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"A Family Tradition for 128 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, November 28, 1995 - 7 -- from our readers MP took cheap shots at Reform To the Editor: On June 8, 1994, around the time Prime Minister Jean Chre- tien was boasting in public that he was not giving the Quebec question five minutes worth of thought, Reform Party Leader Preston Manning, with true vi- sion, wrote a public letter to Chretien in which he asked 20 questions on Quebec that he wanted everyone to think about. He wanted to know, for exam- ple, whether Canadian pass- ports would be granted to citi- zens of a foreign Quebec, or whether Quebec could use the Canadian dollar, would negotiate with an inde- pendent Quebec. In short, he wanted to know the conditions Quebecers had to meet before separating. His questions were ignored, because Jean Chretien, just like Say thanks for display To the Editor: On Sunday our grandchil- dren were visiting from Whitby. When it was time for them to go home, we suggest- ed that we accompany them to see the Christmas display of lights and Santa's Work- shop's on the Third Line put on by the Hilton - Reid fami- lies. Anyone who has been there will notice the boxes for cash and food donations. These donations of food and money go back into our com- munity. Alot of time and effort goes into this display and we would like to say thank you, and please keep up the good work. M. Clark, Port Perry. and who the captain of the Titanic, didn't foresee any danger and believed his ship of state to be unsinka- ble. He really believed he was thc only one who understood Quebec and didn't intend to tol- erate any interference from non-Quebecer Manning. Now we know thatJean Chre- tien didn't understand his fel- low Quebecers; even his own Quebec riding voted Yes. And, we also know that many Que- becers believed they could re- tain their Canadian passport and dollar, just as Manning mentioned in his letter. As a re- sult they voted Yes. If Jean Chretien had been working for a private company, he would have been fired al- ready. However, under our ob- solete so-called democratic sys- tem he is untouchable. Liberal MPs are like puppets on a string, manipulated by the Prime Minister, and have now started -- as on command -- to attack the Reform Party to cov- er up for the Prime Minister's failure to foresee and act early. Instead of creating national unity, they are now fomenting disunity by recklessly shouting words like "racist" and "anti- federalist." Typical is Durham MP Alex Shepherd. In his last report from Parliament Hill he at- tacked the Reform Party for lack of vision and not being a na- tional party. It's strange to hear this from a political party that nearly lost Quebec and only re- ceived 43 per cent of the vote during the last election. This 43 per cent minority is now arro- gantly ruling the majority that voted against them. However, that doesn't seem to bother Alex Shepherd, and why should it? He only won with 37 per cent and is now in Ottawa pretend- ing to represent this majority that voted against him. Maybe, if Jean Chretien and Alex Shepherd corrected our electoral system, made the Sen- ate an elected body, allowed more free votes in Parliament, and gave Canadians a greater say in the running of their own country, Quebecers would have more respect for Canada and might prefer to stay with us. All these measures don't re- quire constitutional change, only the will to do the right thing! But to implement them Jean Chretien would have to sacrifice some of his power to re- ward his buddies and distribute outrageous pensions. Realizing this, we should be ready for growing disunity and name- calling in Ottawa. Evert Vroegh, Hampton Too much self-interest To the Editor: The Quebecois are a self- interest group with enough power to threaten Canada's in- tegrity. They almost received enough support to give them- selves a mandate to negotiate their separation from the Cana- dian family. Had they succeeded, others would surely surface: the Na- tives, the western provinces, etc. Special status for Quebec will also alienate others. During the referendum cam- paign, Canadians talked so su- perficially of how new arrange- ments would fall into place. However, we are not alone in this Canadian card game! How much of the $500-600 billion debt is held by outsiders? What about all of the foreign invest- ment, chain stores, manufac- turing, etc., that counts on the stability of Canada? Haven't you noticed increased USA business integration into Cana- da with free trade? We are one of the largest Turnto Page 12 by Jeff Mitchell "x as OF OUR LIVES DAYS ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER $10 MILLION: As yet another Monday dawned last week, so did another opportunity for Pau!, Ringo, George, and, posthumously, John, to rake in great big piles of dough. Yep, it marked the release of Free As A Bird, the basement tape put together by (one suspects a rather tipsy) John as a demo, then augmented by the yodelling of Paul, the plaintive slide guitar of George, and the dumpity-dum drumming of Ringo. And, of course, the wavering vocals of John. The Beatles, God help us, are back, and their single, as of Tuesday, seemed to be receiving regular airplay on the post- Yuppie station that burbles from the radio in the basement here, where Star workers steal off for smoke breaks during the day. Cash registers around the world are ringing, and the surviving Beatles, along with the most curious Yoko Ono, are the beneficiaries of our misguided nostalgia. And you know something? ...The song stinks. It's a simpering dirge that never would have made the cut on a Beatles' album in their heyday, and would send any current band back to the garage for all eternity. Can you spell bamboozle, children? Sure yew can! ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER SNITCH LINE: It was less than comforting to hear the provincial government's iatest proposal for a means by which we can turn in our fellow citizens for prosecution and, ultimately, vilification. This time it's proposed that we be able to rat on neighbors who fail to forfeit to the government all the tax monies to which it is entitled. Add to that the welfare snitch line, GM's bizarre plan to have workers tattle on their colleagues who linger for an extra donut during coffee break and any other number of instances in which we are encouraged to notify the authorities when something just ain't right, and you've got a pretty terrifying scenario. Remember Nazi collaborators, and perhaps your studies of the Spanish Inquisition? You say you don't? ...I'm tellin'. ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER SCANDAL: ...Seems Brian Mulroney, as if he hasn't already done enough for us, wants you and me to fork over $50 million because he's named as a player in the highly rank deal in which it's alleged a lot of fat cats got fatter on the Air Canada Airbus scam a while back. The former PM's peeved that the Mounties had the temerity to look into the banking practises of him and his cohorts, and has slapped down the big-time law suit as a means of shutting everybody up. Damage control! Man the barricades! Send in the lawyers! Ironic, given that so many of us, particularly after Stevie Cameron's stinky little book, have wondered for some time how he has managed to avoid prosecution thus far. ANTOHER DAY, ANOTHER CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS: Just when we thought the coast was clear, along comes Lucien Bouchard again. ....They're baaaack... EE ------=_' ™s ys Ll A re i Ue, t ii le ., AA lh ,.S Sk Al Random Jottings by J. Peter Hvidsten FAREWELL TO A GREAT FRIEND The northern municipalities of I Durham Region lostatrue friend bankers, developers or premiers, Gary never app- eared to be out of his element. He was the type of person who made everyone he came in contact with feel important. You didn't have to be important, but he would make you feel it. Never did he forget a name. In a crowded room he would recognize and call hundreds of people by name as if he'd known them all his life. As the chairman of Durham Region, Herremawas CRIME STOPPERS | attended a media appreciation event held by Durham Regional Police last week, and was plea- santly surprised to see the number of media types who took the time out to attend the event. Crime Stoppers boss, Kevin Slaney thanked the media for the support of the Crime Stoppers program and presented plaques of appreciation to about 15 newspapers and electronic media people who "| and a strong ally last week with the passing of Gary Herrema. Herrema, whose roots were planted on the family farm near Leaskdale, was a strong supporter of the north, but clearly understood and nurtured the needs of all parts of the region. Gary was a caring family man. : He was a consummate politician and a true friend to those who were privileged to call him friend. And whether he was straddling a bench in a coffee shop chatting with the working class, or sitting at a high gloss conference table across from Bay Street known as a fierce fighter for what he believed, and he believed deeply in the region. Because of his northern roots, mayors of the northern communities over the past 15 years like Howard Hall, Gerri Lynn O'Connor, Jerry Taylor, Bill Ballinger, Don Hadden and Keith Shier became close friends of Herrema and would often be found together socially as well as professionally. They came from across the province last week to pay homage to this man. As much as he will be missed by his family, Gary will also be missed as a friend and politician by thousands more. God bless! attended the event. In my opinion, the Crime Stoppers program is in great hands under the leadership of Kevin. Although relatively new in this position you can sense the pride and excitement he feels about the program, and there is no doubt it will flourish under his guidance. The Port Perry Star has a long tradition of support- ing the Crime Stoppers program and itis our inten- tion to continue that support. While the plaque was much appreciated, the real reward for taking partin this important program is when the collective efforts of the media, police and public are responsible for the conviction of a criminal.