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i 6 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, August 1G, 1989 Canadian statesman cn Durham Region's Great Family Journal Established 135 years ago in 1854 0 Also Incorporating ■ m The Bowmanville News U A The Newcastle Independent The Orono News Second Class mail registration number 1561 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited 62 King Street West, Bowmanville, Ontario L1C3K9 416-623-3303 Fax 416-623-6161 John M. James Editor - Publisher Richard A. James Associate Publisher Brian Purdy Peter Parrott Associate Editor Geo. P. Morris Brian Purdy Donald Bishop Business Mgr. Advertising Mgr. Plant Mgr. All layouts and composition of advertisements produced by the employees of James Publishing Company Limited are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Subscription Rates Six Months-$11.00 One Year-$20.00 Foreign -$60.00 per year Although every precaution will bo taken to avoid error, The Canadian Statesman accepts advertising in its columns on the understanding that it will not be liable (or any error in the advertisement published hereunder unless a proof of such advertisement is requested In writing by the advertiser and returned to The Canadian Statesman business office duly signed by the advertiser and with such error or corrections plainly noted In writing thereon, and In that case it any error so noted is not corrected by The Canadian Statesman its liability shall not exceed such a portion of the entire cost of such advertisement as the space occupied by the noted error bears to the whole space occupied by such advertisement. Behind Closed Doors When parliament is sitting, Canadians Canadians naturally focus on the events of the House of Commons to fill whatever thirst they have for news of government. government. Question period becomes the stuff of headline stories on television news. The focus on the House, and on question period specifically, obscures the reality of Ottawa, which is that most of the action occurs behind closed doors away from the cameras. So it is with Cabinet - that supreme supreme being dictating laws On everything everything from taxation to lawn darts. Its mernoers debate policy in private, but they show great dexterity in presenting presenting a common front for public consumption. consumption. Those unable to adhere to "cabinet solidarity" soon find that cabinet cabinet can get along without them. The public's man in Ottawa, charged with the job of prying open some of those doors and revealing to public more about government that what can be packaged in a neat and tidy news conference,. is Auditor- General Kenneth Dye. Ordinarily we hear about Mr. Dye annually when he presents his report on government spending (and also government waste) for the preceding year. Recently, Mr. Dye lost a five-year battle to delve into cabinet documents regarding the 1981 purchase of the Belgian company, Pet- rofina Canada Inc. by Petro-Canada, our national oil company. The Supreme Supreme Court ruled that he must gain access through Parliament, the body which gives him his power. He freely admitted that he was unsure unsure what documentation existed, but he hoped there was a cost-benefit analysis analysis of the purchase which might add credence to his suspicion that it was a bad deal. Without detailed information, information, Mr. Dye has surmised that the total outlay for the purchase, including including tax breaks to Petrofina investors, was $2.4 billion. The assets of the company company were estimated to be worth $1.2 billion following the deal. The sale was completed during Pierre Trudeau's crusade to Canadian- ize the oil industry, a campaign which included the creation of the National Energy Board. When the Conservatives Conservatives gained power three years later they dismantled the NEB as promised, but they continued to deny Mr. Dye access access to the cabinet documents he was after. The only possible reason the Tories would take such a stand and give up a chance to embarrass the former Liberal Liberal government is that of cabinet secre- •cy. Prime Minister Mulroney is standing standing up for a crucial concept in our political system: the ability of cabinet ministers to make comments and express express their views in private before an official government position is taken. It would be wholly inappropriate for American news reporters to give an account account of every discussion which takes place in the Oval Office before the President makes a decision. The privacy privacy of such venues, whether the Oval Office or the Cabinet room, allows for a broad sampling of possible alternatives. alternatives. Advisors and cabinet ministers are free to float unusual or even inane concepts, designed to stimulate conversation conversation and result in the best decision. decision. That not every decision is universally universally accepted does not detract from the usefulness of the system. If the Supreme Court had agreed to turn cabinet documents over to Mr. Dye, the precedent would have dealt our parliamentary system a serious blow.., The Liberals and Conservatives stand together on this issue, insisting that cabinet discussions remain a secret. secret. Only the New Democrats suggest otherwise, reflecting the fact that they have never held federal power and never had to deal with the weight of decision-making. We are thankful for the Auditor- General and for the service he provides. provides. Politicians are wary of him, and he continues to alert us to governmental governmental waste. Nevertheless, our cabinet ministers must be able to step out of the public eye for a period of time to engage in frank discussions if they are to make the tough decisions we require require of them. Deer are just some of the animals you will see on your visit to the Bowmanville Zoo. These two were trying to stay cool in the shade but couldn't resist turning to see who was watching them. Details Still Unavailable for GO Extension Mr. Sam Curcatz M.P.P. Durham East Dear Sam: Thank you for writing me recently and enquiring as to the detailed synopsis of the time frame of the GO Train expansion to Oshawa. With the announcement of this Government's additional additional commitment of $400 Million to GO Transit over the next 5 years, GO has now commenced discussions with both C.N. Rail and C.P. Rail with regard to the scheduling of design and construction of new track- work, structures and signals necessary for the expanded GO Train services. Given the necessity to maintain existing existing GO Train and other ' rail services during the con- ; struction period it is prema- . ture at this point to provide you with a detailed time for - the extension to Oshawa. Please be assured that . the government puts a high ; priority on this extension and as the details get worked out between GO Transit and the railways in- ' volved, it will be made ; known. . Sincerely, Ed Fulton Minister of Transportation. Transportation. People are obsessed with the weather. Whether it's fair weather or poor weather doesn't matter. The weather, on its own, has found itself as the main topic in conversations many times. Ask anyone who has just returned from a vacation vacation what people ask them the most. People don't ask for your impressions impressions of the city you have visited. They don't ask if you liked the food. The very first question people ask of someone who has recently returned returned from a holiday is: "Did you have good weather?" It doesn't matter where you go or what time of the year you travel, travel, the question is always asked. And what a question to ask! You only have two possible responses. You can say that either the weather was good or admit that the weather wasn't quite what you had hoped it would be. If you say the weather wasn't favourable, however, however, those that hear it will think that you had a horrible horrible vacation. Praise about the city you visited or about the experiences you had will not be heard. Because you have stated stated that the weather was bad, all those that have heard this will think the same of your holiday. The only answer for Reactor Concerns Writer New Future for Japan Dear Editor: A headline in the Globe and Mail (July 17th 1989) reads "Free AECL minireactor minireactor to heat university campus". So Atomic Energy of Canada Limited now thinks it can unload a giveaway giveaway reactor on the University University of Saskatchewan. Not so fast: The teaching hospital at the University of Sherbrooke, Quebec, was ready to accept AECL's offer, offer, until they smelled a rat, like the rest of the community. community. Late last year, the Hospital's Hospital's Board of Directors unanimously rejected the Slowpoke project, even after oodles of public money was wasted by AECL promoting it. In so doing, the Board honoured: (1) a 1977 Quebec government moratorium on further development of nuclear nuclear power in that province; (2) a 1988(federal government government hll : party recommendation recommendation that called'for a moratorium moratorium on new nuclear power plants in Canada until until such time that Canadians can agree on an acceptable means of atomic waste disposal; disposal; and (3) universal public public disapproval of nuclear industry industry growth. Oh, but how the nuclear industry likes to blame the public for their failures. When AECL hobbled away, one of their spokesman said the Sherbrooke anti-nuclear coalition had engaged_ in a media campaign "designed to frighten rather than educated educated local residents." With its third leader in three months at the helm, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is fighting to retain power after more than 40 years in office. A series of blunders, sexual and otherwise, has reduced the party's popular standing among the electorate to a figure approaching single digits. The new prime minister, Toshiki Kai- fu, seems unequipped to rebuild his party in time for an election which must be called within one year. The chronicle of blunders which the Liberal Democrats have committed stretches back several years and through the governments of four prime ministers. The Recruit bribery scandal touched dozens of highly placed officials, elected and appointed, in government. It forced the resignation resignation in the spring of Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita, ushering in Sou- suke Uno. Two weeks ago, Mr Uno resigned under a cloud of scandal, accused of paying for sex during the past several years. Before resigning, however, he led his party to an electoral slaughter which wrested control of the parliamentary parliamentary upper house from the LDP. The benefactor of the party's destruction destruction has been the Socialist Party and its charismatic leader, Takako Doi. Ms Doi is waiting impatiently for elections in the lower nouse (the more powerful of the two) which, if held today, almost certainly would install her as prime minister. Last week the upper and lower houses of parliament elected separate prime ministers, an astounding political political rift unparalleled in over 40 years. The lower house prevailed, but as leader of the upper house, Ms Doi now is able to congest parliament and force an early election. The government of Hitoshi Ashida survived only seven months when the two houses last split so dramatically. Prime Minister Kaifu, a long-time party loyalist and former education minister, will need to develop a measure measure of political strength which he has not demonstrated in the past if he hopes to retain power for his party. Besides the damaging tandem of bribery bribery and sex scandals, the government is weathering the storm after impos ing a three percent consumption tax across the board this year. Japanese voters appear ready to part company with the LDP, the party which has ruled virtually since the Second World War. During that time, development and industry has been the vehicle the govemmerit used to lift the Japanese economy to dizzying heights. The myopic struggle for a robust robust economy, however, has meant that workers live in small houses and work long days. A burdensome work ethic which preaches the importance of six-day work weeks and few if any vacations is pounded into students in a highly competitive and stressful education education system. Lately, there have been indications that the Japanese are dissatisfied dissatisfied with their hard work-little play lifestyle. The kind of influence peddling which erupted into the Recruit scandal has gone on for years in Japan, but few took exception, content with a government government which was rushing their country to the forefront of the industrial industrial world. The time may be right for Ms Doi, a powerful woman in what remains remains a highly paternalistic society, to rise to the pinnacle of power. If the LDP fails to gain back support support through the upcoming budgetary process, handing out goodies as most governments do prior to an election, the change in Japanese leadership could shake the world. The continuing spread of Japanese influence in the world of business and technology may slow or stop. Progress may be redefined redefined in what has become the world's third superpower. It is not only the world of business on which the Japanese Japanese have a great effect. They dispense dispense more foreign aid than any other nation. One Japanese political scientist surmised surmised that we may be witnessing the "rupture of the conservatives" in Japan. Japan. Just as Canadians are loathe to accept the advice of foreigners during election campaigns, the Japanese will make their decision in the next year based on their own criteria. The difference difference will be that the decision of the Japanese could affect most of the world, industrialized and otherwise, in a dramatic and immediate way. Writer Takes First Step to Regain Name Dear John: Two letters in such a short time is almost too much. However, the letter of Lynn R. Helpard, Orono, caught my attention and made me wonder why all the attention. I also received the same letter in. the mail only I received two copies. The letter made me chuckle since such donations are quite common today. Most of the contributions are from developers and real estate people hoping to gain favour from Mayor Hubbard. Hubbard. Other donors are friends, and wealthy Conservatives Conservatives or Liberals, hoping to gain good will. The information information is available to anyone anyone wishing to see it. Having lived in Bowmanville Bowmanville all my life so far, I think we need not be alarmed about Mayor Hubbard. Hubbard. My only wish is that We Want Our Old Name Back Dear John: We (my husband and I) just arrived home from holidays, holidays, and I've just been rending a letter in your Statesman written by Mr. Robert Kent (Statesman July 19th). I agree with Mr. Kent 100%. Are you people in Bowmanville going to let Mrs. Hubbard and a few of the councillors (past and present) got away with this mess? Some day you may find yourselves living on a now street. Let's get Bow- manville back. Mrs. Hubbard, Hubbard, I will be watching for your answer. An old timer from Bow- manville (now in Oshawa) Mrs. Muriel Wright P.S. I don't like "Your back in the Sixties. You can never tell who they are! she was Mayor of "Bowmanville." "Bowmanville." I worked a short time with her grandfather Jack Nickerson and also went to school with her father. Good people. One donor on the list was a disgruntled Liberal now turned Tory quite his right and privilege since the Mayor Mayor did the same thing if I am not mistaken. At any rate I am getting a letter ready for the Premier of Ontario Hon. David Peterson to see if he can do anything to clear up the mess created by Regional Regional Gov't, and get us back to Bowmanville, not Newcastle. Newcastle. I'll give you a copy for the statesman, John. Robert Kent Lowe St. Bowmanville. Crimestoppers Crime Stoppers and Durham Durham Regional Police are asking for the Public's help in solving a Break and Enter Enter which occurred in Pickering Pickering on August 7th. At about 9:20 p.m. police were called to the Indo Persian Persian Rug Company located at 1755 Pickering Parkway which is near the intersection intersection of Brock Road and Highway 401. There they found that a jack had been thrown through the front window. The door had been opened and twenty-nine carpets had been stolen. These arc all silk and are worth $290,000. The carpets are identifiable. Have you any idea who was responsible for this theit? Did you sec anyone around the store or the plaza between between 8:00 p.m. and 9:20 p.m. on Monday evening. If so, you can call Crime Stoppers. You will never have to give your name or appear in Court. AECL is perpetually tied up with public relations,-so somebody else has to do the public education work on radiation. radiation. And what more exemplair exemplair candidates for the job than educators themselves? themselves? The stated concerns about the Slowpoke of the 400-member University of Sherbrooke Professors' Union Union were accidents, breakdowns, breakdowns, and nuclear waste. This is why a majority of Union professors passed a resolution against the project. project. Even in the nuclear medicine department -- the body most frequently cited by AECL as user of the reactor reactor - 28 out of 35 (83%) of the researchers signed a petition petition rejecting the Slowpoke! Slowpoke! Add to this chorus of disfavor the 650-member nurses' union and the 2000- strong hospital workers' union. union. And 36 municipalities gave their endorsement to the anti-nuclear coalition. In the end, virtually nobody -- except those living off the avails of AECL - endorsed AECL's poisoned gift that would have created one tonne of deadly long-lived nuclear waste every five years. One can only wonder how many times AECL will repeat repeat this futile exercise before before they finally get the hint. Yours truly, Anne Hansen and Irene Kock of Nuclear Awareness Project, Oshawa. you is to say the weather was terrific, even if it wasn't. It will satisfy people's need to know about the weather and from that point on, whatever you say about your trip, people people will think you had a fabulous time. When I returned from Calgary, a number of people people asked if the weather was good while I was there! I could have told people the truth. I could have said that it was cool and wet on some days and cool and sunny on others but you know what they would have thought. So instead, _ I stretched the truth a little little and said the sun was out every day. It wasn't an out-and- out lie actually, the sun did come out each day. It may not have stayed out but it did make an appearance. appearance. Albertans have a saying saying about their weather. They say if you don't like it, wait five minutes and it will change. That's what happened. In the morning I awoke to dull looking skies, by noon was basking in the sun and by evening was searching for a sweater. Vacations, though, aren't the only time weather becomes a topic of discussion. People frequently use weather as a means for crossing communication barriers. Think about how many times in the last month you said to someone "It's pretty hot, eh?" or "Another "Another hot day today isn't it?" We all do it. When wé're talking to friends and can't think of anything anything else to say. When we are initiating a conversation with someone someone we don't know very well. Or when we greet a stranger on the street. No matter where you go or what you do, the weather will always play a prominent role in your life. It's the one common element that every person person on this earth shares. And it's the one thing that no matter what we do, we humans have no way of controlling it. People are obsessed with it, and I admit, we have reason to be thankful thankful for it. Weather sometimes is the saviour of failing conversations conversations and, this week, its the saviour of this column. Leave the Market Alone Now a quick lesson in the free market market and the ability of government to wade in and create waste on a uniquely uniquely large scale. Last spring, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario ordered a large quantity quantity of American beer, assuming that the summertime demand would be substantial. Alas, LCBO officials did not factor in the hedging and stumbling stumbling of the government it serves. Earlier this summer, American beer sales were humming along and prices fell as low as $4.35 per six-pack. Under Under pressure from Canadian breweries, breweries, and always anxious to raise additional additional revenue, Queen's Park placed two new taxes on U.S. beer, driving up the price. The liquor board itself raised prices shortly thereafter. The result, as hoped, was a marked decline in sales of American beer. Not surprisingly, the move left a vast surplus surplus of the product in LCBO warehouses warehouses - as many as 48 million cans. That this was not anticipated is incredible. incredible. The solution to the storage dilemma, announced last week, is an immediate drop in American beer prices. prices. Officials have stumbled back to where they began. Beer is perishable. As the weather turns cooler, the LCBO will be racing to hawk 48 million cans of American beer at new low prices hoping to clear their shelves before they must stock up for the Christmas season. As prices first dropped, then rose, and now have dropped again, the paperwork and confusion created is immense.. American American beer was expensive during the heat of June and July and is now .on sale as the weather begins to cool. Suppose the government had not meddled in the market (not exactly free as run by the LCBO). Presumably, Presumably, the large quantity of American beer would have sold as predicted in the spring. Presumably, the current mad rush to peddle thé surplus would not be necessary. The lesson to be learned is that governments, governments, whenever possible, should seek to extricate themselves from the market. Unfortunately, today's politicians politicians have charted a course of increasing increasing government regulation. Perhaps a few thousand cans of beer stored in each politician's basement would help to emphasize the point. "Creation" by Cynthia Craig-Murdoch Honorable Mention in the Visual Arts Centro's Juried Photography Contest and Show