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¢ Sev} 8 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, January 16, 1990 Letters to the editor Is there light beyond the tunnel? To the Editor: I feel humiliated. While other countries are plac- ing increased attention and im- portance on rail transportation, our country peers through tunnel vision to the "bottom line." While other countries are searching for ways to encourage their popula- tion to reject automobiles (and the resulting pollution) our coun- try has forced thousands more on- to the already crowded highways. But what right do I have to pro- test or complain? I seldom use the train. On the other hand, I seldom use an airport, but my tax dollars are used to supply necessary support systems to the many-:airlines, foreign and domestic, who do pro- vide service to Canadians. I don't drive to Thunder Bay that often, or even to Belleville, but directly or indirectly, my tax dollars pay for bridges and roads that allow me to go if I choose. It seems too simplistic to sug- gest that a more attractive rail service with clean efficient equip- ment and better management could stop the demise of VIA Rail, yes, too simplistic, you don't understand! So -- we quit. The American, William Van Horne, built the railway in Canada; is that what we're waiting for? Another American to show us the light beyond the tunnel? Andrea Jones R.R. 2 Port Perry Life's Like That by Julia Ashton For women only Attention all women artists and designers. The Ontario College of Art has a job -- or better yet, 50 jobs -- just for you. if you are a man, you need not apply. Ihese jobs are stamped "For Women Only." onest The Ontario College of Art announced last week that it will only hire women to replace teachers who retire over the next 10 years. Why? it's called Equity 2000: Phase 1 -- a long- range equity plan for women. "To redress an imbalance on staff, women will be hired to replace teachers who retire, and these vacancies will be advertised as 'for women only,' " OCA president, Timothy Por- teous told the Toronto Star. The article states that at present, only 25 per cent of the courses at OCA are taught by women. By enforcing Equity 2000, the school hopes to raise that percentage to 38. The front-page article in the Toronto Star and the press release that landed on the edi- torial desk at the Port Perry Star did not men- tion how many teachers are employed by the Ontario College of Art, but the release did say" that 50 J acancies needed filling by Septem- ber 1990. "There are vacancies due to retirements and early retirements in the fine art, new me- dia, industrial design, communication and de- sign, environmental design, experimental arts, liberal arts and foundation studies programs," the release states. Mr. Porteous told the Toronto Star he is "confident there are many qualified women to fill any vacancies that may arise." I'm sure there are! And men shouldn't really cry the blues over this one. Mr. Porteous said that men will "con- tinue to be eligible for openings on staff not created by retirement." The "affirmative action program" -- as the Toronto Star likes to refer to it as -- was ap- proved on Nov. 6 of last year. | call it quota hiring. How would you like to walk into the office of a perspective employer, only to find out that you don't qualify for the job because you are not the right sex, color, religion, etc? | thought those days were gone. But after reading several newspaper articles in the past year, | can only say that the situation is get- ting worse, not better. Whatever happened to hiring the best per- son for the job? Did that concept ever come into being? | don't think so. Years ago, a woman applying for a job that could be filled by a man, had little -- if any -- chance of getting the job. Women were a dis- tinct minority. To be a black woman was a double whammy. Men were viewed as the traditional bread- winners and often landed the job on that premise. But this isn't the stone age an more. Nowadays, both spouses have to wo to keep up to the high cost of living. And sometimes -- because of divorce, death or petmanci) injury -- the woman is left to bring me the bacon. So why am | fuming over this "For Women Only" issue, if women have traditionally got- ten the short end of the stick. Because two wrongs don't made a right. if | was a student at OCA, I'd be breathing down Mr. Porteous' back right now. Sure, Mrs. Jane Doe may be qualified to teach the fine art class, but perhaps Mr. John Doe is even more qualified. I'd rather learn from him IF he is the more qualified teacher. it's time for Sriploysts to stop looking at a rson's gender, color or religion and start king at the person's ability. We'd all be a lot better off if they did. Editorial Comment (from page 6) The Passenger Association went to Ottawa and Queens Park on bended knee, virtually begging for an ex- tension of perhaps a year, or at least enough time Ito line- up an alternative. Their pleas found deaf ears. What is being talked about is a new multi-lane high- way (407) running east-west through the heart of Durham from Highways 404 to 115. A new highway! Talk about big bucks to build. Talk about the most costly, in-efficient method of moving large numbers of people in a short period of time. The roads we already have are falling apart because there isn't enough money in the pot to keep them repaired. Lord knows what the cost of gasoline will be next month, never mind 10 years from now. Combustion ent gines are booting the heck out of the environment, we all know that. Governments should be pulling out all the stops now to get people out of their cars, and one way to do that is by rail. Yet, a very viable hunk of rail track is going to start rusting as of this week, and even if, some time in the fu- ture, the private sector or GO Transit or somebody else, decides to put trains back on that track, the cost of remov- ing the rust will be high. it makes no sense to talk in one breath of an area's population doubling over a period of years, while at the same time a viable, efficient mode of transporting people goes down the tubes. Letters to the Editor ... our policy It has always been the policy of this newspaper to encourage our readers to make use of the letters to the editor column. Our readers have a right to freely express their opinions and view- points on just about any subject, and we feel that a lively letters col- umn helps make a better community newspaper. Co We insist, however, that a letter writer sign his or her name. On rare occasions, we will agree to with-hold publication of a letter writer's name, if we feel there are very good reasons to do so. Under no circumstances will this paper print an anonymous let- ter to the editor, While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers, we must con- tinue to insist on knowing the identity of the writer. SPRING WORKSHOPS at Daisy's Dressmaking -- Coatmaking -- Tailoring Dolls -- Basketry -- Quilting -- Smocking -- REGISTER NOW -- FOR OUR NEW WORKSHOPS! OPEN HOUSES -- JANUARY 16th & 18th from 7 to 9 PM to register and view samples for classes. Located in Luke's Country Store 201 Queen St., Port Perry 7 Daisy' fo wR PHONE 985-3221 Fabrics For Better or For Worse® ELLY! 1 THINK Sed HAVING- AN AFFAIR I) NL | BHT LE {Irie M COMPANY AFTER BEING SHUT IN FOR /° A FEW DAYS, -- ' ; EMMERSON | | | INSURANCE BROKERS LIMITED 193 QUEEN ST., PORT PERRY, ONT. 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