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Scugog Citizen -- Tuesday, April 27, 7993 -- 9 VIEWPOQINT by John B. McClelland [aml LETTERS TO EDITOR MEAN STREETS Public opinion polls taken in every city in Canada show that most people are more fearful of crime in the streets than they were five years ago. In many cities more and more people are 8aying they no longer leave their homes after dark, and in some instances, they are fearful even during the daylight hours. It is a sorry state of affairs when average citizens who worked hard all their lives, paid their taxes, raised their families, did their volunteer work, and never got so much as a speeding ticket, now find themselves prisoners in their homes because an element of society is out of control. Reading the daily papers, tuning in the evening news, one is bombarded with crime that is getting more grisly and violent by the week. I can recall not too many years ago reading comparisons between Canada and the United Stated and how proud everyone was on this side of the line that our streets were safe day and night (and so much cleaner, too) Why, citizens and tourists alike could stroll darn near anywhere. And as for serial rapes and murders, this was something that happened in the dusty backwaters of the southern states. Oh sure, we in Canada have always had our share of serious crime. But these days, working in a variety store is a hazardous occupation. The punks who knock these places off night after night are armed to the teeth and show no reluctance to shoot anybody in their way before they scoop a few bucks from the cash register. Canada will be going to the polls in a national election before the end of this year. This election likely will be fought on economic issues (deficits, government spending, trade and so on.) The people of this country must demand that those seeking thir votes address one more issue: law and order. In fact, this issue is just as important as any of the others. What's the point in solving the deficit if the pushers and thieves own the streets and the life of a variety store clerk is worth less than a quarter? The people of this country have a right to demand that those seeking office promise that making the country safe from crime will be a top priority. Here are a few suggestions: L/bring back capital punishment and be prepared to use it. 2/double the current minimum sentences for use of a firearm during a crime. ) 3/ do away with the so-called "plea bargaining." 4/ eliminate time off prison for "good behavior." Make a ten year sentence ten years. If the guy (or girl) is a prison jerk or troublemaker, tack on extra time as punishment. 5/ better screen all immigrants to determine criminal background. 6/automatic (no appeal) deportation for any non-Canadian convicted of a serious/violent crime on Canadian soil. 7 revoke completely the Youthful Offenders Act, which is nothing more than a fertile breeding ground for kids who graduate from stealing cars to shooting people. 8/finally, decriminalize most narcotics, have the state hand out cocaine, crack or heroin to addicts at a nominal price to keep them from killing people to feed their habit. Before you think that I'm nothing more than a frothing right winger drooling for a public hanging or flogging, let me say I have been small-l liberal all my adult life. But when it comes to crime, I have been hood-winked these last 20 years into believing that the kid glove/rehab approach was the best way to deal with this. No more. In fact, a good public flogging is just what the country needs, right up thére on Parliament Hill in front of the Centennial Flame. Seriously, the people of Canada have every right to make law and order an issue when those smiling politicians; come knocking on the door this fall. pe SNAPSHOT OF THE WEEK E | Just Kiddin' Around Rita McAffee of The Honeycomb Fibres farm on Scugog Island had more than her hands full this spring when the new crop of "kids" arrived in the barn. What about in your back yard Mr. Mayor? To the Editor: Open letter to Mayor Hall We have not written to you directly on the matter of the Operating Engineers proposal to build a school on the 12th concession before as we have been part of SCOPE's activity to stop this change to our rural community. We have felt that they have done an excellent job presenting all the reasons why this change should not go through. We were appalled to find that at the planning meeting of April 20, that the proposal was given approval to that point. I believe it is now time for you to hear from us individually. I believe that you have dismissed our group as insignificant to what you have planned. We are tax payers who shop and contribute to the Township of Scugog in many financial and volunteer ways. - We have attempted to put forward our points with a common voice at a financial cost to each family. And though each family has not been at all of the open discussions, we have been there in SCOPE's representation. It is now time for Public Meetings, so that we can bring forward our concerns about noise pollution, dust pollution (asthmatic children) road traffic (litter and children's safety) and finally the visibility of this operation for miles around. We live in the country for a quality of life it affords, free from noise and pollution and then our elected officials come along and change the zones. Our family has invested a great deal in renovations to our home to meet the needs of our handicapped child. These are long term investments that do not increase the value of the home, but rather decrease the sale ability. We did so because we hoped to be here a long time. The changing of zoning for that property breaks a trust we thought we had with our elected officials to leave rural property rural. We need to stop this proposal now! If, Mayor Hall you think this is such a wonderful idea what about in yours backyard? J Yours sincerely, Jan & Barry Grisdale 580 Blue Mountain Road. Uxbridge, Ontario. Terrible injustice" To the Editor: I am taking this opportunity to voice my strong objection to the un- democratic process taking place within Scugog Township, in regards to the proposed Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario (heavy equipment school) located in Marsh Hill. I believe the concerns of the residents of the area and interested parties have not been expressed to Scugog Township council. I am requesting publicly that the Scugog council accepts a motion to hold a public meeting in May regarding this proposed school for heavy equipment operators. The OETIO has persisted in its attempts to push through this school adjacent to and part of a provincially designated Class 1 Wetlands, the Beaverton River Marsh. This is 1993! Are we not supposed to be more educated in the importance and need to protect marshlands? I believe a terrible precedent will be set for an environmentally sensitive and beautiful wetland. If we can't protect one little corner of a wonderful marsh--what hope is there? Shame on the Operating Enginpers Training Institute for Ver considering this site. \ People of Scugog Township--you should be standing up and taking notice before a terrible injustice is done to an environmentally sensitive area. Hold a public meeting in May and let's show out concerns. Judy Barrett Hay, Scugog Township. On the right track From page eight on the road to recovery. To those greedy, un-cooperative little kingdoms, I would point out that the incomes and lifestyles of many senior citizens who depend on interest from investments for which they worked hard over a lifetime have been reduced by 50 per cent in the last two years due to the fall in rates. As a senior, I am not complaining, nor have I heard any complaints from my compatriots so I have no sympathy for those who are complaining because they are being asked to take wage restraints or cutbacks. They should thank the Lord that they are still getting paycheques. My sympathy is for those who lost their jobs, their homes or their businesses. Sharing the tax burden is what Bob Rae and the New Democrat government is valiantly trying to do. Does anyone think that Lynn McLeod, Mike Harris, Kim Campbell or Jean Chretien could distribute the tax burden any more fairly? If you do, I believe you are dreaming in technicolour. Yours truly, Roy Grierson, Port Perry.