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Page 8 The Clarington/Courticc Independent, Bowmanvillc, Saturday, June 20,1998 MR Questions Senate Appointment Most people have got to be shaking their heads over last week's appointment appointment of Frank Mahovlich to the Senate. I couldn't agree more with them. .The appointment appointment of the "Big M" to Canada's upper chamber shows how low the Prime Minister's Office regards the Senate. When I was young a lot of the kids on my street would gel together during the winter months down at the school's outdoor rink for a game of hockey. This was the heyday of the Maple Leafs and I, like everyone else, was a big fan. Someone always wanted wanted to be Dave Keon, another Dick Duff and me well Frank Mahovlich. I have fond memories of the man and his contribution to the sport of hockey. But in my mind his contribution docs not qualify qualify him to take a seat in the Senate, assuming that he intends to sit there. Personally, I have little • use for the Senate. An unclcctcd body answer- able to no one isn't in keeping with the 20th let alone the 21st century. That isn't to say there aren't a number of good Senators of all political stripes who contribute to the development of public policy and legislation. However, as presently constituted, the Senate has no relevance to our society. society. The Senate comes from an era of landed gentry and nobility. It is truly a holdover of the British Parliamentary Report by Alex Shepherd class system where an arrogant upper class took, or inherited, their Senate seat in total arrogance to the lower classes. That lower class would have been you and me the people people who pay the bills. In the past I've voted for the abolition of the Senate. Why is it that almost everyone in Canada recognized the uselessness of it but we lack the intestinal fortitude to change it? Changing the Senate requires a constitutional amendment and therefore the consent of the provinces. The House of Commons, to a degree, is modelled after the Senate in the sense that the division division of some seats in the Commons reflects the division in the Senate. For example PEI has four Senators and four MPs but the population of PEI is no larger than Durham Riding. So if the provinces see the Senate as a possible way of rewarding their own cronies through the party system they are going to maintain the status status quo and not work toward meaningful Senate reform. What needs to be done then? Clearly the public has got to demand the over-throw of this $50 million million institution as it presently stands. Personally I no longer believe in just abolishing it. I would like to sec an elected Senate with regional representation. I wouldn't want the Reform Party model but one where both the federal and provincial governments governments give up powers to make the system work. The main objective of the Senate, as I sec it, would be to act as a watch dog to ensure national standards are maintained. That's what would help bind the nation. A patronage system that appoints a former Premier of Nova Scotia to travel around the world at taxpayer's taxpayer's expense, or an Andy Thompson, doesn't do a whole lot for unity. If you are interested in having a say in all this, I have a petition in my office which you should sign. When Parliament reconvenes reconvenes I not only want to make a presentation about Senate reform but also demonstrate that people people in Durham are demanding change. Hopefully that will help bring an end to meaningless meaningless Senate appointments. Statesman Subscriber Wins TV/VCR Judy Knopf, of Radio Shack in Bowmanvillc, hands over a TV/VCR combo to Canadian Statesman reader Ron Wells, also of Bowmanvillc. His name was drawn in a subscription subscription renewal promotion earlier this month. The winner picked up his prize at the Bowmanvillc Radio Shack store on May 4th. Graduates Leave Durham College Durham College Celebrated Celebrated the graduation of approximately approximately 1,500 students at the annual convocation ceremonies ceremonies held at the Oshawa Civic Auditorium, 99 Thornton Road South, Oshawa, on Saturday, June 13, 1998. Two ceremonies were scheduled to confer diplomas and certificates. Susan Todd, Professor, Technology, Durham College, addressed the graduates during the morning ceremony. Craig "Thomas, Professor, Business, Durham College, addressed ' the graduates of the afternoon ceremony. At the 10:00 a.m. ceremony, ceremony, Business and Skills Development, Health and Human Studies and Technology Divisions recognized recognized the success of their graduates. During this ceremony, ceremony, Durham College was delighted to be presenting certificates to the first graduating graduating students of the Fire and Emergency Services program. program. Arts and Administration and Business Divisions honoured honoured their graduates at the 2:30 p.m. ceremony. During this ceremony, ten Durham University Centre students were honoured and recognized recognized as the first to have completed completed their degree programs though Durham University Centre at Durham College. Again this year, Durham College honoured ten students students with a Durham College Leadership and Participation Award. Those students have demonstrated Durham College's values of Integrity, Respect and Educational Justice for All, Market Driven Innovation and Accountability in a variety of ways throughout their acade mic careers. In addition, Durham College recognized ten General Motors of Canada Ltd. employees with a two- year Business Leadership diploma. They graduated alongside the Business Division graduates at the 2:30 p.m. ceremony. "This graduating class of 1998 has worked diligently in establishing a solid foundation foundation for their future," stated Gary Polonsky, Durham College President. "On behalf of all- of. us at Durham College,' we applaud each individual's hard- earned accomplishments." "Employers looking to hire the most up-to-date, highly skilled individuals who understand what it takes to add value to an organization, organization, can feel confident that hiring a Durham College graduate is a wise choice. We feel so strongly about that at Durham College that we give employers who hire our grads a guarantee. So hire a Durham College graduate today." Disposal Of Empty Paint Cans Empty paint cans are not considered a hazardous hazardous waste, and are accepted through your municipal curbside garbage collection program. program. To dispose of empty or dried up paint cans with your regular garbage be sure to follow these steps: Open the can and ensure it is empty and dry with no liquid residue remaining; leave the lid off the can; place the empty can in with your regular garbage. For more information on materials accepted for curbside collection, please call your local municpal Works Department. PETLEYÆE LIMITED INSURANCE BROKERS SINCE 1922 Shelley Vanslone-Hurrcn R.I.B. (Ont.) Michael DiLella R.I.B. (Ont.) Allison Fcllowcs-Strike BA, AIIC, CRM Broker Manager Broker Broker For prompt friendly insurance advice and a choice of competitive products from a large number of peer group insurers ... call a Bowmanville insurance professional! 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We sincerely regret any inconvenience we may have caused you. © J.p. cnote d324 • All Zones CORRECTION NOTICE We wish to draw your attention to the following in our current "Great Gifts (or Great Dads" flyer. Page 2 - 210-PSI Air Compressor, 09-5040-6 Illustration is incorrect. Should show the 210-PSI model, not the 250-PSI model. Page 17 - Item «3 & 117, Tackleboxes, 78-2575-6/78-2568-4 Should read: "Tackle not included" Page 19 - Weed Eater Electric Super Blower/Vac, 60-3836-0 Copy roads: 14-AMP Should read: 12-AMP We sincerely regret any Inconvenience we may have caused you. ffl J.P. cnolo (1324 ■ All Zones The GM Card" You lhould know this: 'Based on a 24 month leaso lor a VJ9B Cliovy Thunder Regular Cab/Extondod CatvBlazor 4WD 4 DM and 30 month lease lor n Venture. A down payment or trado ol $2,000/$ 1,3r>0/$3,G£j0/$2,930 required. Annual kilomotro limit if. 20,000 km, $0.12 per excess kilometre. Other lease options available. *| freight $920/$920/$BGr>/$720/$B70, licence, insurance and taxes not included. JPurchnso and lease Imancing on approved GMAC credit only. Down payment, trade and/or tiocurily deposit may tie required, Monthly payment and cost ol burrowing will vary depending on .down payment/trado. Example: $10,000 at 1.9% APM, the monthly payment is $205.99 lor 30 months, Cost ol borrowing is $205.04, Total obligation obligation is $10,295.04. 't (Dealer may sell or leusu 1er less. All oilers apply to 19UB now or demonstrator models equipped as described, and applies to quuliliod retail customers in Central Ontario only Limited time oilers which may not he combined with othur oilers. See your dealur(s) lor conditions and details. (^Registered Trade mark ol General Motors Corporation, ID Bank licensed user ol Maik.