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Information-honestly, openly and freely shared- is the hallmark of democracy Thumbs down WILL MIDLAND and municipalities to the east be saying goodbye to Simcoe East after 105 years? Will Penetanguishene and Tiny Township be extracted from Simcoe Centre and implanted in a new riding named Simcoe North? The Ontario Electoral Boundaries Commission's current line of thought is to subtract Midland, Tay Township, Port MecNicoll and Victoria Harbour, and Matchedash, from the provincial riding of Simcoe East. Those municipalities would be added to the riding of Muskoka. This change, which looms more and more likely as the weeks pass, is in aid of a directive of several years ago to the Com- mission, from the provincial government. The province needs five new ridings because of a growth in number of citizens. The members of the Legislature likely will vote on the recommended adjustments in three months. As of today, and unless the Commission is convinced to change its recom- mendation, Midland and area, after the next election, could be represented at Queen's Park by someone from Gravenhurst, or Bracebridge, or Huntsville. The Commission was right the first time. In 1983 the Com- mission proposed the creation of a Georgian Bay riding. The idea for a Georgian Bay riding would be to group the Towns of Midland, Penetanguishene, Wasaga Beach; Town- ships of Flos, Georgian Bay, Matchedash, Medonte, Tay, Tiny, and Vespra; Villages of Coldwater, Elmvale, Port McNicoll, Victoria Harbour; Indian Reserves No. 30. 31 and 79. The advantage of such a riding to the prospective residents is obvious. The advantage of being the toe of Muskoka is obscure. Keep plugging IN PRESENT times, not only is it news when Man Bites Dog, but also when Taxes Don't Rise. Users of electricity supplied by the Midland Public Utilities Commission can look ahead to another year of electricity bills at the same rate as last year's bills. PUC manager Art Evans says that after years of argument he convinced Ontario Hydro, the PUC's supplier, that Ontario Hydro has been charging the Midland utility more than necessary in one area. The result was a hefty refund of $369,000. The amount was a surprise to Evans, who didn't expect a refund that large. Perhaps the best moral of this story is, Try, try again. Although the argument lasted for years, the ending was worth the effort. The refund covered the years 1969 to present. Thank you THE WAY TO GO about nuclear disarmament seemed simple but overlooked at the time of the recent U.S.-U.S.S.R. summit in Geneva. Somebody had to say, "I'll take apart one of my nuclear bombs, you take apart one of your nuclear bombs. We keep going until all of the bombs are in pieces." No one took that position at Geneva. It was too simple a concept. The surprise last week was not that the leader of the Soviet Union put forward the idea, but that anyone did so. The Gorbachev proposal would lead to a nuclear-weapon-free world by the end of the century. Gorbachev's proposal to the United States wasn't as simple as one for one. He did suggest that, through the next eight years, the number of nuclear weapons that can reach the other country be cut by half. In the 1990s the world's other nuclear states would disarm too. The third and last stage would see the drawing up of a universal accord banning nuclear weapons. For its part, the U.S. would have to join the Soviet Union in not testing nuclear devices and, more significantly, forget about its so-called Star Wars space defence project. For the proposal to work, each country would have to allow the other country's representatives on its soil to satisfy them- selves that nuclear weapons announced as dismantled are in fact dismantled. Each country should have sufficient satellites in low Earth orbit that cheating would be both very difficult in practice and very dangerous politically. Such an outward sign of a willingness to act to reduce the threat of the end of civilization is very welcome. S277 a NT) (ET Va [ng ZiAL es WW NZS ES 1a 4, <1 eas) WAS ra YS Z|} ZW) 4 ©1985 PUNCH PUBL. DIST. BY L.A. TIMES SYND. My name is Mickey Dear Editor, My name is Mickey Kritzell and I'm a seventh- grade geography student at Clyde Junior High in Clyde, Ohio, USA. We are preparing to begin our Canada Studies unit and I'm hoping that you can help me by sending some information about your area. Just about anything you can send me regarding Penetanguishene would help because we are studying both cultural and physical geography. I'm anxious to find out more about Canada because our other schools don't really study the area. It would particularly help me if you could send me a list, of radio stations, schools, and newspapers in your community. The above is because I would like to find out what your schools are like compared to ours. Also maybe the newspaper could print my request for the readers to help with the report. Finally, I plan on sending a tape (cassette) regarding my report. Perhaps the listeners could hear about my assignment and write to me. Thanks again for your help and attention to my letter. Your Truly, Mickey Kritzell 148 North Street Clyde, Ohio, USA 43410 Not time for a change ALLAN K. McLEAN Simcoe East MPP There are some vast changes planned for this historic riding of Simcoe East. I, personally, do not feel they are in the best interest of the people of this riding. The Ontario Electoral Boundaries Commission has now lumped a significant section of this riding with the riding of Muskoka. It has recently been brought to my attention that the second revision of these changes is entirely different from the initial one and does not create a new riding as originally drafted. Midland, Victoria Harbour, Port McNicoll, Tay-Waubaushene and Matchedash will all be represented by the Member who must also take care of the municipalities of Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst. The history and tradition of this riding are factors that are being ignored in this plan. History is significant when you consider Midland has been in this riding for 105 years. Other municipalities have been in the riding for 60 to 80 years. I am not against change and I realize there is a time for change, but this is not the time or the change that will be of benefit to this riding. The geography of the riding is a factor that should rule against inclusion with centres such as Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst. These are two regions, each with their own unique charac- teristics. They are separate entities that do not lend themselves to single representation. If you are concerned with the future of such entities as tourism, industry and general em- ployment, I would urge you to state your concerns and write to the Secretary of the Electoral Boundaries Commission, Alan Stewart, 70 Lombard Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 1M3. Timmy"s Snowarama gears up for Maple Valley Club, Jan. 25 Timmy's Snowarama for Easter Seals, the only winter event of it's kind in the world, is gearing up for its 12th season this January in 40 communities across Ontario. Since inception in 1974, this annual snowmobile and cross country ski event has raised more than seven million dollars for the Society's 6,800 physically diasabled children. The 1986 rallies will take place at 36 centres and will involve more than 3,000 snowmobilers and 2,000 cross country skiers from Kenora to Prescott. These events are only made possible by the con- tinued sponsorship of Molson Ontario Breweries Ltd. Last year, par- ticipants raised in excess of $900,000 and the goal for 1986 is $1 million. Snowarama is organiz- ed at the community level by Easter Seal Society Service Clubs and rallies will be held on successive weekends concluding March 1, 1986. A special feature of Snowarama is The John Black Aird Corporate Ride, involving leaders from the business com- munity, government and media which takes place Feb. 2 in Bradford. In 1985, Ken Dryden; Ontario Youth Commis- sioner, chaired The First Annual Corporate Ski Challenge as an extension of winter fund raising for Easter Seal children. The event was a great success, attracting 62 teams. The Corporate Ski Challenge will once again take place at Molson Park. This year's date is Sunday, Feb. 16. The co-sponsors of The Corporate Ski Challenge 86 are Pepsi- Cola Canada Ltd. and Molson Ontario Breweries. "These winter fund raising activities would not exist without the tremendous support of our Service Clubs and the snowmobile and_ ski associations", says Ms. Susan MacLatchy, Special Events Co-ordinator, The Easter Seal Society. "We may not be able to count on the weather, but we know we can count on the dedication and com- mitment we get from our friends. There are 10,000 Easter Seal volunteers throughout the province working hard for the disabled child, year in and year out." On Saturday, Jan. 25, the Kiwanis Club of Midland will sponsor the 5th Annual Timmy's Snowarama for Easter Seals for this area. The Maple Valley Club will again host the event and provide a dinner and dance in the evening free to all riders. Pledge sheets are available at the Maple Valley Club and Atkinson Travel. For more information regarding participation, please contact John Houston at 361-1545, Snowarama Co-ordinator. --Eetters-- The Penetanguishene Citizen welcomes Letters to the Editor. They must be legible, signed (by hand), and carry the writer's address and telephone number for verification. Pen names are not allowed and anonymous letters will not be published. Letters published by this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the opinion of this newspaper, its publisher or editor. ss RESETS SRS RS SSS SSS SS SRP A SRSA Published at Bayweb Limited every Tuesday at 74 Main Street, Penetanguishene, Ontario 549-2012 Second Class Mail Registration Number 2327 Editorial Staff: Douglas Reed Murray Moore Paul Sanderson Publisher: Andrew Markle Editor: Michele Gouett Jim Robb Production Staff: Angie Grasic Kelli Desjardins Cheryl Meha Production Foreman: Advertising Manager: Bob Finch Advertising Staff: ffey Dawna Rientsma Cathy Merkley Circulation Manager: Arnold Burgher Administration: June Robbins, Cathy Dupuis Page 6, Tuesday, January 21, 1986