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PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, October 11, 1989 -- 7 NATIONAL RAIL SERVICE You have to give Brian Mulroney credit for this one. The Conservatives promised that cuts would be made in the subsidies paid to VIA Rail. And by gosh, they kept their promise. By mid-January, passenger rail service in Can- ada will never be the same again. Indeed, about half of the routes will disappear in about three months and the future of the remaining ones is sha- key, at best. Included in the lines that get the axe in Janu- ary is the Toronto-Havelock run, and that means a lot of commuters will be scrambling to fine a new way to get to their jobs in Toronto. There are some positive signs that this VIA route will be taken over by the provincial GO- Transit. Hopefully, this will come to pass without a lengthy disruption in the service. But three months is not much lead time to make the transition. Certainly, the federal cabinet must have known weeks, if not months ago, that the Tor-Havelock line would be getting the axe. Too bad there wasn't some consulation with the province of Ontario, so that the necessary groundwork could be done to have GO take over the service without any lengthy disruption. Watching the House of Commons debates af- ter the VIA announcements last week, | was a bit surprised to hear the Prime Minister say he will call a Royal Commission to examine all modes of trans- portation in Canada: rail, air and highway. Jeez, do we need a lengthy and costly Royal Commission into this subject now? By the time all the hearings are over, the VIA lines will be sprout- Viewpoint by John B. McClelland ing weeds. Maybe we should have had a Royal Commission on transportation two years ago. This government might have been able to use some of the recommendations. I can't remember the last time | took a train anywhere. In a practical sense, the VIA cuts won't impact on my life. And quite frankly, the $600 mil- lion each year the federal government has been throwing VIA's way is much too much. Still, | wonder if there are not ways to but the subsidy without cutting off service completely, and | really have to wonder whether careful attention was given to ways to make passenger rail service more cost effective. | have been told there is no passenger service anywhere in the world that operates totally in the black, but | wonder about the future. In 20 years or so, are we going to be scrambling to trim the weeds from between the tracks on all those aban- donded rail lines? On the surface of it all, the government's deci- sion is easy to understand: $600 million in annual subsidies is just too much. But scratching a bit deeper, | think the decision on VIA is represents a fundamental part of the phi- losophy of this particular government in Ottawa which is radically altering the face of this country. It goes hand in hand with de-regulation of the air in- dustry, for example, privatization of crown corpora- tions, the closure of military bases, even free trade. It is, if you will, a philosophy of classic liberal- ism (not to be confused with the philosophy of the Liberal Party). The hand of government, where it exists at all, will be nearly invisible. It represents a fundamental departure from the kind of government Canadians have had since the end of World War 2. There are many in this country, myself includ- ed, who have argued that government is too big, too expensive, and plays far too extensive a role in the everyday lives of ordinary citizens. It is a philosophy that will transform this coun- try. In ten years, you may not recognize Canada. Whether good or bad, remains to be seen. But the pendulum is certainly swinging rapidly. Back to VIA for a minute. When the announce- ments on the cut-backs were made last week, one wag suggested that Canadians should relax, no reason to upset. Amtrack is waiting in the wings, getting ready to pounce on all those rail lines. WRONG DECISION, BOSS In all the years | have worked for the Port Perry Star | can count on one hand the number of times | have had a serious dis-agreement with Peter Hvid- sten. However, | want to state here that | don't agree with his decision to stop writing his weekly column Random Jottings. Peter explains the reasons why in his column on the opposite page this week. | really don't want to join this "debate" that has been bubbling the last few weeks. Suffice to say that Peter is dis-couraged over the tone of a few letters that have appeared on these pages. Still, | don't think this is the time put the pen away, boss. I know one thing. His skin thickened considera- bly the last week or two. (Turn to page 12) Letters io the editor Remember When? 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 26, 1944 Cpl. J.L. Sweetman of Toronto enjoyed a long weekend with his family here. Mr. and Mrs. Russell Sonley have received word that their son A.C. Walter (Bud) Sonley R.C.A.F., has arrived safely in India. The wedding of Mr. Ivan Gray and Miss Marie Mitchell took place in the United Church on October 20th. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 28, 1954 The response to the appeal for funds to apply to relief of vic- tims of Hurricane Hazel has been most gratifying to the canvassers. Plans are underway to organize a Skating Club in Port Perry in conjunction with the Oshawa Figure Skating Club. Peter Sulman, 3rd year student at Ryerson, taking Mechanical and Industrial Technology Course, received the Massey-Harris Company's scholarship on second year work. Mr. Wm. Doupe of Seattle, U.S.A. is visiting with Mr. and Mrs. S. Oyler. Many other friends were pleased to meet William who was a lad in our midst nearly thirty years ago. 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 29, 1959 With Christmas season drawing near, Mr. Harvey Hall was pleased to learn that he was a prize winner in the Irish Sweepstakes draw. Eunice Roach was the guest of Carol Wilson of the Island on Monday night and attended a Hallowe'en party there. Mr. and Mrs. Olsen and family have moved to their new home in Prince Albert. The Port Perry students surpassed their goal of $1800. in their magazine campaign by bringing in a grand total of $2154.38. 25 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 29, 1964 The installation of the Maybelle Rebekah Lodge took place on Tuesday, October 29th. The top three officers were Sister Georgina Moore, Past Noble Grand; Sister Helen Redman, No- ble Grand; and Sister Ruby Roach, Vice Grand. About 250 ladies attended the function and presiding over the installation was the District Deputy President, Sister Grace Murdock from Bowmanville. Mrs. G. Groupe, Prince Albert, has returned to her home in Philadelphia for the winter months. Over thirty-five members and past members of the Scout and Cub Mothers' Auxiliary, assembled to pay tribute to the (Turn to page 8) Warning of Gypsy Moth infestation To the Editor: In mid-August, century-old oak trees at Sturgeon Point produced leaves for the second time since May. In June, caterpillars of the Gypsy moth had stripped the oak trees of their Spring foliage. The oak trees were attempting to pro- duce a second growth of leaves before Fall. Tom Stephens from the Tweed area and I, (dedicated conserva- tionists) were assessing the situa- tion with the benefit of Tom's ex- perience in fighting Gypsy moth infestation. We were greatly con- cerned to note that the trunks of the oak trees were literally covered with the egg masses of the Gypsy moth, clinging to the trunks in individual sachets each containing an estimated 1,200 eggs. Next Spring these eggs will Enjoyed article, Rob! To the Editor: We would like to offer con- gratulations to reporter Rob Streich for his recent story on the subject of accident victims .being treated at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. The article was exceedingly interesting, intelligent, well written and made us aware of just how delicate the human body is. We know how one act of carelessness can change your entire life in an instant. Good work, Rob. Keep writ- ing. Also, a word to the editor for giving the people of Port Perry and area a newspaper to be proud of. We read the Port Perry Star each week from cov- er to cover, and take special in- terest in the editor's forthright column "Viewpoint," which nev- er fails to enlighten us, especial- ly when it voices his political views, etc. The new separation of the Star into two parts is commend- able, making it easy to find the classifieds and coming events, as well as enjoying the new "home of the week" feature. We are sure we speak for all your readers when we say "Well done. Keep up the good work." become squirming caterpillars capable of collectively stripping the oak trees of their foliage in a single day. Should this happen, the oak trees at Sturgeon Point, like any species of deciduous tree already weakened from one at- tack may not survive a second time. Pine and spruce trees, once stripped of their needles die. The 1989 outbreak of the Gypsy moth infestation at Sturgeon Point extended to ten acres only. Property owners who felt that there was nothing to worry about, should be aware that a 1985 out- break of the Gypsy moth near Kaladar, Ontario expanded from 4,000 to 350,000 acres by 1986. The caterpillars of the Gypsy moth strip trees.of their foliage Yours truly, with incredible s ; . peed. Attacks Patriscand Joan Jarvie, from the Gypsy moth can occur in ' y: (Turn to page 10) Smile Foi The Day et may "Youstill say my talking so lond would keep the fish away!"