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Whitby Free Press, Wednesdlay. November 2,1994, Page 7 Unanimity on change By Alex Shepherd, At the Social Security Review Forum at Durham Collage Oct.AtI 23, approximately 100 people attended to hear what representatives from organized labour, business and civil servants, who manage our social safety net, had to say about social security. In a nutshell there was almost unanimous agreement that changes to the social security system are needed. People said unemployment insurance should be purely an insurance program and not include payments for training; UI should bea wo-level system charging higher rates for frequent users; a means test should apply to people who apply for UJI, people with an income of $100,000 cannot collect; corporations say they need the UI system so they can remain competitive in the marketplace. As for wefare, it was stated that paying able-bodies people without themn making some contribution to society in return should stop; Canada needs a welf are system that gives people the opportunity to get off social assistance -- and not keep themn on iR;__ welfare to teenagers should stop; there are not as many teenagers on welfare as society is led to believe and teenage wefare is .ustified; there is no such thing as child poverty, only mismanagement of the families' money. On retiremnent income: pensioners should agree to eductions if everyone's assistance is modified; RRSPs should be amended to recognize divorced Canadians as previously not owning real estate. _11-, +I.i...., .J k#.% ntlnln raMtAnow ,hrnmA kincrs This wouio allow nI t UIA aV aaniage i Linertwnm uw, program and get themn back mbt the housing market; Reduce RRSP limits to $8,000 from the current $125,000; amend age eligibilit.y of CPP 10 age 70 f rom 60. On post-secondary education: university tuilions should flot be too costly. This would put a post-secondary education beyond the reach of most students and contribute to a Iess well-educated workforce in the future. More generally, people said society should ensure employers do niot use contract labour ta circumvent payroll deduct ions. This penalizes good employees and reduces labour rates, especially in the construction industry. Everyone agreed MPs' pensions should be reformed to be the same as the private sector. Some people said the income Jax systemn should be changed, not social security. Too many tax loopholes for business and -the rich exist. Furthermore the Bank of Canada's policy of high interest rates takes income away f rom the poor and middle class, giving il to the rich. Alex Shepherd is MP for Durhamn riding which includes Whftby, north of Taunton Road.- To reach his constituency office, cali 721- 7570 (Oshawa). By Drummond White There have been few times when the costs of child poverty have commanded se much attention and so much concern. People want t0 see wefare properly administered and targeted to the poorest and most vulnerable in our communities. We don't want wefare to be a barrier or an alternative 10 employment. Rather it should support those who are in need for reasons beyond their control, in a sensitive and humane way while people are encouraged to get jobs. As a governiment, we are attempting 10 make the investment decisions more effective then ever before. lh is not enough to support families with wefare - everone needs to be active, working, and involved with others. Afler the recession, there are too many who have been out of work for a length of time and who are in danger of losinig hope. We know that children who grow up in proverty can be limited in achieving life goals. Parents don't want to be dependent upon the rest of us or 10 live a hand-to-mouth existence. Most want 10 work and 10 contribute to their communities. Few things can be as degrading 10 one's self-esteem as being unable to support one's family. We are making investments in jobs and training for many who would otherwise be receiving assistance. The number of students in the post-secondary system has increased dramatically. Both youth and older workers are taking advantage 0f skills training programmes such as Jobs Ontario Skills Training. Il is specifically targeted for workers many of whom are running out of UI or are receiving welf are. Rather than being on wefare. they are contributing 10 our economy. This has meant that many millions of dollars have been spent on job creation rat her than much more on welf are. We have started to see the resufts of this focus on skills and on job creation. The numbers of families receiving wefare has decreased and several thousand jobs have been created Iocally. Some major contracts are going 10 local firms that have been working with the province in training and investing in their work force. With the recession just ending, and mufti-billion-dollar cuts in transfers from the federai govemmerriet, we have had 10 be conscientious in wefare spending. We have introduced measures 10 curb fraud or abuses of the system. We want 10 spend tax dollars 10 support those in need. Social spending is a resassaJraflce 10 ail of us that Our province and our community are there when we may need support. On the other harid, wefare is not enough. We need 10 move ahead with an agenda that promotes job creation and dignity. Dnjmmond White is MPP for Durham Centre riding which includes Whitby south of Taunton Poad. To reach his constituency office, cail 430- 114 L MULE TRAIN WRECK ON THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY, NOV. 2, 1916 Seventy-eigh t years ago today, a sleeping switchman left the tracks turned the Wron g way and derailed a trai n-load of mules bound for Montreal, at the junction with the Whitby, Port Perry and Lindsay Railway east of Brock Street. The carcass of one of the mules can be seen in the foreground in front of the spectators. Whitby Archivcu photo 10 YEARS AGO from the Wednesday, October 31, 1984 edition of the WHITBY FREE PRESS " Three Ontario Cabinet Ministers attended a ceremony which officially twinned Whitby's Dr. J.O. Ruddy General Hospital with a hosial i n Jamaica. " The Ontario Humane Society wants to increase its animal control fees in Whitby by 26 per cent. " Councillor Joe Drummn wants traffic lights at Glen 11i11 Drive and Dundas Streets to prevent trafffc chaos. " BrookIin area businesses lost $4,500 in a series of break-ins. 35 YEARS AGO from the Thursday, October 29, 1959 edition of the WHITBY WEEKLY NEWS " William M. Pringle received a 60-year membership jewel fromn Composite Masonic Lodge. " Door-to-door mail delivery will begin in Whitby on Nov. 2. " A CPR train hit a truck at the Hopkins Street crossing but the truck driver leaped to safety. " Mr. and Mrs. John Sheridari will celebrate their 5th wedding anniversary on Oct. 31. 125 YEARS AGO from the Thursday, October 28, 1869 edition of the WIIITBY CHRONICLE *The Dominion Telegraph Company is opening an office in Whitby. *Advertisements in the Whitby Chronicle Almanac for 1870 are $10 per page. One thousand copies will be printed. " Lowes and Powell's dry goods company is opening its millinery show rooms tomorrow. " Charles King bas ended his partnership with Joseph F. Rainer in the Whitby Piano Factory.