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2 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc, Wednesday, October 27,1993 Section Two Editor - Peter Parrott Former Publishers Rev. W. R. Climie, 1854-1878 • M.A. James, 1878-1935 • George W. James, 1935-1957 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited For 139 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher - John M. James Assoc. Publisher - Richard A. James Plant Manager - Donald J. Bishop Ad. Manager - Brian G. Purdy Production Rick Patterson, Ross Fisher, Laurens Kaldeway, Doug Lugtenbuig, Sharon McMullen, Barb Patterson, Ralph Rozema, Jim Snoek, Vance Sutherland, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Laveme Morrison Editorial Brad Kelly, Lorraine Manfredo, Laura J. Richards paid Office Angela Luscher, Junia Hodge, Grace McGregor, Nancy Pleasance-Sturman, Marilyn Rutherford P.O. Box 190, 62 King St. W., Bowmanvillc, Ontario, L1C 3K9 905-623-3303 Fax 905-623-6161 Stunning Majority Monday's election results seem to precisely mirror the condition of Canada in the latter decade of the 20th century. We arc obviously a country of deep regional differences. In fact, those differences are so profound that Canadians in Quebec and much of western Canada have turned their back on the traditional parties and decided only new parties can truly represent their interests. But, the really big news is that the strong vote for the Liberals is • also a vote for federalism and a vote for unity. Many of us wonder if there is room in Canada for both the views of the Bloc Québécois and the Reform Parly. The number of votes captured by the Liberals indicates that there is still a strong middle ground. However, if the Liberals ever become too complacent, they ought to take a very close look at the results from the Ontario ridings where they really won the election. And our own Durham riding is a clear example of the Ontario trend. Obviously, the Liberals capitalized on a split between the small-c conservative voters. Despite the heavy Liberal victories, the combined votes of the Reform and Conservative parties could have easily sunk the Liberals in many, if not most, Ontario ridings. Therefore, in an odd and unintentional way, those who voted for Reform in Ontario handed Jean Chretien a stunning majority. The net result is that the Liberals and Jean Chretien hold enormous political power in a very divided country. It would be no exaggeration to say that the future of Canada is in their hands. Polls Versus Democracy It's only common sense to ban the publishing of public opinion polls in the days immediately prior to a political election. Such polls are interesting. But, it's quite possible that opinion polls also detract from the democratic process by turning the serious electoral process into a mere footrace. Polls can have a subtle way of changing the political process, especially in the final days of a campaign. At a time when voters should be spending their time thinking about issues, the polls turn the electorate's attention to the question of who is leading and who is losing. Inevitably, attention begins to turn towards the various parties' reactions to the opinion polls rather than to the issues. There is also the risk that opinion polls can foster a herd instinct among voters. Once polls reveal a strong bend, there might be a tendency for voters to jump on the bandwagon and get behind the winning team. The bandwagon effect might not alter the general results of an election, but it certainly could make the difference between a majority or a minority government. But, the most obvious reason why public opinion polls should not be published before an election is the simple fact that they, detract. from the only polling process which really matters.. In effect, professional! pollsters are competing" with Elections. Canada when they announce results a few days before an election. We ' can readily understand why it is unfair for scrutineers to count ballots before the polls close on election day and announce them to the media. Such actions would circumvent the democratic elections. ■' Pollsters are simply holding the election in advance of the voting date. While public opinion polls can be an important way of focusing a country's opinion on important topics, there is no reason why such polls cannot be regulated around election time. As we understand it, there is currently a three-day ban on polls. Perhaps the moratorium could be extended to cover the week or ten days before an election. OCT". 27- 9? Who's Afraid of Hallowe'en? by Laura J. Richards - V } J Letters to the Editor Dear Sir: ; j It is said that our council meetings can, at times, be the best show in Town. Thinking it time to attend, I inquired inquired at the Town Hall for an agen- : da. Apparently, there are three put in the council chambers for the public to scramble for on the first-come by Rick James Is this where I get to say I told you so? Two weeks ago, I said, "Leading the Jays to and through the World Series will be Molitor, Alomar, and Carter. Molitor for experience and leadership, Alomar for being the best second baseman in the majors, and Carter for hitting the winning R.B.I." , After spending the last two weeks staying up past midnight to watch these marathon games, I found myself having withdrawal symptoms on Sunday evening watching more Barney videos. I could have started on my neglected list of "things to do," but I decided to savour the moment of triumph triumph and be a couch potato for one more night. After all, we fans deserve a night off after helping Carter take the Wild Thing out of the park. As for Todd Stottlemyre, he certainly didn't add to the "class act" reputation the Blue Jays' organization has developed throughout the league. But, for whatever reason, his kiss and tell story to the Mayor of Philadelphia certainly had me and millions of other fans chuckling out loud. It must be one of those things that you'd just love to say, but political correctness prevents most of us from opening our mouths. Then again, Todd had best be careful with his words in the future. The way he pitched, the Philly mayor may not have been able to hit Stottlemyre, but he most probably would have drawn a walk. My next prediction...Watch for Paul Molitor to leave baseball after the '95 to start a career in broadcasting. He's got the looks, he's got the knowledge, he's got the class, and he's more eloquent than either of those clowns from CBS who covered the World Series. Now the federal election Is over, I can use some Information supplied to me by the National Citizens' Coalition. "Tales from the Tax Trough," is a 22 page pamphlet explaining the many ways the federal government managed to waste taxpayers' taxpayers' money. For example, in the summer of 1992, separatist separatist M.P. Jean Laplorre retired at ago 36 and immediately started collecting a pension of about $40,000 per year. If ho lives to bo 75, his payout will approach $4 million. ' The pamphlet also says that close to $150,000 was wasted to examine, "Lullabies: form and function In infant-directed music." More than $208,000 was used to study "Religious and historical practices among northern northern Malagasy speakers." How about $321,000 to study Peruvian Guinea Pigs, or $288,200 to study wood adhesive. As taxpayers, you also funded $198,080 to examine the Coffee Berry Borer of Mexico. One of my favorites occurred between 1991- 92 when the government paid an incredible $107.6 million in fraudulent unemployment insurance insurance claims. The feds also spent $43 million on constitutional conferences and national unity issues issues such as the Spicer Commission. Efforts to promote bilingualism across Canada accounted for expenditures of $139 million between between 1989-92, even though 64% of Canadians believe official bilingualism has been a failure. The government also spends Immense sums of our tax dollars to promote official multicultural- ism in Canada. More than $130 million was spent between 1989 and '92. According to the pamphlet, pamphlet, "The Idea is that this will transform Canada Into a mosaic of diverse and tolerant cultural groups. In reality, official multiculturalism has merely helped to enhance differences and divisions." divisions." The feds have also wasted buckets of bucks on business loans and grants that have flopped. Staggering sums continue to be ladled out in handouts to business despite the fact that national national business groups have called on the federal government to stop. The biggest of all Is the $2.7 billion worth of loan guarantees for the Hibernia, oil project slated to begin production In 1997. The pamphlet asks the question, "If the oilfield is an attractive Investment, why the need for government government loans and guarantees?" Good quostlonl These are just a few of the many horror stories contained In "Tales from the Tax Trough." It will be Interesting to soo If a now government is able to deal with such waste, or If wo should look for a sequel to the book. And finally... After tho Liberal landslide on Monday evening, one radio station came up with a groat one-llnor saying that, "Kim Campbell hasn't boon Prime Minister long enough! to collect U.I.C." first-served basis. The only other alternative, alternative, it seems, is a one year's subscription which may be ordered at a cost of $900.00. It would be nice if the odd agenda could be available for the occasional member of the public, who may call ahead, wanting to follow the proceedings. proceedings. As for the eternal excuse of .cost, how about using a little of that mileage money that the councillors charge us for attending meetings in addition to their pay cheques? There has been a lot of verbage lately about industrial development and a special employee to promote our Town. It seems the Council docs not leam from experience. The primary requirement for commercial commercial development is very inexpensive, inexpensive, serviced, easy accessible, attractive attractive spaces in an apparently prosperous community with low taxes, taxes, low energy cost and low cost easy garbage disposal, with a well educated educated labour pool. Without ALL of those components a development officer officer is given a very tall order indeed. Please do not ask taxpayers to finance finance a development officer to promote promote privately-held industrial land that the owners will only part with at market prices. Bearing in mind that we are already paying for such an employee in our Regional Tax dollars. dollars. On the name of the Town: I have heard a proposal for a logo including the little green men in the TV Claritin advertisement. Claritin - the hay fever fever capital of Canada. Or what about Charington (only one letter away for that word) Ontario's own Dynasty. Sorry, folks, but your choice of a name was tacky tacky. What a pity you, members of Council forbade the use of the name Bowmanvillc with all the implications of history and dignity. On reflection if an agenda had been available, it might have kept my busy mind occupied. Sincerely. Ann Cowman Former Town and Regional Councillor Scary Stuff Sometimes it is difficult to come up with a topic for this weekly column. column. This is not one of those weeks. Since it is the Wednesday before Halloween, Halloween, there arc a couple of things that need to be said. Witches. Scary movies. And Dracula. Let's start with witches or those who dabble in the wiccan way of life. Take a trot over to the Bowmanvillc Bowmanvillc Branch of the Clarington Library and pick up a copy of the National Film Board video of "The Burning Times." Go home, grab a fresh apple or two, and plug the tape into the VCR. "The Burning Times" is an eyeopening eyeopening film that makes the Holocaust and the killing off of the native people who lived in Newfoundland loôk amazingly familiar. It even says a lot about how we (using the royal we) just run over people people who arc different than we arc. Look at slavery, or how our ancestors segregated the aboriginals from the rest of society. While some things may change, there will always bo-thosc that remain the same. Scary isn't it? And, speaking of scary, let's look at scary movies. I can only think of one that really threw me out of shape and that was "The Exorcist." I saw it when I was 15 and did not sleep very well, if at all, for about a week afterwards. Every other scary movie since has paled when compared to that one. That's because there, have been documented documented cases of exorcism all over the world, and even in Fredericton, N.B. So far, there have not been documented documented cases of vampires, or shop owners who are really the devil in disguise. Since I am an avid reader of Stephen Stephen King novels, I am not bothered by monsters, or goblins or fantasy beings, beings, but "The Exorcist" threw something something at me that I had never really been aware of before 7-- demonic possession. possession. Dracula movies are funny. However, However, from what I have heard, the fellow that the movies and books are based on was a depressing bloke. Can you imagine only being able to live at night, not being able to check out how you look in a mirror and never having a square meal? Now that's depressing! Drooling over Real Estate ; One of the things that has been tapping tapping at my brain over the last while has been the cost of real estate in this area of Ontario. As one travels east from Metro, the cost goes down for more house and bigger lots. j Every weekend, I put myself through the same exercise of looking at houses on the market in the papers, Every so often, I find something I like in a price range I could afford payments payments on. But, one thing always keeps me from going to the open houses or picking up the phone to call the real estate agency is the illusive downpayment. downpayment. Continued on Page 3 0 We Asked... What do you think about the idea of graduated driver licenses for new drivers? ... And You Said Belinda Rees Bowmanvillc "I agree with it, except for the older person in university. That person doesn't want to be going with the graduated license, otherwise I agree with my friend (Ms. Rea). \i-\t wvok's question: What will be the greatest challenges facing the newly elected Members of Parliament? Sam Turner Bowmanvillc "I think it is a good idea so they get some experience and they're not out tearing tearing around in their vehicles. I have kids of my own and I know that they do." RcgDostie Bowmanvillc "In one way it is a good idea. It's tough on the younger, kids. When they're older they might appreciate it." Shannon Rea Bowmanvillc "1 agree with it completely. completely. Kids today have not matured to the point of adult responsibility and arc too young to deal with the aspect of driving." m 0