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f [ Editorial Comment ] Must be an Election Year In the interest of government efficiency, efficiency, let's shelve any idea concerning concerning the construction of a new regional headquarters for Durham. Frankly, this is not the year in which to decide such an item. A regional headquarters should be debated during the upcoming election campaign, by all means. And the time to vote on the issue at regional council is in the early months of a new term of office. To even talk about the expenditure expenditure in the last year of council's three-year term is to invite trouble. All we will see is the amusing spectacle of politicians lining up to vow that they'll not squander taxpayers' taxpayers' money on anything so extravagant extravagant as a new headquarters. Given an election in the immediate future, some councillors would vote against a new building even if their old headquarters were falling down on their heads. Last week was a perfect example of what we mean. Regional council was asked to consider clearing the title to the old regional headquarters headquarters and courthouse on Rossland Rd. in Whitby. That's the building where a number of administrative offices are located, along with regional regional council chambers. It should have been a simple request. request. Oshawa has an interest in part of the building dating back to an old agreement between the County of Ontario and the City. A committee of regional council asked permission to negotiate with Oshawa to relinquish that claim to part of the regional building. The issue seemed simple enough. But nervous councillors saw behind behind this move all kinds of sinister motives which would lead to the construction of the new headquarters. headquarters. They saw the clearing of the title as a prelude to approving a new administrative centre. And critics critics claim such a centre would have a $10 million price tag. Naturally, they balked at taking any action which would even suggest support for that kind of spending. As a result, actions to try and attain attain a clear title to the old headquarters headquarters was approved by only a one-vote margin. And the whole process consumed almost two hours of time which regional regional councillors could have spent more wisely elsewhere. In an election year, even the most mundane items on the agenda of local politicians can take on political political overtones. It's unfortunate, but that's just a fact of life. So it's easy to see the folly of debating debating major expenditures now that we are entering the final year of the current term for regional and local councillors. Besides, the last time we looked, the existing regional facilities seemed to be in adequate condition. condition. The roofs were on and the walls were standing. Existing arrangements arrangements in which regional offices offices are housed throughout the Whitby/Oshawa area seem to have worked for the last 10 years and they will work in the future. Another year will also give Durham's elected officials time to read trends of the future. If we are faced with mushrooming growth, then a new building may be affordable. affordable. On the other hand, future developments developments may suggest that activities activities now performed at regional headquarters may require fewer personnel. There's even the possibility possibility that some employees will eventually work at computers in their own homes rather than in costly office buildings. Durham would be better advised to consider more pressing items such as plans for the 1985 budget or the need to find more disposal space for regional garbage. If there's one thing we don't need in the upcoming pre-election year, it's another political football. Section Two The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, October 3,1984 3 Impressive Cupola on Bowmanville Town Hall -- \ SUGAR and SPICE Good Luck, Mila Take Your Time, Brian Canada's new Prime Minister hasn't been asking us for any advice and probably won't be, but we're just a little concerned about the way he and his government are rushing into things. We hope he will give some of his eager beaver ministers some instruction instruction to slow down just a little, and spend some time studying their portfolios before they start making changes just to show they are active and on the job. We doubt very much if a majority of Canadians are expecting big changes overnight. After all, it took the Liberals 16 years to bring about present conditions in the country and with the majority of seats the PCs have in the House of Commons there is no pressure on them to continue continue making headlines to bolster their popularity. Better they should become more familiar with their jobs and with conditions before jumping in with new projects. We're thinking especially of the Dept, of National Defence where the new minister apparently is already already launched on his program of reestablishing the three armed ser vices as separate identities with their own uniforms. Frankly, his actions actions seem just a little too quick for our acceptance and we can't help wondering why he's rushing into it. Changing the system is bound to cost a considerable amount of money that the government doesn't have at the moment. And he's only one minister. There are more than 35 others in the cabinet who will also be looking to make a name for themselves. And that could really throw the budget into a shambles and add billions to the deficit. Sooner or later, we believe Mr. Mulroney will have to set up an inner circle of influential cabinet members to keep a tight rein on his colleagues and persuade them to obtain clearance before announcing announcing any projects. The.40 member cabinet is far too large to be effective effective and can be much too time-consuming. time-consuming. The new government is off to a good start but it's got loads of time without trying to cure all the ills and imperfections in a couple of weeks. Letter to the Editor Sept. 24 th, 1984 Dear Sir: Prime Minister Mulroney recently announced a task force to streamline government programs and regulations under Deputy Prime Minister Erik Nielsen. Most of the task force's spadework will be done, however, by civil service mandarins from the Treasury Board Secretariat. One might be forgiven for having reservations about the prospects for success of efforts by mandarins to streamline programs and regulations administered by mandarins. While lauding the prime minister's initiative, the National • Citizens' Coalition has some suggested changes to the task force. Why not combine some top leaders from the private sector with some bright, aggressive backbenchers (perhaps with backgrounds in small business). This group could be given broad terms of reference and access to all government books. Then, the real work would be done by Task Force members, not delegated to civil servants. Some of the subjects to be examined by the task force might be: selling Crown corporations; privatizing government services; ending the universality of family allowances; CPP, UIC, Old Age Security and Medicare, while preserving the "safety net." This is politically quite feasible - a recent Liberal poll showed 86% of Canadians wanted social benefits eliminated for households Site (Eanabian Statesman 623-3303 (JcNA Durham County's Great Family Journal Established 130 years ago In 1854. 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All layouts and composition cl advertisements produced by the employees ol The Canadian Statesman, The Newcastle Independent and The James Publishing Company Limited are protected by copyright and must not bo reproduced without written permission ol the publishers. 515.00 a year -- 6 months 58,00 strictly In advance foreign -- 545.00 a year Although nvury pmciiution will ho liikon to avoid urror, Tim Canadian Statesman accepts advertising in Its columns on tlm understanding'that it will not ho Halite lor any error In the advertisement published hereunder unless a prool ol such advertisement is requested in willing by the advertiser and returned to The Canadian dalesman business oil ici» duly signed by the advertiser and with such error or corrections plainly noted in writing thereon, and m that case d any error so noted is not corrected by The Canadian dalesman its liability shall not exceed such a portion ol the entire cost nl such idvertislment as the space occupied by the noted error bears to the whole space occupied by such adverb -eiimnl Thank heaven the election's over and we can get down to serious things. As predicted by all the pundits, we have a new Prime Minister) not that we haven't had a new 1 (one lately. Alias John Turner. But, shades of Dief the Chief, Billie Billie King, and other assorted ghosts, we now have with the greatest number number of seats ever -- Ta Da -- Prime Minister Mila Mulroney. What's that you say? It's Brian Mulroney? Nonsense. Oh, I know. He gets the title. She lets him read the speeches, which he does quite well, with her hand on his back: "Is that a dagger that I can see behind me?" Canada, despite Indira Ghandi of India, Golda Meier of Israel and Maggie Thatcher of Great (once upon a time) Britain, is not yet ripe for a woman P.M, That's why they must have a consort who can read the speeches and keep his mouth absolutely shut about everything except the weather. Maureen McTeer almost made it, but her consort kept trying to ram both feet in his mouth at once, and stubbornly refused to discuss the weather. But Mrs. Mulroney (sounds like someone from the wrong side of the tracks, but isn't) made it. I shudder to think what it will cost us to re-de- corate the P.M.'s house on Sussex St. in the capital city, Bytown. You think I'm joking? Didn't you have enough stamina to stay up and .watch the last appearances of the party leaders on election day? A tired Turner gave up gracefully and dedicated himself to something resembling the re-building of the Great Wall of China. A beaming, belligerent Broad- bent reiterated for the umpteenth time that he was going to look after the ordinary people of Canada, and warned Mrs. Mulroney, though he had grace enough to call her Mr. Mulroney, that if she/he did not house every plant they had lifted from the NDP platform, she/he was in dire straits. Mila, our Prime Minister-elect, was much less inhibited, as she should have been. She jigged and jogged and waved for the cameras, drinking in the applause, grinning broadly (she doesn't have a jaw problem), and soaking up the cheers. She pointed with abandon and a wide grin at various members of the organization who will expect to be senators next week, and punched her consort in the ribs until he too pointed and bared his teeth. She didn't retire gracefully into the background during the victory speech, but stood so close to her consort that she could read it and made sure he didn't make any boo- boos. She put her hands, lovingly behind his back while he was speaking: "This is a dagger that I feel behind me." In short, it is not Caesar, but Caesar's wife, who is, and must be seen to be, beyond reproach. I think she'll make a dandy Prime Minister. Minister. Not that Mila doesn't have her faults. She doesn't have a strong jaw, like Flora Macdonald, Maureen Maureen McTeer, and her consort. But because of that, she has an impish grin, which none of the others can achieve, and which turns people on, if they are turned on by impish grins. She speaks too many languages, at least three, which is anathema to those ordinary Canadians Ed B. is always talking about. One is enough for them, two is suspicious, and three is downright dangerous. She is not exactly a great "built" as we used to say. But that's in her favor, in these days of feminism, when a sweater is something to keep you warm, rather than reveal. Another thing going against her is the size of the majority. Huge majorities are more dangerous for the winner than small minorities. About a third of Canadians who voted Tory are going to be shouting in the pubs: "Wattaya talkin' about. Mila kissed me, an' the uddaguy shook hands with me. I'm a cinch for the Royal Commission on Highways. Highways. I got the boys warmin' up the machines right now." One more thing that may hurt her, about 1998, is her femininity. She's good-looking, intelligent, and sophisticated. As long as there is a secret ballot in Canada, I can see, in the future, vast hordes of Canadian Canadian men voting against her, out of sheer frustration and envy. However, she's got a lot going for her. She has guts which don't hang over her belt, as most politicians do. She has brains, proven by the fact that she chose a blarney for her consort, instead of a true and tired politician. She's a great if slightly elderly cheer-leader, as witness her very visible hand-clapping every time her consort stopped for a breath. Good luck, Mila. I'm positive unemployment, unemployment, inflation, and women's rights will disappear under your reign. Letters to the Editor with incomes of $40,000 and more. Of every $3 saved in spending, $1 could be used to reduce Canadians' personal income taxes and $2 could be used to reduce the deficit. An inspiring precedent for such a task force was set by U.S. businessman Peter Grace who, with a private sector team, recently finished • a three-year presidential task. Mr. Grace detailed 2,478 ways to reduce U.S. federal government spending by $424 billion. Many of the suggestions have already been implemented. Prime Minister Mulroney must know that yesterday's ideas belong to yesterday's man. He has promisted Canadians new ideas and real change. We look forward to them. Sincerely, Colin Brown, President National Citizens' Coalition, Sept. 24,1984 Dear John: He: the slaughter house controversy controversy in the area in which I live, As I was unable to attend the hearing on Sept. 17 I appreciate appreciate being able lo express my views in your paper, Some time ago I received a letter unsigned and was asked to sign in agreement the following following charges against slaughter houses. "Large herds of animals waiting to be slaughtered", "ground pollution", "blood and guts", "vile odours", and "flies." When I read the charges. I noted them all to be false. Then more recently I received a dictatorial letter demanding that I sign the first one, Moreover, Moreover, a few days after that two gentlemen visited me who were partly responsible for the letter, and were wanting to know why I had not signed the first letter. Thereupon I proceeded proceeded to prove their accusations accusations false. However, the first one was the only one I had to prove; the others could be capably taken care of by the Environmental Division of the Department of Health. It is appalling to me that the Council believed these nasty accusations that were put forth against a well managed slaughter house. Thus the Council automatically showed no faith in the work and capabilities capabilities of one of the Regional Departments. Mayor Rickard and Councillor Councillor Taylor had the proper approach - "don't make a sudden decision," So, considering these charges to be false in regards to a well run slaughter house, and, considering the fact they were signed by eighty nine people who obviously had little idea of how much truth they contained, and, considering the fact that the Council formed formed their opinion to a large extent on the strength of these charges, we have to ask ourselves ourselves - "how valid is the action that was taken by the Council?" I have no personal interest in a slaughter house in my area, but I could not sign this letter as a matter of principle. Surely, the Council should have perceived a similar responsibility. responsibility. Yours very truly Arthur E. Hamilton R. R, 5, Bowmanville September 30,1984 Dear Sir: A recent denial by the Council of The Town of Newcastle Newcastle for the expansion of a small meat processing business business on a family farm, stirs a few concerns which I would like to share with your readers and citizens of this community. community. After viewing the last Council meeting and discussing discussing the issue witli some members of Council, I had the distinct feeling that they feel there is a direct confrontation with farmers and urbanites in this community. The flat denial of this expansion promotes promotes this feeling! Could we not discuss these problems like sane people, rather than this cacophonous approach? Viewing the Ullrich's charming, manicured little family farmyard, and if the opposing would even try lo communicate with the Ullrich's, Ullrich's, they would surely realize that Ullrich's themselves themselves could never live in an tindesireable environment. This requested expansion is synonymous with agriculture. Personally, I would congratulate congratulate them on their achievements achievements that have been a great asset and service lo this community. community. Considering the unemployment unemployment crisis in this country it should be considered considered a tribute to any community to have a successful growing enterprise that provides for family members lo participate. participate. The farmers in the area do not want confrontation witli urbanites, and never have, but we want them to understand that moving into the country means Hint they must learn lo live witli (lie same smells, noises, etc. that farmers have lived with all their lives. Some people feel that productivity and profit are the greatest importance, others feel Unit the family farm is a way of life. Still others feel that a combination of both outlooks is required. But, regardless of where and what we do we must realize that urbanites and farmers must live side by side in every community. Farmers are having great difficulty staying in farming because of low income. The current high costs of land, machinery, and other inputs, combined with excessively high interest rates, reduce and sometimes eliminate farming profits altogether. It is often not realized that farmers provide provide many young people witli jobs that enable them to pursue pursue their education. Some of these young people, after experiencing family farm life, have chosen to pursue this calling, and we welcome them. There are now fewer than 320,000 farmers across Canada, This means there arc fewer farmers than North American Indians. Also Toronto has more unemployed workers than Ontario farmers. We cannot afford to lose one single farmer. We gel concerned when food and polities come to a crossroad. On one hand we hear that we are away overproduced, and on tiie other we hear the voice of the hungry and the poor. A country without an agri cultural base, is a country with nothing. We should be so lucky to have such an abundance, abundance, the envy of every country in the world. We have, and possess, the most fundamental fundamental ingredient to life itself, (food) and the desire to produce produce it, let's not stifle its progress. Urbanites and farmers have a legitimate place in our society, the two need to strive towards a peaceful co-exislance. Let's de-fuse confrontation tactics. Yours truly, Joseph B. Ciiristl Sr. United Way Up by $100,000 The Oshawa Whitby Newcastle Newcastle United Way raised over $100,000 in its first week of the 1984 campaign. "The campaign is off to a good start," said Gord Pearson, Pearson, campaign chairman of the United Way. The chairman chairman urged the public to maintain that momentum in the remaining weeks of the fund-raising drive. The United Way is aiming for a $1,728,000 goal this year. As of last Wednesday, September 20, $101,165 Intel already been collected,