoric rise of our dollar against the U.S. greenback, its little wonder the American Presidential Race is garnering little notice here in the frozen north. After all, the actual election is still a little less than a year away. The primarys are little more than political foreplay. One thing I have noticed is a subtle shift in attitude between Barak Obama and Hilary Clinton. Obama seems to be dropping his kinder gentler demeanour and has Hilary directly in his sights. Hilary, as we all know, was and is as tough and vicious as the best of the rest. Hell, she was a formidable force when she was an unelected first lady. As a senator, she has proven to have both a thick hide and a sharp mind. I think Hilarys biggest strength is also her biggest weakness. Hubby Bill has a brilliant politi- cal mind. Together, they make a formidable pair, especially on the campaign trail. But his well de- served reputation as a philanderer provides the late night talk show hosts with lots of ammunition. I think were going to see Obamas campaign become more focused on Ms. Clinton. I think its developing into a two-person race and when that happens in American politics things inevitably turn nasty. American Democrats will be faced with an interesting choice. Do they want a woman or an Af- rican-American as their candidate to run against a Republican white guy? Political correctness may well sway the Democrats final choice. And thats a sad state of affairs no matter how you look at it. Pothole shennanigans WARMING UP: After touring Waldies Blacksmith shop in Milton, the Gals on the Go from the Acton Seniors Centre visited Springridge Farm for soup and coffee. Joan Morris, Nives Bozic, June Fraser, the Birthday girl Jane Hodge, Carmen Bissonnette, Helen Elder, Irma Marin and Grace Graham enjoyed the brisk weather. Julie Conroy photo