PAGE 6,WHry FmEÊIPRESS, WiD NESDAYr, 90VEBER4 1989' ?YjI2J J~iJLjY~jPublished every Wednesday Maurice Pifher By 677209 Ontario Imc. Editor Phone: 668-6111 PtrIvn 668-6112 PtrIvn fz 668-6369 Advertising Manager w uu2 Doug Anderson Alexandra Simon Publisher Production Manager '~ ~A "~ OIC 0F HE OU TY OWN131 Brock Street North, VOC O HECU YTO NP.O. Box.206, Whitby, Ont. The only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by LiN 5S1 2nd Class Postai Reglstratlon #05351 Whitby residents for Whitby residents. After fivo weeks of the six-week United Way campaign for Whitby, Oshawa and Newcastle, $1 .7-million had been raised, or 58 per cent of the goal for this yoar. t's not hard to figure that despite such a substantial total, much romains to be done to ovon approach the 1989 target. "'d like to convey a sense of urgency," campaign director Sandy Cunningham said Tuesday, only three days bof ore what was supposed to be tho Nov. 3 finish Please Gi*ve of the campaign. In reality, the campaign roally nover ends for the much-neoded funds that are vital to the work 0f 42 area agencies'that provide vital services. Howee.'r, in this, the official campaign, it is important that ongo.ng fundraising in the various sectors, large and small, be accelerated and completed in order to measure the effort and dotermine what romains to be done. Organizers expect the total to increaso considerably this week as new contributions are announced. We urge those residents who have not yet given, to do their share for this most worthwhile campaign that will benefit s0 many. Safer work environment urged To the Editoe: To an ill-formed public, the actions of our Brothers and Sisters employed in correctional facilities and at the Oukridge division of the Penetang Mental Health Centre my have been confusing. Most individuals spend very littie time contemplating problems which eist in our provincial jails and high security facilities. But the problems are real and have eisted for too many years. Provincial government employees do not engage in this activity lightly. We know actions levelled at us by the provincial government (our employer) can be severe. Our employer is in the unique position of being able ta write the laws it turns around and uses on us. Hlistorically, these laws have been written for the employer's benefit. Jobs parformed by provincial government employees are jobs you morally have difficulty leaving. You know people rely on you. But you reach a point when simply cannot take it anymore. Ites not safe in Ontario jails - not for the correctional offilcers, not for anyone else required ta work there (L.e. nurses, etc.). If~s not safe fo~ inates. Jail cells designed ta hold one inniate, hold three. Metro Toronta's overcrowding problenis cannot be solved by transferring the problem ta other jails. - they are fulI, too! Life expectancy for a correctional officer is 57 years of age, but they can only collect a full pension at age 65. Correctional officers dont have the right ta, retire early with fil pension. Members of OPSEU Local 331 support the aétions of the correctional officers in jails and at Oakridge and ask the government of Ontario ta, work with our union ta develop a safer workcing environent for staff and a better living environnient for inniates. Joan Gates, ]RN, sud President, Looel 331 Publicity appreciated To the editor-- On behaif Of the Wihitby-Oshawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, I would like ta thank you for your help i publicizing the meetings and speciai events we have had over the past year. We are just starting our eighth year as a branch, followrng a very successful past year. Certainly a part of our success is due ta the help you and your staff have given us. We appreciate the publicity you have given, and we hope this will continue in the future. Many thanks from the members and executive of the Whitby-Oshawa Brandi, 008. Yours sincerely, JoyoeHilton Publicity Convener In support of GST By RMm Sevenso Durham riding MP GOODS AMDSRVICES TAX - cou't. '"Why doesn't Ottawa slash its spending instead of bringing in more taxes?" This is a question were often asked, and it s understandable. Virtuaily every MP in the Hlouse of Gommons is concerned about the heavy tax burden moet Canadians carry - not just federally, but provincial and municipal taxes as well. Unfortunately, because of the federal government's responsibilities, maldng major spending cuts is not so easy as it may sound. A look at how your federal tax dollars are spent with help you understand the very difficult financial challenge that could face any government in Ottawa today, no matter what political party formed it. 0f the *133-billion spent by Ottawa in 1988-89, *100-billion was for governiment programs. When these progranis are exrnned, it becomes evident that federal governiment expenses are very difflcult from those of our provinces and municipalities. The federal government builda very few roads, schools, or hospitals. Comparatively, it buys far fewer goods and services than the other two levels of government. To a very significant degree the federal governnxent is responsible for writing cheques - cheques to many of you and ta other individual Canadians, to the provinces, and also ta organizations. 0f that.$100-billion for governiment prograins, the Iargest proportion - *30-billion - went out in payments ta people. That includes such things as old age security and other benefits for the elderly- $15.4-billion - unemployment insurance - *10.8-billion- faniily allowance, and veterans pensions and assistance. The second largest prograni allocation - $24-bilion - was for direct payments ta provincial and municipal governiments for health cars and post-secondary education ($9-billion), welfare, and in equalization payments for the lower income provinoes. The third major expenditure ares. - *11.2-billion - was for subsidies and transfèes ta assist universities, business development, ta maintain farm incomes, and for social assistance ta native communities. From ail this, you can see that about 65 par cent of al federai program spending was in transfers ta other governments, subsidies, and payments ta people. And it is about these very sanie programe that we hear the loudest complaints and protesta made when any reduction in federal payments is suggested. 0f the balance spent on federal progranis i the last fiscal year, *11.1-billion was for defence - 70 per cent of that going for salaries, supplies, and the cost of operating military bases. Officiai Development Assistance for aid ta developing countries amounted to *2.8-billion. Payments ta crown corporations were *4.4-billion, of which almost 40 per cent went ta Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., primarily ta help needy familles obtain suitable accommodation. The balance went ta the CBC, Via Rail, Marine Atlantic ferries, and ta cultural agencies such as the Canada Council. The actual cst of running the federal governnient itself was *16.2-billion - only about 16 par cent of ail prograni expenditures, a comparatively amali proportion. That includes public service salaries, adrninistering all governiment progranis, travel, buildings, utilities, supplies, ail research ini the envn'onnent and health and agriculture, ail inspections, ar- wel as the costs of Parliament. These operating coets of the féderai governiment and Ci own corporations are something Ottawa can and does control. Since 1984 they have been cut by an average of about 2 par cent each year! More such cuts wiil be made in the future ta, the costs of governiment overhead and oparations. I have mentioned some very large amounts here - so, large that it's perhapa; difficut ta grasp just how much money is involved. -But when you think about aIl these figures, along with the Canadian publicés large expectations and demands on Continued on page 16 r 'This is a great place for publishing - close to the, train <mrd the lakefron