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= BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1995 1 EDITORIAL 'Managing Editor..... Jeff Mitchell * Sports Editor...........Kelly Lown ADVERTISING | Advertising Manager... Anna Jackman Prosi Da, Annabell Harrison, Advertising Sales....... Myra Park ny Ee Richard Drow - Joanne Bre AAA Deb McEachern, Nancy Hidsten BUSINESS OFFICE PUDNSRO ............). Pater Hidsten Office Manager...Gayla Stapley 'General Manager ....Don Macleod ri neon Judy Ashby | Louise Editorial Comment Tory railroad steams on It's likely that by the time you read this, the Progressive Conservative government's massive Bill 26, widely known as the Omnibus Bill, will be law. The legislation has rightly been cause for deep concern in many sectors of the province. It provides the government with sweeping powers to cut, amend and eradicate long- standing programs and laws, and also takes away from Ontario residents basic rights, such as the right to sue the government in the event its actions are seen to cause harm to individuals. A quickly-paced series of hearings on the bill have revealed loopholes and dangerous precedents, some of which have been amended; they were hard-earned. Only an all- night filibuster by a Liberal MPP convinced the government to hold the hearings, and even then they have been criticized as being hasty, and not accessible to all who have questions or concerns. And now the process, such as it was, is over; the Tory Railroad is steaming on through, and the bill is part of the political landscape. Should you, as an individual, be concerned about Bill 26? Yes. The light thrown on the haphazard manner of the legislation during hearings -- the government would have given the Minister of - Health the ability to make your health records public, and allow municipalities to levy surcharges and head taxes -- is an indication that it is sweeping, and not thoroughly thought out. But it was deemed necessary by the government to achieve its mandate. And democracy is a casualty. | Cuts -- ANN WELL Look AT . THE BRIGHT SIDE... » {WE WON'T HAVE TO it A \ VO ANYMORE J} \§ MARKING... \ \ \ EA A Zz "i In AS A CN = ms = -- -- ----= -- DojisuaN PORT PERRY STAR, It's good to know who one's friends are To the Editor: Mike Harris and his "Common Sense Revolution" has set out to put things back on track, for which he is to be praised. It takes courage and foresight for a politician to put the brakes on and present unpalatable solutions. We all know it sorely needed doing, and most of us taxpayers aren't complaining. We counted on the people manning our essential services to give their share and con- tinue to perform their duties with unselfish devotion as they have always led us to believe they had done in the past. The last two weeks have been a rude awakening. These pillars of our infrastructure don't seem to take to belt tightening. They have reacted with violent militancy and seditious threats. I am, of course, referring to the police, firemen, teachers, doctors and the judiciary. All have reacted totally unprofes- sionally to the governments suggestion that they do their share and give their share of a lit- tle more. Turnto Page 7 REMEMBER 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, February 1,1951 By popular vote of the students and teachers Howard Garvey, Grade 13 was chosen to represent PPHS at the United Nations Assembly. The trip was made financially possible by the local Lions Club when the members decided to contribute to the exciting and educational trip. The old grain elevator at Burketon CPR station is a landmark no more. It was built about 70 years ago and was owned by Wallace Marlow forthe past 10 years. It was taken down by John Hamilton and his crew of workers. 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, February 3, 1966 Gale force winds gusting up to 45 miles per hour slammed down on Port Perry. Monday's visibility was nil and motorists venturing onto the highways were either lucky or unlucky and a great many unlucky drivers were bogged down in huge snowdrifts. At a joint meeting between the school boards of Port Perry, Reach and Scugog, it Pictured is the Thompson family (about 1913). Back row (l-r) Vern, Percy, Floyd, Josephine (wife of Milo), Milo, Nettie (wife of Fred), Fred. Front: Agnes, son George, Roxie, Viola on her lap and Ambrose. WHEN....? with Port Perry Public School as of January 1, 1967. This was due to the fact that Scugog schools has below the mandatory daily attendance of 100. 20YEARS AGO Wednesday, February 4, 1976 A 1987 Chevrolet owned by Mike Adam, 17, was one of more than 450 Custom cars and vans chosen to show at Speed Sport '76 at the CNE. The township honored a number of local residents. Honored were Ben Pickard, 25 years on fire department, Harold Dobson, roads dept. employee for seven years, Frank Andrews, roads employee for 18 years, Sue Gribbon for her outstanding record of national and international victories in Judo and David Porter for outstanding figure skating achievements. 10YEARS AGO Tuesday, February 4, 1986 Snowarama raised $21,000 locally for Easter Seals children. Lawrence McLaughlin, who won the Field Crops competition at the Blackstock Fair, was presented with a trophy from Jack Green and Dave Petrie. was decided Scugog schools should join