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Page 12 The Clarington/Courtice Independent, Bowmanvillc, Saturday, June 28, 1997 Parliamentary Report by Alex Shepherd Equality Among Provinces Canada is more than a collection collection of regions. As the country celebrates its 130th anniversary we should be discussing what it is that defines us as a nation. The federal government's importance has been diminished diminished on two fronts. First, as we engage in more multilateral multilateral agreements, whether on trade or environmental standards, standards, we lose control over our domestic economy. Why? Because international trade tribunals can often impose conditions because of the agreements we entered into. Secondly, the provinces continue their relentless pursuit pursuit of power. How many times have we heard the comment from the provinces that if the federal government's direct commitment commitment to funding of health care is reduced why should it have a say in its administration. For example when reviewing reviewing Canada's drug patent legislation legislation many drug companies companies complained that it was like negotiating with 11 separate separate governments to bring medicine onto the Canadian market. That's provincial pettiness and it is slowly eating away the foundations of our nation. A different health care system in B.C. than Ontario, different different education standards in Alberta than in Nova Scotia and different labour standards across the country. The bottom line is that what it means to be a citizen in one region of the country is something very different in another region. Do we want this? Or do we want citizenship citizenship to be the same right across Canada. Canadians don't want - and aren't even demanding - this degree of regionalism. It can only lead to division. The culprits making the demands are provincial governments governments who see what Quebec gets away with and then follow suit. As a federal government we have never really come to grips with how treating Quebec differently affects our relationship with the other provinces. Should the federal government, government, if it makes changes affecting one province, give the same changes to all provinces whether they want the changes or not? Those of us who are parents parents understand our children are not equal. As parents we try to treat them all fairly but this does not transcend into treating them all exactly the same because their individual needs are different. This is why I find Mr. Manning's ten equal provinces policy doesn't make a lot of sense in reality. . It won't make them all the same. In fact it will expedite the move toward regionalization. regionalization. Canadians, for themselves as well as their children, want opportunities to succeed, to define themselves as Canadian and have their expectations and dreams fulfilled fulfilled regardless of what part of Canada they live in or find themselves having to move to. Canadians share more than just a harsh climate and a history history of trying to make a living on the northern reaches of this continent. Don't we continue to stave off the powerful cultural tentacles tentacles of the United States? Obviously we aren't about to let the U.S. swallow us. As we celebrate 130 years of nationhood, take the time to focus on our commonality, our history and our traditions - not regional differences. We have to think of our future and how to strengthen the ties that unite us into what the United Nations has called the best country in the world, the last four years in a row. Small Miracles Ends Year With a Picnic The Small Miracles Day care group enjoyed an end of year picnic on the bank of Foster Creek in Newcastle on Monday, June 16. Supervisor Caryn Darcy takes a bubbleblowing bubbleblowing break on the grass with four-year-old Clayton McDonald while the others try out the park playground. 1 £ l «ware u t psimutut :Jj Receive $300 in Sunoco gas FREE with a Cavalier til June 30, 1997Î '97 Cavalier 2-door Coupe $16,400* VALUE PACKED: 2.2 litre engine • Automatic transmission • Air conditioning • Rear spoiler • 4-wheel ABS • Dual air bags « Easy entry front seat • Trunk release '97 Cavalier 4-door Sedan $16,750* VALUE PACKED: 2.2 litre engine • automatic transmission • Air conditioning • 4-wheel ABS • Dual air bags • Rear door child security locks • Folding rear seat • Trunk release LEASE YOURS FROM ONLY $229 with only 3fc Priced at your Chevrolet Store ■ra|| Don't forget to u$e your CM Card Earnings toward The Total Purchase Price or lease down ■HE53 payment of your next new CM vehicle. 1 What's your card done for you lately? tOM Card Earninga may be applMd Iowan] 7T* Total PuctuM Price or Imm down payment ot any etgbte new General Motors Vehicle. Fleet Mite and commercial toaeee excluded, For compléta detaëe on vehicle eàgeWy.aee you OenerdMotora Dealer. D GRADUATE Pf.'i >".RAM ■ mum Mi matte 3 9% • FIN/ /O VALUE FINANCING You should know this: fThe buyer/lessor will receive $300 worth of Sunoco vouchers which is approximately 500 litres total, provided gasoline is lower than 60< per litre. Offer expires June 30,1997. {Based on a 36 month lease fbr 1997 Cavalier models only, equipped as described. A minimum down payment of $1,300 and $300 security deposit are required. OAC. Other lease options avallale, Annual kilometre kilometre limit: 20,000 km, $0.08 per excess kilometre. "{Freight $620, licence, insurance and taxes not included. Dealer trade may be necessary. Dealer may sell/lease for less. See Dealer for details. "Financing on approved CMAC credit only. Example: $10,000 at 3.9% APR, the monthly monthly payment is $225.33 for 48 months. Cost of borrowing is $815.84. Total obligation Is $10,815. Down payment may be required. "{"Offers apply to 1997 new or demonstrator models only and applies to qualified retail customers only. Limited time offers which may not be combined with other offers. See Dealer for details.