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PAGE 6 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, February 16, 2000 <& Opinions FOR 146 YEARS, OUR FIRST CONCERN HAS BEEN OUR COMMUNITY Publisher - Tim Whittaker Editor-In-Chief - Joanne Burghardt Managing Editor.- Judi Bobbitt • Advertising Manager - Brian G. Purdy Advertising - Laverne Morrison, Sharon Goodman Office - Junia Hodge, Nancy Pleasancc-Sturman Editorial - Brad Kelly, Jennifer Stone, Jacquie Mclnnes E()f Canadian Statesman Former Publishers and Partners Rev. John M. Climie and W.R. Climic 1854-1878 M.A. James 1878-1935 • Norman S.B. James 1919-1929 G. Elena James, 1929-1947 • Dr. George W. James 1919-1957 John M. James, 1957-1999 Produced by Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Also Publishers of CLAR1NGTON THIS WEEK P.O. Box 190, 62 King St. W., Bowinanville, Ontario Lie 3K9 TEL: 905-623-3303 FAX: 905-623-6161 HOURS: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.M. Internet - statesmn@durham.net Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 EDITORIAL It's time for a little clarity Canadians have a right to their say in country's future Lost amid the Parliamentary uproar over the grant irregularities irregularities at the Human Resources Department, as the House of Commons resumed last Monday, was a little piece of legislation legislation known simply as the Clarity bill. When all is said and done, which will probably be many years from now, the Clarity bill could be one of the most important important bills in our history as it sets the terms and conditions for a future Quebec referendum. The bill, which was the culmination of Prime Minister Jean Chretien's vision for a future showdown between Quebec Quebec and the rest of Canada, has now passed second reading in the House and is expected to easily pass third and final reading reading in the next few weeks. The Bloc Québécois has tried in vain to filibuster the bill, but the Liberals, with some Reform party support, have pushed the legislation along. The vole on second reading was 168-55. The bill mandates a Quebec referendum result will only be acceptable to Parliament if it contains a clear question and provides a clear result. What washed in the 1980 and 1995 referendums, when the question asked of voters was vague and referred to sovereignty association with Canada.after separation, separation, would not wash this time. The question would have to be about a clear, clean separation and Quebec's establishment establishment as an autonomous country. Also, the vote would have to be well above 50 per cent plus one in favour in order for Canada to negotiate with Quebec. That's clearly what the Clarity bill says. Those who' suggest this is not the time to pass such a law in Parliament would like to have it both ways. They criticized the government for not reacting quickly enough in 1995 and doing little as Quebecers voted to remain in Canada by only a paper-thin margin. Now, while the mood for separation appears appears at a low ebb in Quebec, it makes perfect sense - and has been backed up by the Supreme Court of Canada - to set the terms for Canada's role after the next referendum. Strike first and be firm is the Prime Minister's strategy and it should work. Why give the separatists the edge? Why allow the forces of division a chance to gain a toehold? If the Clarity bill is effective and accepted by all sides, it could be the law which puts to bed forever the antics of Quebec separatists. It could be our chance as a united Canada to step forth into the future with confidence. We welcome your opinion. Please E-Mail your comments on our opinions to nnews@durham.net. Submissions which include include a first and last name, as well as the community of residence, residence, will be considered for publication. A BACKWARD GLANCE P/ioto courtesy Garfield Shaw Collection, Dowmanville Museum Bounsall's Marble Works Bounsall's Marble Works, on the west side of Division Street, Bowmanville, just south of Church Street approximately approximately across from the site of today's Salvation Army thrift store. Picture taken circa 1901. This was the second of three premises of the cemetery monument monument and stone/marble products business which was run, at the time of this photo, by Edwin R. 'Ned'Bounsall. 'Ned'Bounsall. He was proprietor from 1887 till his death in 1920; the business carried on until about 1940. LOOKING BACK WITH THE STATESMAN 25 YEARS AGO Feb. 12,1975 The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company announced a $2.5 million expansion at its Bowmanville plant. The expansion was expected to create 30 new jobs and involved renovations renovations and extensions to the plant that already existed. 50 YEARS AGO Feb. 16,1950 A group of five local men travelled to Oshawa to attend a Kinsmen Club meeting, in the hopes of starting a similar club in Bowmanville. 75 YEARS AGO Feb. 12,1925 A number of "business and professional men" from Bowmanville Bowmanville agreed to close their businesses at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays to give clerks a half-holiday each week. Information taken from the aivhives of The Canadian Statesman SAVINti MINISTER 5TEWART LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Someone stole boy's snowman To the editor: My family and I have only lived here in Newcastle for three months. We moved here from Oshawa because we wanted to raise our eight-year-old son in a nice quiet city, away from all the problems. A few weeks ago my son and I built a ■ snowman in our front yard because he wanted wanted to, "Surprise Daddy when he came home from work." *, Before we want to bed on Wednesday, Feb.,2, my husband took tlic garbage out and everything was normal. When my son and I were leaving to go to school the next morning, morning, we noticed something very strange. Someone stole our snowman! He is white, about 4-fecl-tall and has pine cone eyes and a pine cone nose. He was wearing a green ski hat, but the snownappers decided to leave that on our front lawn. Our son is now vety upset and so are we. I can't believe someone could actually steal a little boy's snowman, something he RON PIETRONIRO/Statesman photo worked so hard on, just to surprise his Daddy. , , , . . . What has this world come to? Jonathon Gibson of Newcastle sits in the snow Veronica Gibson where his snowman once was, holding the snow- Newcastle man's cap left behind by whoever stole the creation. Could Bob Runciman have plans? A new party could have Ontario flavour Having given up hope Premier Premier Mike Harris will run for leader of a united right-wing federal federal party, some Progressive Conservatives Conservatives arc pushing for a Tory who more than anyone paved the way for Mr. Harris, but are probably probably a decade too late. Conservatives, particularly in eastern Ontario, where he comes from, and Reformers are making a case for Bob Runciman, Mr. Harris's consumer minister. Mr. Runciman has said he has no plans to run, but his admirers fee! he is open to the idea. Mr. Runciman has a special niche in the legislature which is rarely noted. He is seen as sometimes sometimes a loose cannon, banging away unnecessarily. He has a short fuse. But he is also the only MPP who advocated right-wing causes consistently throughout the 1980s, when they were distinctly distinctly unfashionable. Mr. Harris and Mr. Runciman were elected to the legislature at the same lime in 1981 and Mr. Runciman spoke up quickly against the interventionist, Red Tory policies of then premier William Davis. Mr. Runciman was the only Tory to criticize Mr. Davis's government for buying part of an oil company, supposedly supposedly to help it understand how the oil market vitalto industry works, and he said many traditional Conservatives would be outraged. outraged. He was also a lonely Tory voice opposing Mr. Davis's spending on a domed spoils stadium stadium in Toronto and was vindicated vindicated when taxpayers lost a combined combined $600 million on these two misadventures. Eric Dowd At Queen's Park Mr. Runciman urged his own party unsuccessfully to oppose new taxes by any government, even the Conservatives in power federally. Mr. Runciman suggested suggested public referenda to settle some important issues, which Mr. Harris Harris has now provided for. He spoke, when most of his party was quiet, against extending benefits benefits to gay partners of civil servants, servants, saying this undermines the family and society. Mr. Runciman Runciman was among the few Ontario Tories to support financier Peter Pocklington, with his promise of a fiat rather than graduated income income tax, for federal leader - could there be any stronger right- wing credential? Mr. Runciman suffered for his views. He had no chance of becoming becoming a cabinet minister under Mr, Davis. When Davis's successor, successor, Frank Miller, made him a minister, Mr. Runciman said lie would 'privatize services wherever wherever possible,' but Mr, Miller's premiership was so short lie had no opportunity. Throughout this time Mr. Harris had virtually nothing to say that suggested he had right-wing views. For much of it lie was his parly's house leader, noted more for his knowledge knowledge of procedures than philosophies. philosophies. When Mr. Harris ran for leader in 1990 lie promised to end rent controls, bring health and social service costs under control and impose a small user fee for some health services, but mostly he was vague. He promised also to care for the needy, increase housing for the poor and strengthen environmental environmental protection among other expanded services and there was not much hint of the extreme right-winger lie would soon become. become. Mr. Harris may not have had any right-wing ideas before this and when he got them could easily have picked up some from Mr. Runciman, the only MPP much advocating them. Mr. Hairis may also have concluded concluded from watching Mr. Runciman Runciman that right-wing views were unacceptable to many Tories at that time and it was prudent to keep quiet on them until he secured secured leadership, so cither way he owes a debt to Mr. Runciman. Mr. Runciman also has handicaps. handicaps. I-Ic is a presentable speaker, but apt to fly off the handle. Among other incidents, lie has been expelled from the legislature legislature twice for calling then New Democrat premier Bob Rac a hypocrite and shouting insults at a minister and resigned from a legislature committee after lie lost his temper and swore at some Liberals. Mr. Runciman also almost almost ran against Mr, Harris for leader, but backed off saying lie lacked enthusiasm and is unlikely unlikely to regain it a decade later. Nor is the right-wing federal party likely to pick him at 57 even if he is the only Tory who makes Harris Harris look like it milquetoast, bleeding bleeding heart left-liberal. Black History Month focuses on our rich diversity Jane McDonald Staff Writer Every neighbour we meet on the sidewalks, at the grocery store or in the dentist's waiting room came from another another country, or their ancestors did. Canada Canada is such a young country as countries go, the second largest in the world and with all the appeal such vastness and promise can offer. It's not surprising to note how we've all come from some place else not so long ago. Canada certainly doesn't have the lowest taxes in the western world and at about this time of year most of us have had our fill of winter. But what this country may lack in February warmth, it makes up for in a level of tolerance cranked right up to the highest setting. This is Black History Month and although although we might think the cultural diversity diversity to be found today throughout Durham Region allows us to feel a bit cosmopolitan if not smug, there are perhaps perhaps a couple of facts we need to know. Of all visible minorities living in Durham, which in 1996 (the last census) accounted for 9.9 per cent of our total population, more than one-third (33.9 per cent) identified themselves as black. But although Canada is a good choice for all people to choose to build a new life in, black history in Ontario began with slavery. At the beginning of the 1800s, some of the wealthiest families of Upper Canada held slaves. In 1834 Lieutenant- General John Graves Sirncoc abolished the practice of one human being owning another. Slave escapes from the United States to Canada started as early as the late 1600s and throughout 1700s, but after Simcoc's stand, blacks came here from the slave states south of the Mason-Dixon line. But Canada lias not been as integrated as we might think. In 1867 the house of a black man was burned in Whitby by the town constable. Black men in Canada were not allowed to serve in the armed forces during the First World War until it was half over in 1916. And Canada's immigration policy actually used the excuse, until 1962, that our cold climate would not be suitable suitable for blacks. Thankfully reason has prevailed from the bad old days when people - how did Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. say it? - when people were judged by the colour of skin rather than by the content of character. Let's look hard at the real history our black neighbours had to endure endure on their way to the Land of the Maple Leaf. THE CANADIAN STATESMAN is one of the Metroland Printing, Publishing Publishing and Distributing group of newspapers. The Statesman is a member of the Bowmanville Claring- ton Board ofTradc, the Greater Oshawa Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Circulations Audit Board and the Ontario Press Council. The publisher reserves the right to classify or refuse any advertisement. Credit for advertisement limited to space price error occupies. ■ ■■■ The Canadian Statesman welcomes letters to the editor. All letters should be typed or neatly hand-written, 150 words. Each letter must include the name, mailing address and daytime telephone number of the writer. The editor reserves the right to edit copy for style, length and content. We regret regret that due to the volume of letters, not all will be printed. Fax letters to 623-6l6lor emailed to stntcsmn@diirham.net xifNZ.* Apcna ©A BOB iranm