Ontario Community Newspapers

Oakville Beaver, 31 Aug 1994, p. 6

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© Stopping circulation of video worst kind of censorship " OPINION Dear Sir: Alberta Premier Ralph Klein is looking like a political miracle workâ€" er these days. Klein is still immensely popular with Albertans despite his governâ€" ment‘s recent, tough austerity proâ€" How tough was it? In an effort to eliminate the province‘s $2.8â€"billion deficit, Klein has dramatically slashed government spending by 20%, privatized a whole host of govâ€" ernment services, and laid off thouâ€" sands of public servants. So, the Halton Rape Crisis Centre‘s executive director, Bev LeFrancois, thinks that it is a "copâ€"out" to state that a small group shouldn‘t decide what the public can watch in their own homes. LeFrancois also says that she is pleased by the fact that a movie she hasn‘t even seen is being withheld from public conâ€" sumption. The only people engaging in a No government sector has been spared Klein‘s axe, not even the traâ€" ditional "sacred cows" of education and healthcare. Indeed, Klein has cut education spending, cut the number of school boards by about two thirds by consolidating them, reduced the number of hospital beds, and slashed doctors‘ fees. On the federal scene, the NDP is in even more of a mess. With leader Audrey McLaughlin stepping down, there is a leadership vacuum at the very time when a strong voice is needed to galvanize party opinion. The fact that this opinion is so varied and in many cases actually antiâ€"traditional NDP policy, makes the situation even more critical. Dear Sir: Re: Your story on Boxing Helena being removed from video store shelves. the first of several party conferences to reâ€"position themselves for voters, was as inconclusive as the results of the last federal election were decisive. To see just how far the NDP has come or retreated, we need only look at a couâ€" ple of the suggestions by delegates to the Ottawa session. One member spoke out against universality of social programsâ€"heresy for oldâ€"time NDP‘ers. Still another speaker talked about the impossibility of instituting a guaranteed annual income. This too has been a concept near and dear to the hearts of many mainline NDP supâ€" porters. But that was long ago. Long ago in politics now being about 24 hours. It‘s little wonder th NDP is in disarray. It has achieved the pinnacle of political power outside of Ottawa in controlling the province of Ontario. The huge election win by Bob Rae put the NDP and its policies under a microscope. And for the most part, they have been found wanting. No matter what face members of the federal New Democratic Party put on it, What Rae and his cabinet cronies soon discovered, was that governing is a whole lot different that firing salvos from the politicallyâ€"save benches of the oppoâ€" sition side. Under attack from all sides including its traditional labor supporters, the Ontario NDP government has done a complete aboutâ€"face on a number of issues. They took these moves based on pragmatic and not philosophical grounds and this too, makes the provincial NDP government here unique. In a twist of their shopâ€"worn rallyingâ€"cry of ‘make the rich pay‘, the Rae governâ€" ment has actually embraced the corporate culture, going so far as to have a private consortium build a major highway system. It has also started a casino in Windsor which has been a huge cash cow. And they did so in defiance of social service groups who pointed to the downside of such a scheme on Ontario families and the social system left to pick up the pieces after the breadwinner gambles away the food and rent money. It also offended labor, historic NDP supports and financial contributors, by bringing in the controversial Social Contract to try and cut government payrolls. The NDP both here and in Saskatchewan, are in charge of governments strapped with deficits and huge debts. This has not only cramped their traditional spend, spend, spend style but also served as a wakeâ€"up call to the party‘s supporters. Bob Rae knows that if he is to have any chance at returning to power next year, he must be seen to be a businessman as well as a political theoretician. The NDP knows that it risks annihilation like its Progressive Conservative counâ€" terparts in the next federal election if it can‘t get its act together. Even if it does, the future does not look too bright for the federal NDP. Ontarians have had a dose of NDP politics and it doesn‘t like what it has seen. This can‘t help but have a carryâ€"over to federal support. Despite the fact the NDP has the strongest leader of the three main Ontario political parties, means nothing. Recent polls show Liberal leader Lyn McLeod firmly in front of the pack with Tory leader Mike Harris and the premier last. It‘s true that nothing is for sure in politics but if you find someone to take odds at the Windsor casino, we wouldn‘t bet on the NDP returning to power at Queen‘s Park or winning more seats in the next federal election. Party on the ropes "copâ€"out" here are figures like LeFrancois. I would love to defend Boxing Helena as a valuâ€" able exploration of violence in society or to agree with them and lambaste it as a piece of trash masquerading as highâ€"brow art, but I find myself unable to do either. Is Boxing Helena a gloriâ€" fication,of violence against women or is it an illustration of the damage that this phenomenon can inflict? LeFrancois and Roger‘s Video have decided, that I, like other adult citizens of Oakville, am unfit to make such â€" In short, virtually every voter and taxpayer, and every special interest or lobby group is experiencing some As if that‘s not enough, Klein has also reduced welfare benefits, hiked rents at senior citizens‘ lodges, and slapped user fees on a broad range of government services. a judgment. It is unacceptable to be told that one may not watch material by someone who has never seen that material for his or herself. It is wrong to dismiss LeFrancois as an overzealous busyâ€"body. She and the centre‘s volunteers, undoubtedly, work in an environment where they see the very real and horrible pain caused by the phenomenon of kind of pain as a result of Klein‘s stern measures. Dear Sir: After months of violence in Rwanda, the country is still in a state of disruption and lawlessness where the numbers of victims are appalling; more than 200,000 have met violent deaths; more than one million have fled to neighboring (poor) countries as refugees; and thousands have died of cholera, dehydration, starvation, etc. The Red Cross is providing relief work throughout the country and in refugee camps in neighboring countries, saving thousands of innocent lives. It operates the only (still) working hospital in Kigali, Capital of Rwanda. It has immense expertise and experience in emergency relief work. Its workers are dedicated to the cause â€" some of them have even lost their lives in the line of duty in Rwanda. The Canadian Red Cross is appealing for funds to help the victims. It assures that every penny donated will be used for relief work; administraâ€" tive costs will be borne from local budget. It deserves our generous supâ€" port. I urge readers to send taxâ€"deductible donations to the Canadian Red Cross, 6725 Airport Road, Mississauga, Ont. L4V 1V2. According to conventional wisâ€" dom, that should have made Klein the most hated man in Alberta. He should have been burned in effigy, tarred and feathered, run out of town on a rail, or at the very least exiled to Time to help Rwandans Got a gripe? Give us a call. Readers are invited to express their opinion on a topic of their choice by calling 845â€"5585, box 5250. A cross section of the responsâ€" es will be published in next Wednesday‘s Oakville Beaver. All callers are allowed 45 secâ€" onds to express their opinion and must provide their name, address and phone number for verification. mfl‘qg‘” ra‘. WU-OUOO : L NOWB PPB CCC CA Ee t Teri Casas Office Manager Liberal, Scarborough Mirror. Classified Advertising: 845â€"2809 All material published in the Beaver is protected by copyright. production i â€" Circulation: 845-974290r 845â€"9743 Tim Coles Production Manager o n p%lfi o m neminn stricty m'é' consent of ptzlisher Advertising is aeosphdmfieoondulonhl.mmm\tdnypog wmmmdmm«mwmmWMWmlmbgemmhnmmuadmmiommvdl be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for thenpp!mblamleThepthWmetvesm ight to d fae reject advertisit event raphical ing t the wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Oakville Beaver welcomes your comments. All letters must be signed and include the writer‘s address and phone number. Letters should be typed, doubleâ€"spaced and addressed to: Letters to the Editor, The Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, Ont. L6K 3S4 467 Speers Road, Oakville, Ont. L6K 354 845â€"3824 Fax: 845â€"3085 THE OAKVIL LE BEAVER :9 [ 7y ) violence against women up close. However, the censoring of creâ€" ative projects that address conâ€" troversial subjects often causes more harm than good. It stifles discussion and true examination of our values. Perhaps, explainâ€" ing how they believe the content of entertainment demeans people is a better start than hiding it from adult men and women. John Anczurowski Instead, Albertans have given Klein and his deficit cutting plan a big thumbs up. Your reporter, Howard Mozel and photographer, provided a balanced and informative coverage of the background that led to the citizens taking collecâ€" tive and legally permissive action in support of our right to the quiet enjoyment of our homes and property. As citizens, we shall soon be asked to exercise our responsibilities in the choice of a new municipal council. We cannot take our citizen‘s rights for granted, and must be vigilant and ready to work together as a community to maintain this very special place, Oakville, in what is surely one of the most blessed places on Earth. As a result of your coverage and the diplomatic intervention of Constable Martin of the Marine Unit of the Halton Regional Police, peace and quiet has now returned to our neighbourhood. We can now hear, once again, the song of the birds and the sounds of children at play. Dear Sir: On behalf of many citizens, and in particular Lakefront residents, we wish to thank the Oakville Beaver for its July 27th coverage of our "Goodwill Blockade" of the Coronation Park boat ramp. Klein and his deficit cutting plan a The National Citizens‘ big thumbs up. Coalition Peace returns to the waterfront 4A LA Ian Oliver Publisher Robert Glasbey Advertising Director Norman Alexander Editor Geoff Hill Circulation Director JJ The above is a general outline of the vast amount of monies being spent by the Ontario government. If one was to multiply $51000 by the numerous number of unemployed Health Care staff, I am sure it would amount to millions of tax dollars, that could have been put to use for our rapidly decaying health system; but instead, all that money is being spent on yet another of the NDP‘s program, associated with the Ministry of Health. Another Socialist tactic to ease the pain of the unemployed by giving free HSTAP services; by the (I suppose) newly employed staff who work for HSTAP. In faimess to the Health Sector Administrative Staff, the blame also rests with the Ontario government. Perhaps, I should reiterate to your readers, what Bob Rae and his clowns do for the early retirement/laidâ€"off Health Sector Employees, and how much it costs the taxâ€"payers when, in fact, all of the monies could have gone back into the hospitals and not into a program called HSTAP, which stands for Health Sector Training Adjustment Program. Those eligible are employees who used to work for the Health Sector (Hospitals). The funding is for: Dear Sir: Congratulations to Diane Hart in her recent article in the Comment Section, of Aug. 24th, regarding her daughter‘s delayed tonsillectomy at the OTMH, and for revealing the Decision Makers‘ ideas of "Cutting Costs, in the Health Care Sector", by revealing to us, the halfâ€"witted ideas some of these Administrative Staff display when making final decisions in regards to (saving money?). * Adjustment (Counselling Educational Planning, Job Search Skills, etc.) * Relocation to reâ€"employment or training up to a maximum of $5,000 * Training Education which includes: Tuition Costs, Books, Tools, Equipment, Uniforms, Examination Fees, Licenses, Child Care, Travel Expenses * Job Registry which provides job opportunities for those seekâ€" ing work. A question of priorities August 31, 199. The Oakville Beaver, L and Friday, at 467 rs Rd. ce d :zmwmwmmw se rs_ which incl Colnm rgetowi Independent/ Acton Free Press, ton This Week LlndsayTthoekMarkhm ENgmonist and Sun, Stouftville/Uxbridge Tribune, Milton ‘Canadian Mississa: Oshawa/Whithy This Week, Pete This Week, Richmond Hil/ThomhilWaugha Liberal, Scan;m:)yrmgh Mirror. C o) o All material published in the Oaknville Beaver is protected by copyright. Any repmdwfion h whole or in part of this materlalisstflcflyfomiddenmmnmeeomntofm David Somerville President MD Source: World Resources Institute UV + ozche heat Global cooling Scientists may have to reduce forecasts of global temperaâ€" ture rise by 20% because of cooling effects, ironically _ caused by pollution: by Catherine Farley 1. Thinner ozone layer means less UV is being blocked, so less heat is created in the stratosphere. 2. Smog and extra clouds created by pollution shade the Earth and keep the surface cooler. Shirley Baylis EM 6+ Caring for Our Air

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