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"Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" 6- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, Tuesday, February 7, 1995 Ep > PORT PERRY STAR ITORIAL fooled again The forum held in Port Perry last week by the Durham East Liberal riding associ- ation for candidates seeking the nomina- tion for this spring's provincial election re- vealed that voters will come armed for bear when hopefuls hit the hustings. And that's a good thing. The four candidates faced a number of questions, most of which centred around essential issues facing the province right now: Finances, education and health care. Some were general, some quite specit- ic; some were just plain loaded. But they were all aimed at finding out where the candidates stand on key issues facing the province and the riding in troubled times. Foremost on everyone's mind is financ- es, and the ways in which the parties plan to provide services without having toy raise taxes, or force an already sky-high deficit any higher. That's not an easy question to tackle, and voters are to be forgiven if they chuckle with just a bit of skepticism when they hear each "common sense" solution. Because no matter how many promis- es we hear of better times just around the corner, things just seem to keep on get-| ting worse. This time around, voters are sharp. | They're not going to be dazzled by dou- ble-talk, or sold a bill of goods; most of them, at least. It will be up to the electorate to learn the issues, learn the various party stanc- es, and make their decisions. It will also be up to them to set the agenda for the next government, not have it set for them. Many people who speak on the matter these days say they can't wait for the op- portunity to vote in a provincial election. Here's hoping they don't fritter it away. Here's hoping we dont get fooled | again. Three cheers Three cheers this week to the people of Scugog who are fed up, and have de- cided to say they're not going to take it anymore. In the past week or so, thousands of form letters have been sent to the federal finance minister, Paul Martin, and Dur- ham MP Alex Shepherd, informing them that more tax hikes in this month's budget are unacceptable. Everyone involved has served notice that democracy is not a sometime thing, but should be at work every day. QMNED A CRUEL JOKE V5 = 115 Not SPRING ON WAAL , TC APPEARS Le ny oLv MOTHER NATURE HAS ae A 5 [Fg oe 3 £ y The old "Nip and Tuck" train sits Queen Street across from Palmer Park. ts at the station located at Port Perry's lakefront about 1875. The Whitby, Port Perry and Lindsay Rallway ran Into financial trouble and was purchased by the Grand Trunk Raliway In 1917. The old mill is visible In the background and still 'stands today at the foot of -- LETTER OF THE WEEK Cut spending, not our paycheques To the Editor: Copy of aletter to Alex Shepherd, Dur- ham MP. I would like to hereby register my ob- jection to the tax increases that your Minister of Finance expects to present in the upcoming Federal Budget. In my opinion, government, federal and pro- vincial, continually take the employed in this country for granted. | Our expectation of financial security with continual hard work over time has been eroded with every election. There seems no point in throwing your loyal- ties behind any particular party, be- cause with their election into govern- ment they forget the promises they have made and continue to cater to special in- terests, spend willfully and unnecessari- ly while our important programs such as health care and education, fall into ruin. The following are suggestions of ac- tions we want taken in an effort to get government spending under control: 1. A comprehensive overhaul of the civil service, starting at the top with the office of P.M. 2. A comprehensive overhaul of the country's social services with special safeguards implemented to protect ben- efits from misuse and fraud. 3. A comprehensive overhaul of the system of funding special interest groups. Special interests serve a very important social role in Canadian socie- ty, but with the financial problems this country faces these groups need to take a Turn to page 7 by J. Peter Hvidsten BRAVING THE BITTER COLD It's a good bet not many residents of the area ventured out last Sunday for a leisurely walk with the family. Bitter cold temper- atures (not unlike those experienced last winter), coupled with high winds plunged temperatures into the low -40°s for most of the day. But the severe cold wasn't enough to det- er some hardy ice sculptors from toiling in sub-zero weather Sunday morning to begin their magnificent pieces which they are creating for the ice-sculpture demon- stration taking place in conjunction with next weekend's Snow Flake Festival. Dozen's of 300 Ib. blocks of ice were delivered to the lakefront Saturday after- noon, and local bronze sculptor Tyler Briley has his project called "No New Tax" well underway later that same day. The magnificent designs these men cut and shape out of blocks of ice with chain- saws and axes, in sub zero temperatures, are nothing short of works of art. And their creations are all the more extraordinary due to the extreme conditions in which they have to work. More than a dozen delicate ice carvings will be completed and on display in Palmer Park by this weekend, just in time for the Snow Flake Festival which gets underway Saturday morning. Make a point of dropping by this exciting exhibit sometime. You'll be both surprised and delighted at the imagination and intricate detail in each piece. Temperatures this week are expected to remain cold and should be just about per- fect for preserving these "works of art" until after the Festival. You owe it to yourself and your family to visit the park and enjoy the spectacle before this happens. And speaking of the Snow Flake Festival, the Kinsmen Sled Dog Races get under- way on Saturday and continue on Sunday along Queen Street and across Lake Scugog. Organizers are expecting close to 15,000 people and close to 100 sleds and dogs in town for the event, and are asking area residents to keep their dogs at home. Your co-operation will be appreciated. mp NS BERR Pi Saki aa A Eb Fe TAA oF a Es oo = i ex 4 2 | A e ¥ | 8 4 bp po Spt SS and tb cl BIRR Te mle Ue SE SOA SL