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6 -- PORT PERRY STAR = Wednésday, May 23, 1990 BR Te A A RE Tow RET ae LW ae The Port Perry Star 235 QUEEN STREET - PORT PERRY, ONTARIO PHONE 985-7383 FAX 985-3708 The Port Perry Star is authorized as second class mail by the EDITORIAL Publisher - J. Peter Hvidsten Editor - John B. McClelland News/Features - Julia Ashton News/Features - Kelly Storry BUSINESS OFFICE Office Manager - Gayle Stapley Accounting - Judy Ashby Billing Department - Louise Hope Post Office Department, Ottawa, for cash payment of postage. PRODUCTION ADVERTISING Second Class Mail Registration Number 0265 Annabell Harrison ADV ETS rdinator - Valerie Ellis Subscription Rate: In Canada $20.00 per year Trudy Empringham Advertising Sales Representative - Anna Gouldburn Elsewhere $60.00 per year, Single Copy 50¢ Darlene Hlozan @ @ Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association Ontario Community Newspaper Association Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Co. Lid. Port Perry, Ontario Retail Sales - Kathy Dudley, Linda Ruhl, Tracy O'Neil Editorial Comment SOME MESSAGE Lucien Bouchard has tendered his resignation as federal Environment Minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Did he have any choice? Bouchard caused quite a stir over the weekend when he sent a message to a meeting of the national council of the Par- ti Quebecois. And for a man who presumably had to take some kind of oath of allegiance to the country when he assumed his post as minister of the environment, it was some message. It recalled the sovereignty-association referendum in Que- bec a decade ago. "The referendum concerns us all as Quebecers. Its com- memoration is another opportunity to recall with vigor the frankness, pride and generosity of the 'Yes' we defended then, behind Rene Levesque and his team," Bouchard wrote. And he goes on to say in his message "The memory of Rene Levesque unites us all this weekend. For he revealed to Quebecers their inalienable right to decide their own destiny." Incredible words from a minister of the Crown. But not really very surprising when one considers that in 1980, Bou- chard was an effective and tireless campaigner for the 'Yes" side in that Quebec referendum. | No wonder Jacques Parizeau and other PQ leaders were thrilled to read the message at their meeting over the week- end. How ironic that the message was telexed from the Cana- dian Embassy in Paris. Bouchard was in the French capital to attend an environmental conference as Canada's delegate. He obviously didn't have environmental issues on his mind this past weekend. When he returned to Canada, he met with Prime Minister Mulroney for an hour and both mutually agreed he should ten- der his resignation from the Cabinet. Really. What a gesture. He should resign his seat in the Commons as well, for it now seems obvious where his true loyalties lie, and they are not with the federal Canada we know at this time. With the clock ticking down on the Meech Lake Accord and politicians from one end of the country to the other scram- bling to find some way, any way, to save the agreement by the June 23 deadline, Bouchard's message to his PQ cohorts over the weekend sends a clear signal to both federalists and separatists. Quebec is moving out of Confederation. Polls in that prov- ince show that more than 60 per cent of the people there would vote today in favour of sovereignty-association. And can there be much doubt that a large number would prefer a totally independent state (i.e., the sovereignty without the associa- tion And what is the rest of Canada to make out of this state- ment by a minister of the Crown? Certainly the fact that Bou- chard was a minister for several years and a trusted member of the Mulroney's "inner circle" begs the question about the Prime Minister's credibility in selecting his "lieutenants," and his credibility on the whole issue of federalism and the consti- tution. The fact that Bouchard surfaces now with his glowing words about Rene Levesque and the vote of a decade ago, makes people in the rest of the country look like a bunch of dupes. Why are we going through this national crisis over Meech Lake, turning cartwheels in an effort to placate Quebec and bring that province into the constitution, when an important federal politician and decision-maker from Quebec like Bou- chard writes about "Quebecers inalienable right to decide their own destiny." If that's what Quebec wants, let's get on with it. This unit business has been hanging like an albatross around the nec of Canada for too long. It has consumed us, sapped our ener- and led to what: Cabinet ministers sending messages of glowing praise for a party whose only aim is to take Quebec out of Confederation. Even if Meech is signed, that won't be the end of it. You can pank on that. e E Hh a "SA \ DIN N THIN UNFORTUNATE SPLIT Across the top of the Downtown Port Perry Business Improvement Area letterhead a sim- ple statement invites shoppers to, "experience old fashioned charm and friendliness". And an- other slogan across the bottom of the sheet ex- claims, "Downtown Port Perry - we're what oth- ers try to be." While those two statements were very true a year ago there is growing evidence the past few weeks of open fueding and hostility among merchants along Port Perry's historic and charming main street, over the BIA. Quite simply, some want the BIA and oth- ers do not. It would appear as though the battle lines have been drawn, and a fight is about to begin. Who wins the battle is really of no conse- Guero, for no matter what the outcome, the amage which has already been done by way of accusations and exaggerations, has been ex- tensive. The downtown business community ap- pears to be split badly, making it next to.impos- sible to work harmoniously on future projects and promotions. A general meeting of the BIA membership has been called for May 31 to explain the is- sues at hand. At this meeting a vote will be held to decide if there is a future for the BIA. If this hurdle is passed, there will be another vote ask- ing the members to support the existing direc- tors or elect a new board; and another to adopt or reject the minimum/maximum proposal. Should the majority decide they want the BIA disbanded, | am told the BIA directorship would present a formal request to the local council to dissolve the organization. Council would then be faced with a decision to pass a bylaw to that effect. Its a no win situation for Council. They have been asked by the current Board of Direc- tors (in a recent letter), to let them do the job they were elected to do. They go on to say that "if it were necessary for all of councils decisions to be supported unanimously by those who elected them, little would be accomplished." Just what the outcome of this confrontation will be is not clear. As for this year, the BIA bud- get has already been approved by Scugog ownship Council. It is my understanding, no matter what the result of the vote on May 31, it's full steam ahead for projects and promotions until the end of this term, albeit without the mini- mum maximum payments in place. Hopefully during the next week, both sides -will leave the issue alone, and let the general membership make their decision on the future of the BIA after their concerns are brought for- ward next week. There is no need for individu- als, from either side of this issue, to be soliciting support by using scare tactics and accusations. After the true facts and figures are present- ed at the general meeting, then all members can then make their choice in an educated man- ner. And when the voting takes place, it would be nice to seé representatives of all 100+ BIA member businesses present to make their true feelings known. ' Personally, | hope there are enough busi- ness people in this community who can look past their noses and cash registers today, to as- sess the benefits of the BIA to their business down the road. All businesses will not see the same amount of benefit initially, but a healthy, prosperous business community working to- gether can do nothing but help make everyone stronger, and attract more people to Port Perry. WORTH CONSIDERATION It is my understanding one of the concerns of many members, who are not in the retail busi- ness, is that money spent on promotions is of lit- tle or no benefit to them, and they resent their tax dollars being spent to support a few. One alternative, suggested to me by a member who contacted a U.S. group similar to our BIA, would be to separate the tax collected from the retail and the office/professional seg- ments and use the funds for ditferent projects. Example: If $25,000 was raised from the retail segment, then 3/4 of that amount could be used for promotions. If $20,000 was raised from the office/professional segment then that amount (plus 1/4 of the retail) would be used for beautification, parking, or any other projects. Makes some sense, how about it? on om oon Bn oon on on on weds i adi a aetna ~ AL la da A i Ne nl ii