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<A4t 14 I ~ * M'4~ J~I~ o~I.I~:T~an.u~ W.dn.uduy, Janwmy 11~ 1~5 )~ In recent weeks I attended a retirement party. There were stories and jokes and gifts and, Most 1importantly, acknowledgement of achievement and appreciation. The retireewas praised for the work of a lifetime. I 'retired' in 1985, after six years as a productive member of the economic treadmiil. 1 did not retire to the golf course, or to the garden, but to 'mother'. There was no fanfare. There was little acknowledgement of the work I had done, and even less of the work 1 was about te do. Stili do. When my father retired after giving 30 years to General Motors, there was a workplace party acknowledging his last day in the plant. One co-worker presented an ink sketch of Dad in the workplace, a pile of sunflower casings surroundîng his body. Dad retired to his passions and his pension. At the recent retirement party, I carne to perceive the event as a ritual. As part of the passage from one phase of life, as a productive member of society, to another, as a passive member of society. I looked around the room of celebrating colleagues and friends, and rernembered my 'retirement'. There was no affirmation that I was pas sing from one phase of life to another. To one requiring even.greater commitment which would endure not just for 30 years, but for a lifetime. Looking around the room at those at the retirement party, I noted a few women who had worked alI their lives in the job of rnothering. Several had grandchildren. Still mothering. Stil un-retired. Stiil carrying thie job of nurturing, a job which cornes with no economnic benefits, and no party at the end of the day . .. because the days' end neyer arrives; except when families mourn the death of their mother. Then, it is too late to celebrate the life work of mothering. If's difficult for rnany children to see their mothers as people Winter Outings with CLOCA The Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority has a nurnber of events planned for the outdoors during the month of January. Starting with the evening of January 14th you can ski a lighted trail (by candles) at the Long Sault Conservation Area. The event runs from 6 p.m. until'9 p.r. Admission is set at $2.00 for because the job of mothering is almost indescribable. My dictionary explains the role of mothering as that of a female parent, a matron, who protects tenderly. Fathering, it explains, is that of a male parent who organizes, makes possible, or inspires; a father being a 'leading citizen' (defmnition disparity?). A greeting card 1 once saw described mothering in more tangible terms: "a role that offers ail of the delights of running a hotel. a restaurant, a school, a taxi service wvtth one of the worry or bother of having to collect and spend a salary or income." (Henry Beard & Roy McKie, 1987) The most significant reality check of the lack of formal acknowledgement given by our society to the job of rnothering came a few years ago when 1 completed the Census form. For the question regarding the number of hours one worked each week, time spent in volunteer work and the work of homernaking/parenting was not admissible. Nor was it permitted in the category requesting description of the most important duties one undertook 'on the job'. Yes, the government does not count mothers in!!! What, then, of the retirement ritual? How can we acknowledge the lifelong work of mothering? 'Me tender care given by the less renowned, but no less praiseworthy, members of our Society? We can, and often do, celebrate our mothers' lifelong commitment to the job of rnothering. But, retire them? I think not. At the end of those days when my life, including my work of mothering, has been engulfed in chaos, I have this base need to know that there's someone special who is there to mother me. My mother is that person. Happy Birthday Mom! (Pssst! She's 92. But don't let on you know!) adults and $1 for children. The ticket entîties the holder to unlimited skiing and use of the chalet and bonfire. Rentals are available. Long Sault is reached by taking Regional Rd. 57 north to the Ninth Concession of darlington where you turn right and follow te Woodley Rd. Sunday, January lSth the big attraction takes place at the Heber Down Conservation Area where horse-drawn sleigh rides are being offered at $2.50 per person. Ice skating is also available. If snow is flot available a wagon will be used. Heber Down is located in Whitby. Travel Brock Road north to Taunton Road, turf left to Country Lane Road, then right again to travel north to the parking lot. Ne~5 rom OtawaReport 1 Over Canadas history, Canadians have protected different groups. Those minorities considered weakened and disenfranchised. Visible minorities like the disabled, religious groups and cultural groups corne to mind first and foremost. But what about the group known as taxpayers. The 13-million people who pay for this countxys lifestyle. After spending years studying Canada's taxation system and how governments have continually increased taxes for services taxpayers neyer requested I've concluded this country needs a, "Taxpayers' Bul of Rights." In this and in subsequent columns 1 will develop my argument for it, how it can be formulated, and, Most importantly, how you can be part of it. And you playing a part is the essence of it. Although I have access to legal and tax experts in Ottawa working on this idea for me, I need your input. Do you sec any meit in this idea? Would you get behind me to support iL? The Taxpayers' Bll of Rights will be a private members bill I would hope to introduce in the House of Commons before Spring. Now I want to discuss why there is need for iL Canada was founded by people escaping harsh governments. Churches and governrnents taxed people making them subservient on their own land. People had no control over their economic well being and sought out a new world which would allow them to control their destiny. After they settled, a new government replaced the one they left behind. The new govemmuent became rule of bureaucracy. We made the mistake of allowing those who spend taxpayers' money to control taxing - and, I might add, allowed them to develop an onerous process for doing it. Within the last 25 years this process has made Canadians the second highest taxed people in the industrialized world and the most indebted. As governments continued spending they relied on borrowing and taxing to do iL .Although Canada has one of the world's highest saving rates we borrowed ail our domestic savings and then went abroad and A tour of bird feeders has been planned for January 29th starting at 2:00 p.m. at Lynde Shore Conservation area in south Wihitby. The event is free of any charge and there is the opportunity to learn about bird survival techniques as well as leamning the secrets of attracting wildlîfe to your backyard.. CLOCA staff wil provide bird seed to visitors so they can feed the chickadees. Further information rnay be had on CLOCA events by phoning (905) 579-04 11. who love to bargain with the merchants. There are a variety of destinations in Mexico to choose trom ail have wonderful sandy beaches and fine hotels. Spanish is the primary language, but English is widely understood. Canadian citizens, require a valid passport, or proof of citizenship and photo identif ication. Anyone travelling with a minor, requires a notarized letter of consent by both parents. f one parent alone is travelling then they require a letter f rom the other parent; also notarized. For more information contact your travel agent. Remember when you think of Travel, Think of BLESSINGS TRAVEL CENTRE Vanstone Mil 623-0005 Trc&vel Talk, with Elizabeth Belanger-L ink lette r C TC Am ................. borrowed more. Ail the while we contmnued to tax more. Today we face the threat of foreign and domestic bondholders saying, "No more Canada. You cant afford iL" We see what has happened in New Zealand, Italy and a host of other countries that lost control of spending. We refer to this as, "hitting the wall." What's remarkable is that no one has talked about taxpayers saying no. In fact no one talks about asking taxpayers for permission to increase taxes. Haven't you wondered, I know 1 have, that if taxpayers had the right to say no whether our country would be as deep in debt as it is? Bondholders have the right to collect interest. The right of a mortgage on everyone in the country. And they have the right to say no. Why, 1 ask you, have we given these bondholders more authority over our debt and fmnancîal affairs than you - the people paying the taxes? Did 'you know that Canadians, individually, owe $15,000 in federal and provincial debt? Hlistory repeats itseif. Now the middle class, not just the wealthy, are sending their investment income out of the country to avoid the tax collector. The rest of us give up ail goals of saving as the tax collector eats into our earnings. In future columns I will discuss how a Taxpayers' Bill of Rights can protect the 13 million taxpayers - ordinary Canadians - who are trying to make ends meet. 1 look forward to your views as we work on this legisiation together. (Continued from page 1) number or letter grades stili continue for public sehool children. An attempt is being made to explain, in plain language, the description of each prograrn and the system of marking. It has been pomnted out that parents are asking for a clear understanding where their children stand and where they need improvernents. The format came out of a series of board-sponsored forums where parents and others had a chance to point out areas where they feit the system -feli and one area was that of reporting the students progress and to further point out areas for need of improvement. The new format goes hand-in- hand with a brochure released by the school board in 1994 and which had general distribution through the various schools. The format outines what the board expects a child to be able to do in each grade under the new common curriculum which stresses the four core programs - language, math and science, the arts, and self and society. The brochure can be used by parents ta check their children i the various. grades to an extent. It also has suggestions for parents who want to help their children do better in their school work. The brochure states that a kindergarten student should be F able to count out loud while a 1 grade 9 student is expected to be able to solve problerns in geometry. If parents do want a brochure they are available through their 1 local schools. For some, Mexico evokes images of small sleeping villages and afternoon siestas. Others picture international resorts with great beaches, outstanding shopping and exciting nightlife. Mexico is ail these things - a country rich in history, food, and music - where the present and past blend together. The landscape is varied and spectacular. Sunshine is virtually guaranteed when holidaying. Tourist facilities and services are well established, offering most of the amenities you enjoy at home. Prices remain stable and with the Canadian dollar's strength against the Peso, shopping is a rewarding experience, especially for those