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"VIEWPOINT OF ALL TIME? i Hockey fans of all ages have been engaging in an interesting debate over the last few weeks--who is the greatest hockey player of all time-- Gordie Howe or Wayne Gretzky? It is, of course, a debate that will remain just that--a debate--because there is no way of measuring with any kind of certainty just who is the greatest. Gretzky, of course finally broke Howe's goal scoring record last week as he potted the 802nd of his storied career. It took him 1,119 games to reach this lofty plateau. Howe, on the other hand scored his 801 goals over the course of 1,767 NHL gamés. The debate over greatest of them all among hockey fans often follows generational lines. Those who were lucky enough to watch Howe play the game in his prime Tike to argue that his is the greatest hockey feat because most of his goals came when the NHL was a six-team league, defense was stressed and the NHL goaltenders in Howe's era were as good as they come. Would Gretzky, for example, have scored as many goals had he started his career back in 1947, the year Howe came to the Wings from Floral, Sask.? No way say the old-timers. And, they like to argue, how many goals would Howe have scored had he started his career in 1980, the year Gretzky joined the NHL with the Oilers. It is an interesting debate, one that will be argued no doubt for years to come wherever hockey fans gather. | have a feeling that those who argue on behalf of Gordie Howe, are also expressing the thought that nothing about today's game can compare to the way things were in old six-team league before expansion. And obviously there is some truth to that. After all, those six teams employed 120 players. Today, with almost 30 teams, there are almost 600 players toiling in the NHL. But the Gretzky fans will counter that the game today is much faster, players are bigger, stronger, better conditioned, and player for player, the overall skill level is higher today than it was in Howe's era. While I personally find the debate WHO'S THE GREATEST interesting, when all is said and ohn B. McClelland done, it is of course pointless. My secret wish is that Howe and Gretzky Drea same time. No matter what decade, can you imagine these guys on the same team, on the same line, ? I consider myself fortunate td have seen Howe in his prime. And like all hockey fans today, have watched in awe at what No. 99 can do on the ice. When it comes to who is greatest of all time, let's give them both equal billing for their accomplishments and impact. But there's another guy who will always have a special plac fn my memory of great ones, Though he didn't score the 18 or the points the way Howe and Gretzky did, if one measures. "greatness" in terms of impact on the sport, Bobby Orr would get his share of votes. What a tragedy his career was cut short by injury. Who knows what he might have done? As it is, Orr revolutionized the game, changed it completely as a defenseman who could score at will. He was the 4th forward on the ice and these days there are few NHL teams without at least one offensive-minded, rushing defenseman. Gordie Howe/Wayne Gretzky. Every hockey fan has a favourite, every fan has an opinion on who is the greatest and most fans enjoy a debate on the topic. Myself included. But I prefer not to try to measure greatness, just enjoy it. IN CLOSING: 1 happen to believe the best things in life are free. And one of the best "freebies" in my life is a quiet, leisurely stroll through the park system along the shores of Lake Scugog. Thankfully, the final reminders of GREEN IDEAS Some good news on a variety of Green topics by Janet Banting This week's column has several snippets of news about a variety of neat Sings happening here, there and The a Green CAP (Conservation Action Plan) was set up in early 1998 in order to help both ipdividuals and businesses reduce "water and energy use and minimize waste. They recently opened up an Information Centre at 14 King Street West in Oshawa for people to visit and urban poverty") has plans to become involved with this rail car reuse People who have concerns about nuclear power will be interested to hear that last fall, at a meeting of the Canadian Environmental Network in PEI, more than 140 organizations from all 'across Canada endorsed the "Summerside Declaration for a Non- Nuclear Future". Many of us are not aware of the full range of nuclear issues, form the impacts of uranium pick up information on how ining to the ging of 1 "envir tally friendly" tes, to the massive government can save us all money - at home and at beidization of the lear industry. work. To find out more, call Nuclear Another of Green CAP's projects - done jointly with the Friendship Club of Bowmanville and the Oshawa and District Association for C Awareness Project in Oshawa at 725- 1565. On quite a different tack, Chefs Living - is the new Reuse Centre at 585 Wentworth St. East, Unit 32 (east of Wilson), in Oshawa. What a great way to help cut down on the garbage problem! People with things they no longer want, or who are looking for some inexpensive items to buy, may want to check it out. Call 728-1268 if in doubt about what you can and can't donate and/or buy there, or if you happen to have a bit of spare time and can help out as a volunteer. Anyone keen to start up a reuse centre closer to home (shouldn'f every community have one?) may want to see the half-hour video available at Scugog Library (and several other libraries Collaborative: 2000 is a group of chefs concerned about soil and water , pesticide residues in food, and disease that is diet lated. They will be working to "promote the growing, cooking and eating of food in ways that will help save the planet". Amen to that! On the religious front, the National Partnership on religion and the Environment has been set up by four major religious groups in the U.8. "to P and mobilize for action ordinary citizens" among a variety of denominations. There is certainly no doubt about the need for the religious (and the non- religious) to work together on the around the Region) on WasteWise, the environmental front! reuse centre in Georgetown. There is As a clever I've heard puts it, also an Association of Reuse "Plaps don't make things happen. Organizations which is working to "get Peop! . Lots of people are making some ideas on how to make reuse more winter have all but disappeared and it will be just a matter of time before Mother Nature (and the folks in our parks department) go to work to turn the parkland green again. How nice to feel the grass instead of snow and ice under-foot once more. Even Willy the Pooch has a new spring (pardon the pun) in his step these days after the long, cold winter. This stretch of waterfront is a jewell for Scugog Town and I plan to make the most of it as often as can. ible." Call the ARO at either (905)873-8122 or (905)378-7202., And speaking of reuse . . .a store that sells shoes is now accepting used footwear which will be donated to children in countries affected bymwars and/or poverty. To learn more about this, call Panda Shoes at (416)232-2608 or 789-5418. Then there are the spare rail cdrs available in the U.S. which are being remodeled to provide homes for the homeless. Former U.S. President telephone number. Jimmy Carter, founder of The Atlanta On postu oceasions we will withhold Project ("a multi-faceted attack on | the writer's identity. things happen. But plenty more help is needed! Letters Welcome The Scugog Citizen welcomes letters to the Editor on just about any topic. You can send your letters by mail or fax (905-985-1410) or deliver them to 36 Weer Street, Port Perry. Letters should be typed or doubled spaced if hand written and must have the writer's full name, address and Underground economy booms in Canada by Paul Pagnuelo It is thé one sector where growth has been strong and According to a Fraser Institute study, the underground economy as skyrocketed from 14 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) to 22 per cent in the past decade. Is it any wonder, as the hard hit middle class and small businesses seek to survive record tax-loads? Politicians continue to ignore the real reason why deficits continue to climb while tax revenues are in a freefall. The answer is simple. High taxes are pushing more and more of the Canadi 4 dq Perhaps you know them. They are a middle class couple in their late 80's living in urban Ontario. Married with two children, he was a senior manager for a manufacturing company. She was an entrepreneur who had started her own retail business. Like other Canadians, they found themselves confronted with frozen incomes and quickly escalating tax burdens. After a decade of assault by all levels of government, the tax bite was finally, too much. Taxes were gobbling up half their family income. Like other law abiding citizens, they stood by silently as they hed their financial being sucked up by the tax But after all, this was Canada trustees who voted themselves a Canada Customs. They haven't and taxes were a special quality 64 per cent pay hike, but under been to the Beer Btore in over a of life for a caring and gentle severe public pressure, relented year as they are brewing their society. and cut 1 back to only 36%. own in the garage. And ther one day, things began Lately, it seems governments They shop mail order to avoid to change. He lost his job when are getting a smaller slice of sales tax and the cleaning his company decided it would their family income. person gots paid cash--no GST, consolidate operations in a This , they d d income. lower-taxed, friendly jurisdiction the basement but did so without "They are playing the game just south of the Ontario border. a building permit to avoid the millions of Canadians have come Revenues were dropping off in her retail business because she refused to deal for cash with no receipts. Then there were the little symbolic things that began to stick in thefr side like a burr, GST. He paid big taxes for his cigarettes and weekly case of beer. 8o too when he filled up the family sedan at the gas pumps. ber the. 1.8 million dollars of taxpayers money paid out for that painting of a red background? Or blue the failed jobs Ontario Plan that. blew a billion dollars the province didn't have. 'Then there were, school board cost and also to avoid the increased assessment that would Bova meant higher property rv paid cash 1g avoid the avoid the GST on the con He's now buying his smokes from a buy at the bowling alley. They go to o for clothes, but forget to declare them to those nice folks at to enjoy. Beat the taxman. This is what happens when governments go too far in their quest for more and more tax dollars. Federation, an in: t member organisation of the Canadian i