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Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, December 2, 1998 3 Seniors complex string up the Iights Hundreds of littie lights went up at the Durham County Seniors Complex last week. Paul Jones (in the bueket) takes his instruction from the ground crew Carman Lake and Nola Bridger. NCC Presidentadrese board of trade A good number of Clarington's business people got up early to have breakfast with Steven Harper Monday morning. Clarington's Board of Trade invited Mr. Harper, president of the National Citizens' Coalition (NCC) to speak at a breakfast held that day at the Garnet Rickard Complex. Mr. Harper had been a poli- cy director for the Reform Party, and a Member of Parliament for-the federal rid- ing of Calgary West from 1993 to 1997'. Since then, Harper lias left the Reform Party and lias become President of the NCC. "Politics is a popularity con- test," and "politicians are pris- oners of the political process," said Harper. First reading is the end of the political proces's says Harper, and decisions are made long before a Bill reaches Parliament. Supporters of the NCC across Canada share a belief in more freedom through iess government'. The NCC sees itself as Canada's foremost organization for the defence of our basic political and econiom- ic freedoms. They promote free markets, individual free- dom and responsibility under limited govemment. The NCC is independent of ail political parties. Harper dlaims the NCC is opposed 10 socialism in all of its reforms, close shop union- ism, tax increase including the GSI, government waste, etc. 1The NCC advocates for pri- vatization. Harper asks, "what is the logic behind saying; just because something is an essen- tial service it should be run by a government monopoly?" In speaking of the Board of Trade, Harper said, "what makes more sense than making business organizations responsible for business, not the govemnment?" Harper spoke of several court battles his coalition lias fought with governments, one of them being the figlit against the Western Wheat Pool. The NCC took the position that farmers should be able to sel their grain wherever they can get the best price, in this case the farmer was crossing the border and selling his grain in the U.S. The NCC is also actively fighting against federal gag laws. Harper made it clear that the NýCC, as a political advoca- cy group gets results. Letesto the1 Editor CLettrlslt:to: the Great Lakes like diseased fish, decreased fish popula- tion but that's just a few of the thousands of problems that pollution creates. It also affects our crops and our ani- mals that live in our fields. I live east of Orono and on a clear day if I look out- the dini.ng room wlndow I can'see the pollution hanging In the air which lsn't very pleasant especially on a nice sunny day. I arn only one of the next generation and I would like to live in a heaithier environ- ment, healthier than it is right now, and this is why I'm voicing my concemns. So on behaîf of aIl of the people that live in Clarlngton please do- something to reduce the amount of pollu- tion that you are pumping into the atmosphere. I'm look- ing forward to hearing your solutions for thiÉs problem. Jeffrey Hegarty Orono, Ont. November 26, 1998 MARTIN'S DECEPTION CALL ME IF YOU DISAGREE Douglas Fisher, a very astute:columnist, said some- thing in the Toronto Sun November 22, that we al need to hear. He quoted a Reform party study that revealed the fact that Mr. Martin's budget surplus of $ 10.4 billion has not been achieved by reducing unessential federal spendlng. It has been achieved by cut- ting transfer payments to the provinces and through huge tax revenue increases. Mr. Martin has been mlsrepre- senting the facts for political gain. Douglas Fisher wrote: "Martin's biggest cuts were to federal transfers to the provinces (health and social transfers down 25%, equal- ization 5%). In other words he chose to cut teachers, doctors and nurses empioyed by the provinces ahea d of federal employees. on the federal scene he eut the defense department by a whopping 21%. But gîven the lack of a strong defense lobby and public indifference to service men and women living in substandard housing and operating obsolete, unreliable and sometimes unsafe equip- ment - how mucli courage did this take? The Reform study concluded that Martin eut federal department discre- tionary spending (excluding transfers to the provinces and individuals) by less than 2%. " Fisher also said: "Given such a srnidgen of cuts for the federal bureaucracy, how did Martin manage a $10.4 billion surplus? Taxes, taxes and more taxes. Since 1993 federal income tax revenues have increase 38%, corporate tax revenues 139%, and GSI revenues 24%. Revenues from Employment Insurance premiums rose only 3.3%, but payouts dropped 33%, providlng an estimated $19 billion surplus. (Without this cash the govemnment would stll be in the red.) All told rev- enue increases account for 76.7% of the progress from deficit to surplus. And today Ottawa takes 17.2% of the GDP for itself, up from 16.2 in 1993. Is it mere coincîdence that the personal disposable income of Canadians has dropped almost 1% a year since 1993? Canadas income per person 15 30% less than that of the US." Reformers aren't the only people to catch Mr. Martin playing with the numbers. This is the third year in a row that Denis Desautels, the auditor general, has taken issue with Martin's account- lng practices-. Deliberate mis- representation of the facts is bad enough, but equally trou- bllng is the fact that nobody lias made a serious effort to expose the deception. The role of an opposition party is to supervise and watchdog the governing party. The Reform party did the riglit thing in making this 2) Hilda Caswell - 81, 3) Lorna Crockett -'80, 4) Robert Bubar 79, 5) Lavina Downes - 77. Low - Marjorie Williamns, Draws - Grace Coatham, P erc y Jakernan, Shirley Bubar, Charlie Stapleton, Flora Sharpe. Martha Clarke, Bob Simpson. )study. But they get a failing grade for not using it effec- tively. They should spend their time during question period nallng Martin for deceiving the public instead of haranguing Andy Scott for a much lesser offense. Jim McKee R. R #3, Woodville, Ont. 705-374-4647 IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE ORONO PASTORAL Russel Secretary Marlene Risebrough 983-5702 Church Office 983-5502 CHURCH SERVICES Kîrby United Church at 9:30 ar. Orono United Church 11:00 ar. "Wheelchair Access" Sunday School Classes and Nursery facilities available during Church Services A.A. meets eveà'y Thursday 7:30 pm. St. Saviour s Anglican Church MILL ST. ORONO, ONTARIO Rev. David R. 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