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TOE HERALD Wednmby ltM Page Charests resignation just politics Bowlers out of the alley A couple of minutes after two oclock last Wednesday afternoon I walked into the House of Commons and hit my chair Just as I did Brian Mulroney stood up and announced that Jean the sports minister was out of the cabinet Two places to the left of me sat Stan Keyes a Liberal MP from Hamilton who as sports critic for the Opposition had been the first to attack Charest the night before Keyes and everyone else in the chamber was silent as the prime minister made the statement and then sat down Jean Charest was the youngest cabinet minister in the countrys history Hes been in the cabinet for four years and still hes only 31 years old today Now hes the youngestever exminister Hes a lawyer from Sherbrooke Quebec and five weeks ago his wife gave birth to their third child was also Deputy Leader of the Tories in the House he sat on four cabinet committees and he was a member of the Treasury Board Now he is like me just an MP The fall from grace happened because Charest made a phone call to a judge who was hearing the case of a track coach excluded from the Commonwealth Games in New Zealand last week Actually the call was never complete because the judge wouldnt talk to The judge later said his decision in the case was not af fected by Charest in any way But that didnt matter Cabinet ministers are not sup posed to call judges The rule is in place to make sure politics doenst mess around with the law So Charest offered to resign Mulroney took him up on it And one rising star wasnt rising anymore I have come to know this man a little I respect him and his ac complishments I respect him even more now that he gave up the power and the position over what strikes me as such a minor event And I hope he ends up again being an Influence on the country There were a number of lessons for me in what I saw happen last week One lesson is about public expec tations how politicians have to be cleaner than clean Cabinet ministers have to reveal their per sonal assets live neat little lives and worry about how many scotch bottles they put in their blue boxes lest some reporter takes an in terest one day Another lesson was about par tisan politics The day after Charest was gone I turned and asked Liberal Stan Keyes his public accuser what he thought of the young cabinet minister Are there any people in this House you think would be bet ter in that job I said Keyes said no And he said he lik ed Charest they were on a flight together recently talking about their jobs and their families But despite that and his admission of Charests competence he felt justified at calling for the mans head on national television OPEN 7 DAYS 8732151 Its just politics he said I guess so And thats a hell of a thing There are good people on both sides of the House of Commons If they ever decided to work together a few terrific things could happen for this country But the system and attitudes keep them locked in this suicidal dance Its a spectacle I dont like wat ching A few weeks ago I asked Jean Charest if as a cabinet minister if he would visit my riding and meet some of the people in our com munity He agreed Last week I called his office and confirmed again that I still want him to visit not as a minister any more but as a man that I greatly respect and that I want to share with you His talent will be lost for a while Anyone who cares about Canada should regret that I saw another disturbing event over the last few days The NDP members are against the GST which is their right They have vowed to do all they can in the House of Commons to prevent the legislation from passing Thats also their right Opposition MPs sometimes have to resort to strongarm tactics to get their message across When the Tories were in opposition they sure were guilty of doing the same thing tying the Commons up for weeks at great expense to the tax payer I wasnt in politics then so I cant tell you if those actions were justified or not I wont defend the Tories of those days just because I happen to be one now But I can tell you how upsetting it was for me to watch some members of the disrupt the House by voting twice on a number of issues last week First they would stand and be counted as sup porting a measure then stand For All Your Fine China Silver Crystal Glllware MAIN ST MILTON 8780050 LOOK GOOD FEEL GREAT Male and Female Month Trial Membership Trial M I to I twain WORK THAT BODY MAID SERVICE WHOS BEST BUM IT UP TV SHOW COAST TO COAST For FREE Estimates call 87321 65 again when the Speaker asked who was opposed It was all designed just to slow things down and everyone One afternoon they had over 200 MPs sitting in the House for three hours as one meaningless vote after another was taken During that time committee meetings had to be cancelled and absolutely nothing was accomplished Those four lost hours cost taxpayers about I sure didnt come to Ottawa for this garbage As your man in Ottawa please accept my apologies Pinegrove euchre Com munity Euchre had she tables last Monday Winners were Marion Hunter Ethel Webb Bruce That cher Spencer Wilson Lucky draw Marie Murray and Mary Wilson Committee was Gord and Peg Early and Irene Hunter Legion Lines J T HAYES Branch 120 PRO The branch bowlers had a good day at Port Credit last Satur day The team of Gary Hole Bruce Clarke Gardner Wayne Nor ton Roger Duguay and Hole came second overall and will continue on to the District level competition Gary Hole was the singles winner and Gary teamed up with brother Brinley to place fourth in the Doubles Well done and good luck in two weeks at the District CAR CLUB Feb is the 20th week and you know what that means If you dont better read the rules on your ticket Members must be fully paid up by that date This weeks winners 397 Joe Foster 37 Lyn Tyler 170 Don Albert Bisschop 153 BJ and 111 A Ford FRIDAY NIGHT EUCHRE High lady Myrtle second Mae Tost most lone hands Lily Maybanks High gent Charlie Shepherd second Bert Porter most lone hands Ivy King SATURDAY AFTERNOON MEAT DRAW Otis Taylor Donnelly Mary Russell Colin Gib son Bob McNeilly Harold Grant Emmerson Marg Hodder and Red were all winners The roast was won by Pauline There will be a meeting of the Plymouth committee on Thursday Feb 1 in the lounge All branch members are Invited to involve themselves with the work of this committee if they so choose at 8 pm in the lounge COMING EVENTS Valentines Dance Plymouth Committee Saturday Feb On Saturday Feb 17 Sq will hold a supper and dance talk to Joe for tickets ENTERTAINMENT In the lounge on Feb Ross Crawford CALL TODAY FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION CONSULTATION 8731900 290 GUELPH ST GEORGETOWN In The Georgetown Market Place Special Offers does not Include cost of exclusive NutrlSystomF ood Offer valid at participating central for New Clients only Offer expires February