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ee ad dae. Jb Aad sali ai i edie. oi sustains teed ttt hh oo PETE Tye TTT TEE ETT TT. Te Tw ee 7 4- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, September 19, 1995 ---- a _ "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Shepherd hopeful Quebecers can be swayed Predicts emotional constitutional debate as Commons resumes sitting By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Canadian politicians will be working diligently this fall to convince Quebecers to look beyond the rhetoric surround- ing the Oct. 30 referendum, says Durham MP Alex Shepherd. Mr. Shepherd said in an interview last week that while much time is bound to be taken up in the House of Commons this fall -- MPs began sitting again yesterday -- it will be the job of the government to convince the people of Quebec that they have benefitted from confederation, and can contin- ue to do so. He's hoping cooler heads will prevail in the vote on sovereignty. "The object of the exercise 1s to talk to the guy on the street in Quebec, who's no dif- ferent than us," said the MP. "He wants to put bread and milk on the table, and have three squares a day." Much of the debate on the referendum to date has involved Pequistes who are promising Quebecers prosperi- ty following a Yes vote, said Mr. Shepherd. But reason dic- tates that's not likely to be the case in the event of a divorce. "They'll say anything' "(Separatists) will say any- thing, and they'll do anything to affect their cause" he said. "They'll lie. "Everything is subservient to their cause." He said it will be the job of the government and individual MPs to continue to focus on economic realities, and con- vince Quebecers they can pros- per only through continued membership in confederation. "It's a very rare event that people vote for something that's going to have an adverse eco- nomic effect on them," he said. SHEPHERD And while the constitu- tional debate will rage once more in Ottawa, a number of other items will be addressed by the government, Mr. Shepherd predicted: a He feels the Liberals will continue with their push for fiscal restraint and deficit reduction. That may even involve an interim budget, which could make adjustments to address and slower than expected economic recovery. "If we continue with pro- longed slower growth, we may have to revise the budget, and perhaps cut even deeper," he said. a The MP wants to see con- tinued discussions with banks on wider credit and investment options for small and medium- sized business, an agenda item that gained prominence as the House's business wound down last spring. Deadbeat dad bill? a Justice Minister Alan Rock will probably introduce legisla- tive measures aimed at "dead- beat dads" who avoid child sup- port payments. Mr. Shepherd predicted that most parliamentarians will be behind measures to create a fair scale of support payments, and measures to ensure they are paid. "When people aren't making those payments, taxpayers are through social services sys- tems," he said. 2 MPs will have to examine changes to the Canada Pension Plan, which will go broke by 2015 if it continues on its pre- sent course. Options might include pushing back the age for eligibility, or considering family incomes when deter- mining payments. It's bound to be an emotional issue, but is one that has to be addressed, he said. In addition, Mr. Shepherd is hopeful his private member's bill, entitled a taxpayers' bill of rights, will be up for debate. He currently has three private members bills in the works, but it is the taxpayer document that has received the most attention from the govern- ment. - People Magazine Over 70 Critics AGREE "Tue Year's #1 Movie!" Time Magazine "Sr 3k Hr dk sk Rob Salem, TORONTO STAR & Bruce Kirkland TORONTO SUN & Brian Gorman OTTAWA SUN "Two Tuomas Up! A Wp Rive!" Including - The New York Times Siskel & Ebert Music students fare well on exams The following students of Linda Kyte successfully completed theory exams from the Royal Conserva- tion; Stacey Headon - 71 per cent - honors; Lisa Nesbitt - 96 per cent - hon- ors with distinction; Gavin Stephen Jensen - 82 per cent - first class honors. Grade 3 Harmony Carla Puckrin - 81 per cent - first class honors; Wilma Smith - 78 per cent honors. - Entertainment Weekly Video SUPER Store Open:Sun. - Wed. 11:30-10:00, Thurs. 11-10, ri. - Sat. 11-10:30 | L M * Hwy. 7A at 1874 Scugog St., Port Perry 985-4459 Avxiancr AN > tory of Music: Stanley - 98 per cent hon- Grade 2 Rudiments ors with distinction. Janet Green - 95 per Preliminary cent - honors with distinc- Rudiments No le Can RT "oS X (PF x SESE i A alae Ay.\:{, W.\RE THE SECRETS INVESTMENT ADVISOR STEPHEN FREDERICK INVITES You To THis SPECIAL RSP MEETING Thursday, September 28, 1995 at 7:00 PM at the Scugog Public Library, 231 Water St., Port Perry Refreshments Will Be Served. To Book Your Place, Please Call Debra: 433-4228. Toll-Free: 1-800-387- GZ YASH OI (TI J WoloT) Royal Bank ; at 985- 7516 RBC DOMINION SECURITIES A Member of Royal Bank Group