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wf -- Scugog Citizen -- Tuesday, A 31, 1993 =z oA) 36 WATER ST., PORT PERRY, ONT. L9L1J2 Phone : (416) 985-6397 Fax : (416) 985-1410 published by Scugog Citizen Publishing Ltd. co-publishers : John B. McClelland, Valerie Ellis editor : John B. McClelland advertising manager : Valerie Ellis advertising sales : Chris Hudson accounting : Sibylle Warren reception : Liz Drebit feature writer : Heather McCrae "Proud Canadians, proud to call Scugog Township home." OCNA Member THE SCUGOG CITIZEN® CCNA Memiser an independently owned and operated v4 weekly community newspaper, Xt is distributed, free of charge, aE to over 10,000 homes and businesses in and around Scugog Township. CCNA Verified i . ) Circulation Controlled Subscriptions sold outside Scugog Township. "OY peg EDITORIAL * Don't blame her, blame the system A 44-year old Toronto woman made headlines last week when she announced she is quitting her $41,500 a year job to go on welfare. Helle Hulgaard works for the Toronto Housing Authority. She's a single parent with two children and claims she would be no worse off financially by being on welfare, plus she would be able to stay home with the children. } Ontario Conservative leader Mike Harris jumped into the fray, attending a news conference with the woman. Harris was obviously trying to make some political hay, a move which back-fired slightly when officials did some hurry-up number crunching to show that Hulgaard would not be quite as well off on welfare as she claimed. So, her math leaves a bit to be desired. The point has been made that somebody earning a decent pay cheque in Ontario can do as well financially or almost as well by sitting home and letting the taxpayers of the province pay the freight. ' The general public perception of the welfare system in Ontario has long been that it is in dreadful need of a complete overhaul. The publicity that the Hulgaard case generated sends a very damaging message. A lot of people working in jobs that pay less than $41,500 must be asking themselves right now why bother going to work day in day out. If a single mother earning that salary can be almost as well off on, what about the countless people earning $35,000, or $25,000 for putting in a full week's work? . Whether she will be "better off" financially on welfare than she is working at her $41,500 per year job is just part of the point. What is almost beyond belief is that in Ontario, one can willingly quit a job and qualify for welfare. Not surprisingly that after this story received prominent coverage in the Toronto medta, Hulgaard « x NEVER LEAVE WITHOUT IT! HOME "4 73% 123 007 HUSSEIN, SADDAM T #4633210 T-MAHowey P=----] LETTERS To THE EDITOR | 'Ridiculous hysteria over 'dandelions on the lawn! To the Editor Lawn-spraying time seems to be upon us once again. Neighbourhoods are filled with the smell of pesticides used to kill the ghastly weeds which seem to so offend our delicate sensibilities. This habit has only been in vogue since World War II, prior to which organic methods were used for centuries. Spraying promises us a quick chemical fix that does away with weeds, fast. The down side? Long-term health risks to wildlife, human beings ( ally children) and came under hot criticism, mostly from a lot of peopl who have been out df work for months, even years, and would dearly love a job that pays $41,500 annually. Can you blame them? Look, Hulgaard is not a villain in this sqrry episode, even if her decision to quit a good paying job and let the taxpayers support her is flagrant abuse of the system. N She regrets "going public" but maybe in the long run she will end up doing the taxpayers of Ontario some good. This case should make every politician at Queens Park, no matter what the party, sit up. and take notice that the welfare system is open for all kinds of abuse, is costing taxpayers hundreds of millions more than it should and needs a complete overhaul, now. You can say what you want about Helle Hulgaard, maybe even give her some credit for having the guts to '| make her case public. Whats. really scary is how many other Helle Hulgaards have quietly quit good paying jobs to.sit home on welfare. As the political leaders in Ontario, Mike Harris, Bob Rae and Lyn McLeod must put their partisan views aside and agree to sort out the welfare fiasco. pets. Run-off int surrounding soils and water Systems. Long- term damage to soils badly depleted by the cycle of chemical dependency. "Pesticides are poisons. Otherwise ,they wouldn't work". So admits Environment Canada. I know that many illnesses and even deaths can be attributed to pesticides, and also that our waterways are sick with the chemical onslaught wraught by industrial and farming practices. Now we've developed this ridiculous hysteria over dandelions on lawns. On the other hand, I have never once heard of any harm coming to anyone as the result of a weedy lawn. Might it be time to re- think our priorities? There are alternatives. Check with your local library for publications such as "How to Get Your Lawn and Garden Off Drugs". Farmers who want "to re-think chemical methods can see the video "Revolution Down on the Farm", available for borrowing in six Durham- area libraries. Environmental groups like Durham Environmental Network have helpful information on kicking the chemical habit - call 985-9242 or 435-0497 (during the day) if - you'd like more info. = We need to decide whether preserving a safe future for our children and this planet is worth a little extra effort. Don't we_all agree that our kids are worth it? Sincerely, Janet, Banting, Greenbank, Ontario IGA store seeks more parking Port Perry IGA Store will apply tothe Township for permission to expand its parking by demolishing two houses on Mary Street. 'IGA owner Jim Grieve and his lawyer Michael Fowler .appeared in front of council Monday afternoon to outline plans for the new parking area and to say applications will*be filed soon for demo permits and to re-zone one of the houses. . The two houses .are on th northwest corner of Mary and John Street at 239 and 237 Mary Street. Mr. Fowler told council the the properties would add between 17 and 20 new parking spots for IGA. Because they-are across John Street from the food store, the spaces would be used mostly for staff parking. He stressed there would be no entrance onto Mary St., and there would extensive buffering (six foot high cedar hedge) to buffer homes on the south side, of Mary. The two houses are immediately south ®&f the parking lot now being developed for the new Bruton Big V Drug Store. Council's reaction to the proposal was generally positive. Mr. Fowler said if his client gets a positive reaction, he will proceed to buy the two properties. "This looks like a valuable proposal for the development of downtown Port Perry," said Regional councillor Yvonne Christie.