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( Editorial Comment J Excellent Timing The provincial Tories must have consulted Dr. Chase's Almanac before before selecting a date for announcing announcing the construction of Toronto's new dome stadium. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. Given the arctic temperatures temperatures and the Siberian snowfalls snowfalls of the last few weeks, who could resist the argument that an enclosed stadium is an absolute necessity? As a matter of fact, one would wonder why Canadians are not leading the world in the technology of building indoor sports facilities. After all, who is in more need of a dome stadium, Texas or Toronto? Now that the die has been cast and the decision has been made, we imagine that there will be the usual obstacles to overcome. If the dome project follows the pattern established by other major undertakings sponsored by government government we expect that the following hurdles will be encountered. We note that already there is some opposition from a few Toronto city councillors who feel the city's share of the total cost is too high. There are complaints over whether or not the new sports facility will, in effect, kill the Canadian National National Exhibition. And some are of the opinion that it is a mistake to build at the lakefront when Down- sview would be a much more satisfactory satisfactory location. No doubt there will be various groups and individuals fighting a rearguard action against the project. project. Somewhere along the line you can count on an Ontario Municipal Board hearing, a petition or two, and possibly even a battle over rezoning. rezoning. Then, there will be cost overruns, overruns, last-minute design changes and delays in the final completion date. A good many political reputations reputations will be made and unmade during during the debate surrounding this issue. But all of this will be promptly forgotten when the first pitch of the baseball season is thrown in indoor comfort. The controversy will vanish vanish like a bad nightmare when the first football is kicked off in surroundings surroundings that do not resemble a deep freeze. And, of course, the dome will be useful for other activities besides sporting events. These include trade shows, concerts, or any other occurrence which attracts a mass audience. Soon, we'll be wondering wondering why a dome wasn't built over the city's football stadium and baseball diamond years ago. It will be a bargain at almost any price. And, in view of weather conditions conditions during the past month, why not consider a retractible dome for the rest of Toronto? When's the Excitement Start By this time next week, Ontario should have a new premier. But does anybody really care that much about the provincial leadership race? It's doubtful. Premier Bill Davis was accused during his tenure of being "bland". But for Mr. Davis that trait was more of an asset than a liability. And his successors seem to be convinced convinced that blandness is a virtue. As a result, the leadership race has not been the most thrilling show on earth. Each contender is trying hard not to criticize other candidates because that may jeopardize second-ballot support. The contestants must also be careful careful not to paint Ontario in anything but glowing terms since such criticism criticism would only serve to condemn the Tory government of the past. In addition, the Progressive Conservatives Conservatives can't even attack the federal government now that their federal cousins hold the reins of power in Ottawa. In short, the provincial Tory leadership race looks something like four men walking through a minefield. ■ They are so polite and so tolerant. They avoid controversy and seem to have fought a campaign in which issues are almost non-existent. One cannot help but wonder if the competition competition will end in a four-way tie. Even the proverbial race between between the tortoise and the hare would be more enjoyable than this marathon for what appears to be cautious political tortoises. However, the weeks of lacklustre campaigning may lead to a more interesting convention. If there have been few real fights in the preliminary rounds, then it stands to reason that the real battle could still occur in Toronto this weekend. In fact, the convention to elect Ontario's next premier may have some of the excitement and drama that the race has lacked. After weeks of caution, much depends depends on the final candidates' speeches and any last-minute issues issues that surface between now and voting day. Y ou can bet that émotions will be high, in spite of all the attempts to hide any clashes of opinion among members of the same party. These emotions can only be held in check for a limited period of time and they could, quite possibly, surface at the convention. So, if you've been watching the provincial leadership race in the forlorn hope that it would catch fire and take on some measure of life and vitality, don't give up yet. ■ The best may be yet to come. And, if the convention proves to be as bland as the campaign, you can always watch re-runs of last week's Super Bowl. Warm Welcome for Train It wasn't exactly the Orient Express, Express, but the daily Peterborough- Havelock-Toronto train had a noble • tradition all its own. There was no china or linen in the dining car. In fact, there wasn't even a dining car. The device used on the line was knbwn as a dayliner and that's kind of like a greyhound bus on rails. Yes, the commuter service between between Havelock and Toronto wasn't fancy. But it seemed to accomplish the task at hand. Thanks to this daily Via Rail operation, operation, you could enjoy life in the Ridges knowing that your job in downtown Toronto could be reached in the time it took to really read and digest the Globe and Mail. Those of us living along the lakeshore didn't often partake of the rail service described above. But there were many of our neighbours neighbours to the north who saw it as their lifeline to Toronto. And, indeed, it was probably easier to hop on the dayliner in Pontypool and arrive at Union Station Station than to leave Oshawa or Bow- manville and reach the same destination destination by the more crowded GO Transit system. But the little railroad that could and did offer such a vital service to places with picturesque names like Claremont, Pontypool, Burketon, Dagmar, Myrtle Station, and others, reached the end of the line several years ago. Stic Canadian Statesman 623-3303 Durham County's Great Family Journal Established 130 years ago In 1054. Also Incorporating The Bowmanvllle News The Newcastle Independent The Orono News Second class mall registration number 1561 Produced every Wednesday by THE JAMES PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED 02*66 King SI. W., Bowmnnvllle, Ontario L1C 3K9 JOHN M. JAMES RICHARD A. JAMES Editor --• Publisher Assistant Publisher PETER PARROTT Associate Editor GEO. P. MORRIS BRIAN PURDY DONALD BISHOP Business Mgr. Advertising Mgr. Plant Mgr. All layouls and composition ol ndvorllsomonls produced by Iho employees ol The Canadian Slatesman, The Newcastle Independent and The James Publishing Company Llmlled are protected by copyright and must not be reproduced without written permission ol Iho publishers, S15,00n year -- G months $0.00 foreign- $45.00 a year slrlclly In advance Although ovory precaution will bo lakcrt to avoid error, Tho Canadian Slatesman accepts advertising In Its columns on tho understanding that It will nol bo liable lor any error In Iho advertisement published hereunder unless a proof of such advertisement In requested In writing by Iho advertiser and relumed to Tho Canadian Statesman business ollico duly signed by the advertiser and with such error or corrections plainly noted In writing thereon, and In that cane It any error no noted is nol corrected by Tho Canadian Statesman Its liability shall nol exceed such a portion ol the entire cost ol such 'idverllstmonl ns Iho npaco occupied by Iho noled error bears to Iho whole space occupied by such Section Two The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvllle, January 23,1985 3 Frosty Lakefront SUGAR and SPICE Welfare Bums (fly âêùttJLdey. ^ There are all sorts of people living living in Canada these days. Most of us are reasonable, ordinary, human beings, not evil, not particularly good, just slogging away a day at a time. You and I, Jack. And then there are a lot of people just along for the ride. Welfare bums and politicians. Both species would deny it, wide-eyed with indignation. indignation. The welfare bums would insist that they are culturally deprived, victims of a non-caring society which refused to give them a decent education. This, of course, is so much hog- wash. Take, a closer look at them, and they are bums, literally. They're not stupid. They know every angle of the welfare, unemployment unemployment insurance,social subsidies subsidies game, and they play it with finesse. They know to the last nickel exactly what they can skim off a pretty decent society which doesn't want anybody to be cold or hungry or homeless. Their favorite gimmick is to be photographed with their five or six children in front of their new tele vision set. They like rubbing our noses in it. The man of the house invariably has a sore back or some other vague disability which prevents him from working. The woman of the house invariably supports her man, because because she knows he's a bum, and if she didn't, he'd pound her and the children, and they'd have nothing. The children will grow up in the family pattern, believing that society society owes them a living, and be sullen, sullen, cranky, mean, if anyone suggests they get off their tails and do something. Poor kids. Maybe I sound like a middle- class, right-wing pundit who believes believes that nobody should get any help from anybody. Lord forfend. I have a heart of gold, some might say brass, and I believe firmly in helping helping the helpless. In my time I have been helped, and have helped others. Most of the people who helped me, I have hated. And most of the people I've helped have hated me. That's the way she goes. Better to do it anonymously. And now we come to the other welfare bums: the politicians. They are not corporate welfare bums, as David Lewis called them, becoming more and more boring as he did. They are individual welfare bums. Most of them are small-town lawyers with a yen for the public eye. Having wheezled their way into the nomination, they defeat a lot of born also-rans, and take a back seat in Ottawa, Toronto, Victoria. Victoria. At a drop of the hat, they vote themselves pay and pension increases, increases, though their only desire is "to serve my constituency to the best of my ability." At the appearance of a camera, they whip out a cheque from the federal or provincial government, and a new five miles of road, or a dock extension, or a post office, is born. With a few exceptions, they steer clear of gun control, or abortion, or anything else that might upset the "committee" back home, When it is time for re-election, regardless regardless of their records, they fight like tigers to hang onto that infinitesimal infinitesimal bit of power and prestige. prestige. Have you ever heard a politician stand up and say, "I'm a futz. I have not represented you, but only my self. I will not be running for re- election because I don't deserve it"? I am not saying that there are not people who go into politics with ideals, with a desire to serve their fellows. There are. But they are few and far between, and even the good ones seem to succumb to that insidious insidious love of power, after a bit. It's little wonder that so many Canadians today are angry. They have worked, more or less faithfully, faithfully, for years, with an organization. organization. Suddenly they are turfed out. They go on unemployment payments. payments. They don't feel good about it. They'd rather work. They loolf around and see all sorts of layabouts layabouts drawing the same money. They are too old to move. They have mortgages. They have children to educate. And they see their "leaders" playing games: arrogant arrogant Liberals, pugnacious Tories, wet Socialists. It's enough to make a grown man weep. Not to mention a grown woman. Welfare bums at both ends of the stick, hanging on grimly, happy in the knowledge that you and I will pick it up. Letters to the Editor January 14,1985 Dear John: I am happy to enclose a picture and some background information on a recent scholarship presentation at the University of Guelph. There are only two Carr Scholarships awarded annually, and it is most unusual that I can send one picture to a single paper for both winners. It augurs well for what I still consider one of the banner parts of the province. The Carr Scholarships are among the larger ones available to University of Guelph students, and arc particularly noteworthy in that the winners must have returned to farming. Sincerely, Don W. Jose, Media Relations, University of Guelph Information Services January IS), 19115 Dear Mr. James, In last week's Statesman and Independent, front page articles quoted a local politician politician and businessman as having stated that 19ll4's property property reassessment controversy controversy arose because residents Imd misunderstood the process process of market value assessment, assessment, I must admit that I was one of those confused and provoked by the reassessment, reassessment, hut I certainly did not misunderstand it. In an attempt to abate my confusion, I wrote to a local politician - businessman on April 15, 1984 with the following following observation and question. I quote from that letter. "The Ontario assessors increased the market value of my home and 11.8 acres by 33.8 percent, and also increased increased the market value of your home and 3.49 acres by 23.6 percent, yet your assessed value dropped 26 percent. How can "market value" be upheld as a reasonable standard upon which to calculate property assessment and to impose taxation when it can produce miracles for you and your good wife but only anxiety for me and mine?" He responded, pointing out that this miracle of mathematical mathematical manipulation occurred occurred because the assessor had designated his home and 3.49 acres as "farm residential." This response only increased my confusion. How many farms do you know of, Mr. James, with only 150 feel of road frontage and 3.49 acres of land? The Blair Commission on property taxation reform in Ontario submitted its report in March 1977. The Commission recognized four basic principles principles upon which all its recommendations recommendations wore founded, founded, One of those principles was that similar properties used for similar purposes he treated in the same manner, regardless of the status of the owner. Now I recognize that recommendations and prin- - ciples of the Blair Commission were ignored when market value assessment was implemented. I also recognize that our politician-businessman politician-businessman cannot he held responsible responsible for the designation bestowed upon his home by the assessor. But let's set the record straight. The reassessment controversy in 1984 did not arise because residents misunderstood misunderstood the issue. It arose because of outrageous and inequitable treatment of property owners within the boundaries of the Town of Newcastle. There arc many blatant examples like that raised in my letter of Arpil 15 to our local politician. I suggest, Mr. James, that the residents who were provoked provoked by last year's reassessment reassessment understood the issue adequately. It's a pity that the victims of this scam haven't yet been able to got our Town Council to demand something better for our citizens. Respectfully and without prejudice, James Slyfiuld R.R.l, Bowmanvillc. January 14th, 1985 Dear Sir: The National Citizens' Coalition urges your readers to question the credibility of a recent report from the extreme left-wing, Washington-based Institute for Policy Studies. The report said that in a state of emergency, 32 nuclear depth bombs would be shipped to Canadian anti-submarine warfare detachments in Comox, B.C. and Greenwood, N.S. The following will give to your readers the "flavor" of the IPS. Staffs of the IPS' European branch have included Tariq Ali, the British section-head of the Trotskyitc Fourth International, who is banned from eight countries, Baskcr Vashce, a Marxist revolutionary and Orlando Letcher, who was exposed as a Cuban agent when lie was assissinated. IPS publications have supported Soviet-backed Palestinian terrorist groups and "the Communist Parties of Thailand, the Philippines, Burma, Malaya and Indonesia. The IPS lias consistently tried to halve the U.S. defence budget in the face of a huge Soviet Build-up, It lias worked with a Soviet front group, tho USSR - USA Friendship Society and the KGB-controlled Institute For The USA and Canada, to promote US disarmament. An IPS publication advocated the unionization of I lie US armed forces to help the process of "crippling military effectiveness." iFor more information, your readers may consult "The Coercive Utopians" by Rael Jean and Erich Isaac, a superb and widely-hailed expose of such groups. ) The IPS author of the "report" on nuclear depth bombs in Canada is William Arkin. NDP External Affairs spokesman, Pauline Jewett, was quoted as saying January 9th: "Arkin is a reliable fellow and I don't doubt there's a redeployment redeployment plan." That's not surprising, because the NDP's official position is to desert our traditional allies and unilaterally pull out of NATO. Nevertheless, the National Coalition deplores this statement and this position. Sincerely, Colin M. Brown, President, National Citizens' Coalition Group II, Box 5, R.R. 6, Bowmanvillc, Out. L1C 3K7 January 14,19115 Dear Sir: I am writing about the Bill in our provincial parliament on the taxation of trailers that camp for 30 days or more on one site in a private camp ground. I understand this tax could lie $3 the first year, $5 the second and $10 the third year and who knows from there? I think this is very had policy from our members of parliament as they have singled out just so many of the people of Ontario lo pay this lax, If they would lake a good look at what the trailer people leave in the small villages and towns where these trailer parks are located, they would find the summer trade is great for those people who live there. I think it would be better to have the money spent at home than in some other country. If the government goes through with this tax, they arc going against the constitution which says everybody will be treated as equals. Also, our charter of rights says the same thing. It seems funny the people we elect cannot see this. So, all campers had better get after your own member in parliament in Ontario or we are going to get it in the neck again. ■ Yours truly, Reuben Bush R.R. 5, Bowmanvillc, Ontario L1C 3K6 January 14,1985 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc, Ont., L1C 3K9 Dear Mr. James: On behalf of Oshawa Presbyterian Presbyterian United Church Women 1 wish to thank you and your stall' for coverage of our various events throughout the year. Your assistance is very appreciated. Best wishes to you all. Sincerely, Bessie Vaneyk Press and Archives Secretary Oshawa Preshylerial U.C.W. '