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4 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Wednesday, December 21,1994 Section Two Thankful New Anti-Loitering By-Law Passed by Council 1 suspect there will be a Spring the bureaucracy - 10 over a two year election, so it isn't any surprise to see period which isn't what I would con- -- -- -- n tViA rvtVtnt* ««IftlPC • 1 . 1 11 names appearing for the other parties who seek their nomination. I have also seen a number of time-wom cliches cliches appear in conjunction with these events. You know, the kind our English English teacher told us to avoid, such as, "we need a new fresh face on the political political scene." Pardon me - my face is fresh every day, and after all it is relatively relatively new on the political scene around Durham East. And, "no matter who takes the nomination as long as we oust in- cumbment Gord Mills." Ouch! that hurts, what have I done? How about, "to work feverishly for you." Or "my objective is to defeat the NDP incumbent." incumbent." Sure going to be fun. A recent media headline suggested suggested a mass exodus of government political political staff to jobs in the Ontario Pub sider to be a "mass exodus. One of my staffers made a casual glance last week, at the 1990 government government telephone directory, and was able to identify 40 former Liberal minister's staffers who had moved to the Public Service during the last seven seven months of the less than three year reign of the Peterson government. I found it passing strange to read in the Niagara newsmedia last week, in large headlines, that during a recent recent visit to Niagara Falls the Liberal Leader Lyn McLeod said she endorsed endorsed a casino for that city. This statement comes after she and the Liberal caucus all voted against allowing allowing any casino in Ontario. What gives? tion where consumers have the opportunity opportunity to express their concerns and are allowed to take part in a public public debate on this issue. I believe that there is something seriously wrong with the way gasoline is being marketed. marketed. Our government is concerned over gasoline pricing. One of the first things our government government did upon election was to create the "Employee Wage Protection Program." Program." This program was initiated to pay employees severance pay and other wage settlements arising when employers closed up shop and failed to pay their employees what was due to them. In our riding, as of November 22, 1994 almost one-million dollars from the fund has been paid to workers who lost everything they were entitled entitled to receive from their former em- uucai siaii to juds ui uic viiuuiu . mr KÏÏ P>"y- Th. Sflt! P"* » re» ; lu t ion_a t our recen, con- "^uïïha™ been left to vention calling for a $10 an hour minimum wage. She claimed her information information was based on media reports, reports, "since no one has access to the closed sessions." New Democrat conventions have always debated their resolutions in public and there was no resolution of the kind Mrs. McLeod alleged. As the Premier pointed out, "this statement is totally, utterly and completely completely false." As the provincial election election scene heats up I expect more false and unsubstantiated charges to come forth from the other political parties. political staff have an unfair advan tage in getting bureaucratic jobs during during a hiring freeze and bringing about an unprecedented politicization of the Ontario Public Service. Political staff have taken jobs in Hoping to Name Historic Building After War Hero To the Editor I am curious to know if you would consider helping me gather support to have a building designated an historic site and then to have a school named after a local hero. A world-famous, highly decorated World War IIRCAF officer was bom in Bowmanville. There is limited local local information about this man available available but I plan to rectify this situation. situation. The man I am referring to is Dr. A. Ross Tilley. Dr. Tilley was a plastic plastic surgeon who helped several hundred hundred flyers regain use of their limbs and their lives following surgery on their burned bodies during WWEL They called themselves "The Guinea Pigs". The Regional Bum Centre at the Wellesley Hospital in Toronto is named after Dr. Tilley. Decorated by King George VI as a member of the Order of the British Christmas is a beautiful time of Empire and installed as a member of the year for most but for others, it can the Order of Canada, this man re- be difficult. Four years ago, my fa- mains a virtual stranger in his home- ther passed away and when Christ- town. mas came around, it was more a time I would like to get the family of reflection rather than festivity, home on Queen Street in Bowman- This year, our uncle passed away ville declared a Provincial Historic suddenly; he reminded me of my dad Site although my ultimate goal is to in so many ways. There are many have the next school built in Bow- who will go through this "first Christ- manville named in his honour. mas alone" and for those people, I I would be most appreciative of would like to share a poem that my any help or advice that you and your own mom gave to me. women, who would have been left to fend for themselves if it hadn't been for the Employee Wage Protection Program. Perhaps this is a good time of the year to write about the privatization of the LCBO stores as proposed by Mike Harris should his party form the next government. It is widely acknowledged acknowledged that the privatization of provincial liquor control boards raises raises many policy issues and concerns both economic and social. It also bears mentioning that Alberta Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, whose economic economic policies of cut, slash and " ties - bum, now concedes that privatization The Federal Bureau on Competi- Alberta's liquour control boards tion Policy released a report last week after conducting an investiga- of Alberta's was wrong. The most serious implication of tion into the pricing of gasoline. The t fo e Harris Scheme for privatization is report said there was no evidence of w jn happen to the workforce it any price fixing or gouging over gas- now employs given the realities of oline prices. the job market in Ontario. I intend to Our government is disappointed with this report which didn't include any input from consumers or other stakeholders, or our government. We are urging further investiga- retum to this subject in future columns. columns. It bears examination outside of political rehetoric. Until next week Merry Christmas everyone. With regard to the article in the December 7, 1994 issue of The Statesman "Outrage Over Anti- Loitering By-Law". I guess it's all a matter of opinion, but I was very pleased and relieved when the by-law was passed. Unfortunately, times and people are changing. Ten years ago I wouldn't think twice about going for a walk alone at night, these days, forget forget it. I have been noticing all the recent articles about youth crime and vandalism vandalism in Clarington e.g. "CHRISTMAS "CHRISTMAS LIGHTS STOLEN AND SMASHED IN HAMPTON", December December 7, 1994 issue, the Hallowe'en riot in Bowmanville, and the young girl's Hallowe'en display being destroyed destroyed in Courtice. These are all results results of a bunch of kids getting together together to cause trouble. My dear mother, who is over 60 and lives in Oshawa, still put up Christmas lights just to make the holiday season a little little more festive and pleasant for all, has had her light bulbs stolen and broken in the past several years. Last summer; a group of kids from my neighborhood decided to hang around a vacant lot next to ours. Last summer, a group of kids from my neighborhood decided to hang around a vacant lot next to ours. Next thing I knew they're throwing debris from the lot at our dining room window. Come on now, is this really necessary? Ten years ago I was a teenager also, but I didn't go around destroying someone else's property and if my kids grow up doing such things I would expect them to be disciplined/punished. disciplined/punished. And if this means trouble with the law, well then so be it. Hopefully, they will know right from wrong. Kids don't have to hang out on sidewalks or street comers. There are , parks all over and I'm sure that parents parents wouldn't mind if their children were to bring over a few friends to hang out in the backyard. When my kids grow up I hope they feel comfortable comfortable knowing that they can invite their friends over anytime, at least I'll know where they are and that they're keeping out of trouble. Surely, the police have better things to do than park on a street and wait for groups of people to gather, but it's nice to know that trouble makers will be taken care of. What about people who park their cars and block the sidewalks. I frequently take by baby for a stroll around the neighborhood neighborhood and constantly find myself having to go around cars and onto the road because of those ignorant people who don't care and block the walkway. walkway. It's also against the law, but you don't see police cars parked around the neighborhood waiting for someone someone to park their car illegally. So, if a few neighbors gather to converse, I'm sure no one is going to call the police, but if there is cause' - well then it's nice to know something can be done about it. Why should I have put myself in a predicament in which who knows what can happen, especially especially these days. I don't need someone someone pulling a knife (or worse) on me. I'm not saying that all kids are bad, but those who are causing a disturbance disturbance should be handled and I'm glad that if necessary I can rely on" the local police department to take care of the situation. On behalf of myself and all those who support the ANTI-LOITERING BY-LAW. THANK YOU!!!!! Julie Nichols Courtice, Ontario. The Poet's Corner newspaper may be able to give me. " Thank you for your time. David S. Rowland. Bowmanville, Ontario. My First Christmas In Heaven I've had my first Christmas in Heaven iristmas and a Jdapyy 9{ezv y tar to you and your Ramify A glorious, wonderful day! I stood with the saints of all ages Who found Christ - the Troth and the Way. I sang with the Heavenly Choir Just think! I, who so loved to sing! And, oh, the celestial music We brought to our Saviour and King! We sang the glad songs of redemption How Jesus to Bethlehem came, And how they had called His name Jesus That all might be saved through his name. We sang once with the angels The son that they spoke that blest mom, When shepherds first heard the glad story That Jesus, the Saviour, was bom. Oh, dear ones, I wish you had been here, No Christmas on earth could compare With all of my loved ones around me The children so happy and glad. Yes, now, I can see why I loved it, And, oh what a joy it will be When you and my loved ones are with me To share in the glories I see. So, dear ones on earth, here's my greeting Look up till the day dawn appears, And oh, what a Christmas awaits us Beyond our parting tears. Author Unknown Un behalf of staff, family and my- regulations that impede the growth of self, I would like to wish you and this industry that supplies most of yours a Merry Christmas and a pros- this country's jobs, perous New Year. We are also cutting back on for- Nineteen ninety-five will be a piv- eign aid and grain and transportation otal year for Canada. subsidies. Because we are spending $120 Of course, the hiring freeze in the million more than what we are taking in each day, we have to ask whether or not Canada can maintain the confidence confidence of the international financial community. We must change and I understand civil service will remain. Having said that, what is it Alex Shepherd will be doing in Ottawa to serve Durham? I will continue to impress on ministers ministers the importance of making change is always difficult. And al- spending cuts. As vice-chair of the though many of us try to escape the Public Accounts Committee I will deconsequences deconsequences of change and feel gov- mand the civil service show how they emment cuts will not have an effect, are making themselves more account- well you are about to get a wake-up able to taxpayers and more efficient call. when spending taxpayers' money. The reality is that government Programs that privatize certain as- spending cuts, in one form or an- pects of the civil service, like prisons, other, impacts on us all. We all will a nd introduce incentives for doing a feel the pinch. For most of this country's history, Ontario has been Canada's economic engine. It has sputtered from time-to- time, but this time it has not recovered recovered from the battering it has taken. Couple that with government spending initiated in good economic times and one quickly concludes we can no longer live beyond our means. Spending cuts are a must. I must sound like Scrooge, but I tell you now: UI will be cut, along with funding to post-secondary education. education. The cost of post-secondary education education will be shifted to the users and colleges and universities will be asked to use information technology to become more efficient and to streamline operations. good job are some of the ideas I will push. Making money available to small and medium-sized business through access to equity markets is an idea I have before the Industry Committee now. I will continue to push for this and assistance for business formation locally. With the help of Durham citizens I hope we can launch a Youth Services Services Core project to assist youth who have dropped out of high school get off UI and social assistance. I hope small business will help me accomplish accomplish this. Of course, all of this will take place under the backdrop of a Quebec Quebec referendum. I will continue to make the Bloc Québécois accountable accountable for every negative utterance made Funding to special interest groups against Canada is going to be slashed as will MPs' They are not only hurting them pensions, (and it's about time this selves, but all of us. stopped). Ia b ... Through all of this, my New - it I|K- - i. . ..'ZY* v 1 "■» v 1 }. y". • v $ y,/.- i. • , SwssiK; m .fit