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"A Family Tradition for 128 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, March 12, 1996 - LETTERS Harris' motives are transparent To the Editor: Fifty thousand civil servants have taken a stand, and said "no", what Mr. Harris is doing is wrong. The civil servants are giving up their pay cheques for what they believe in. Recently the Harris govern- ment passed legislation taking away basic rights of civil ser- vants. This legislation is noth- ing short** of discrimination, aimed directly at government employees. What other employer in this province can pass legislation to change the rules to suit their own needs? In February, the government Class reunion To the Editor: It's time for Port Perry High School's class of 1986 ten year reunion. The planning committee is appealing to the business community for any type of donations possible. This could take the form of mone- tary donations which shall be used for administrative costs, merchandise to be used as door prizes and/or vouchers for discounted goods and services. - We are anticipating 230 past students and their fami- lies returning to the area. It could benefit your place of business to advertise in our rogram of events at a cost of $10 for name and $20 for business card size. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated and will be listed on aforementioned program. A public acknowl- edgment of your donation will also appear in the local paper following the reunion. Tax receipts are also availa- ble upon request. Terri L. Buller, Class of '86 Chairperson made a deceiptive offer that was sure to get a no vote. There were a few carrots designed to split the vote, gain public support, and thus turn the public against OPSEU. Mr. Harris was successful in obtaining his intended goal. The union members voted to strike. Mr. Harris' motives are transparent. The now legal theft of pension funds and pay- roll savings from people on strike will finance his 30 per cent tax cut. All the while, tax grants toland owners continue. The fact is, one third of the government employees in this area will lose their jobs this year! Who are these people? They are your friends, neigh- bors, relatives and clients. These are the same people that support the community. They buy cars, newspapers, real es- tate, hardware, fishing tackle, groceries, medical supplies, daycare services and pay taxes. They support curling clubs and minor hockey. Many of these people will leave the area, disappointed and bitter at the lack of commu- nity support. Many have al- ready applied for jobs in British Columbia which is actively re- cruiting the expertise that On- tario is eager to expell. The good news for the Conser- vatives is that these people may not live in this province when it is time to vote them out of pow- er. The people of Ontario better brace themselves for a massive shock. The cutbacks already an- nounced and those that will be announced in the spring budget will multiply unemployment ten fold. Unemployed people do not buy cars, real estate, day care services and other big ticket items. To those teachers, hydro em- ployees, truckers, other unions, individuals and businesses who have shown support to the pick- et lines by bringing coffee, do- nuts, cakes, by blowing their car horns and refusing to cross picket lines, OPSEU members appreciate and will remember your support. Jim Ellis, OPSEU, Minden, Ontario. Teachers feel the strain To the Editor: The March Break has ar- rived, and the 62,000 students of the Durham Board of Educa- tion are embarking upon a two- week holiday. During a normal school year the break is one week, but with the constraints of the Social Contract teachers have been forced to take extra days off without pay. This year all Durham Board of Education teachers are tak- ing upaid days. This loss of sala- ry, plus the freezing of incre- ments for less experienced teachers, has removed over $11 million from the local economy and local businesses. Besides the loss of revenue for local business there is also the loss of four professional de- velopment days. These davs are used by teachers to prepare pro- grams, evaluate student progress and improve our teaching skills. The public sector gave up $2 billion in salaries over the last 'three years, but we are told that the deficit continued to rise. Where did our $2 billion go? Teachers care deeply for the students we teach, but constant government cuts are making it very difficult to maintain the quality of educational service which teachers, parents and taxpayers deserve. Pat Jermey, O.S.S.T.F. Jenifer Cormier, D.W.T A. Bill Butcher, O.P.S.T.F. "Editor's Notepad YOU WANT TO TALK CRAZY? INTERESTING TIMES: These are, as the old saying goes, interesting times in which we live. And the week just past has provided us with many more examples. To wit: a The strike by Ontario's civil servants drags on, with no end in sight. The unprecedented labor dispute is a depressing and at times vulgar struggle between a government bent on cutting costs, and a massive union that says its members are fighting for their lives. By now most of us have been affected in some way by the deadlock -- to a lesser degree, though, than the guys at Pineridge Packers, who see their business drying up because inspectors aren't available, or inmates who spend their days locked down because there are few guards to run their institutions -- but the strike doesn't seem to have created the passion both sides, likely, had hoped for. Most Ontarians, it seems, just want the warring factions to stay out of their faces, and settle their squabble. 0 School boards across the province -- but not, so far, in Durham -- are handing teachers, administrators, janitors and everybody else their walking papers, as they collectively chop $400 million in education costs. The Tory election promise not to affect the classroom is forgotten, and Education Minister John Snobelen has handed boards an empty tool kit, having chickened out in light of the OPSEU strike, and a huge rally by teachers several weeks ago. Nobody knows what's going to happen, except that it'll be bad for a lot of folks. And Johnny still can't read. a Federal Finance Minister Paul Martin virtually drooled all over his red tie while delivering a do-nothing budget, and forgot to do anything about the GST -- remember that promise? And Deputy Prime Minister Shiela Copps forgot, again, to resign. a Drooling madmen continued to blow up innocent men, women, and children in Israel, and the peace process, which in jeopardy. Once again a few lunatics have derailed what could have been so good and beautiful and bright, and we watch in anguish, unable to do anything. a Speaking of loonies, U.S.Senator Jesse Helms -- Mr. Congeniality, Class of 1894 -- says we Canadians should be ashamed of ourselves for doing business with the countries of our choosing. Cuba, he says, is a human rights criminal. One word for you, Jesse: China. (I know, | know: We're guilty of the same willful blindness. And we should be ashamed of it, along with the U.S.) ao MP Elijah Harper says God doesn't want Quebec to separate from the Rest of Canada. God, through a spokesman, replied: "Oh, leave me out of it!" The list goes on, and on, and on. Ontario enters its 17th consecutive.month of winter, and people are wondering if it's even crazier than usual on the planet. ...Just wait until you've had the kids under foot for two weeks as March Break stretches on. Then you'll feel the true nature of crazy. msm ---------- ew Random Jottings by J. Peter Hvidsten AtCMH in Port Perry 10 beds will be closed for the March Break for 13 days, and the operating room will shut down for three days. OGH has announced a reduction in services and front of young, impressionable kids and why some parents tolerate the practice. In my opinion, coaching a baseball, hockey or any other team sport (which | admit |'ve never done) is a CLOSURES ARE A SIGN OF THE TIMES Hospitals laying off staff, closing down beds and canceling servic- es to make up for lack of funding - has become commonplace over the past couple of years and this trend represents an unfortunate situation for our health care system. Last Friday we reported in the Port Perry Weekend Star, three area hospitals would be shutting down services and closing beds over the March Break. The reason... to try and cope with slashed budgets. The three hospitals, Community Memorial in Port Perry, Oshawa General Hospital and Ross Memorial in Lindsay, like all others across the pro- vince are already trying to cope with cuts and lay- offs, and still maintain an acceptable level of service. closure of 128 beds for 15 days in an attempt to cope with budget constraints and at Ross Memorial staff is trying to cope with a $1.4 million funding cut for the 1996/97 year. While administration and staff at these facilities struggle to find ways to make do, itis going to be equally important for the public to act responsibly and not run to the hospital every time we have a run- ny nose or a nagging cough. Ultimately the public must assume responsibility for abuse and overuse of the health system, or one day we may wake up to find a "user fee" has been established and the free system we've enjoyed for so long will be a thing of the past. COACHES AS ROLE MODELS Had a discussion last week about coaches who use foul language in front of youngsters and insult them in front of their friends. We debated if this type of behavior is acceptable in huge responsibility, and one that should not be tak- en lightly. Coaching kids who play organized sports, or teaching kids in a classroom demand the same moral discipline. | can'timage any parent who would accept their young children being taught by a teacher who shouted profanities and intimidated theirkids ina classroom. For thisreason, it's hard for me to under- stand why this kind of behavior is excused and con- sidered acceptablein an arena. Children learn by example, and if a coach abuses youngsters with foul language, oftenin front of their parents, thenit's reasonable to assume the same kids will believe this behavior is acceptable. Coaches and teachers, through their positive or negative actions, set examples for our impression- able children to emulate. As parents we can only hope they are a positive role model. Atleast that's the way | see it!