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"Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice' ' ORIAL The Port Perry Star Publisher - J. Ptor idan 188 MARY STREET - PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - L9L 1B7 PHONE (905) 985-7383 FAX 985-3708 Sports Editor - Ke News Editor - Scott Anderson Features Editor - Julia Dempsey BUSINESS OFFICE lly Lown Office Manager - Gayle Stapley Accounting - Judy Ashby, Louise Hope Retail Sales - Kathy Dudley, Retail Sales - Marlene Moore Ga Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association Ontario Community Newspaper Association Published every Tuesday by the = Port Perry Star Co. Ltd. Port Perry, Ontario * GST included in price The Port Perry Star is authorized as second class mail by the AWARD ADVERTISING PRODUCTION CCNA Post Cries Dopaomo i Oows, los eash syrighiol pasion. Advertising Manager - AnnaJackman Annabell Harrison, Sub 2 tion Rate: Advertising Sales - Jackie McDonell, Trudy Empringham, 1Venr-332.10 noi lon Ra e: Forelgn-$90.95 Advertising Sales - Paul Hillier Susan Milne, includes $2.10GST includes $1.22GST includes $5.95GST Production - Pamela Hickey, BarbaraBell Robert Taylor, Editorial Comment F§ ANNiNG AS Trading Away Our Future December 15 could spell the end of supply management in Canada and along with it the death of thousands of Canadian farming operations. This is the date in which the long- awaited General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is due to be signed and it doesn't look good for Canada. If this agreement is reached, Canadian farmers in the poultry and dairy business fear that it could spell the end to the farm- ing industry in Canada. They are calling on the Canadian government to push for a strengthening of Article 11, which al- lows farmers to operate under a supply management system. The farmers fear that the loss of Article 11 would allow other countries to dump their farm goods in Canada at a cheaper price. Article 11 regulates the amount of dairy, eggs and poultry produced and places strict regulations on the produc- - tion. Farmers fear it-could spell the death of farms across the country as many have placed significant amounts of money in their businesses. An open letter to Prime Minister Jean Chretien from the Ontario Dairy Farmers last week urged the government to fight for the strengthening of Article 11. "We are asking for a supply manage- ment system that allows us to continue to meet Canadian needs for high quality dairy products, that doesn't dump prod- ucts in other countries and is, in effect,' user pay and farmer-financed." Durham MP Alex Shepherd is also fighting for the future of the farming com- munity, which he says is the second lead- ing industry in Durham Region. He says the loss of Article 11 could be devastating to the local economy. Mr. Shepherd is calling on the govern- ment not to sign the agreement on De- cember 15 and instead to extend the deadline in order to give the new govern- ment time to look at the total impact of the document. ~ Time is what is needed for everyone to come to grips with this document. The United States government has unfairly imposed this December 15 deadline for their own good. Let's take the time to an- alyze the document and all the effects it will have on the farming community. An extension is needed to benefit all sides and ensure that everybody is treat- ed on a level playing field. Canada can- not afford to sign this agreement on De- cember 15. \ AN - ly FS IN \ [} A: AY 4 N \V ™eN ARE, I Now UNDFEGTAND aN NL ® . v ' ; hh WN \ TANNA (a ~ SN ¥ BN Ne [4] Uni! LL ¢°0 \ YR . «~~ 1 \ . \ - . oN Rial Random Jottings by J. Peter Hvidsten > "y DANGER, THIN ICE!!! It's that time of year again when we caution parents and kids to be careful around the thin layer of ice covering the surface of Lake Scugog. Although it appears enough ice has formed to hold a good sized person, it's far to early in the season to think the lake is completely safe. Over the weekend a number of people were seen walking, skating and playing shinny on the thin ice around the lakefront. Personally, I think they're rushing the sea- son a little, taking chances on a lake that has proven in the past to have "hot spots" even in the middle of the winter. Having only been frozen for a few days, and with forecasters predicting temper- atures above freezing this week, it would be wise to wait until t ere is a good slab of solid ice before venturing out too far. Let's not start this winter with a prevent- able tragedy. ICE PALACE GETTING READY Speaking of Lake Scugog and ice, I noticed the organizers of Port Perry's Ice Palace have started preparing for their third winter at the lake. oF Thousands of local residents and visitors to the community have enjoyed the large outdoor skating facility the past two win- ters, and once again this year plans are underway to bring the Ice Palace back to the lakefront. : Over the weekend, organizers were seen utting up the fences, gates and getting the Booth ready. But as always, there are never enough hands to help do all the work. ; Anyone wishing to lend a hand this win- ter should contact a member of thé commit- tee, or just drop by when they see some ~ 5 activity in the area and offer your help. You can be assured your assistance will be welcomed with open arms. LET'SCLEANITUP I'll be the first to admit I don't attend ; Scugog Arena on a regular basis, and in fact, 1 when | attended to take a icture last Saturday it was the first time I've been to the facility this winter. Unfortunately, every time I seem go to the arena, I come away less than impressed with the game of hockey. I love a fast, hard hit- -{ ting game, but am less than impressed with | unnecessary fights and brawls on the ice. On Saturday, the Juvenile Tournament was just wrapping up and Port was tied 2-2 with Lindsay. But in the dying minutes of | the game; Lindsay popped the puck behind { the Po rt Percy goaltender. Their lead held up until the buzzer sound- , ed, and that should have been the end of the ame. But it wasn't! As the final whistle sounded a fight broke | out at the far end of the rink involving a ' | well play A A A Rr NE RE RRA ERA Letters to the editor Kindness and caring alive and well in Port Perry To the Editor: I am writing to confirm that kindness and caring is alive and well and living in Port Perry under the name of Mr. Al Car- nochan. On a dark rainy night (Dec. 2) on High- way 12, just south of Blackwater, our car expired. It seemed that we were in the middle of nowhere. We had managed to pull onto the shoulder and my husband had the hood of the car open. Many cars drove past us in both directions. Then out of the darkness a van slowed down on the opposite side of the road and then drove off! The next thing we knew was the driver turned around and pulled in behind us. And there stood our Santa Claus, in the person of Mr. Carnochan. A big man with a beard. He drove us into Sunderland to a gas station and phone, waited while we made inquiries re: a tow truck, which we found was out on an accident call and not immediately available. He then insisted on driving us home to Oshawa, which was some miles out of his way. On route he detoured down what seemed to be country roads and the next thing we knew we pulled up at a fairy tale house. The garden and house were festooned with thousands of lights and Turnto Page9 number of players, ruining in my opinion, a od game by both sides. I can understand the frustration of the Port Juveniles, who led 2-0 at one point in | the game and then ended up losing in the final two minutes. But that's no excuse! Speaking to spectator a who frequents the arena regularly, I gather this display of poor sportsmanship is a regular occurrence, and one he was less than impressed with. It's no wonder amateur hockey is having a hard time attracting spectators to the arena on a regular basis if this type of unnecessary conduct happens on a regular basis. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Port Perry Star encourages our readers to make use of the letters to the editor column to express their opinions and viewpoints on just about any subject, as we feel a lively letters column helps make us a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that all letter writers sign their name and include a phone number for verification. Sorry, no anonymous letters will be published. The Port Perry Star also reserves the right to edit with respect to libelous comments or length of letter.