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PAGE 6 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, JANUARY 24,2001 FOR 147 YEARS, & Opinions 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, Christian Ann Goulet Office - Junia Hodge, Nancy Pleasance-Sturman Editorial - Brad Kelly, Jennifer Stone, Jacquie Mclnnes Efje Canabtan Statesman Former Publishers and Partners Rev. John M. Climic 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 CLARINGTON THIS WEEK P.O. Box 190, 62 King St. W., Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K9 TEL: 905-623-3303 FAX: 905-623-6161 HOURS: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.M. E-mail: judi.bobbitt@durhamnews.net Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 EDITORIAL 'Will we be Bush-whacked? New president focuses on the south, not the north As the President of the United States, George W. Bush has the potential to be good for Canada ... or not. Unlike his father, who enjoyed fishing with former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and who worked well with Canada, Mr. Bush Jr. is intent on strengthening ties with Mexico. It could be an outgrowth -of his ties with Latin America from his six years as governor of Texas but the traditional first-country visit of a newly elected U.S. President President to Canada has been derailed. Mr. Bush will first visit Mexico next month and will only then come to Canada in April for the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City. Mr. Bush has never visited Canada before and, the only real video news clip we have to go on so far is, ahem, somewhat hilarious if not unfortunate. 'This Hour Has 22 Minutes' sent Rick Mercer down to the U.S. during the presidential election campaign last year to ask Mr. Bush point-blank whether he would be able to work with Prime Minister Jean 'Poutine.' Without missing a beat and without without a hint of a smile, Mr. Bush replied in earnest and at length he would be able to work with our PM Poutine. Now anyone can be caught off guard and who knows how many other interviews Mr. Bush had that day but it's clear he didn't know our prime minister's name then and just as likely didn't care. Not comforting when Canada is the biggest trading partner and closest ally of the United States. Some of President Bush's plans might seem a little unsettling. unsettling. There are reports he wants to cut foreign aid to organizations organizations in countries that promote abortion. His decision decision to declare a national day of prayer may find him at odds with Americans who do not practice a religion and whose rights must also be respected. And there are some who feel his cabinet appointments represent an extreme tilt to the right which is unwarranted because his challenger in the presidential election, A1 Gore, actually got half-a-piil- lion votes more than he did. Unlike the past 16 years of Ronald Reagan (second term), George Bush and Bill Clinton when the USA had a ( warm, close relationship with Canada and which saw the Free Trade and North American Free Trade"agreements signed, this administration shows signs of looking inward. Many nations are worried about the kind of leadership the most powerful politician in the world will provide. It will be up to Mr. Bush to show us he is more friend than foe. We welcome your opinion. Please E-Mail your comments on our opinions to Judl.bobbltt@durhamnews.net. Submissions which Include a first and last name, as well as the community community of residence, will be considered for publication.' LOOKING BACK WITH THE STATESMAN 75 YEARS AGO Jan. 28,1926 At the first meeting of the public school board, the following following committees were named: chairman - F.F. Morris; finance finance committee - Dr, C.W. Slemon, Geo. L. Hall, C.F. Rice. 50 YEARS AGO Jan. 18,1951 Excitement ran high for several hours at Cobourg during the annual election of the Warden of the United Counties of Northumberland and Durham. At long last, following vote after vote, Reeve Hartwell Lowery of Clarke Township withdrew his name. In the two-man contest, Reeve George Walton of Newcastle defeated Reeve Charles Chapman of Manvers Township. 25 YEARS AGO Jan. 21,1976 Construction started on a $2-niil!ion plant that should employ employ 50 people. Delta Faucet of Canada Ltd. was to be located located in a 43,000 sq. ft, building on an 8 1/2 acre site near Hwy. 401 in the Bowmanville Industrial Park. Information taken from the archives of The Canadian Statesman defy** SAm- t*n MXICW wwnu TUECVAL OFFICE Problems? Just get a task force ONE \m APPOINTENT... ÇECTO/QFTUE INTO ..RJNtaKIW LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Retreat should be in Durham To the editor: Re: 'Region politicians retreat retreat north,' The Statesman, Jan. 17, 2001. Having just read the article about Durham Region council visiting the Fern Resort near Orillia to conduct business I!m perplexed, as I'm sure many other local residents arc. Many economic indicators are suggesting suggesting we may be moving toward toward a recession and yet our elected regional officials find it necessary to spend an estimated estimated $5,000, outside the Region no less, to conduct business that could otherwise be successfully successfully completed within regional regional offices. Holding a retreat like this is totally unjustifiable and the taxpayers of Durham should not be complacent. The article quotes Durham Region Chairman Roger Anderson, Anderson, as stating "holding meetings at the Fern Resort means councillors and staff have fewer distractions to deal with and can get down to business." business." This statement suggests that for the remainder of the year councillors cannot get down- to' business- working within their own offices. There are more economical and just as effective ways toreduce distractions, distractions, such as, shutting off pagers and cellphones, holding calls, etc., to name but a few. However, my favourite argument argument for using the Fern Resort Resort near Orillia is Mr. Anderson's Anderson's statement "its also an opportunity opportunity for staff to meet the new councillors in an informal setting.' 1 Introductions could just as easily be achieved dur ing coffee breaks, luncheons, at a cafeteria or even at a local restaurant within the Region. The lame excuses offered up for holding this retreat remind me of those used by a spoiled, whining child who comes up with all and any outlandish reasons reasons for getting something they want. As concerned and responsible responsible taxpayers we must voice our disapproval of this retreat before events such as this become become commonplace. With, plans already under way for another, another, longer retreat in May, these retreats just may evolve into a monthly event. I also think I now have the answer to the oft talked-about, site for a possible new Durham Region Headquarters; it's somewhere near Orillia. John Semjan Premier seems uncertain of action Too often, legislation twists in the wind Whatever became of thé Premier Premier Mike Harris who said he would do something and just did it? The Progressive Conservative premier has a reputation more than any predecessor in decades for delivering what he promised and even those who disagree .with his policies would concede ruefully he generally did what he said. . | But Mr. Hrirris has made so many retreats in recent months they raise questions about how well his government is organized, organized, what research it does, who it listens to and whether it has lost touch with the public. The most notorious was Mr. Harris's support for a proposal by some in his caucus to increase MPPs' salaries by 42 per cent, which was totally out of character character with the prudence he preached for 10 years. The premier stubbornly defended defended the proposal over several days against protests from opposition opposition parties, news media and some of his traditional supporters, supporters, insisting he was 'not worried' worried' by reaction that should have alarmed him, before publicly and humiliatingly backing off. His government soon after announced it would force all welfare recipients to take tests for drugs and those who tested positive to take treatment or be refused benefits, with llic worthy aims of getting recipients off drugs and stopping the. waste of money. But the plan was criticized as insulting to many recipients who do not take drugs, likely to force some into the streets where their problems would worsen, and a violation of the Ontario Human Rights Code, which treats an addiction addiction as a disability and forbids Eric Dowd At Queen s Park discriminating against anyone ' with à disability. The Province has quickly conceded its plan has mn into legal problems and is looking at a policy based less on taking away benefits and more on helping helping recipients and 'we'll take the time to get it right.' Mr. Harris's government introduced introduced legislation specifying who should be allowed access to personal health records and included included police considering civil lawsuits to recover suspected proceeds of organized crime, which the Tories have facilitated. But' when reporters asked why police should have such power, the government explained one minister put it in without the minister responsible for the bill knowing and it was a mistake and dropped it. Two ministers ruled a municipality municipality being restructured in Ottawa Ottawa had no right to compensate families of four employees shot dead by a co-worker, but when Mr. Harris heard about it through a public outcry, he promptly pulled the rug from under them and said the right course was to compensate. The Province introduced a law to bar municipalities from imposing large rate increases when they took over electrical utilities, but dropped it explaining explaining the Ontario Energy Board could look after consumers. It did not mention the legislation was scaring off potential private investors. The premier yawned he did not place a high priority on protecting protecting jobs of women who want a year's maternity leave when the federal government announced it would extend employment insurance insurance benefits to cover this period, period, but a few weeks later changed provincial law so Ontario Ontario women could take advantage advantage - he had riot reckoned, sq many would demand it. Two ministers said they would not support a Liberal proposal proposal to restrict sales of replica guns, used in robberies, to adults,, but the premier said he liked the idea and brought iri his own law. This is on top of the Tories allowing allowing the first cameras to catch motorists running through red lights, which they opposed for years and dropping plans to compel compel students to recite a daily oath to the Queen. So why is the once unswayable premier changing his mind so often? One concern for Tories must be that Mr. Harris Harris personally can as totally misjudge misjudge what the public will accept as he did particularly in supporting supporting the MPPs' pay raise. Other concerns must include who gives him advice and whom he listens to. Any caucus has enough contact with residents to have known they would object to the big pay increase, but some independent-minded independent-minded Tory MPPs have complained the.premier listens listens only to an unelected clique. The Tories have shoddy research research when they announce plans that have to be changed because they create legal problems and, when ministers say one thing and the premier says another, it underlines underlines this is a government that has to get its act together. Jennifer Stone Staff Writer Task forces, task forces and more task forces. It's starting to be questionable whether our provincial government has been elected to lead or simply,to appoint people to make recommendations, especially especially where education, and the reforms to the system implemented by this government, government, are concerned. Seems like only a little over a week ago (probably because it was only a little over a week ago) that Education Minister Janet Ecker appointed a five-member panel to look into the state of extracurricular extracurricular activities in Ontario, schools, and to look for solutions, to the problem. That panel is expected, to report back to the government in March. , Now, this week, Premier Mike Harris has teamed up with Minister Ecker to launch a task force on effective schools. The task force has been charged with providing advice on helping schools help students to do better academically. As well, they- will also look into ways to measure school board accountability for students' performance. It is to present its final recommendations in June. In a,strange twist, Dave Cooke and Ann Vanstone have been appointed to lead the task force ... which is lucky for them, since the pair have!been out of a job since'December, when the Education Improvement Commission Mr. Cooke and Ms. Vanstone used to chair issued its final report and recommendations. The EIC was an arm's-length agency of the Province set up in 1997 to oversee the restructuring of Ontario's school ■ boards. That agency issued four reports, with more than 100 recommendations (many of which haven't been implemented) implemented) aimed at almost the exact same thing this new task force has been charged with: school improvement and school board accountability. Doesn't it seem a colossal waste of time to have the same people go out and look for recommendations recommendations on the same matter, six weeks after they finished their first mandate? mandate? Sure, it's always a good idea to get input from the public. It never hurts a government to hear what its citizens have to say. But, as the Ontario Teachers' Federation Federation points out, the simple fact is both this new group, aimed at looking into helping students do better in school, and the panel appointed last week on extracurricular, extracurricular, are dealing with the same issue: the role of the teacher. And that's something the government should have had figured out long before it started implementing major reforms to education. Because, as OTF president Roger Regimbai pointed out this week, until the role of the teacher has been decided by the government, "all the task forces and advisory groups arc nothing more than window dressing." THE CANADIAN STATESMAN is one of the Metroland Printing, Publishing Publishing and Distributing group of newspapers. The Statesman is a member of the Bowmanville Clar- ington Board of Trade, the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Circulations Circulations Audit Board and the Ontario Ontario Press Council. The publisher reserves the right to classify or refuse any advertisement. Credit for advertisement limited to space price error occupies. Editorial and Advertising Advertising content of the Canadian Statesman is copyrighted. Unauthorized Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited. The Canadian Statesman welcomes letters to the editor. All letters should be typed or neatly hand-written, hand-written, 150 words. Each letter must include 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 that due to the volume of letters, not all will be printed. Fax letters to 623-616lor emailed to ! judi.bobbitt@durhanmews.net ©a cm mi I ^ 1^1