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From Parliament Hili Alex Shepherd, MP. Durham Last week the media reported February's jobless figures showed no improve- ment in Canada's employ- ment picture. I thlnk we have to go beyond the headilnes to understand what is golng on. Unemployment statistics can be divided into two groups. First there is youth unemployment which sits at 17 per cent, and secondiy, there are those people who for various reasons - rost notabîy technoiogy- have seen the need for their skilis disappear. Economists cal this structural unempîoy- ment. Many people have con- cluded that government can- not protect them from unem- ployment caused by structural changes wlthin the economy. I disagree. While education is provin- cial jurisdlction, I have to point out that too many stu- dents quit school. Some stud- les suggest a 30 per cent drop-out rate. Why? We al know this îeads to a lifetime of uncertainty. Students are aiso herded into courses that have no value in today's econ- omy. Many courses taught in universities wili not îead to jobs. I'm not lmplylng univer- sities should be extensions of corporations but students have to be made aware of the consequences for some of the cholces they are maklng. You mlght like history, soclology and psychology but 1 don't mlink, in most cases, they are golng to lead to a career path. We need to expand the concept of apprentlceshlp training. We need to go beyond the cîass- room and make mhe connec- tion ibetween the education and jo b market. Let's show students the world and let them decide what their futures wiil be. The private sector has a 4 major responsibility here. Maybe we have to give them tax Incentives. It couid be worth it when you think of the amount taxpayers' money spent on unemployment. The second group, the vic- tims of structural unemploy- ment - roughiy those between the ages of 35 and 50 - expe- rlenced the rug being pulied out from underneath themn under the guise of "restruc- turing" and "downsizing." Life expendancy being what it is the 50-year-oids wi I have to stretch them- selves another 30 years. And let's be honest, it's hard to go back to school when you're. 50. It's wlth this group that the technologicai revolution has reafly failed. In somne cases we havé employees working 65 to 100 hours a week whiie others are shown the door. Why has this occurred? We have to find ways to share work. Employers have to take responsibiity for deveioplng the potential of their employ- ees. At the same Urne we have to give employees incentives to embrace continuous ieam- ing. Would it not be useful to deveiop a system of tax cred- its aliowing employees to upgrade skills partîally out of employment insurance pre- miums. This would give peo- pie contr ol over their lives rather thian belng a cork float- ing on the oceans of change. Unemployment is a resuit ofrnany factors. Obviously we need to change our attitude toward work and skiiis devel- opment. We must ensure ail those who are entering, and who are presentiy part of a chang- ing workplace, have every avenue open to them to stay employable and to pursue the skills needed to contribute to their pers onal growth and the growth of the economy. Ganaraska Authority announces fund raising The Ganaraska Region Entertainment, and much Conservation Authority more. For information on (GRCA) lias announced two tickets to this famiiy event separate annual fund raising pleace caîl (905) 885-8173. events whiÈch are pianned this In addition the 8th Arinual year for Saturday, April 19mh, Ontario Federation of Angiers 1997. The GRCA ceîebrated and Hunters fund raising din- its 50th Annlversary in 1996. ner and art auction is The flrst event is the planned for April 5th, 1997., Annual Spring Mapie Syrup Tickets are $40. Cali the Celebration caiîed 'Pancake GRCA at (905) 885-8173 for Fest' which will be held at the more information or to order Ganaraska Forest Centre. The tickets. Great Pine Ridge Kinsmen These events are volunteer have agreed again this year based and support the to organize the event and plan Ganaraska Region a Pancake Breakfast, Music, Conservation Authorlty and Walks in the Forest, its programs. (This letter wvas witten by Thomaos Brasch from Courtice and fo.xed ta Johni O'Toole M.P.P. the 24th of Februangy) Dear John OToole, 1 arn wrlting you as a con- cemed parent and voting tax- payer. I thmnk the proposed reforms on education are too drastlc and pooriy planned. I have three daughters, two of schooi age. They will suifer the consequences that you and your govemment have instigated. Fortunately for them, they have two loving parents who are well-educat- ed and will be abie to make up for the onslaught of short- comings that any new and untested system will produce. But not everybody is that for- tunate. Chlldren who corne from underprlvileged homes may not be able to seek the answers from their parent(s)/guardians. Some peopie cannot aiford to hire a private tutor or buy a com- puter to enhance their chul- dren's education. This is where we get into the eco- nomics of education: the poor are told to become stoopid in the name of cost-cutting effi- ciency. My children wlll survive your draconian measures but maybe not my neighbou~rs' children. What piight are are you producing for Ontario in the new maillennium? Rumours of cutbacks to Library, Special Education, Physical Education, Instrumentai Music and Visuial Arts abound. At the iast parents' forum at Bowmanville Higli school, you seemed to support cuts to these areas because of the extra cost they incur. 1 can speak three ian- guages. play a musical instrument, and have creative hobbies. 1 can drag my ýEJ Funeral Home TIIOUGHTFULNESS SERVICE & CONCERN A Family Owvned Business, Offering: Traditional Funeral Services Prearranlged & Prepaid Serices - Cremnation Arrangemients Alternatives ta Traditional Funerals - Out of Tow,ýn Shipping ýr Cory Kuipers - President Bowmýllanv\ille Ontario LIC 2z8 OFF STREET PARKING M .7RS5YER KIM LITTLE Financial Advisor Phone: (905)983-0512 Fax: (905)983-6133 Confident financial Services (1969) Limited A Il rturns, audited by Ernist & oung, Charteredl Accountantiis, aire Ilistorical annuailh Arates o0fietulrin anld refec7ýt canrgsin unit vailue anid distributions reLinviested. Tiey do0 iot take inito account sales charges or administration' fees, payable byithifolders, ý(,icli would have ireduced returnis. Past per- rA R fiormance dloes flot guiaraihtee futuire resuits. oulr iunit vailue and return hazwll filuctuate. Impotanit J~'?~II1 iniftormaAtioni abouit anly mutuall ftînd is 'onltaiined in its simplified prospectus zvhlici loilld b e iled careftîlly 'before inoesting. Copies oýf Trimark's prospectus are available from ithec financiiala sr M U T UA L F UN DS listed above orftosn Trilnîark IvstetManagement Imc. We Manage. To Otefrn ®Rgstrd Ideak fT,mark ivsmn MngmNI, ta DI, gd ad-Jooe&part b, Trnak NIr, n angm.tm New To Clarington? Do You Want To Know More Then Cati Maria Boone, Your Representative Today 987-5030 -14À ý l 3 YEARS 5 YL IR S 10 yio 62 2..Çi;fiR ý;2 ni,