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12, 1995" =z ugg Cities Tuesday, S temb Phone : (905) 985-6397 Fax : (905) 985-1410 Subscriptions sold outside Scugog published by : Scugog Citizen Publishing Ltd * editor : John B, McClelland , OCNA Member advertising manager : Valerie Ellis an 0G TaN ol CCNA Member advertising sales rep : Thom Doran weekly community newspaper, accounting : Sibylle Warren is distributed, free of charge, ] © pe reception : Janet Rankin - to over 13,500 homes and businesses production : Tanya Mappin, Liz Drebit 54 WATER ST,, PORT PERRY, ONT. L9L1J2 in and around Scugog Township. COTA ver fied feature writer : Heather McCrae co-publishers : John B. McClelland, Valerie Ellis "Proud Canadians, prow to call Scugog Township home." [EDITORIAL Let's Talk Taxes A hot button, guaranteed to send taxpayers ballistic, is the mere niention of MP or MPP pensions. Summer isn't the only thing that's coming to an end. Stepping out of a cabingt meeting last month, Premier Mike Harris told reporters that the government will introduce legislation this fall to scrap the gold plated pension plan for | Ontario MPPs. . MPPs must serve at least five years and contribute 10% of their pay (excluding the tax-free allowance) towards the plan. When MPPs step down from office, once their age and years of service total 55, they can begin drawing on their fully indexed pension, receiving 5% of the average of their highest three years salary for every year served, up to a maximum of 75%. If the three party leaders all quit today, Mike Harris would earn a pension of $47,500, Bob Rae would get $67,000 and Lyn, McLeod - the shortest serving member of the three - would 'earn $28,900. David Peterson, the former Liberal Premier who voters turfed in the 1990 election, is the highest paid pensioner at $67,800 a year. A backgrounder attached to a Harris news release issued on June 3rd, just days before the election, said: "Actuaries tell us that the current system isn't a real pension plan at all. Politicians make contributions that bear no relation to the cash payout they receive. The plan doesn't pay for itself am hoe has." In fact, its taxpayers who are on the hook for making u up the difference between MPPs' contributions and what is paid out in benefits. With a cyrrent unfunded liability of $11 million, in fiscal 1992-93, taxpayers had to tover 90% of the plan's costs. ' So what did our new Premier offer as a solution to this opulence during thé June 8th election? The backgrounder said "A Harris government will. move to a straightforward . retirement savings plan." Clear and unequivocal. Taxpayers read Harris' pledge as | meaning the pension plan would be reformed for all sitting MPPs. But now it seems there may have been a little invisible fine print attached to the election commitment. Harris' says the changes will apply only to MPP$ holding office for the first time since the 1990 election, because the government doesn't believe it has the legal or moral right to take away the benefits of those already in the plan. Why is it that legal problems only seem to exist when the subject matter irivolves the perks of elected office? "Legal rights" aren't stopping Harris from reducing welfare benefits, scrapping labour legislation, and repealing job equity laws. "Legal rights" didn't stop former Premier Bob Rae from imposing retroactive tax increases, and overriding collective bargaining contracts with his social contract. They didn't stop former Prime Minister Brian Canada's most hated tax - the GST, and from clawing back old age pensions or cancelling the baby bonus. "Legal rights" didn't stand in the way of Jean Chretien's Liberal government when it came to cancelling the Pearson Airport deal, or changing U.L rules. And where are the "legal rights" if Ottawa overhauls the Canada Pension Plan, a it is promising to do? The constitutional principle of parliamentary sovereignty held by the provincial legislature allows it to make retroactive changes to the plan. Half measures are notin keeping with the new image and style of government which Ontarians expect of Harris. The Premier would be well advised to stick to his stated election promise to scrap the current pension plan, and to do so without any exceptions. "Let' 's Talk Tazes" is a dg 5 ak TH Mulroney from stacking the Senate so he could ram through of the Ontario HEY DORIS... WE'LL NEVER FINISH THE TERRY FOX RUN (F You DON'T STOP STOPPING FOR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | In defense of French Imm. To the Editor; I am writing to submit my rebuttal to Vona Mallory's letter in your September 6 edition, with regards to the French Immersion Programme. I have been enrolled in the. French Immersion Programme since kindergarten, and as I eAter my OAC year at Port Perry High School, I am very thankful for everything that. the programme has offered me. It has likely been the single most advantageous opportunity which 1 have taken part in, and I will not sit by any longer, and allow for it to be torn to shreds. First, the French Immersion Programme gave me the opportunity to learn a second language quite extensively. My knowledge of the French language at such an carly age actually helped me to develop stronger English literary skills, for after close examination, one will surely realize how similar the two languages are. Being immerséd in the French language at the age of five certainly did not put me at a higher risk for failure, rather it has put me in a greater posjtion to succeed. My second language has already given 'me opportunities for employment and travel that my "English counterparts" 'have not had. In a world where employment is so very hard to find, bilingualism is a very useful skill that I am fortunatd to possess. " Secondly, the curriculum supplied by the Ministry of Education has taught me a great remain unbiased. There are no definite answers to point out who is right and who is wrong as far as the debate regarding the effectiveness of the French Immersion Programme is coricerned. I feel however, that 1 have had enough experience in dealing with it, to recognize how advantageous it can be. Granted, it is nat designed for every child. Differeht people have different learning styles and therefore, they learn by different methods; the French Immersion Programme is $hly one method of teaching a second language. Even those children who decide to withdraw from the program are not "rendered comparatively illiterate in the global language" as a result of their participation in the French Immersion Programme. What some parents fail to realize is that even though their child learns the French language in school, they should still practice reading and writing in the English language at home,as they would if they were in an English programme. Only this procedure ensure success. I am not superhuman as far as education is concerned; | work hard and persist at my studies which accounts for my 8uccess. What saddens me most is the fact that due to the negative exposure that the French Immersion programme received - from people like Ms. Mallory, some children may not be able to experience the same opportunities that I have been * given as<a result of the programm. The "imposition" of the French language in Canada does not lead to our "freedom being eroded away"; ignorance usually accounts for much of that The knowledge of a second language can open many doors for one, thus increasing one's freedom in our society. Sadly, it is the fear of the unknown that is a major contributor to the prejudice that exists in our society, whether it be with regards to the French Immersion Programme, or even Quebec's right to sovereignty. Respectfully Yours Heather A. Malcolm Scugog Township Saying goodbye To the Editor: My letter to My community,' This personal letter is béing written to all the wonderful members of my community. As the former full-time representative for the YMCA in the North Durham areas for the deal about the French Canadian_ bast six years, I wanted to say culture and heritage; it was the rg who discovered this great n of ours. At this point in time, when Quebec is Sghting for I'm sorry that I will no longer be available to take your calls. My employment with the Y was suddenly terminated recently ry ; y leaving you so abruptly and that 1 will miss you all very much! My work in this community has been very fulfilling, the people in it are truly wonderful and caring. I enjoyed every minute of talking, sharing, kibitzing and arranging I did and whether you actually were ever involved in a YMCA program or not, I still wish to extend my apologies. Thank you for making me a part of your lives for six