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4 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, February 3, 1987 Editorial Comments Some Message Two Montreal men were found guilty last week of plotting to com- mit murder by blowing up an airplane. Madame Justice Claire Barrette~Jaoncas sentenced the two men to life in prison, and in passing sentence she is reported to have said it should serve as a message to would-be terrorists *'that such acts will not be considered lightly in Canada." All the teeth went out of that message by virtue of the fact that the two men will be eligible to seek parole in_aBdut seven years. Whether they get parole is another thing, but the fact they are eligi- ble for it turns the words "life sentence" into a bit of a joke. The two are members of a Sikh fundamental movement that is trying to create an independent homeland country in the Punjab state of India. : They were found guilty in December of conspiring to murder passengers by blowing up an airplane. There was no explosion and the identity of the plane was not disclosed during the trial, except that it was at U.S. airport. Oh, yes, the judge ordered the two men never to own or possess firearms or explosives for 30 years after their release from jail. « Is this the kind of message our courts should be sending to those anywhere in the world who may carry out acts of terrorism or violence within Canada or anywhere else for political reasons? Is this sentence a deterrent against others? Life in prison with a chance for parole in seven years is not going to stop any fervent terrorist filled with the passion of a 'just cause." Granted, in this case, there was no explosion or loss of life. But rather than slapping 'would-be terrorists on the wrists with life' sentences and chance of parole in seven years, Canadian courts should be slapping them in-jail-and throwing away the key. If not, we run the risk of.earning a reputation of being *'soft" on criminal terrorists who commit or attempt to commit violence. Canada is already a haven for disgruntled persons from every corner of the globe to carry on their struggles from a distance. Going easy on those who turn to violence is like turning on agreen light for trigger-happy, 'bomb-toting malcontents everywhere. One need not be especially bright to figure out that innocent peo- ple get killed by terrorists, and sooner or later innocent Canadians within our borders 'are going to lose their lives. Canada already has a reputation as being "too soft' on those who break our domestic laws in the commission of violent crime. The last thing we need is a reputation as an easy place for terrorists to do business without fear of paying the fullest price for their crimes. A life sentence with parole eligibility after seven years is a mockery. Telling a would-be terrorist he/she can't own guns or ex- plosives for 30 years after release from jail must make them all chuckle with delight. | If we don't start putting some teeth in our laws when it comes to this kind of violence, we had better be prepared to pay the price: C---- 11 : A E E Ly! N I [ to give up wine and women, Mr. Davis, but sing all you want to." "You'll have Nay \ NN i Port Perry STAR 1235 QUEEN STREET - PORT PERRY. ONTARIO Phone 985-7383 PO Box90 LOB INO | (echa Ch | Fe J. PETER HVIDSTEN Member of the Publisher Canadian Community Newspaper Association and Ontario Community Newspaper Association Advertising Manager An ¥ vert ne nager Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Co Ltd Port Perry) Ontarwo J.B. McCLELLAND Editor Authorized as second class mail by the Post Ottce Department Ottawa and tor cash CATHY OLLIFFE payment of postage in cash News & Features : Second Class Mail Reg straton Number 0265 a Subscription Rate In Canada $15 00 per year Elsewhere $45 00 per year Single Copy 35° Chatterbox by Cathy Olliffe WHAT'S GOING ON NOW? I sure wish Canada Post would make up its mind. Td to On Friday morning I was prepared to offer congratulations to the Canada Post Corporation, "which I thought, in its infinite wisdom, had drop- ped plans to close hundreds of rural post offices. The so-called decision was announced Thurs- day by the minister responsible for the agency, Michel Cote. : "The post office .... advises me that they havi no intention of closing any rural post offices," he - 'said, in response to a Tory question in the House of Commons. Ny 'The announcement was greeted with applause from Tory back-benchers, many of whom have 'been under attack from constituents over the issue. r Cote also said the corporation would not start" any change in service before consulting with MP's. I got all excited when I heard this, and pro- mptly fired off a Chatterbox column gushing with praise for Canada Post for making the decision. I knew I was in trouble, however, when my editor called me into his office to say the decision hadn't been made, and that soon after Cote made _his announcement, he was hedging. Did he make the announcement out of the clear blue sky or did he simply jump the gun, anticipating a similar decision fom the post office corporation? Who knows. The more I know about the federal government, the less I know. But I do wish, and fervently hope, rural post offices will remain open. That decision would be good news for thousands of Canadians living in rural areas. For too long, these people have been paying - the high price of living in the country. They pay high taxes, like everyone else, and don't receive half the benefits. In many cases, they don't have their garbage picked up, they're not on sewers. and they rely on their own wells for water. The roads leading into their homes are usually gravel, 'and are almost always the last to be plowed after a snowstorm. : One of the few benefits they have been able to count on is the postal service. In rural areas. many people actually get their mail delivered to boxes at the end of the driveway. In mall com- munities like Caesarea, Nestleton' Prince Albert. Seagrave, Greenbank and Ashburn, people rely on post office boxes and the friendly service of local postmasters. Things have been that way for as long as most folks can remember, so it came as a bit of a shock for some people when Canada Post announced plans to reduce its deficit by eliminating rural delivery and rural post offices by replacing both with "'super mail boxes." For some people, especially the elderly living in small communities without cars, the end of the rural post office would be more than just an inconvenience. It would be the end of a way of life. For decades, the rural post office has been- more than just a place to pick up mail, buy stamps, or mail letters. It has been an institution in this country. oT It is a symbol of the past, a reminder of the days of the general store, the pickel barrel, and the local meeting place. It is a symbol of all that is '"'the Canadian small town." And that's "important. | While other Canadian traditions have gone the' way of the buffalo, swept clean by modern ways and relegated to the history books, the rural post office has continued to be the centrepiece of small towns everywhere. In some places, it is the only building that flies a Canadian flag, the only symbol of the Canadian government, and the only spot that joins a remote village to the rest of the country, and the rest of the world. ~ But in small towns, it is the centre of activi- ty, where citizens meet every day to exchange pleasantries, talk about common experiences, catch up on the gossip, and meet new neighbours. For some people, the trip to the post office is the only outing of the day. Its a chance for a short walk, some fresh air, and some friendly conver- sation. Many people go to the post office to ~heck their mail, but wind up at a nearby coffee hop after meeting a neighbour, where they'll spend an hour or two shooting the breeze. Now, you might think this is pretty inconse- quential when Canada Post's financial future is in question, but I don't agree. Canada Post, in my way of thinking, is a ser- vice to all Canadians, something just as impor- tant as transportation. The Toronto Transit Com- mission, for example, is an infinitely important 'service to the people of Toronto and surrounding areas, and yet it has never been a huge profit- making enterprise. Subsidies from the government help it run ef- ficiently. Not profits. And yet there is no sign of it being closed down. The TTC is a service, and. because it ls necessary, it will continue to operate, regardless of the profit/loss margin. . The Canada Post Corporation is also an im- portant service, even more important to the rest of Canada than public transit. Maybe the people who run it should also look at the post office as a service, and mvt be so concerned about. making Money (Turn to page 6)