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a -------- TRY RI mg RCRA: on PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, December 11, 1990 -- 7 Vy Viewpoint WHAT NEXT, BRIAN? Last year the Mulroney government took a major slice from one of Canada's vital arteries when it slashed VIA Rail services. Last week, it cut the budget of another institution in this country, the CBC, by $100 million, effectively shutting down numerous TV stations. What's the next trick Brian has up his sleeve? All he needs to do is privatize the Trans Canada High- way and sell the Seaway to the Yanks, and this coun- try will be completely without any of the glue that helped hold us together. The VIA Rail cuts last year didn't hit me personal- ly. And I'm not much of a fan of televison at the best of times, so slashing $100 million from the CBC's budget won't impact on my TV viewing. What hurts is the way the government is cutting the heart from things that have been Canadian for so many years. Rail lines, the CBC, are part of the heri- tage of this nation, such as it is in 1990. The government is saying to Canadians "the past doesn't matter any more." As | watch the Mulroney gang rip and tear its way through this country, | feel a sense of deep sad- ness. | am convinced that Canada as we know it to- day, simply won't be here in five years, possibly less. From my point of view, the malaise that now grips this once Qroud land, started some ten years ago, when the Government of the day decided that metrification would be good for us. Remember metrification? The rationale was that Canada should move to the metric system, because that's the system most of the rest of the world uses. The cost (in dollars) was horrendous, but no matter, we plowed ahead anyway with kilometres and metre- sticks, celsius degrees and kilopascals. The people of Canada hated it, but that didn't matter either. Business hated it, but so what, Ottawa knew what's best for us and shoved metric right down our throats. | would defy anyone to prove to me that "going metric" has helped Canada in international markets. Talk about logic. We get metric to help us trade with the rest of the world and what do we do next? We enter into a free trade deal with the Americans who have rejected the metric system outright. Ron Reagan, bless his soul, said it right when he uttered this gem: "the metric system has walked its last kilo- metre in this country." All metric has done for Canada is create a huge price tag, generate lots of confusion, and start a ack-lash against a few other things. Throw in forced bilingualism (which has not worked) and the expensive policy of multi-culturalism, and it's not hard to see why the drift turned into a tidal wave. Ottawa has given us a major dose of things we don't want and didn't ask for, while at the same time has cut the heart out of traditions and institutions that served this country well for generations. To pay for all the hare-brained schemes foisted on us by Ottawa over the last decade or two, the cur- rent hare-brain up there in Ottawa has given us the GST. And he's using the same "big lie" that in the long run, it will actually be good for us, just the way metric, bilingualism and everything else was to be good for us. The GST is so good, in fact, that he (the hare- brain) is spending more than $200 million to tell us in radio, TV and print ads, phone hot-lines and informa- tion seminars. Now, you know where the $100 million from the CBC budget is heading. And some of the CBC budget no doubt will go to Keith Spicer's travelling road show, the one that's criss-crossing the country asking people what they think of national unity. Good grief, if the hare-brain wants to find out about national unity, all he has to pick up any news- paper in the country and read the letters to the editor. So it's been farewell to VIA, adieu to a big part of CBC programming, hello to a new money-making postal service (that takes a week or more to deliver Port Perry Stars to subscribers less than 20 miles from here) not to mention the sell-off of PetroCan, Air Canada, plus the dastardly GST. Welcome to Brian's vision of Canada. You know what? It stinks. THE SENATOR Had a nice letter the other day from former Scu- gog Mayor Lawrence Malcolm. He's struggling through another winter at Zephyr Hills Florida. When he's not golfing, he's trying to find ways to beat the 80 degree heat. Lawrence was the dean of local politicians with some three decades of experience under his belt be- fore he retired from office a couple of years ago. | started to calling him the "senator" (in a re- spectful way) and the tag stuck. We had our share of dis-agreements over the years (most notably the infamous library location) and used to chide him from time to time about being too prudent with the tax-payers money. But | always respected him for his stand on is- sues. Anyway, have a nice winter, Senator, and when you're out on the golf course, watch the alligators. Remember When? Letters io the editor Lack of 'GO' commitment by NDP 40 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 20, 1945 S/L Joel Aldred has been notified by cable that he had been awarded the distinguished Flying Cross. The presentation is ex- pected to take place in Ottawa. Returning home on the "Monarch of Bermuda' from over- seas, are the following and to them we extend a hearty welcome - Grn. J.W. Raines, Cpl. P.G. Collins, and Rfn. S. Olyer. A pattern available through the Star, for 20 cents shows how to remake a man's discarded suit into a smart jacket and skirt for yourself. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 22, 1955 Mr. Geo. L. Jackson and Mrs. Betty Moorhead were recent winners of the Appreciation Day coupon draws. Twenty-six dolls were won by various residents of the area at the annual Women's Hospital Auxiliary Doll Draw. Gross pro- ceeds amounted to $510.03. Last Friday the Orphans played their second game within a week and were successful in defeating the Lakefield team who have gained a reputation for roughness. Lorne Dolittle, Orillia, assisted by Bill Harrison, Port Perry, let both teams know at the start that they would make short work of any rough play. The Council has recently reviewed the waterworks dept. in Port Perry and have found that maintenance costs are increased to the extend that it has become necessary to raise the rates. 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 22, 1960 Constable Don Williams of the Port Perry Police Dept. ap- prehended five suspects, single handedly, who were found prowling around Tripps and Reesors Service Stations. Much credit is due to Mrs. Medd, pupils and Mrs. Sander- son, their singing teacher for the wonderful job they did on the Annual Christmas Concert. 20 YEARS AGO Wednesday, December 23, 1970 Betty Ann Rose, 11, of Nestleton awoke to a big surprise while staying at the Community Memorial Hospital - Santa Claus had popped into the hospital to pay a brief visit to the pa- tients. He found Betty Ann asleep when he entered her room, but the young girl was soon wide awake. An old cedar planking, once part of the board surface on Queen Street in Port Perry, was discovered during recent sewer excavations about 3 1/2 feet under the present road bed in front (Turn to page 10) To the Editor: I would like to comment on the lack of initiative shown by our new NDP MPP, Gord Mills. Gord and six other New Democrats were elected on platform of pro- viding Go Transit (Rail) service to Peterborough. Repeating Bob Rae's statement of August 1990 "1 am pleased to make a commit- ment to extend Go Transit service to Peterborough and Brantford." The recent decision by the Ministry of Transportation to throw public money to a private bus operation from Port Perry to Whitby Go, which has been tried before and failed, shows how much effort Gord Mills put into ensuring Go Train service, exact- ly none. In speaking with senior officials at Queen's Park, I have heard every excuse, from there is no money, Bob Rae In defense of Seniors To the Editor: In Defense of Seniors In my humble opinion, the coun- cil's decision not to provide snow removal services to seniors and the medically unfit is a very regressive step. I find it reprehensible that only those living on certain streets will be given this selective service. Where is the compassion? It is realized that monetary matters must be addressed, but at what price? If something dreadful happen- ed to one of our seniors while shovelling snow, would you want to have it on your conscience because of this decision? Surely, council, in their collec- tive wisdom can find the funds and staff (part-time?) to aid our citizens who depend on this essen- tial service. This extra burden and stress can be eliminated if the intestinal fortitude is there. Let's hear it from the "Grey Power" and its supporters in Please recycle this newspaper Scugog. If decisions like this are met with apathy, in time, other services will surely fall by the wayside too! Jack Moore, Prince Albert misunderstood the situation, etc. etc.. The fact of the matter is, Gord Mills was elected to repre- sent Scugog's interests at Queen's Park, not tell us who he met and talked to in his weekly 'be hap- py" column. Like it or not Scugog is part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). A Go Train stopping at Myrtle Station would have ensured our rightful place in the GTA. We have now been delegated to poor second cousins. The people of Scugog have had ineffective representation in Ot- tawa for the last two years. They can now look forward to four years of the same at Queen's Park. Dave Lester Port Perry, Ont. | Fie cHock, To [ Z "You'resitting in an unlucky chair. Lhad tripletsin it last time."