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4 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc, Wednesday, August 21.1996 She Canabtan statesman; Former Publishers and Partners Rev. John M. Clirnie and VV. R. Climie 1854 -1878 M. A. James, 1878 -1935 • Norman S. B. James, 1919 -1929 G. Elena James, 1929 -1947 • Dr. George W. James, 1919 -1957 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited P.O. Box 190, 62 King St. W., Bowmanvillc, Ontario L1C 3K9 905-623-3303 lnternet-statesman@ocna.org Fax-905-623-6161 HOURS: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For 142 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 Editor - Peter Parrott Production Rick Patterson, Laurens Kaldeway, Doug Lugtenburg, Sharon McMullen, Barb Patterson, Ralph Rozema, Jim Snoek, Vance Sutherland, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Editorial Laverne Morrison Brad Kelly, Lorraine Manfredo, Laura J. Richards Office Angela Luscher, Junia Hodge, Grace McGregor, Nancy Pleasance-Sturman, Marilyn Rutherford, Michele Rutherford Discrimination While society is in the process of learning that it's not acceptable acceptable to discriminate on the basis of race, religion or gender, gender, the boundaries arc still sky-high when it comes to the question of age. The Canadian Human Rights Commission reminds the public public that, although there is no evidence to support these prejudices, prejudices, older workers arc falsely seen as being less energetic, more prone to illness, more difficult to train and less motivated motivated than their younger counterparts. In 1995, unemployed Canadians age 45 and older faced an average of 32 weeks of unemployment before finding other work. That's double the waiting time of unemployed workers aged 15 to 24. Age discrimination takes the form of employers telling potential employees that they arc over-qualified. Or, employees already on staff may be passed over for retraining, and promotions. The Human Rights Commission adds that those who discriminate discriminate on the basis of age not only harm individual workers, workers, but also hurl themselves. They arc, after all, overlooking folks who have a wealth of valuable knowledge, experience and energy. And these arc die very people who could contribute contribute much to any organization. As time goes on, there's a good chance that we'll be seeing far more older persons seeking places in the workforce. For one thing, the baby boom generation is getting older. In 1995, 32 per cent of the population was aged 45 or older. By 2001, that figure will grow to 36 per cent. And the ongoing restructuring restructuring of the workplace means that many senior employees employees who had previously counted on maintaining their current current job until retirement will be searching for new opportunities. Look for some upcoming Public Service Announcements which the Canadian Human Rights Commission is airing on local TV channels to illustrate the barriers faced by older workers. The message they convey is an important one to all of us who may have some unjustified pre-conceptions about age. And, if the shoe fits.... Privatized Medicine At their annual conference in Halifax, Canada's doctors arc once again debating an issue which won't go away. That issue is privatized medicine. So far, Canada has withstood pressure to create a two-tier system of medical care. But, if Canada's Medical Association endorses the concept of privatized health care on the grounds that it is better for the welfare of their patients, then politicians will be "off the hook." They can open the door to a two-tier system by pointing out that the medical profession wants it that way. At a time when government spending is under constraints, the option of private health care seems to be a simple solution. If some people arc willing to pay for their own care, cither individually individually or through insurance programs, won't the government government have fewer worries about funding health care? Won't there actually be more money available for publicly-funded care? Perhaps. But, like many Canadians, wc arc uneasy about the concept. concept. Out of all Canada's public services, universal health care seems to be the most important. It is based on the ideal that, regardless of your economic status or your age or location in the country, health care is available through our public system. It seems to be just and humane to know that a child from a poor rural community in northern Ontario has the same rights to health care as a multi-millionaire in Toronto or Montreal. Unlike our neighbours to the south, Canadians don't have to worry about whether they could be driven to bankruptcy when faced with a serious illness. And they don't have the anxiety of having to pul off a serious operation until they've raised enough money to pay for it. Nor do they have to justify their medical treatment to insurance companies. It is hard to believe that a two-tier system will result in equal care for everyone. Rather, it seems most likely that there will be one standard of health care for the rich and another for die poor or the middle class. This is the fear of most Canadians when they consider the proposal to allow this country the option of privatized medicine. medicine. If the Canadian Medical Association votes to allow doctors the option of private medical care, it owes Canadians a detailed detailed explanation of how that care can be provided without destroying the present-day public system. Finally, it should be the Canadian public -- not just the members of the medical profession -- which decides whether a two-tiered system should be permitted in this country. We have the most to lose. Look 'Way Up... Members of the Durham Regional Police Tactical Tactical Support Unit dropped in on the Vacation Bible School classes at Liberty Pentecostal Church last Friday. Their presentation was in keeping with the week's theme of "Rescue 911." Here, Scan Fitzgerald Fitzgerald and Doug Ollerbcin rappel off the roof of the church. Letters to the Editor V . Farmers Know Business Dear Editor: Have just re-read Mary Novak's Novak's comments last week's Bits and Pieces. Needless to say, it didn't make my day. To think one of our councillors could be so lacking in knowledge knowledge of the wonderful calibre of the people so successfully managing the second largest industry in her constituency seem incredible! My son is a farmer, an honour honour graduate of Guelph University University and a fanner by choice, as was his father and grandfather, each of whom I always was and still am extremely proud. Mrs. Novak, it seems you've never made a point of meeting and getting to know the farmers in Clarington when you say "the firms assessing the web site would want to know if you are business people people or just a bunch of farmers." To be a successful farmer he HAS to be a successful business business head. He is extremely well read, studies the latest releases releases on every phase of his attends lectures, on feed crops, the Councillor Should Visit Local Farms Dear Editor: We arc concerned about Councillor Novak's "put down" of farmers. Her comments comments in council, concerning surfers on the internet wanting to know who they deal with, is all backwards. The surfers could be a lot more interested in the farmers of Clarington than pictures and resumes of the councillors. In Clarington, we have many world class farming businesses businesses involved with livestock, cereal crops, fruit and vegetable vegetable production, tobacco, horti culture and others, The fanners have much to offer interested persons. It's lime Councillor Novak had some education of the business farmers do in Clarington. Clarington. We would invite her to visit our operation at Brow- view. Yours truly, Gerald and Shirley Brown EDITOR'S NOTE - Many perceptions of farming are based on out-dated notions which weren't even accurate 30 years ago. ■§ Laura J. Richards Statesman Staff Learning from The Disabled Every day wc should learn something new about the world and about ourselves. In this learning process, sometimes it is hard to own up to one's prejudices. It's not cool to have any prejudices, or to think differently. differently. Prejudices could reflect badly on yourself, the company company you work for, or on your parents...you get my drift? Yet, wc arc all different. Over the last year or so, I have done a number of articles articles focused on a group of citizens concerned with those who have intellectual and physical disabilities in this municipality under the auspices auspices of The Clarington Project. Project. Recently, I interviewed two people who arc considered considered to be 'success stories' in that these two adults arc doing doing what they want to do. But, I admit, I feel uncomfortable uncomfortable around people who have disabilities of any kind. I know that 'but for the grace of God'. I know that those of us who arc so-called 'normal' should consider ourselves blessed. I hope that by- presenting their stories to you, you will learn, as I have about them. Wc need to be more aware of others who arc not like us intellectually intellectually and physically, but arc like us in so many other ways. Wc all have the same dreams of being independent. Wc want to contribute to our communities by being involved involved in groups and organizations. organizations. Wc all want to have someone someone love us, to be with us, and to be happy in all our relationships. relationships. Everyone has the same needs. Having a disability docs not change those needs and wants, but it can make them harder to attain. It makes everything from filling in at school to getting one's first job to socializing, much more difficult. It means being more dependent dependent on one's family when someone would rather not be. It also means being different different in a world where being different isn't cool. I lip my pen to the people who help make the world a little easier for those with visible visible and invisible disabilities. God bless! business, meetings breed of cattle or other livestock livestock he specials in; fruit and vegetables; business management management etc. At age 10 and up both boys and girls join 4H Clubs and compete in competition's competition's educating them in all phases of agriculture. My granddaughter has over 40 such clubs to her credit. What other profession so prepares its young people to capably fulfil a life work? Oh, yes and may I add many and probably the majority of them have their business on computers. And also did you know in a recent survey they were chosen amongst the most honest professions? professions? So, after all, if you want to be designated as 'successful business people' you'd better add 'as are farmers'. Mrs. Novak, although I've never had the occasion to personally personally meet you, I feel I'm senior enough to give you motherly advice. If you want to continue in politics, before you speak you'd better know what you're talking about, practice tact, diplomacy and display more empathy. Most sincerely, Ella Bowman EDITOR'S NOTE - The councillor did apologize for her remarks. Right-Wingers are Compassionate Too Dear Editors: Gord Mills seems to be wearing, out his typewriter trying trying to promote his delusions in your paper concerning the welfare welfare state which he claims is based on compassion. The welfare state unfortunately, unfortunately, happens to be based on anything else but. It's not exactly exactly compassion that motivates motivates people to pay their taxes and GST. Nor docs it motivate all those who try to cut comers and milk whatever they can from the system. Also, advocating advocating the spending of money that is forcibly extracted from others has nothing whatever to do with compassion. It's easy. Any left-wing flake can do it. Real compassion among other things involves voluntarily voluntarily spending one's own money for those less fortunate. Wc all know what the socialists want to do with other people's money money but what are they doing with their own? I'm in a position position to know of many right- wing types who abhor the welfare welfare stale and all it stands for, Dismantling Federal Powers is a Short-Sighted Move but who regularly give 10% or more of their income to charity every year. We don't hear them going around bragging about their compassion. Unfortunately, Unfortunately, the socialists seem to be the last to follow that kind of example. Instead of helping the poor and down-trodden themselves they always seem to be the first in line at the trough, busily practising their version of the trickle-down theory. theory. If Gord wants to publicly brag about his compassion, perhaps he should publicly provide provide proof of same. Revealing the percentage of income donated donated to charity on his 1995 tax return as well as the percentage or amount of his income received received from government sources sources would be a good way to start. Over to you Gord. Yours truly, Ken Sloan, Bowmanville EDITOR'S NOTE - If everyone everyone was as generous as the folks you describe, there would be no need for publicly publicly sponsored social assistance programs. Dismantling federal government government powers is increasingly becoming common sport for both national and provincial politicians. Look at environment as an example. Last week I was in Nova Scotia attending a meeting of the rural caucus. 1 had_the opportunity opportunity to tour the Irving Whale and to be briefed on the environmental issues involved in resurrecting it from the bottom bottom of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Lawrence. For those who don't recall the 270-foot-long Irving Whale is a barge owned by the New Brunswick company Irving Oil designed to carry various types of oil in its eight cargo tanks. It sank September 7, 1970, Parliamentary Notebook Alex Shepherd Durham MP 60 km off the northeast coast of Prince Edward Island carrying carrying 4200 tons of Bunker "C" oil. It lay 220 feet below the surface of the Atlantic, leaking about 20 litres of oil per day. In order to keep the oil liquified liquified - since Bunker "C" becomes becomes a gooey mass in cold water - the vessel was equipped with heating coils. The coils contained PCBs, which we know arc cancerous and can be potentially environmentally environmentally devastating. This federal government concluded that eventually the Irving Whale was going to jettison jettison the oil, causing unknown environmental destruction. None of the Atlantic provinces felt they had to deal with the matter. In August of 1994 then federal federal Transport Minister Doug Young announced the federal government would proceed to lift the sunken barge and clean the oil and sell or dispose of it in an environmentally acceptable acceptable manner. The final decision to proceed proceed was only undertaken after the federal government - using the Canadian Coast Guard - created two advisory committees, committees, one in PEI and the other in lies Dc La Madeleine which is part of the Province of Quebec. Quebec. These were composed of fishing organizations, tourism associations, environmental groups and municipalities. The raising of the Irving Whale has proven to not only be an engineering success, but an example of how the federal government can work with organizations organizations in two provinces to dispose of a potentially dev- astating environmental fiasco. The federal goverment was there when the problem had to be solved The Whale is now sitting in the Department of National Defence dry dock in Halifax harbour. Irving Oil has agreed to pump out the holds and to continually test for contamination. contamination. The oil will go to Alberta to be incinerated. The federal taxpayer spent roughly $30 million to recover the Irving Whale. The oil it contains is worth about $300,000. The Whale's refit will cost approximately $2 million. million. Obviously, these costs represent represent a significant shortfall to the taxpayer. I discussed this with representatives from Irving Irving Oil. One avenue I sec as a way of recovering costs is the Ship- Source Oil Pollution Fund. Oil companies paid money into this fund to aid in the clean up of oil if there was an accidental discharge by a ship at sea. The important point is that the federal government was there when the problem had to be solved. Maintaining a national national vision is what the federal government does. That's why wc built this federal system. Those who want to dismantle dismantle it arc indeed short-sighted.