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4 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Wednesday, June 8,1994 Section Two Opinion and Comments Anti-Monarchists Need Not be So Derogatory by Gord Mills, M.P.P, Durham Lasi week, at the Ontario Legislature, Legislature, the goings-on proved to be far from mundane. On Monday, after Question Period, I sat on the Estimates Estimates Committee, as they examined the budget requirements for The Solicitor Solicitor General and Corrections for 1994 - 95. This role is usually assigned assigned to the Parliamentary Assistànt who fields questions from the all party party committee members in relation to budget spending by the ministry. Strangely enough, on Monday afternoon afternoon the questions most difficult to field all came from members of the government. So much for the commonly commonly held belief that questions from your friends are of the gentle variety! On Tuesday morning, we held the final meeting for the 'D* Day celebrations celebrations being held in Toronto on Sunday, June 5th. The meeting went really well, everything is now in place and it promises to be just a great day. We are all keeping our fingers fingers crossed for fine weather. In the afternoon, I once again sat on the Estimates Estimates Committee. During the afternoon afternoon we had Ontario's Chief Coroner appear before the committee to explain explain the budget of that department. He said that the closing of the RCMP Laboratory in Ottawa will place a new burden for forensic services on Reader Wants Answers For Two Current Issues Dear Sir: There are two items, of very different different subject matter, that I am finding finding REALLY confusing, these days, and I would appreciate, answers from any informed source (s). The common common string that both items share, however, is common sense. First, and more important, where has the word TREASON been used in regard to the actions, ideology, and words of the current leader of "her Majesty's Local Opposition", and why have seemingly all of the political political and media community conveniently conveniently dropped it from their vocabulary vocabulary during this ongoing blatant example example of treasonous intent of purpose?. purpose?. Treason is severally defined as "...betrayal of trust...to (that) which the offender owes allegiance... " ■ Any Quebecer or Québécois (e) for the last several scores of years, is a Canadian first, as are we all. I, for example, have relatives and/ or friends in virtually every one of our provinces, and if this so-called leader expects us to sit idly by as he plans to to carve up our Dominion for ransom to some supposedly higher bidder, he can count me out! The point is not IF Quebec should stay in confederation, but how and why she remains. How DARE he! Second, and equally logical, why don't the area residents and town council quit rambling on about the non-issues regarding extra business and tourism that Mosport Park is offering offering us. 1) Mosport Park has a proud history history of excellence in motorsport and should be encouraged in responsible diversification. 2) Mosport Park offers venues that are the envy of many other communities, communities, and we should find ways to work WITH them better. 3) Anybody living in the area has long since been aware of their neighbour neighbour in the racing and promotions business, or probably knew about it when they moved in, and must have found some beneficial aspect about the area or they would not be there. 4) Mosport officials have addressed addressed the issues competently, so we should get on with it, and reap the benefits of the extra local business. Let's enjoy what summer is left, and not waste money on fruitless litigation. litigation. A. Douglas MacKenzie Bowmanville, Ontario. the resources of Ontario's Solicitor General. Once again, we see a downloading downloading of costs from the federal government government upon the provincial government. government. Yet another example of just how the Ontario Liberal MP's stand up for us! The Coroner was followed by the Ontario Fire Marshal, who gave some interesting facts in view of recent recent fire deaths in basement apartments apartments in Ontario. He pointed out that fire deaths are now 20 per cent less than in previous years. In the case of the recent basement fires and the deaths of children, he said that in every case the owners of the apartments apartments had failed to comply with local municipal by-laws that called fa- smoke detectors to be installed. Our legislation to make basement apartments apartments legal has somehow become the whipping-boy for these unfortunate deaths. Nothing could be further from the truth, by making the basement basement apartments legal it will allow tenants to make complaints in regard to unsafe living conditions, something something that before the legislation they were reluctant to make for fear of eviction. On Thursday morning I was at the Standing Committee of General Government, Government, ostentatiously to carry Bill 21 through clause-by-clause in the absence of my colleague Paul Wes- senger, who was in Kingston for the Minister of Health. Once again Conservative Conservative MPP Margaret Marland did all she could to block the process of Bill 21, which is of vital interest to those who reside in Wilmot Creek and other communities like it. To emphasize emphasize the height of the ridiculous (no pun intended) Ms. Marland asked questions for over an hour, pertaining to basement apartments in module homes. Since homes of this type have bout a two-foot crawl space under them, I suggested to Ms. Marland that perhaps we should be providing applicable legislation to cover a new breed of humans, all under two-foot in height, who would be the occupants occupants of the basement apartments in modular homes. I hope you can see my frustration in trying to move important important legislation along, while having having to put up with the deliberate stalling stalling tactics, employed solely on behalf of friends of the Tories! Anyway, Anyway, Ms. Marland left the committee during the afternoon, and things then proceeded smoothly. All that remains to be passed now are but two amendments, amendments, one pertaining to first right of refusal in the sale of homes and the second amendment, over the location for placement of "For Sale" signs. "I was expelled from the legislature for not withdrawing my remark. * On Thursday afternoon, during Question Period, I was expelled from the legislature for not withdrawing my remark that another Conservative, MPP Ernie Eves had lied in his question question to the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Relations. I refused to withdraw my allegation since Mr. Eves had said that Scugog Township Council had no knowledge about the proposed Bingo Hall on Scugog Island Island until last week. The information about the facility has been printed in the Port Perry media about a year ago. And further, I had told the Mayor Mayor of Scugog Township of the proposal proposal personally at about the same time. I don't know who fed the information to the Conservatives in order to have it raised in the Legislature, but who ever was responsible, isn't helping at all with this political rhetoric. All this cheap political gamesmanship does is raise the ire of those bent upon working towards creating harmony harmony between the First Nations and the local community of Port Perry and area. 1 have just searched the files in our legislative computer and have, found that up to the end of the session session which ended in December 1993, I have engaged in debate or asked questions on behalf of constituents on one hundred and fourteen different occasions during this 35th Parliament. Parliament. As I look back at what I have said on all those occasions, I have found myself asking, "Did I say that?" Hansard, the record of everything everything said in the Legislature, is unforgiving. unforgiving. Sometimes, remarks made outside the debate become recorded in Hansard for all time. Sometimes, I wish the ear of the Hansard reporters who sit at desks on the floor of the Legislature, in order to pick up the off-the-record remarks, were not the owners of such keen ears. Last week, the Minister of Finance Finance announced that new drivers who go through both levels of Ontario's Ontario's graduated licensing system can expect to see reductions in their private private passenger auto insurance premiums. premiums. This move has already brought forth a howl of protest from the insurance insurance industry. I can't see why. A recent recent study by the Ontario Insurance Commission indicates that $34 to $40 million in claims costs will be saved annually following the implementation implementation of graduated licensing. The study also estimates that accident frequency frequency among first year drivers will decrease by 10 to 20 per cent. What the government has told the Insurance Insurance Industry is that you must have regard to the Minister's Policy Statement Statement when deciding on insurer rate applications. In other words, pass ^long the savings jpredicted up front, and don't hang on to the savings to decide later hpw much you intend to charge for those who have graduated driving licences. The insurance industry industry will of course claim that the more experienced drivers will end up paying for those getting the reduction. reduction. I believe the reductions are fair treatment of new drivers with restricted restricted driving privileges. Nevertheless, I don't expect any agreement with that position from the insurance industry. They will no doubt, try to whip the rest of the driving public into a frenzy frenzy over it. Until next week - tolerance is the oil that takes the friction out of our lives. Dear Sir: I want to say "Bravo" to Bill Stewart who wrote in the edition of June 1,1994. He like me was upset to read a reference reference to the "Queen and her Gang". He wrote of defending roots, tradition tradition and loyalty to our heads of state and our country. Today is D-Day plus fifty years. I Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Says Thanks for Help Dear Mr. Parrott: Every day, hundreds of Canadians in Ontario are fighting to live life to the fullest. And the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is there to help them win their fight. The wide scope of CF research could not have been possible without the generosity of individuals and businesses in , the Municipality of Clarington. Now we can see that our dreams could become reality in the not too distant future. Every one of you who participated in, and helped with, or contributed to the Durham Chapter's Public Awareness Campaign Campaign and fundraising events, are giving giving hope to my daughter, Gail, my grandson, Simon, and all those who suffer from cystic fibrosis. I know that all CF parents, children children and their families in Durham Region would join me in saying thank you to each of you. One day my phone will ring and I will hear the magic words: "We have a cure of CF". Thank you people of Clarington. Clarington. Sincerely, MaryE. Williams. V.P. Publicity and Promotions Durham Chapter. watched ten thousand proud veterans gathered, voluntarily to march past the Queen in a traditional gesture on the west sands of Normandy. Veterans who were remembering the anniversary of the deaths of their comrades who died defending, freedom, freedom, democracy and tradition which included the Monarchy. The Monarch has a history and tradition reaching back nine hundred years, to 1066 in fact and King William William the 1st. Of course, our kings and queens are human, with human frailties, frailties, but the never-the-less have a very real presence and represent our historical traditions with grace and dignity. As Bill Stewart asked: Who would replace the Monarch? and I add, "especially on a day such as today". today". The current Rock King perhaps resplendent in ragged jeans. His hair cut in ridges and standing up in spikes with a ring in his nose. Perhaps Perhaps a Madonna-type figure complete complete with her saucepan lid bra and not much else. Or a cunrent elected politician who is here today and gone tomorrow. Perhaps anti-traditionalist might think that this whole remembrance thing is a waste of time, so long ago. And who cares? Should this attitude of maligning traditions "up" with freedom of expression expression and down with responsibility responsibility grow and prosper, who will rally to the flag (if there even is a flag and someone to carry it) the next time the bugles blow as oppression threatens our way of life? Anti-royalists are entitled to their opinions. But do they have to be quite so derogatory? Yours Sincerely, Ann Cowman From Page 2 mating an extra effort to discourage "aggressive driving." Speeding, following too closely, failure to yield the right of way, improper lane changes, improper passing and disobeying traffic signals and signs are among the examples of aggressive driving habits which can put lives at risk. The campaign against aggressive driving runs from June 4th to 17th, but attention to safe driving techniques at all times must be practised if we are to improve Ontario's safety record. Incidentally, many of the above-noted suggestions are not just good advice, and common sense, but are also the law. Following those suggestions will help ensure that many more Ontario citizens survive the summer injury. The federal government, through our Central Mortgage and Housing Corp. - when I say "your" don't forget forget these civil servants work for you, - has set aside money to assist low- income homeowners make repairs to their dwellings. The program is called Homeowner Homeowner Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Assistance Program (RRAP). It's not only available for houses, mobile homes and condominiums are also eligible. Rental units are not. Remember, this is not a grant, it's a loan, but a portion of the loan may not have to be paid back. If you income is $13,000, $5,000 is forgivable. If it is $20,000, $1,500 is forgivable. What portion of the loan that is forgiven works on sliding scale. It is best to discuss this with a RRAP agents who will have all the figures at their finger tips. To be eligible you can't make more than $23,000 gross income. So you can see the program is, geared toward those on low income. The home must be substandard and deficient and need major repairs either structurally or electrically, need plumbing or heating repairs or, in some way, be a fire hazard. As an example let's say you want to upgrade to a high efficiency furnace. furnace. That is not eligible under RRAP. But, if you are in a low income income bracket and need a new furnace then you are eligible to apply for that. So normal maintenance, or modernization modernization work, such as painting the interior or exterior of the home, installing installing storm windows or doors, replacing replacing carpets or floor coverings, replacing replacing kitchen cupboards, or adding a recreation room would not qualify under RRAP. And repairs already completed are not eligible. Most people who are successful getting a loan hire contractors to do the work for them but if you think you are qualified you can make the repairs yourself. The steps for eligibility are simple: simple: fill out an application and provide provide proof of income. Proof of income income is needed for all household members who have an income. Proof of income can be a letter from your employer, a certified copy of your last tax return, or a cheque stub, if gross income is shown. Once you've done this a RRAP agent will inspect your home and then send you a list of eligible repairs. repairs. You ask the contractor for written written estimates on the repairs and send those to the RRAP agent. CMHC then approves, or rejects the applications. If it's approved work can start and the homeowner receives receives payment from CMHC who in turn pays the contractor. There is also money available under under this program for disabled persons so they can make modifications to provide better accessibility. For more information about RRAP and RAPP for the disabled contact your CMHC RRAP agent who is Collette Grant Enterprises. Their phone number is 404-0020. In the City of Oshawa your agents are Myron Bartkiw and Dean Chestnut. Remember if you don't call and ask questions of these agents you won't know if you are eligible for a loan. Good luck.