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i i Sl)p (tanainan ^talesman Section Two Wednesday, August 15, 1984 At Least It's Different! To the finger-pointing and name calling that we usually see in an election campaign, the leaders have added idea-borrowing. If they were in school, it might be called plagiarism. But it's popular, and may soon be acceptable when done by the bigshots. Ed Broadbent noticed a more than slight resemblance of Prime Minister Turner's job creation plans to his own. Turner and Brian Mulroney have shown a surprisingly surprisingly un-capitalistic interest in tax reform. And Mulroney recently and angrily defended Turner's attack of his once-Separatist candidates...an attack similar to one he used on Joe Clark's workers before the last Tory leadership convention. Even without without weighing the merits of each point, a voter must be frustrated by the lack of originality. We should, therefore, welcome the Rhinoceros Party's platform. Often passed over as a fringe party, the Rhinos are the candidates who not only promise change, but have an idea to dramatically deliver it. They plan to pave the Bay of Fundy. It's certainly a make-work project, and as a spokeman said, you can never have too many parking parking lots, and parking lots lead to more malls. Kids can hang out in malls. Even if the idea is a little silly, one has to appreciate a fresh approach. approach. Let's just hope that the big leaders don't propose to pave Rice Lake or the Rideau as their own new ideas. Camp X Coipmemorated After more than 40 years of obscurity, Whitby's Camp X is only now receiving some of the honor which it deserves. We are referring, of course, to Special Training School Number 103 -- a top-secret base where spies and saboteurs learned how to defeat defeat the Nazis in a clandestine war. It was also a crucial link in the secret secret communications network. Camp X was part of an intelligence operation operation led by Sir William Stevenson who is best known as "the man called Intrepid". The importance of this secret war is only recently being revealed by the recollections of those who participated participated in it four decades ago. That's why it has taken us until 1984 to erect a permanent monument at a local site which was so important ' to the fate of the armies fighting an ocean away. Last week, amidst suitable fanfare fanfare and before an audience of approximately approximately 500, a park was opened in memory of the Canadian and allied allied spies who trained at Camp X. Their secret skills are the kind of things that paperback spy thrillers are written about. They learned, for example how to use pencils, nail files and fountain pens as lethal weapons. They were taught the techniques of utilizing plastic explosives explosives and they learned how to smuggle documents across borders. All of this activity at Camp X was unknown to local residents at the time the spy school and communi cations centre was in full operation. operation. We didn't know what was going on there. We weren't supposed to know what was happening at Camp X. And as a result, it may have been cheated of its rightful place in the history books. That, of course, is the trouble with secret warfare waged by agents behind enemy lines. If they do their job, nobody will know how much they contributed to the war effort. At one time -- perhaps three or four years ago -- there was a move afoot to develop a permanent museum at the Camp X site. That project would still be a worthwhile endeavor to anyone with the energy and persistence that would be required required to make such a project a reality. reality. All of the camp's buildings were demolished many years ago and the land is currently part of an industrial park. Still, a museum acknowledging Canada's contribution contribution to the secret warfare of World War II seems to be a good idea for the future. Meanwhile, the memorial park with its flags of Canada, the U.S., Bermuda, and Great Britain ensures ensures that this fascinating page of our history will not be totally forgotten. forgotten. Keeping in mind that Camp X was a secret operation, and its graduates either disappeared in the war or melted, into civilian livelihoods, maybe this is the most we can expect. Throughout Ontario, there are 250,000 people who require assisted housing. Needy families, senior citizens and physically and mentally mentally handicapped persons persons have access to affordable housing thanks to the Ontario Housing Corporation. At present, OHC subsidizes subsidizes are one in every 10 rental households in the province. This amounts to 115,000 assisted housing units. The cost, more than $300 million in 1984, is shared equally between the provincial and federal government. Rent - geared - to - income income housing is administered through local housing authorities which are responsible for applying OHC policy, selecting tenants, collecting rents and maintaining buildings. Each housing authority employs staff to carry out the day-to- Sam Queen's day management of the local properties. One way to reduce the cost of susidized housing without affecting service service to tenants is to combine housing authorities authorities operating in the same area. This is the reason behind the recent merging of the Oshawa Housing Authority and the Durham Area Housing Authority. The newly formed Durham Regional Housing Authority will administer a total of 1,528 units and will be responsible for the City of Oshawa and the surrounding surrounding area. The move will result in considerable savings in overhead - as much as $34,000 a year. Robert Boychyn, who served as chairman of the Oshawa Housing Authority, has accepted an invitation to become the chairman of the new authority. The board of at Park the Durham Régional Housing Authority will include Maryanne Zakarow. In addition, no staff lay-offs are planned: staff members of both housing authorities will work for the new authority. authority. The Durham Regional Housing Authority will reduce the cost of providing affordable housing to the less fortunate fortunate members of our community while maintaining maintaining the standards set out by the Ontario Housing Authority. Congratulations to the business community in the Village of Newcastle for the official opening of their new revitalized Main Street, and special thanks to Murray Patterson Patterson who hosted the event. Congratulations to the Oshawa Symphony Association on receiving their operating grant from the Ontario Arts Council. (Fife (Kamtùmn Statesman 623-3303 (J^NA Durham County'» Qraat Family Journal Established 130 years ago In 1654. Also Incorporating The Bowmanvllla News The Newcastle Independent The Otono News Second class mall registration number 1561 Produced every Wednesday by THE JAMES PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED 62-66 King St. W„ Bowmanvllle, Ontario L1C 3K9 1 « O V L ► JOHN M. JAMES Editor -- Publisher GEO. P. MORRIS Business Mgr. BRIAN PURDY Advertising Mgr, RICHARD A. JAMES Assistant Publisher DONALD BISHOP Plant Mgr. All Inyouls nml composlllon ol advertisements produced by the employees ol The Canadian Statesman, The Newcastle Independent end The James Publishing Company limited are protected by copyright and must not bo reproduced without written permission ol the publishers. $15.00 a year -- 6 months Sfl.00 strictly In advance foreign -- $45.00 a year Although uvory pruciiution will bo tnkun to avoid error. Tho Canadian Statesman accepts advertising in Itr. columns on tho understanding that it will not ho liable tor any orror in the advertisement published hereunder unless a proof ol f.uclt advertisement is roguesled in. writing by the advertiser and returned to The Canadian Statesman business ollico duly signed by tho advertiser and with such error or corrections plainly noted in writing thereon, and in that case il any error so noted is not corroded by I tie Canadian Statesman its liability shall not exceed such a portion ol the entire tost ot such 'idvnMistment as the space occupied by the noted error bears to the whole space occupied by such advoftisomi'M Beautiful Butterfly SUGAR and SPICE Nostalgia Lane I seem to have written quite a bit about community newspapers over the years, but it hasn't been deliberate. deliberate. So, if you'll forgive me, I'll write one more. Unless you want me to tackle, once again, Jim Ross of Exeter, who is furious at me because because he pays more in income tax than I receive in salary, if you can figure that one out. Recently received a monthly statement from the syndicate that carries my column coast to coast. Started looking over the old familiar familiar names that have been running this column for 20 years or more, and got a bit sentimental. They run from Nova Scotia to Hay River, NWT, and if I ran a quiz, I'll bet half my readers couldn't spot, by province, half the newspapers. But my personal relations with many of their publishers go back a long way. Never hear from most of them, but bump into them at the odd convention, and renew the old bonds. I'll just mention some of the real old-timers, who have stuck with the thin gruel and thick porridge of this column for more than two decades. Dutton Advance. Hello, Herb Campbell. I know you're semi-retired semi-retired but hope you're still stroking a golf ball. John and Randy, Neepawa Press; George and Sandy, Estevan Mercury; Mercury; remember that fishing trip in North Saskatchewan? Are you all alive and as well as can be expected? expected? Remember the big fish dinner dinner in my three-bedroom cabin, when the rest of you, including $ Barry Wenger of Wingham, were Crowded into little cabins? Little did I know that Irwin. Macintosh and wife Barbara, when we saw them courting at a convention convention about 30 years ago, would wind up as Lieutenant-Governor and His Lady of Saskatchewan. Irwin was with the North Battleford News and Barbara's father was with the Cree- more Star if memory holds. And they wind up entertaining the Queen! The Blenhein News Tribune, the Bolton Enterprise and the Bow- manville Statesman are old customers, customers, and I knew well their owners at that time: Russ Schearer, Warden Warden Leavens, and John James. Where are you guys? Port Perry Star. I know Harry Stemp is still around, but where is Peter, the flute-playing lino operator with a vast amount of Nor- weigan good humor and common sense? Say the word Pete, and we'll have another round of golf, with an ambulance in close attendance. Where is Gene Macdonald of the Alexandria News, who could get a party going in a mausoleun? Not a word for years. I know Don McCuaig of the Renfrew Renfrew Mercury is out to pasture, cutting wood, catching trout, but let's have a word, old buddy, from the depths of the Ottawa Valley. I've never seen a copy of the Cres- ton Review, the Parkhill Gazette or the Glenco Transcript, but they've been old friends for decades. And what's this about you, Andy McLean, selling out the Seaforth Expositor to a young upstart, after 112 years in the business? Andy was a man who looked middle-aged middle-aged when he was young, young when he was middle-aged, and almost almost juvenile as he grew older. Last time I met him and his charming wife and their daughter, Susan White who is going to carry on as editor, I thought the McLeans were indestructible. I suppose that any day now, I'll hear that Mac and Val of the Tilbury Tilbury Times will be hanging up their hats while still in their prime. (In fact, Mac, I think you're already slipping. Had a letter sent along by your son Terry, who said he'd found it on your desk but you obviously hadn't dealt with it.) Perth Courier, Winchester Press, Meaford Express, Wheatley Journal, Journal, Yorkton Enterprise, Swift Current Current Sun, Lacombe Globe, Lachute Watchman, Exeter Times-Advo- cate, Atikokan Progress, Glencoe Transcript, Oxbow Herald, Weyburn Review (hi, Ernie), Westport Mirror (hi, Your TV Repair Repair Man), Orangeville Banner, Hanover Post. And all the rest of you guys who have put up for years with the bleatings and blurtings of this writer. Thanks. You represent something I admire admire and respect. You work under continual stress to produce a product product that is valuable rather than sensational, sensational, controversial rather than merely inflammatory, optimistic rather than depressing. Hang in there those of you who are left, and you young fellows, carry on the traditions. You may not be the New York Times, but you are probably more important to your community than it is to the world. Last not: George and Elda Cado- gan, veterans both, hope to see you again before we hit the wheelchairs. wheelchairs. Love, Bill. Editor J R.R. 1, Enniskillen LOB 1H0 August 8,1984 Dear Sir: Re: Enough is Enough - Assessment Review Hearing I have just returned from a hearing before the Assessment Review Board regarding my property tax appeal on August 3, 1984 and found the whole thing to be somewhat of a fiasco. As many others, we were upset with the new re-assessment program and appealed'our taxes. The Assessment Review Board or Court, sometimes called, intimidating to some, was merely conducted by one man besides Mr. Aldridge and decided by one Chairman alone. I feel the taxpayer is not getting fair treatment at all as the Chairman conducting same is employed by the same authority as the assessors, etc. and not unbiased in the situation at all, As a result, I do not see the purpose of holding such a hearing and feel it is wasting taxpayers money to have repeated what is already on their tax bills or receiving some ridiculous reduction compared to the increase in taxes sustained. Our particular situation saw taxes increased by $500 over last year. We purchased our property in December of 1983 which was the third sale of the property in five years. You would think this would be a good establishment of market value. Nevertheless the assessment value placed on it by regional assessors was considerably more than any of these three sale prices. At the same time, they tell us these re-assessments are based on market value but this is anything but the case and it seems to me it is Durham Regional Assessors' own values as they see it and has no connection to market value. In asking the Chairman at the hearing about this, he replied very shortly that we merely got a good buy, but what about the other previous buyers. Did they get a good buy too? If it is such a good buy, how come the property was for sale for almost two years before we bought it. Usually good buys sell very quickly. I felt the Assessment Review Hearing was prearranged, prearranged, cut and dried as to how it was going to be settled before we ever entered the room. A sheet of comparables was thrown at us (their comparables) consisting of three other properties and their sale prices, and these properties were similar in some ways hut dissimilarities were not considered at all. Rural properties are difficult to compare as no two are exactly alike and why should taxation be done on the basis of what other properties have sold for when the subject property itself has sold three times. Should this not establish a market value better than sales of other properties, similar only in some ways. The assessment review board did not even average out the three sales of our property and the end result was a menial reduction in our assessment figure which is still $6,000 more than we paid for the property in December of 1983. The actual reduction in dollars and cents I am sure will be very small compared to the increase of nearly $500. I think Durham Region could curb a lot of unnecessary spending, such as the prejudiced Assessment Review Board where they are using taxpayers money to defend themselves, against the taxpayer and result in less gouging of the taxpayer time and time again. Yours very truly, Sonja White, Enniskillen, Ontario Ruth Woodward R.R, 1 lllackstock, Ont. LOB 1B0 Newcastle Independent; Just a line to let you know that my husband and I were very interested in your page from the fifties. 1959 there was a piece in it on the queen. She was in Port Hope. We were both surprised surprised to see it. It was my husband that drove her in Port Hope. He was one of the drivers that had been picked to drive her. Just thought I would let you know that one of the men that drove her lives not far from your paper. Ruth Woodward August 11,1984 Editor The Statesman and Newcastle Independent Bowmanville, Ont, Dear Editor: I wish to comment on Bill Smiley's column of last week entitled "Education Stalemate." Stalemate." I was appalled at the content of his column. Such a negative and poorly informed person I It would have been to his benefit had the editor filed the column under "G" for garbage. Mr, Smiley has surely surely displayed to all his total ignorance and lack of understanding. understanding. That you actually gave him space is a discredit to the fine image James Publishing has established, There were many erroneous statements made by Mr. Smiley. Most I will pass ovur and attribute to his inability to properly research a topic before writing. However, the last five paragraphs I am not prepared to overlook. Mr. Smiley seems to be under the impression that Special Education is designed to teach "Stupid Kids." I have assumed he means by that term children who have a learning handicap of some type. He then goes on to imply that Special Education will result in "Bright kids" being looked down upon. How his distorted mind can arrive at this assumption is beyond me. Maybe his ignorance again? Mr. Smiley should he made aware of Bill 82. Under Bill 112, Mr. Smiley, any student who is deemed to be exceptional has a right to special education education programs and services designed to meet their needs. Exceptional, Mr. Smiley, can he a profoundly retarded child or an intellectually gifted one; or anywhere in between! The school system will try to meet their needs without discriminating discriminating against either. I deeply regret the attitude you have displayed in your column Mr. Smiley, You do a great disservice to the many dedicated educators, parents and students who have worked so hard to bring society into the 20lh century. That you ai'e prejudiced against the intellectually intellectually handicapped is very evident. What upsets me, Mr. Smiley, is that you are so ignorant of the significant changes which have been, and still are, being implemented. Changes which will finally give the bright child an equal opportunity to fully develop their intellect and at the same time ensure a slow learner has that same chance at reaching their potential too. It is fortunate the education system is being managed by people who care about all children. Your attitudes would only destroy the system. By the way Mr. Smiley, stupid means "not intelligent" and intelligent means "able to learn." I have yet to meet a human being not capable of learning Mr. Smiley. Please don't prove me wrong - you owe a lot of children and parents an apology. Very truly yours R. L. Willsher Newcastle, Out, Thanks to you it works... FOR All OF US United W.nj