PAGE 6, WITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY21, 1990 VOICE OF THE COUNT TOWN The only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitby residents. Put F blished every Wednesday By 677209 Ontario Inc. Phone: 668-6111 668-6112 668-6369 Doug Anderson Publisher' 131 Brock Street Noith, .. Box 205, Whitby, Qnt. DCA Maurice Pifher Editor Peter Irvine Advertising Manager Alexandra Simon Production Manager 2nd Class Postai Registration #05351 New regional headquarters too rich Can we really afford to build two new regiohal headquarters buildings at a total cost of (estimated, current dollars) $52 million. We are of the opinion that the price quoted by the consultants, Marshall, Macklin and Monaghan isIfar too steep and the whole concept requires rethinking. The need for a new headquarters building has been evident for several years but just like every family that lives on a budget, Durham Regional Council should either 'make do' with the status quo for a few more years or scale-the proposal down to something more appropriate to the tough economic times that lie ahead. Just as business is being forced to set its goals lower, so should governments. That the present facilities are bursting at the seams is without question, but governments when given the opportunity|have an insatiable capacity to filI whatever space is atailable. It will not matter how much space is allotted for future growth - it will be full before the building is finished. We can recall when Torônto built its new city hall in the early sixties. Several of the top floors were to be left empty until needed - they were aHocated before the building was finished. When the Ontario government decided to consolidate its offices in Toronto some twenty years ago, it plarined a'huge' complex of four office towers to be built in stages over a period of twenty-five years - they never stopped building - the more they built, the more they filled. And even when the complex was finished, the appetite for bnore space was so out of control that they went on a leasing spree as well. Starting any new building program can be dangerous but a two-site concept could be twice as dangerous Regional Council has to look at the new headquarters concept in terms of priorities. Would the taxpayers' money be better spent on recreational facilities, road upgradings, railway overpasses, sewers and water for Brooklin, more seniors' and non-profit housing, or is it better spent on the comfort of the region's own staff. We have no hesitation in. saying that now is not an appropriate time to be spending large sums on anything which is of little direct benefitto the public. Council should make do with what its got, just like the rest of us. Crime Stoppers.program getting resuits To the editor: Over three years have passed since Crime Stoppers was proved very successful, and has been instrumental in the clearing of many serious crimes which include: homicide, robbery, introduced into the Region of assaults, burglary, drugs, etc. Durham. Thist program has To make the program even THE BUDGET DEBATE PROCEDURE By Rêne Soetens Ontario riding MP Budget Day: Mr. Wilson introduced a motion that asked Parliament to approve 'In general, the budgetary poicy of the government," then presented his budget. The government must have the confidence of the Huse of Commons to continue in office, and the budget debate is on this motion. Mr. Wilson outlines how much money the government expects to raise and spend in the coming year, announces changes to taxes and programs, and describes the state of the economy. When Mr. Wilson finishes, someone from the official opposition - the Liberals - replies for about flfteen minutes, and then asks for the debate to be adjourned until the next day. Day One: The Liberal speaker finishes his or ber remarks, and presents a motion that proposes to turn the confidence motion into one of non-confidence. If the Liberal "amendment" were to pass, the budget motion would read "this bouse rejects the budget for the followin reasons. Someone from the P ten speaks, and presents a "subamendment" to the Liberal motion stating further reasons why they believe the budget should be rejected. Day Two: The NDP sub amendment is voted on. Day Three: Debate continues. Day Four: The Liberal amendment is voted on. Day Five: Debate continues. Day Six: The main budget motion is voted on. Has the budget passed? Many of the budget measures take effect right away, while others take effect on a specific date later on. Even when the budget motion has passed, many of the changes in the budget are not law. Several different bills may be necessary. For example, income tax, sales tax, and tariff changes are usually passed as separate legislation. Tax changes take effect on the date specifled in the budget on the assumption the necessary legisation will be passed. LETTERS The Whitby Free Press welcomes letters to the Editor on any subject of concern to our readers. Letters should be brief and to the point - rarely more than 300 words. All letters must be accompanied by the name, address and phone number of the writer; however, on request, your name may be withheld from publication if we agree that there is a valid reason. The paper reserves the right to reject or edit all letters. Send to: The Editor, Whitby Free Press, Box 206, *hitby, Ontario LN 5S1 or drop through our mailslot at 131 Brock St. N. more effective, a local Crime* Stoppers hot line was put into operation a little over a year ago. Since then not only have the calls more than doubled, arrests and cases cleared have also increased. Since the inception of Crime Stoppers in this Region: 310 arrests have been made; 790 charges laid, and over 1/2 million dollars in stolen property and illegal drugs seized. All a direct result of Crime Stoppers. A lot of this success, no doubt, is the result of the tremendous co-operation Crime Stoppers receives from the media which includes: 3 television stations, 3 cable television stations, 17 newspapers and 8 radio stations. As can be seen, Crime Stoppers is becoming more successful' as time goes on'.Its success lies in the fact that e media profile the program, wb ch results in public awareness. On behalf of the Board of Durham Regional Crime Stoppers Inc., I thank you fkr your continued support. Vern Walker, Chairman Durham Regional Crime Stoppers Danger: Ducks crossing To the editor: It would 'appear as though a little bit of a traffli problem: has developed on Brock St. S., just below Victoria at the Pringle Creek overpass. It would seem as though some fine feathered friends (geese, ducks, swans, etc.) are unfamiliar with the rules of the road and cross it at leisure. So, maybe the Town of Whitby should consider putting a sign there waming motorists of the potential hazard caused by fowl randomly crossing the road there. Somebody or some bird is going to get hurt. Bon Corlies Oshawa * - ,~---... * . ~ - ~ s.~..e.aa,> ns* ~ - -s.tiS.p ~ -= - -wmfoesaarsast~ M LUN 5S1 ------------------------- -- --------- ------------------ ---------------- lin ----------- ---------- ----------------- .............. .......... R -------------------