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Army Surplus now operates in Newcastlie Kendal Hall News, The regular meeting of the Men's Lodge will bc held on Wednesday, February 1. The Juniors will bc meeting on Thursday, February 2. The Ladies regular meeting will bc on Thursday, February 9 when further plans will bc made regarding their Penny Sale and Bake Sale te ho held in March. This year thc Ladies are going to have a handmade quilt to be drawn for at Uic Penny Sale. The Junior Lodge members are also going to ho having a draw for a quilt, the proceeds from their draw go towards their planned trip to hteland in late June, which will see them taking part in the l2th of July celebrations over there. There were 10 tables in play at the regular card Party on Friday, January 27. High score went to Marie Couroux with 97, second high we nt to Norrn McGilvary with 94, a tie for 3rd and 4th. Norma Moffat and Alan Downes with 84. The draw was won by Gladys Greenwood, free admission to next card party on Friday, February 10 was won by Ron Gibson. Watch for coming dates of events. P. Lowery The Home Hardware in Newcastle now bas a new neighbour. The Army Surplus Store opened on December 3rd of lut yar and bas been doing quite wcll for itself ever since. The store is run by Michael and Amanda Adamncryck Mike hotUs a Business/Commerce degree fromn Laurentian Univers ity, while Amanda was an English- History double major at Trent. When asked why Uiey chose to open an army surplus store, Amanda replied that Uic building Last Thursday afternoon, along with my governrnent colleagues, I attended a briefing at Queen's Park on Uic report of the Royal Commission on Leaming. The report, as large as a telephone book, unless you read Uic 'short version' cornes to grips with the issues that the government will now have to grapple wiUi. Most people who 1 have spoken to, all appear well pleased and are looking forward to many of the changes recommended. 1 was particularly plcased to read the recommendations concerning making the education systemn equitable and in providing equity in'funding for education. Every child in Ontario deserves to bc educated well and every school board should ho able to offer Uic same level of support and services regardless of Uic local tax base. This isa report that isn't destined to sit on a shelf and gather dust. Our government intends to act upon the recommendations as soon as possible. Look for legislation to corne forward in the Sprîng Session of the Ontario Legishature. It seems likely that Uic recommendation of children starting school at three years of age will start off by way of a couple of plot projects. One wil address children in a rural setting, and Uic other in an urban setting. From this a full evaluation will ho made to determine how a careful introduction te learning should bc created. There is conclusive next to Uic Lumber yard, which is owned by Mike's father John, was ernpty. After carefully researching wbat business would beo thc most viable, it was decided that they should open a surplus store. Both do a lot of camping, and have been to many similar stores in Uic past. Their surplus cornes frorn 2-3 main suppliers, who buy the surplus at army auctions. They also have new hunting and camping and novclty items, such evidence Uiat early education bas great honefits so much so that we caret afford not to have it. As 1 talk te people in Uic riding there still appears to be some misunderstanding over Uic intent of Uic equity legislation. Equity isn't new, in fact it was introduced in 1972 by the federal government of the day. The federal equity laws covers alI people under federal jurisdiction and in workplaces such as airlines, railways, banks and federal contractors. This month the federal government bas introduced a bll to amend their equity legisiation to make it tougher. My own feeling about Uic Ontario equity legisiation is of a system that isn't perfect. However, no one bas corne up with a better way to remedy Uic injustice of Uic past or te ensure proper equality of opportunity. To equate equity action with "reverse discrimination" is to rewrite history. When we honestly look at the past it is difficult to simply say, "Okay, from now on everyone is equal." My observations are that private corporations (Ontario's Equity Legislation only applies to companies employing over 50 people) sec how Ontario's work force is rapidly diversifying, and are looking for ways te promote equity and to recruit, hire, retain and promote more-women and minorities and the disabled, in workplaces previously closed to them. So, yes, the debate will continue on equity legislation. as hats, bandanas and t-shirts. Most of their new supplies are from World Famous, but they also carry workware by Hammili. The surplus theycarry is all of good quality and the prices are very reasonable. So whether you are looking for some camping equipment, or a pair of combat boots to wear to school or just curious, drop on in to The Army Surplus Store, just beside the Home Hardware in Newcastle. by Troy Young But one fears a debate only when one fears losing. Some 'potty idea' bas surfaced in some- media from the "Ontarians for Responsible Government" that the 1995 provincial election will be delayed unil after September 7 in order that all members of the government will ho able to get a pension, including of course, yours truly. All I can say is that kidnd of cynicism mnust have been the direct result of reading "On Uic Take". It surely didn't result frorn any careful evaluation of fact. The same "Ontarians for Responsible Govemmuent" rniffed at my taking them to task over their interpretation of Bill 163 and Bill 173 now promise to place one of their 'sily childish' Bill Board signs near my constituency office in Bowmanville in retaliation. My 'offence' was to point out that governments lead by political parties in jwrisdictions ail over Uie world have increasingly acted under thc mandate to look to Uie long term interests of the communities they serve. Their tirade only makes me wonder just who is hoing responsible, and for what. The allegations by the ORO that our legishation was 'rammed through' because we didn't want the public to bc fuily informed of the 'far-reaching' nature of the legishation is of course totally faise. Bill 173 was subjected to the most public input and open discussion Uian perhaps any picce of legislation in the history of die Ontario Legislature. We also had the input from organizations representing over one million seniors. The committee gathering public input on Bill 163 toured the province listening to the public. Ini addition to the hearings presentations were heard from the Ontario Municipal Association who represent every municipality in the province. The Sewell Commission also toured the province for input into Bull 163. Bill 79 the Equity legisiation, lilcewise was open to the public for six weeks during committee hearings, to allow presentations from the people with an interest in the legisiation. The saine open policy applies to ail legislation. a period of open hearings where the location for the hearings and length of time are ail determined by an 'ail party sub-committee' of the committee as a whole. In order to understand the need by the government to move closure on bills one has to understand that the opposition wouldn't aliow us to govern, even though the allocated time for debate was in accordance with the rules of the Legislature. Without closure, legislation would have ground to a haIt.linm sure people can remember the Conservatives, one-by-one, reading the naines of every river and stream in Ontario, in extended monotones that wasted two weeks of legisiative time at a cost to the taxpayer of $250,000 each day (the cost per day of operating the Legislature) because they didn't agree with nor were they prcpared to let us move legislation along. They later carried out the saine tactics by reading slowly the name of every town, hamlct and village into thc record to waste another couple of weeks. Not wishing to sec taxpayers money being wasted to thc tune of $250,000 each day we moved closure on a number of bils. Was it any wonder? Lately, 1 have been reading in the local press where local Conservative political experts say things like; "we need to reverse Ontario's economic downturn" and "Ontario is thc highest-taxed jurisdiction in North America." 110w corne then Ontario's economy grew even faster in 1994 than Uic 4.5 per cent growth rate we were expecting, and how corne the consensus of private forecasters is that Ontario will grow faster in 1995 Uian ail the G7 countries. The Fraser Institute - not exactly fans of Uic NDP - have reported that Ontario's provincial tax rate is Uic fourth lowest in Canada even though, Ontarians have the highest, income of ailtUi provinces." Are some people on another planet? Don't Be Late For Glass! Register Now for High School Credits, In An Aduit Environment THE CENTRE FOR INDIVIDUAL STUDIES 1 2226 Maple Grove Road North 523-6505 The 4 Northumberland-CIarin8t BoardofEducation Leadersin Jearnzng New Classes Beginning February 6, 1995 THEN CALL US FOR YOUR BE .ER *IC