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2- Orono WeeklyTimes. Wednesday. November 26. 199Y~.iuu~ O)RONO-ý WVEEKÇLY Tuvws Subscriptions $2 1.50 + $ 1.50 G.S.T.= $23.00/year. Publications Mail Registration No. 000368 Publishing 50 Issues Annually at the Office of Publication 5310 Main Street, P.O. Box 209, Orono, Ontario LOB EIO E-Mail Address: oronotimes@.speedline.ca Phone/Fax (905) 983-5301 Publisher/ Editor Marg Zwart Strike has gone on long enough! As predicted, we are well into a nationwide po5 strike. stal On Monday morning the officiai uine was -- the gap on how to update the 30-year-old guidelines deflning how the mail is delivered remnains the most divisive issue. Among the most contentious of the issues that divide the two sides, according to a report in the Toronto Star, is the way the route of letter carnies is measured and the amount of time allowed for them to deliver mail. (I sec parallels to the class size and prep timne issue of Bill 160) A postal union spo kesman said on Saturday night that if postal workers are sent back to work, they will be humniliated, and it will take years to gain back their self respect. Excuse me while I tune the violin. That explanation will go a long way in keeping our creditors from kicking down the door. "We'd like to pay our bills but the delicate feelings of CUPW members have put a kink in our cash flow situation" These union members are writing their own death warrant. The longer they hold the public hostage, the more business they will loose permanently. Out of neces- sity, many small businesses are finding new solutions for document handling. A postal strike can cause irreparable damage in a very short time. Think of ail those charities who count on our willingness to give at this timne of the year. Steady incomne from a charity casino is probably looking pretty good by now. If there are no hopes of a negotiated settlement, (not withstanding the fact that it was the threat of back to work legislation that has derailed talks), the government should waste no time in legislating the 45,000 striking postal workers back to work. There is nothing like good hard work to start the healing process and getting your self respect back in order. BOWMANVILLE MUSEUM Edwardian Christmas open house The Bowm-anville Museumn xiii be holding its Annual Edwardian Christmas Open House from Decemiber 5th to 7th. We xiii open Friday, December 5th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This wiil coincide witli the BIA's Tree Lighiting Ceremony downtown. On December 6th and 7th, the Saturday and Sunday, we will be open from 1:30 p.mi. to 4:00 p.. The Museum will be deco rated throughbout in period style wýith evergreen branich- es, cedar bouglis, a?ý-1 antique omnamients. A displ i - of local namie quilts and teddy bears xiii also be feati red. Hlomnemade treats, made by our volunteers "The Friends of the Museum", and apple cider and Christmnas punch wiIi be available. Seasonal entertainment xiii be performned in the parlour by Alianahi Coles, Doug Dewell, Warner Felin and others. ] is is a nice time to0 visit thu Museumi and a great way to get into the Chistmnas spir- it. Admission and refreshi inents aefrece. For more inforimation please caite Museum ofieat 905-623- 2734. FROM PARLIAMENT HILL Alex Shepherd Last week we were treated to a spectacle. Thie Prime Minister booted local Senator Andrew Thompson from caucus because of his horrendous attendance record in the Senate. He's a mystery man on Parliamient Hill and few know th-at lie lives in Durham. As the MP 1 have neyer met the man and it's not from lack of trying. I got ffis voting record out in my first term and there were a lot of blank pages. Wihile Mr. Thompson has niot told his side of tlie story I guess, qulte sîmply, lie is guilty by omission since lie lias had ample opportunity to say sometliing. While I have met many Senators wlio work very liard in the area of public policy, the fact tliey are not elected owes the position's origin to the era of landed gentry, and thïs bears no relation to wliat Canada is today. This is not the only tradi- tion from tlie United Kingdom that is no longer relevant to Canadian society, but we con- tinue to pay for it to the tune of over $250 million annually. In the last Parliament I had the opportunity to vote for its abolition, which I did. Since then I have conclud- ed that there may be a role for an elected Senate. It's no mystery Canada is over governed. There are too many elected officiais making too many decisions. Decisions, I miglit add, that aren't ail that good. Havmng said that, there is a real concern about how to address the regional diversity of Canada while establishing national standards we can al respect. Government is people try- ing to find ways to deal with -eacli otlier. It represents deals we make among ourselves. That's why I think Canada sliould establisli minimum standards in areas sucli as healtli care and education, along with scru tiny over inter- provincial trade and com- merce matters s0 we don't continually create provincial fiefdoms. For example it's strange to me that we have freer trade with the United States than we have between provinces. And as I've said in other columns, it makes no sense to Canadians that someone diagnosed for a cardiac oper- ation in B.C. lias to wait three weeks, while someone ln Manitoba waits four days. An empowered Senate can balance and respect regional diversity. It can maintain and police minimum national standards whicli, jurisdic- tionally, belong to the provinces. Wouldn't this be authority for tlie Senate Canadians can respect? Or course we have a litany of miseries brouglit on by attempts at constitutional reform whlcli seems to be why no one wants to take on the issue of Senate reform. But its clear Canadians want the outdated institution clianged or abolished. In the last session of Parliament, and this one also, we have amended t he consti- tution tliree times. One to allow for the fixed link to PEI, once to amend the school sys- tems in Newfoundland, and once to aliow for changes to school boards in Quebec. While tliese amendments are peculiar to specific provinces it indicates that,. in fact, constitutionai amend- ments can occur. We need to push on with changes to our institutions whicli I will continue to pur- sue. The antics of Senator Thompson only point out how mucl we need to change the system now. Shopping for the perfect Christmas Card to send to friends? Look no furtlier than Big Brothers of Ciarington to purchase our Christmas Cards. Big Brothers of Clarington wiil be seiling UNICEF cards fromi our office at 23 Scugog Street. Bowmnanviiie (9 a.m. 2 p.mn. Monday to Thursday) anid lrom the Bowmanviile cIBC on Thursdays and Fridays for the next tliree weeks. For every package of cards soid Big Brothers of Clarington viii receive 10% to0 be directed towards programs beniefitting the childreni of Ciarington. Witli your purcliase not oniy will you be helping Big Brothers of Clarington you wiiI be miaking a différence for chidren - taking care of their basic needs. The United Nations Children's Fund heips mil- lions of chidren in the devei- oping world who suflký from- the "silent emnergencies"* of poverty and disease. For ovei 50 years, UNICEF lias worked to mieet the basic nieeds i chiidren for heaitli, edtuca tionl, safe waler and sanita- KENDAL UNITED CHURCH Kendal, Ontario 'The Heart of Our Commnunity" Sunday, Nov. 30, 1997 IlThe First SundayV Preparing for Christmas"P 11:15 a.m. "Christmas: A Time For (1) Growth" Thursday, Dec. 11, 1997 7:30 p.m. "A Baroque Christmas" A wide range of seasonal music by Zeke Mazurek, Alex Lunn, & Carolyn Stewart Tickets: $10 - Cail 786-2950 Sunday, Dec. 14, 1997 "Stories Behind the Story" Original Christmnas Presentation by the Youth Group & Choir Pot Luck Dinner: 6 p.m. Presentation: 7:30 p.m. leasejoin us Mlinister: Rev. David Black 786-2950 St. Saviour ' s Anglican Church MILL, ST., ORONO, ONTARIO Rev. Cliff Evans 983-5594 - 983-9639 Sunday Service, Sunday Sehool & Youth Group 9:30 a.m. 1 st & 3rd Sunday of Month HOLY COMMUNION 2nd & 4th Sunday MORNING PRAY ER ORONO d PASTORAL CHARGE Mirister E', Rev. Mervyn Russell Secretary Marlene Risebrough 983-5702 Church Office 983-5502 CHURCH SERVICES Kîrby United Church at 9:30 a. m. Orono Uinited Church 11:00 a. Sunday School Classes and Nursery facilities available during Church Services A.A. meets every Thursday 7:30 p. m. tioni. By buyinig UNICEF cards and products, you will be helping millions of kids around the world and at home in Clarington. This year consider sending a UNICEF card to support Big Brothiers of Clarington and the United Nations Chidrens' Fund. Lift weights, ift your spirit Nextme oI(e on~~~ te weight of file woMt on your shoulders, let phosca c tislgiten thel od. -"it Slicsing a eltirFuture"W Shopping for the perfect Christmas card