The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

10 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, July 13, 1977 Section Two Letter to the Editor An Open Letter to the People Of Ontario Dear Friends; During the past eighteen months many of you have been receiving reports, issue papers, letters, etc. which have kept you informed con- cerning the progress of your Commission on Electric Power Planning. And I am sure that the large numbers of Ontarians who regularly re- ceive this information are fully aware that the Commis- sion is moving into the most crucial part of its inquiry-we call it the "Debate Stage". It follows naturally from the previous stages-the issue identification stage and the information collection stage. But I am quite sure that there remain many many concern- ed citizens in this Province PICK YOUR OWN Mon. - Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m Sat. 9:00 a.m- 5:30 p.m. Sunday il:a.m. - 8:30 p.m. NEW CROP REPORTS phone 623-7252 24 hrs. a day and get a prerecorded crop starting date and picking conditions, plus other crop information ALL TO SERVE YOU BETTERI PICK YOUR OWN RASPBERRIES Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. KIDS PLAYGROUND We have a playground jusi for the kids so bring tnemr along for some fun UA V FAM FRSH PRODUC l 3 7K 2 Ti 41)623 1252 who may not be fully aware of the importance of this penult- imate stage of our work-it will be followed by some special public hearings which will deal with specific projects and by the preparation of the Commission's Final Report. I am addressing this letter especially to you and to you and to you-indeed to all who have a burning desire to ensure that their voice is heard, and taken into con- sideration, when decisions are made which will have an impact on the lives of each citizen, their children, their grandchildren, their great grandchildren, and indeed all their descendants. This Commissionbas, above all, ,stressed the importance of public participation in its inquiry. Indeed it has prob- ably gone further than any previous Ontario public in- quiry in developing new ways of encouraging public involve- ment. I wonder how many of you appreciate that, by the time it bas completed its inquiry, the Commission will have provided more than $270,000 to individuals and groups to assist them in preparing submissions. It has done more than to merely provide funding, it has created the formation of "consortia" of groups vith common phil- osophies and common goals who have the common pur- pose of participating in the planning of Ontario's electric power system. The debate stage hearings, whici begin today, are in effect the last substantial opportunity for the people of Ontario to have their say about their electricity needs in the future, and about what styles of life they aspire to and can afford. Of course, to date, we have had many opportun- ities (about 140 public ses- sions) to hear these views. But we believe there remain many gaps in the expressioin of public views. In particular I am by no means convinced that the general public, as a whole, bas yet grasped the reality, indeed the magnitude, of the pending energy deci- sions. And if you don't believe these energy decisions are immense then I urge you to read the transcripts of the recent speeches made by many of the world's leaders including those by our own provincial Ministry of Energy, the Federal Minister of Ener- gy, the President of the United States, and the world leaders at the recent NATO Economic Summit Conference. Today, it is very obvious that many of our lifestyles are based precariously on the casual assumption of the abundance of cheap energy. That assumption will not be valid for much longer. The Commission will be faced with some tough decisions before making its recommendations to the Ontario Government. There is little doubt in my mind that these decisions must be predicated on the possibility, nay the probabil- ity, of some drastic changes in our lifestyles over the next two or three decades. The fact that the world's resources of crude oil and natural gas are being gobbled up relentlessly, and that will mean escalating prices for these fuels, will force all of us to change our living habits. Furthermore, whether we like it or not, some of our recommendations to the Government of Ontario will probably impinge on our civil rights. For instance, each one of us may find þis or her flexibility as an energy con- sumer restricted and this will inevitably impose new re- straints on his-her behaviour as a shopper, a worker, a home-owner or an apartment dweller, a transportation user, and by no means least as a sports participant and sports fan. In other wvords, collective- ly it would appear that we are facing a test of survival for our wbole social, commercial and industrial way of life. President Carter made this abundantly clear to the Amer- ican people three weeks ago-I don't believe the lot of we Ontarians will be mucb differ- ent-.indeed it could be worse. I am sure that you wili already bave gathered tbat I do not intend to "mince any words" in this letter. The majority of the people of Ontario have never known scarcity in a real sense. Our expectations and behaviour are based essentially on a continuity of affluence. With the exception of Northern Ontario we have yet to experience serious blackouts due to electric supply short- ages. Should we be developing contingency plans to deal with this possibility which may arise within the next decade or so? It is extremely important that the Commission should appraise how far we can expect the public and industry to go with the voluntary conservation of energy. Will such conservation significant- ly reduce the demand for electricity or is it simply a temporary saving that will be comparatively inconsequent- ial in its impact in the long-term? Most of us are firm believers in energy conserva- tion. How many of us are really convinced that a vol- untary conservation ethic will be acceptable to the energy consuming public? 1 hope that today and tomorrow, and during the hearings scheduled for next week and subsequently, we will be able to project desir- able and acceptable lifestyles a decade or two down the line. As you know we are beginning with discussion and debate concerning the future demand for electric power. Many factors will have to be taken into account, some of them are virtuallyunpredictable. Even so, as I have pointed out on many previous occasions, society has survived many other periods when the levels of uncertainty were not less than they are today. Above all let the words ring loud and clear-"we have the ability to influence social trends and living habits, let's go to it." In saying all of this, I have raised a fundamental question that I hope will penetrate into every home, every office and every plant in this Province. It is this: Are the people of Ontario wiling to accept constraints on their lifestyles without participating, not only through the ballot box, but also in the public hearing room in the decision-making process? As I mentioned previously I believe this is your last chance to let the Commission know your views on the future electricity requirements of the Province and on all the many quality of life implications. I hope you have got the message. - Sincerely, ArthurPorter, Chairman Royal Commission on Electric Power Planning OBITUARY ELIJAH DOWNER PARKER The death occurred sudden- ly, as the result of a head on collision, on Friday, July lst, 1977, approximately 40 miles east of Thunderbay, of Elijah Downer Parker, aged 59. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he was the son of Melrose James, and Laura (Tester) Parker. Educated at Solina Public School, he was married April 4th, 1952 to Hazel Marie Rowe. Employed as a mechanic and bodyman in Assiniboia, Saskatchewan, where he re- sided the past four year, he had previously resided in Oshawa. A member of the Masonic Lodge and of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 178, he had also served in World War Il. Left to mourn his passing, are his wife Hazel, son Alex, and daughters Vera, Anna, Janet and Donna. Funeral services were held on Monday at the Morris Funeral Chapel, with Lieut. Douglas Lewis, of the Salva- tion Army Corps, officiating. The organist was Mrs. Hoskin snutn. Paîl-bearers were Messrs. Keith, Allin, Glenn and Vern Rowe, Harry Bartlett and Hugh Coutts. Many beautiful floral trib- utes were received in his memory, among which were ones from the Assiniboia Legion, St. John's Lodge No. 106 and the Assiniboia Scbool Unit. Interment Bowmanville Cemetery. Hampton Public School's Girls Baseball Team Wins Trophy As school wound up for the year last month, Hampton Junior Public School's girls baseball team was busy claiming victories against the op osition. After defeating the various other sehools entered in the league. thev were placed in the top position to win the Darlington area championship. The team, managed by Bob, O'Neill, shown above in the backgr6und includes (front), left to right, Kathy Holmes, Heather Mundy, Teri Lilley, Tammy Baker, Tracy Reynolds, Kim Holmes, (back) Lee Taylor, Carol Beavis, Jennifer Jarvis (Capt.), Kelly Martindale and Jennifer Walton. Marlene Veater Appointed District Manager of Bell For Central Ont. District Marline Veater bas been appointed District Manager of Bell Canada's Central Ontario district, with beadquarters in the Bell Canada Building at the Oshawa Centre. Mrs. Veater, who was a commercial manager in the Oshawa office from 1971 to the end of 1974, replaces Ross Robertson as of July 11, 1977. Mr. Robertson, the District Manager for eight years, bas been promoted to General Supervisor in Bell's Ontario Region Commercial depart- ment, operating out of Tor- onto. The Central Ontario district covers a wide_ area--along Lake Ontario from Ajax-Pick- ering east to Cobourg and Colborne, north to Lake Sim- coe and also embracing Peter- borough and Lindsay and the Kawartha-Haliburton area to the north. Mrs. Veater is no stranger to this area. In addition to being manager for four years for such exchanges as Ajax- Pickering, Whitby, Brooklin and Port Perry, she lives on a farm at Garden Hill, 10 miles north of Port Hope. A native of Toronto, Mrs. Veater joined Bell Canada as a service representative in 1962. After serving as unit manager in Oshawa she went to Toronto as a staff super- visor in the commercial de- partment. Last year she became a supervisor in Bell's South-West Area which in- cludes Central Ontario dis- trict. Mrs. Veater is a founding member and now second vice-president of the Associa- tion of Women Executives, formed in December, 1976. There are about 150 members in the Metro Toronto area. Marline plans to become involved in community activ- ities in Oshawa. Her husband Douglas works full time at a cow-calf operation on their 205-acre farm. Mrs. Veater's hobbies in- clude growing vegetables and fruit on the farm, collecting antique furniture and travel- ling. She and Doug have two dogs and nine cats on the farm. ?vfJ YOUR BEST PIPE LINE ROUTE Takesyoustraightto the FOUR CORNERS in OSHAWA and that also means MURRAY JOHNSTON'S 1/i YEARLY SALE of FINE QUALITY clothing and furnishings forthe men of the OSHAWA area. SALE STARTS FRIDAY, 15th JULY at 8 Simcoe Street North - the end of the 4 Corners Pipe Line. 8 SIMCOE ST. NORTH DOWNTOWN OSHAWA 725-4511 SQUARE Ilâý SINCE 1917.