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* - 2-Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, Jauary 4th, 1978 Orono Weekly Times WE WISIH YOU WELL, DICK Congratulations and every best wish goes out from this corner to E.R. (Dick) Lovekin on his recent appointment as a county judge and the part he will now play in the community over which his jurisdiction will exist. Dick, as long as we have known him, has been an active and concerned citizen of this community in one form or another. His interest in his community was noted at most meetings of a municipal or public nature and his expertise through bis profession was given freely and generously over the years. He holds a notable record in community services and which no doubt will continue in his new locale. Thank you for the past Dick, and all the best for the future. FACING THE FUTURE WITH OPTIMISM The Prime Minister o Canada has recently asked Canadians to face the future with optimism and points out that Canadians have been confronted with conditions less favourable than exists today in previous new years. It often appears that the news media and people in general are more likely to become concerned over possible adverse conditions and happenings than be ready to take hope on the brighter side of happenings. There is no doubt that Canada like most countries around the world are now faced with a slow down in their economies. It does mean some adjustments as well as increased unemployment. The fate of the unemployed in this country at least is not as great as it may have been in the thin thirties when assistance was not provided through such as unem.ployment insurance and welfare payments. Few, of course, are overjoyed with being in such a position to have to take either but then it is much better than having nothing and does relieve the sparse impact of a slowing economy. It was refreshing earlier this week to speak with Mr. E.H. Samuel of Curvply Wood Products and to note an air of confidence and eagerness for the new year. Such attitudes of competitiveness, foresight and enthusiasm could well work wonders throughout the nation. There is much to work for in Canada and the future can be bright with our efforts and co-operative spirit through all segments of the life of this nation. A bright new year with a bright new positive approach is all that is needed. PHILOSPHY OF ACTION BY COUNCILLORS At the recent meeting of the Town of Newcastle council two council members became involved in a discussion of the role of a regional councillor. The particular dialogue and item of discussion was directed toward what action a regional councillor should follow when voting at regional council on an item that had previously been discussed at the local municipal level and a course of action determined by the local council. Counc. Dykstra, who sits on both the regional council and the local municipal council, made reference at the meeting that although the Town of Newcastle council had voted in favour of a Number 4 plan for an arterial road servicing Bowmanville from Highway 401 this was not wholly supported at the regional level by all regional members of the Town of Newcastle. Counc. Dykstra was speaking of an action by Mayor Rickard who went against the majority wishes of his council over the arterial road when the matter came before a committee of the Region of Durham. Counc. Dykstra felt that a council member who sat both on the local municipal council and also the Regional council should support tbe action of the local council when such matters came before Regionai council. He felt there was no latitude in any decision for Town of Newcastle regional councillors wben direction was given through a vote at the local municipal level. Counc. Taylor held a different view from that of Counc. Dykstra and felt that regional council members should hold their option somewhat open as substantive new information may come forth to warrant a change in opinion. Taylor in speaking on the issue did not feel that a council member should be totally bound at the regional level by a decision made by their own council members at the local municipal level. The issue is not a new one for it has been discussed at previous times by members of the local council of the Town of Newcastle. Mayor Rickard has on a number of occasions asked that when voting at regional couileil all members of the Town of Newcastle should vote as a block for to do otherwise there is division. When calling for such action from previous councillors the Mayor received little support for the proposal with the former councillor Ivan Hobbs stating flatly that he would vote at regional council as he felt. Of course no one was to rule the decision of Counc. Ken Lyall. In the recent issue of the arterial road Mayor Rickard was not mindful of his former recommendations and he did step aside from tbe decision of his own council. It is a complex problem and likely will never be solved or should be. A collective decision of council or any organization is a corbination of individual views. It would be rather difficult to change tbese views if the individual bases bis view on what tbey tbink is adequate information. Newcastle will nlot be alone if tbey vote divided at regional council for ail mumicipalities witbin tbe region are represented on tbe same basis Canada's economic prospects hinge on makiig wage costs more competiti It is essential for Canada's longer-run economic pros- pects that wage costs contin- ue to be brought into line with those of the country's major trading partners, according to Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. "This adjustment process - which still bas some distance to go - will be a painful one," the bank says in the most recent edition of its Commer- cial Letter, published today., '"However, there is no escap- ing the competitive position internationally and, general- ly, to return the economy to a sounder basis for future growth and prosperity." The Commercial Letter says performance of the Canadian economy will imp- rove at best only gradually in 1978, with real growth in the 4 to 412 per cent range - or well below potential. The' coun- try's balance of payments will continue to exhibit weak- ness in current account, and inflation will remain in the 7 to 8 per cent range. "The depreciation of the Canadian dollar will make it difficult to reduce the rate of inflation, through the near term," it adds. The bank publication says the personal income tax reductions and job creation measures announced by the federal government in Octo- ber will provide some support for personal incomes. How- ever, they will probably do little more than offset the deflationary impact of the reduction in the incomes guideline to six per cent in the third year of the anti-inflation Com- munîity service work program The Hon. Frank Drea, Minister of Correctional Ser- vices, in a recent statement called for community service work as a sentence for certain offences within the commun- ity. The Minister considered it more advisable to take this step than to , send young offenders for some of the minor crimes to jail. Last week Judge Norman H. Edmondson handed out a number of sentences to youth for theft which included community service work. In four individual cases the convicted were to spend from 75 hours to 200 hours provid- ing community service work within their own community for the offences they were charged. The scheme appears to have a lot of merit and it will be interesting to watch the follow-up of the plan and the results it does have in teacbing the convicted their responsibility within the com- munity and society. program. The Commercial Letter also says the squeeze on real disposable incomes is expect- ed to continue in 1978, with consumer spending increas- ing moderately. During the coming year, the volume of outlays on residential construction is expected to remain about the same level, according to the Commerce newsletter, publi- shed by its Economics Divi- sion. A continuation through 1978 of a rather slow rate of expansion in capital spending is likely in sectors other than utilities and energy resour- ces. Corporate profits will continue to be constrained both by the anti-inflation guidelines and by the sluggish growth of the economy. TheCommerce publication says Canada's exports again will be a major positive element in 1978, even though they likely will increase at a less rapid pace. "Economic growth in the United States, whichb has a very large effect on the demand for our exports, is expected to slow from the relatively high rates achieved during the post-recession per- iod", says the newsletter. "However, the economic ex- pansion there appears to be quite broadly based and there is little justification for the view held by some observers that the U.S. economy is about to lapse into another recession." The Commercial Letter alsy says the rate of economic expansion in the major indus- trialized countries as a group may be somewhat slower in 1978 than in 1977. While this situation may be beneficial over the medium term, it does mean that Canada cannot count on external develop- ments to provide much in the way of stimulus to its recovery through the next twelve months. Canada's merchandise trade surplus is expected to increase to about $3 billion in 1978, but the gain will most likely be offset again by further deterioration in the non-merchandise, or services deficit, which will probably exceed $8 billion next year. 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