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Ve wy" 8 -- Scugog Citizen --. Tuesday, July 18, 1 54 WATER ST., PORT PERRY, ONT. L9L1j2 Phone : (905) 985-6397 Fax : (905) 985-1410 publishe THE SCUGOG CITIZEN an independently owned and operated weekly community newspaper, 1 distributed, free of charge, to over 13,500 homes and businesses in and around Scugog Township. Subscriptions sold outside Scugog Te hip. d by : Scugog Citizen Pul _ ccna, | wCNA CCNA Verified morro blishing Ltd. editor : John B. McClelland advertising manager : Valerie Ellis advertising sales rep : Thom Dosan/ accounting : Sibylle Warren reception : Janet co-publishers : John B. McClelland, Valerie Ellis Rankin production : Tanya Mappin, Liz Drebit feature writer : Heather McCrae "Proud Canadians, prod to call Scugog Township home." No | valid reason to sell off LCBO The newly elected Conservative government in Ontario is musing about the possibility of "privatizing" the Liquor Control Board. ' There has been no official announcement, of course. Not yet, anyway. But then there has been no official announcement about selling Ontario Hydro to the private sector, either. As for the LCBO which operates virtually all of the liquor stores in this province, one has to wonder what possible benefit would be advanced to all the people of Ontario. Would the price of liquor or wine go down? Would service and selection go up? Would the government coffers see more money than they do now? Is there any logical, rational and compelling reason to un-load the LCBO now and turn its operation over to the private sector? The answer to all of the above is no. So why do it. The LCBO these days is a far cry from what it was 20 or even ten years ago. Sure, the LCBO is not without its faults. But the stores are well run, efficient and friendly, selection is marvellous, in fact, there is hardly a spirit made (legally) anywhere in the world the LCBO cannot get for a customer. The LCBO, by the way, made just over $600 million last year, money that went into the government coffers. If sold, how will that money be replaced. If sold, who will buy the hundreds of stores now owned by the LCBO, stores whose property values are as deflated as most other commercial property in Ontario? Who would benefit from the privatization of the LCBO? Speculators who would gobble up the property at rock bottom prices, for one. Brokers who would reap hand to handl the privatization, and those in the private sector who eventually would run the system and do a damn sight poorer job than we have now. The LCBO is not perfect. It needs some work (longer hours, open Sunday would be a start) But why sell something that essentially is doing the job it should be for consumers and government? Mike Harris should back off this one, and back off any notion to put Hydro on the block as well. Harris and his Tories were elected for several reasons: Ontario was tired of the NDP, the Liberals were no alternative, and the Conservatives promised to cut taxes, reduce spending and get rid of government programs that don't make any sense. Harris has got more than enough on the political plate in the next couple of years to come through with those promises, never mind the near impossible task of implementing workfare, setting up boot camps for malcontents who run a-foul of the law and creating jobs for the more than a million people in this fair province who are out of work. Privatizing the LCBO may be politically "sexy" in some circles these days, and there may be one of two folks left in Ontario who believe philosophically that "government has no place in the booze business." But the benefits of such a move would be for the few. The rest of us would get stuck with higher costs and the same kind of service and selection you find in those stores that can't seem to keep even their "advertised specials" in stock. | TBE SCUMG <M ~ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CN To the Editor: This is an open letter to those individuals involved in organizing Festival Days weekend this past weekend, job poorly done!!! Somebody felt that blocking off the main street in order to view a dozen or so vintage automobiles would bring in families and cash flow into the town, I don't think so. Somebody thought keeping the local merchants off the main street would attract families and cash flow into the town, I don't think so. Somebody thought that keeping. the local restaurants from offering their services on the main street sidewalks would attract families and cash flow into the town, I don't think so. When something works as it did in the past, why not make it better instead of worse. I was on Queen Street Friday afternoon where usually there would be crowds of people from the Post Office right down to Mary Street, | saw maybe 50 people, by the way I did see a couple of families. This year's Festival Days was a waste of time and money and I can only wonder why the powers : that be made these asinine changes, especially when it worked great for so many years. Maybe I am being cynical but I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised if the before mentioned powers that be come to the conclusion that Festival Days has outlived its usefulness and should be discontinued. I guess what I am trying to state is that the previous years efforts for Festival Days will long be remembered as a fun and happening. This year's Festival days appeared to be a total failure. I know that I am not alone with my feelings as I have spoken to many who share the same views. One can only hope that somebody with grit and brains will see to it that the required adjustments will be made so that we can all enjoy Festival Days as we used to. P.S. The beer tent was a total Festival Days not what it used to be rip-off i.e. $6.00 cover and $3.50 for a cup of draft. P.P.S. I wonder if the local merchants lost money from having the main street closed to regular traffic, I do think so. Yours truly Jon Waite Port Perry Integrity ignites. I like it To the Editor: I' think your readership is becoming of the best. This is a boost to Tyler 8. Briley for his letter "Support for M.P. Shepherd". Probably a ton of people know I am anti (our) political system; but when integrity ignites: I like it. 'Therefore, would Tyler consent to _ advising us of his costs of printing all those entrepreneur-needles? I'd like to pay my share (say an equal division of the total of all other patriots) or a ten buck minimum - has requested: and anyone caring to mail me a buck to receive a two page photo copy of M.P. Shepherd's letter - will receive it by return mail. I would also delight in valid leads or info on present lotteries: operating anywhere in the Dominion .. their ticket cost .. pay off .. net take and net profit. The point being; would there be sufficient resources remaining to have a significant impact on the deficit? Well, if referendum national will of the people were fact - you could bet your 'donkey' - whichever be the least. If such p 0 i 1 think we'll have to initiate our own caring referendum group: No politics - just consensus-action. M.P. Shepherd also totally rejects his pension under the new glut-scheme recently enacted by the entire political-entrepreneurs' club, feeding off Chretien's "Red Book Plan"; meaning black ink for the politically correct and red ink for the rest. With a report on Mike Steele's lottery proposal in several back issues of this paper: I am ecstatic with the two page response from M.P. Shepherd, dated June 27th. 1 have received back replies from liticians before - to a two-liner stonewalling: But this positive-interest letter is refreshing. : I am presently trying to dig up an in depth lottery study, as he all 'charity' and interest- groups would find themselves on thé national priority 'totem pole' as per the wisdom of the national will of the people. Well, attack that one: or better it please. . To Mrs. Betty Worsley (law won't stop crime) well, certainly not dark ages law but do investigate six pages of no-nonsense lay law, that would: Dead. e is: it seems ° the big cha involved to economical referendum rule via the national majority will of the people - would inconvenience folk more than the risks of being duped .. robbed .. beaten .. murdered or raped sexually and financially: under present management. Kindest Avian Ron Ward R.R.1 Janetville