The 0'y Witby Ne wspaper wedai prfed ,by Whitby. residents for Whitby ,residents! Published every Wednesday by 677209, Ontario mc. at 13~1 Brook St. ýN., Whitby, Ontanio Il N 5S1 Phone 668-61,11, ToronitoLine 427-1l834 Doug Anderson -ý Publisher Maunoe Pither - Editor Alexandm ar a tin -ProductionManager " 2nd Class Postal Registration #05351 loi Why"so 'many?. Were sol many so necessary?: Trustees were correct toques tion why 26 re presentat ives (and the spouses of s'ix of them) fromf theDurham Region. separate sohool board went to sItudy educational systems in Europe froîn March i to 17. The cost to theboa.rd, o'r taxpayers:,almost $20,000. Representatives, also took the opportunity to see the sights.of Europe;,coasters from a pub were souvenirs fo 'r trustees.' Is this an example of how the board sets'spending priorities ýat a time when bucdet cuis' had t0 be rflade in student programiming to brng in a"reasonable" tax increase? Rather than heU) pay for so many' to enjoy ahldy working few shoud have been sent to produce a report. Taxpayers shoud expect more prudent management of their education dolarsý. rwPIurlialuhutIurVAReport -The Queen': By René' SoBlons Ontarlo rldlng MP National symbols tell the 'sto .ry of a nation, of lits, people, environment and history. More importanly,, national symnbols embody what a nation represents, bath ta other nations and ta its ciizens. They represent values, goals and aspirations that are shared byaà ll its ciizens. Canadians' symbols are asdiverse as Canada's history. The. veaver tells of the importance of the fur trade, which for many year s was the carnerstone of development. Our chaîce af the beaver illustrates aur respect for intelligence, industry and perseverance,as well as aur lave of peace. As eariy as 1700, the maple leaf served as a Canadian symbal. ft sets Canada apart'every autumn by providing us with a spectacular show of colours. R sdymbolizes the vast natural beauty ai our nation, and the wiid, open spaces that remind us of aur freedom which m-ost of the world's population can only wish for. Queen Elizabeth 1l, the British head af state, provides a living tie with aur history as a fedieration af British colonies' Like other nations afis -eCommonwealth, Canada has inherited and developed the system of British parliamentary tradition and democracy. Over the past few years, some Canadians have expressed dissatisfaction wth aur national symnbols. A good eX<ample of this is the Ontario gavernment, which recently abolished its long-7standing' tradition'of a cereçnonial aath ta the queen. Our symbols show the world how we feel abouti this preat land of ours. They can also serve ta foster an atmosphere of- unity in respect af. camron beliefs. During these times of constitutional upheaval, it seems ta me that we should b. promnotlng and 's'trengthening aur respect far aur notionaI symbols anid the ideals they represent, not devaluinq them. That is why 1 appose the action af the provincial government. Hf they feel that the.national symbols af Canada do not reflect the ideas they are pramoting, perhapsithey should cansiderl whether l its the symbole that need changing, or their own outlaok. Canada is a beautiful country with great potenti al,' and has been a success story by any standard. Canadians can and hould be proud what they have accomplished, and af whathey can, laok farward ta» If you would like a picture of Her Majesy the Queen, please cali my. constituency- office at 686-0432. In aditon, if ýyou would like ta camne ta my next Vax Pop Forum at the Ajax unicipal Building an May 31 at 7:15 p.m., 1 wauld b. happy ta give yau a capy there. The Whitby Free Press welcomnes letters to thle Editor on any, subjeot of conoern to our readers. Letters should be brilef and to the point - rarely more than'300 words. Ail lettersý mus4 be accompanied by mhe name adldress,-and phone-number ofthe. writer; however, on request, your name ë,may be6 withheld from publicatiion ifwe agrëee mat 'there is a valid reason. The paper reserves the right to reject or edit ail letters. Send to: The Editor, Whitby ree Press,, Box 206, Whitby, Ontario, Li N 5S1 or drop through our mail slot at 131 Brock St.,N To the editor... ue, Monarchists c'riticiz"e Q"" en cision To the Edîtor: The Ra. gavemmnnent's abolition of the Oath ta the Queen taken by Ontarla, police off icers, and' cammissiloners' has properly araused wide pbi resentmnent The. foolishness' of this move has 'been compounded >1byI arrogance: Beverly Morley,, the Premnier's, appalntment secretary,, informe-the Monarchist League af, Canada. that Ilthis is nt an. issue autside 'Toronto," an assertion cetainao be rejected around the province'. 1The abolition,' of thea ath is wrong for a variety ai reasons. Firet, itleis nsulting ta Her Majesty the Queen, ýwhase, service, dedication and stable influence are widely respected and admired. by mast Canadians. Second,_ by taking this step allegedly in the -naine, of inak-ing police -forces mare accessible ta- aur ethnic cammuinities, Mr.- Rae insults.their loyalty to the Crown. Many immigrants and new Canadians have caà me tathis land, precisely because oai ihe freedom, and 'pr'sperfty, we, enjay here. <under au'r parliamientarym'narch'y.' In -addition, the Premier-has succum bed ta thé 'ca, ei Canadianism' ai Susan, Eng and those ai her. ilk. This, is the dangeraus positionthat suggests, Canadians have the right, ta aptý out of any *part aithe ,,country wihich happens :not' ta appeal ta' them.- 1 Such an attitude can only further contribute ta'the disunfty af aur land. Furthe, Raâe shows grass insensitivity - ,by addln'g the Queen ismore than a To the Edltor: I sêeaur country near the point ai disintegration. I See power mangers casting lots, while aur federal and provincial ch'ampions dither and, appoint commissions. I see aur gavermeènts financialîy ,and phiîasophicalîy bankrupt and driven ta chica.iery.. 1 see Itrntonlcorporations, jaining the. stream'ai rats leaving our sinking'ship, chanting as they.ý go, their callous motta, "Business ie business.* 1 se. food lunes.' I see a rising crime -rate, particular>e the almost-dlaily assaults on yvamen. I amn rescü ,ed fromi despair by, the' difficult, thaugh none-the-less firm, faith. that these: people and tIhese events -are -an abrration, -a, distemper ' f aur limes and nlot, thank God,_ repesentative oai aur cauntry. - What does represent , and symbolize aour country is the justice, the equaîity and the democracy as nurtured and, upbîeld within our traditions and institutions. These, inà turn, are facused, personffied-and given, 111e-by aur head a state i. .Queen of Canada. She gives us a reason ta look above and beyond the melee. She qives.usa reason ta lave and *espect our country inspite ai aur- burent leadership. She b rings us a. dignity, -a ,stablity and! a value' system that ca n naI berep lace d b a -flag, aà cnstitution or >an appointed off iciaI. This is a ý primary raIe oai the" manarch in, a conetituti1onal monarchy such as ours, and Is vit al during *this period ai general disillusionmnent., To 'remave the- oath af allegiance ta^the'Queen from that taken by'Ontarlao police manrch ',-one aio . the few unfigfrces in a' divided Canada - 0the already ','emotional debates about the Constitution. We 'need ta taike limmediate action* ta canden Rae's republican i nitilat ive.'Ontarians wha, would like, background ýinfrmation e and a petition form i Whi h'theycn u rginq the' reversai 'fthîié ïong, Insulting decision, shoùrd',%à ité the M4onarchist Leaguûe ai Canada at P.O. Box'l0j57, :Oakviiie, Ont. L6Jj 5Eg9. ,L&týsësnd the Premier ýa ,message he won't forget, whether we live close- ta or far, tram .,Tohn Almers DomnIfon Chaîrman forces is, an undermining ai'one of our few remalning 'sourcesaf'pride. and distinctiveness. Premier Bo6b ",Ra.' and hie, Cabinet -have, mfadem an arbitrary, il-timned: and mlsguided decisian. , They, and, those- who support this action, obviously don't understand ýthe'. signiicance ai the m onarch in aur system 0 f govemmenrt. AI Ward Stop -.Sunday .shoppin To the. Editor: Capy af Rae with shopping. letter» ta Pre mier Bob regard ta .Sunday Dear Mr. Rae: 1 arn writing. ta express -my cancern about the pressure-being- placed on- you and your bovernment ta allow Sunday shopping. I .-was ýso happy when you stopped, Sunday shopping, and I arn writing ta remind yau ai your rpmise ta *pravide, a common pause day ta .help strengthen family and mmùrünity 1fe, while protecting .smfall'. business and th' ights ai wo*rkers."0 Please, Mr'. ýRae, we have six days and six nights in the week ta shop.; We need Sunday'asaafamiily.. Please -'don't'put-the jbur'en' of Sunday shoapping an us again. Thank yau. ' Y' Darlene HalllwelI -Whitby 'P.S. Canadians in border, cities do not shop in the U.S.A. beà ause the 'stores are open an Sunday. They gothere because it is 'fun,'- and because ai the price of consumer praducts as cornpared ta Canadianý prices. - .~~- ~ 'J I