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54 WATER ST.PORT PERRY, ONT. LIL1J2 Phone : (905) 985-6397 Fax : (905), 985-1410 s THE SCUGOG CITIZEN gn independently owned ahd operated weekly community newspaper, f&) is distributed, free of charge, =] (0 to over 13,500 homes and businesses in and around Scugog Townshij et i OCNA Member CCNA Member co-publishers : John B. McCllland, Valerie Ellis editor : John B. Mc! ind office manager : Sibylle'Warren advertising sales rep¥psentatives : 4 ' * Jennine Huffman, Bob Osborne reception : Janet Rankin production : Tanya Mappin, Valerie Ellis * feature writer : Heather McCrae' i CCNA Verified C. 1 Promises empty The tax payers of Ontario have just made a $400 million $onation three Atlantic provinces as part of the bribe from the federal exert to get them to go along with ing" their own p | sales tax with the dreaded GST. In agreeing last week with Ottawa's wish to "harmonize," the governments of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and New Brunswick will get slightly under $1 "billion over four years from federal coffers. N Since Ontario contributes 41: per cent of all the money Ottawa ects, Ontario's portion of that bribe amounts to a cool $400 lion. Or the amount that Queens Park has trimmed from education spending here this year. Talk about a tak grab of monumental proportions. Did the feds offe ike Harris a large chunk of change if he would agree to "harmonize" our eight per cent sales tax with the seven most likely say no. How nice tb learn that federal finance minister Paul Martin now believes the Liberals made a mistake when they promi to scrap ihe GST which was a creation of the Mulroney Instead running around the country trying to "harmonize," and bribing smaller provinces with federal bucks, the Liberals ought to just do what they said they would do: scrap the GST. Never mind what the "Red Book" says, remember what Liberal politicians said from one end of the country to the other when they were out there campaigning for our vote in 1993. \ Of course, those promises were all a mistake, declares the finance minister with all the wisdom of 20/20 hindsight now that the Liberals are comfortably holding down a very nice majority in the House of Commons. OK, so promises made in the heat of an election campaign' need to be taken with a slight grin of salt. But this one takes the cake, and the aftermath reveals the height of hypocrisy of the Jean Chretien administration. Toronto MP John Nunciata had the temerity to vote against himself for his troubles. Sheila Copps, on record as sgying she would resign if the party failed to scrap the GST, has been quiet as a mouse on the issue (which is quite a switch for the usually vochl Ms. Copps) ' Harmonizing the GST from one end of the country to the other with provincial sales taxes is a good idea @f you haven't gobihe- guts to scrap it-completely) but make this process "reve neutral," and please refrain from bribing Canadians with Hor own tax bucks to come on board. The machinations that take place up there on Parliament Hill never cease to be a source of utter amazement for average folks in the rest of the country. * Last week was certainly no exception, and showed that the Chretien government has no guts and a callous dis-regard. for what ins said on the campaign trail. Don't fall for it The provincial government is telling Ontario doctors that $509 million in OHIP billings can't bé paid this year. The province doesn't have the money. In the same letter the Health Ministry makes 'the statement that it "wants to improve patient access to services......and maintain quality health care in Ontario." How can the government expect to do the above while in effect, taking half a billion dollars away from physicians? We all know about deficits, cut-backs, lay-offs and so on coming out of Queens Park. It's high time the Health Mini topped trying to y and others health care maintdined. What do they 'take us for, a bunch of no-brainers? See you in | the line-up. - per cent GST? No. And if such an offer was made, Harris would his party's budget and gets turfed out of the party by the PM |; hood-wink Ontarians by telling them huge amounts of money | can be cut at the same time access can be improved and quality, : "Proud Canadians, prov to call Scugog Township home." IT'S ALIVE! LETTERS To THE EDITOR Casino company 'holds all the cards' To The Editor: After reading and hearing «+ various aspects of the proposed casino, I feel compelled to write, as some of the issues are greatly disturbing. * Firstly, my concern is the water and sewage situation. Only recently, the - Lishman's regretfully had'to cancel their * plan to develop a property 'in Nestleton which would ultimately 'employ several persons. One reason being the , lations. of the enyir bodies regarding sewage and water facilities, which had to be strictly adhered to. Now we are faced with the construction of a casino on . Scugog Island which will accommodate up to 1,000 people (patrons and employees) and will operate 7 days a,week. To daf there has been no study of either water or sewage done. It makes one question what happened to the strict environment regulations. Secondly, if people think this "operation is going to be aggther "Windsor", they'd better consider the facté. Windsor casino pays _. property tax to the city, plus a percentage of the profits go to the « Provincial Government. However, the Island casino is strictly privately-owned and built Ph native land. Consequently, no property is paid to the Township or the Region. The developers have already stated that they are not reeponsible for the Island road upgrades and repairs estimated to be about $3,000,000 over the next few years. As well, there are other costs to the public in an operation of this kind; ie: police & medical services, etc. It is true there will be some benefits to the community (jobs, etc.), but will the benefits justify the costs. Thirdly, this cafino is to be financed and managed by Casinos Austria; a company operating -more than 100 gambling facilities in .14 countries. I suggest that the public jis very naive if they believe that Casinos Aus i interested in operating a chfirity casino. There is no question; they are here for one reason only and that is maximum profits for their * company. © Any charitable donations to local causes will be token amounts, if such are forthcoming at all. To my knowledge, there is no written argument or obligation to our community and it appears they "hold all the cards". I can? help but wonder, with a set-up like this, if the Great Blue Heron, won't turn into a Dirty Red Herring for the taxpayers of Scugog Tgvrehlp Tp Region. J. Bisschop, Scugog Island Casino looks to win To the Editor: 4 I am amazed that you andeMayor Hall are so 'encouraged' (Editorial 'the job jackpot & Casino coverage) regarding the Casino on Scugog Island. 220 jobs - sub-contracts for local trades - a substantial economic shot in the arm - open from 10 am to 2 am - restaurant & bar - spin-off benefits from a large number of visitors from outsidé the To! With all-due respect byt was it ji oversight that peither of you an attempt to make the community aware of the following spin-offs? The increase of drunk drivers on our roads - drug peddlars & users - drug & alcohol related crime increase in domestic giolence - pollution - noise factors for local residents - devaluation of island property - buses up and down our 8% beautiful Island Road & through town from 10 in the morning till 2 the next - the effects this will have' on our youth. (Sorry, but ignoring these facts-doesn'f' make them less real). Your ovine) Vio biieve Soh the people who are putting up money know what they are doing py and know that it is i _ they are not going through all this " trpuble for the native people nor for this township, but rather for theif® own monetary profits. They do not: anticipate losing from this business venture, but neither do they live here or raise their families irf Port' Perry, and especially on Scugog Island, nor will they be en hand when the effects become" apparent over the coming years. 1 would like to ask you, Mayor Hall and all those wha are in favour of having a Casino on Island, where do you live? Would*you be quite so 'encouraged' at the prospect of profits and moré jobs if you lived on the Island? I hope the towhship will be prepared to hire more policerhen - install traffic lights at Island Road & Hwy. 7A and'have around the year & clock RI.D.E.. programs etc. (which will probably raise our taxes of course), To all i citizens of Scugog Township I say, enjoy Port Perry this summer and il my gion oot ay we haye known it. the public was not kept informed on the progress of this ? Usually the current reports on that affect our give viable' seems strange to me. Of course these people know what they are doing and we can be assured EN community. Avery concerned tare Reident D. Pastdor