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i 6 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, May 25, 1988 Editorial Letters Comments ush against survival of family farm (From page 4) "get-rich-quick" visions dancing in his head. But the more fundamental question in this issue is development itself. Does Scugog want more residen- tial housing? If so, should it be limited to the so- called designated urban areas? As the Oak Mead- wos developer pointed out at the council meeting last week, approving housing projects around the exist- ing hamlets may be costly a few years down the road if Skea) water supplies in those hamlets go bad be- cause of the influx of new homes. And that has al- ready happened in certain areas of Durham Region. And two substantial proposals within the Port Per- urban boundary are currently under intense scru- tiny for exactly those reasons: the potential to dam- age existing wells. There is no chance of future subdivisions in Port Perry on full services (sewer and water) because the sewage treatment facility is now at near capacity. We are not suggesting for one minute that council take a "carte-blanche" policy of granting subdivisions on every scrap of scrub land in the Township. But if it is the intention of Scugog to continue to encourage residential growth, then surely a few small-scale (up to 30 lots) well-planned developments that meet all the stringent criteria and do not impact nearby work- ing farms, should at least get some consideration on their individual merits. To The Editor: It would seem the big push is on against the survival of the small farm family unit of Durham Region's Official Plan Review prevails. The objective is to eliminated all farmers' retire- ment lots and all family related lots to farmers. This does not bother the larger farmer as he merely gives members of his family one of his farm pieces. It does affect the small farmer radically. The small farmer depends on his retirement lot in place of any pension system he might have had if he worked in in- dustry. This then will be lost to him. He might be able to survive as a small 'farming unit if he had a relative of his family living on the farm in their own dwelling - this is also eliminated. Looking at the benefits to the large farmer the objective is to keep the selling price of the small farms at a low cost. This obvious- ly is a great benefit to the large farmer who wants to buy out the small farm since the small farmer has to sell to that abutting large farmer or look for a hobby purchaser. In summary, it would seem a huge land grab is being in- strumented by our revisions in our planning concept. This must be stopped before it stagnates all land usage by ordinary people and ordinary farmers. I urge all members of the community of Durham to contact their Regional Councillors and their local Coun- cillors to voice their objections to this hostile thrust by our planning sections. Yours very truly, Douglas W. Wilson, Oshawa. What's worse, Liberal budget or NDP? To The Editor: Q: What's worse than the shaf- ting of us taxpayers in the recent Ontario Liberal budget? A: The hypocritical posturing by NDP leader Bob Rae. Rae, with a straight face, pro- tests that the Liberals' tax hikes "gouge" taxpayers. What cynicism! Rae knows that the NDP, more than any other party, has pushed for more social programs and more government spending. This is paid for by higher taxes and borrowing. Has Rae ever suggested spending less or taxing less? We need spending cuts to make responsible tax cuts possible. That's where thé taxpayers' final hope, the PCs, should come in. They don't. No one speaks for us taxpayers. The chilling truth is that the government big enough to give you everything you want is big Port Perry Downtown Merchants Invite you to join them at their ~ Friday & Saturday JUNE 3rd & 4th first annual (RAIN or SHINE) Mark it on your Calendar Now! Watch next week's Port Perry Star for more details on this exciting sale. enough to take everything you have. Yours sincerely, David Somerville, President, National Citizens Coalition, Toronto. Challenge fo youths To The Editor: The Durham East P.C. youth would like to issue a challenge to all the youth groups in the area to come out and help raise money for the Scugog Museum by Canoe- ing the Nonquon. The challenge that we are issuing is not who can do the route the fastest or who has the best canoe, but rather who can raise the most money through their sponsors. We challenge any and all youth organizations; Scouts, Guides, Sea Cadets, Ball teams, Soccer Teams, whatever, to help put this year's race over the top. The museum belongs to all of us. Hope to see you on race day, June 4. Yours truly, Mark Kendall, President, 'Durham East P.C. Youth. Letter to Premier (From page 5) years ago, is not only short- sighted, but is wasteful of our natural heritage. Governments may not fall on environmental issues (yet) such as this, but you have lost many votes, not just mine, but many others as well. Yours truly: Ian McCrae, Port Perry. Jazzmerize (From page 3) the Palliser Hotel in Canada. While most of the time was spent peforming and attending clinics, the group was able to get away for one day of sightseeing at Banff. Mr. Whitc said Jazzmerize members appreciate the support the community has given them, and they served as "excellent good-will ambassadors for our community. Their conduct and de- meanor was exemplary," he stat- ed. About 8,000 students compet- ed in the Music Fest national awards.