The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

t 6 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc, Wednesday, November 6,1991 Section Two Former Publishers Rev. W. R. Climie, 1854-1878 • M.A. James, 1878-1935 • George W. James, 1935-1957 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited For 137 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher - John M. James Assoc. Publisher - Richard A. James Plant Manager - Donald J. Bishop Ad. Manager - Brian G. Purdy Editor - Peter Parrott Production Rick Patterson, Julie Cashin-Oster, Laurens Kaldeway, Doug Lugtenburg, Sharon McMullen, Barb Patterson, Sean Pickard, Ralph Rozema, Jim Snoek, Vance Sutherland, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Laveme Morrison, Pat Patterson-Savage Editorial Brad Kelly, Lorraine Manfredo, Laura J. Richards Office Angela Luscher, Junia Carnegie, Grace McGregor, Nancy Pleasance, Marilyn Rutherford, Barb Schouten F.O. Box 190,62 King St. W., Bowmanvillc, Ontario, L1C 3K9 416-623-3303 Fax 416-623-6161 Vote 6 6 99 It is with some trepidation that we write these words because The Statesman has had a long tradition of neutrality in the electoral process. In this case, however, we are taking a stand on the referendum question because we think that it would be a mistake to remain silent on an issue issue which affects the quality of life in this community. We're suggesting that you vote No on the referendum question which will appear on next Tuesday's municipal ballot. Please allow us to take this opportunity to make the case for a No vote. If, after you read this suggestion, you disagree, then that's your privilege. But let's take a look at the facts. We'll do so by answering some common misconceptions about the ramifications of voting No. Won't it cost a horrendous amount of money to change the name of the municipality? Not at all. To be blunt about it, this is a red herring which politicians use whenever they decide decide to sit on their posteriors rather than taking action. Our politicians have not conducted a single single study of the costs of a name change issue. So, when they claim that it would cost a horrendous horrendous amount of money, they're merely attempting to squelch the idea by appealing to the taxpayer's sense of prudent spending. The truth is that nobody knows to the exact penny what . the name change might cost. But the cost is mainly one of paperwork. Keep in mind that we are not paving a road or building a town hall. We're simply asking for a name change. Oddly enough, around the time when citizens asked the municipality to look into the name change issue issue about three years ago, the Town opted for a complete change in its Town of Newcastle logo. They did away with the municipal coat-of arms which appeared on vehicles and documents. documents. They created a brand new logo and gradually introduced it to stationery, vehicles, and publications. It's odd that the politicians didn't think of the "horrcndous"costs associated with that move. The cost of the name change is not nearly as much as opponents of the move would like us to think. It's not likely as much as a trade mission to Hong Kong for councillors and staff. It's not likely as much as one year's salary for a senior administrator. And it's not likely to be nearly nearly as much as the town pays annually in consultants' fees. Of course, if a new name were established, it would be gradually phased in so that, for example, example, municipal stationery with the old name wouldn't have to be scrapped If the name change is such a good idea, why does the majority of town council oppose it? We wish we knew. The opposition which citizens who have proposed the name change have faced is much tougher and much more impolite than it needs to be. A developer, planning to build a subdivision on farmland or environmentally sensitive land may be rejected by the municipality. municipality. But politicians frequently point out that this individual has the right to state his/her position and seek a change in policy. When dozens of citizens wanted to show their support for the name change almost three years ago, somebody called the police. It would be nice if they had been given the same kind of polite hearing accorded, for example, to the officials who want to build a new freeway through the municipality. But, it doesn't happen that way. Whenever the name change issue surfaces, the Town of Newcastle establishment seems to collectively throw a temper tantrum. ... We can speculate that there arc, perhaps, two reasons for this: First of all, the name change issue is a grassroots movement. It comes from the people ànd not from high-priced consultants or lawyers. Newcastle now has most of the trappings of big government. And'it doesn't really understand how to deal with ideas not introduced by lobbyists or civil servants. Quite frankly, it's more comfortable dealing with somebody carrying a briefcase. The second reason may be due to the fact that the name Newcastle is tied in with the whole issue of regional government. Whenever the name change issue is raised, some councillors fear that the issue of regional government is under assault and they want to defend that system. Our current crop of political leaders owes their careers to regional government and to the whole concept of the Town of Newcastle. As we understand it, there is no suggestion that the form of government be changed, only the name. But, it seems to us that perhaps some of Newcastle's councillors feel that if the name is changed, they will lose something. Why should the Bowmanville-boosters (who re-introduced the name change question) think they can run this municipality? They don't. And they can't. They arc merely exercising their constitutional right to.partici- patc in government. In the course of a term of office, all kinds of folks come calling on town councils. There arc developers who ask for zoning changes. There are charities who ask for the proclamation of special days or months, there are citizens who want to express a point of view about something the municipality should or should not do. The boosters are simply part of the democratic process. The suggestion that they are trying to influence the thinking of elected officials officials is quite accurate. And so arc about two or three thousand other folks who appear before Newcastle council in a typical year. What's all the fuss about? Isn't a change in name only going to benefit Bowmanville? No. Some might argue that Bowmanvillc has been hardest-hit by the change of name. Overnight, Overnight, it went from being the area's largest municipality to being a piece of a larger municipality municipality having the same name as its neighbouring urban area to the east. But the creation of the Town of Newcastle did nothing for preserving the identity of the dozens of villages, and hamlets hamlets and communities within our town. Over the past 17 years, the Town of Newcastle has attempted attempted to encourage the fictitious belief that we are all one big-time municipality such as Toronto Toronto or New York City. A no vote will send a clear message saying we prefer to be known by the communities in which we live and not by the name of the government which regulates us. Isn't it true that this name change issue is just a political feud without any real practical practical applications? No. There are some very solid, practical, reasons for changing the name. Of course, those reasons all have to do with the existence of two Newcastles. The signs tell you that you are in Newcastle when you're at the Oshawa border. If you live in Newcastle Village and you've invited invited friends down to visit, it's quite likely that they'll be looking for you in Courtice or in Bowmanvillc before they find you in Newcastle Village. As a business, we at James Publishing have noticed that it's not unusual for people to look for us in Newcastle before they find us in Bowmanvillc. But so far, we arc just talking about cases in which individuals might get lost or shipments might go astray. But, what happens if someone dials an ambulance and only identifies identifies their address as being in Newcastle? What happens if the police or fire department or ambulance ambulance personnel arrive at King St., in Newcastle rather than King St., in Bowmanvillc? The problem becomes all the more acute when agencies insist on using our municipal name rather than the name of our community. For instance, Durham's non-profit housing agency recently sent us a news release stating that a sod-turning for a new project was occurring on a particular street address in Newcastle. Technically, they were correct because the event was happening in the area municipality of Newcastle. But, in practical terms, they needed to give the Bowmanvillc Bowmanvillc location. It just doesn't make sense to have two Newcastle's existing in one place. And, the fact of the matter is that this situation doesn't do any favors for Newcastle village, cither. It detracts from the identity of Newcastle Village because the name Newcastle has come to mean a general geographical area which could be anywhere between Courtice and Newtonville. Won't a new name just perpetuate the problem? No. But, you're getting 'way ahead of us. By voting No, you arc merely agreeing that you have some difficulty with the present Newcastle name and would like to see an improvement in our municipal identity. The referendum question merely identifies the problem. The next step will be to find a solution, The solution might be to change the name of our regional municipality municipality to something altogether new. This would end the confusion and allow, individual communities communities to maintain their own identities under the banner of a single municipal administration. It might mean identifying the Town of Newcastle as something other titan a town because of the fact Uiat the word town suggests a single urban centre -- something which this municipality municipality clearly is not, Perhaps, we could become a "district" or an "area." Finally, a no vote sends a clear message that the identity of our several dozen communities must not become eclipsed by the identity of our municipal administration. It's unfortunate that the public input over the name could not have occurred during the past term of office. In that case, electors might have been voting on an actual new name this month. The referendum which asks "Arc You in Favor of Retaining the Name of the Town of Newcastle?" Newcastle?" is the next best tiling. It will start the process. The name of litis municipality has been a problem since its inception. By voting No, you can be part of the solution. Scene from a Municipal Election <F Ek r ion 91 \ w \ ~\ Psssst!. . .I'm stuck on the first question ... What did you get? (by John E. James s) In. One Small Town m by Gord Mills, M.P.P., Durham East r jv > y 1 Last week at the Legislature, Legislature, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, the Hon. David Cooke, announced that the government intends to improve pension benefits for municipal employees employees and pensioners by changing changing the legislative rules governing governing their pension plan. These changes will guarantee the indexing indexing of pension benefits and allow members to retire after 30 years of service without a reduction in their pensions. The changes arc important to OMERS' 230,000 members and pensioners. It will help to improve the quality of their lives in retirement, All of the money for these improvements will come from the pension fund surplus. Attorney General Howard Hampton, announced that the In Editor's Mail No Action Yet On Phase IV Of Low Level Process Siting Dear Mr. Minister. It has been some time now since we received news from your office that Phase IV and V of the Siting Process for Low Level Radioactive Waste would again start and that M.P. McCulloch had been appointed as the Siting Task Force Chairman Chairman and that a budget of $22,000,000 has been allocated to allow the process to be completed completed within four years. That was August 22, 1991 and it is now October 1991 and as of this writing the process at the local level has not yet begun. begun. Would you please let me know when the members of the Siting Task Force will be confirmed? confirmed? Will you also let me know when the local Community Liaison Liaison Groups will be be appointed appointed so that we can get on with the job of finding a solution solution to this long standing problem? problem? We feel it is important to start advertising in the local press right away so that people can be selected and the C.L.G. is at least established before Christmas 1991. That Mr. Minister Minister is only 9 weeks away and docs not give us much time. We hope that you will give us a speedy reply to these simple simple but important questions, Yours truly, J. Veldhuis, Chairman, Port Granby-Newcastle Environment Comm. 8 Vincent Court Newcastle, Ontario LIB 1E2 new Family Support Plan will come into effect on March 1, 1992. The new plan will allow for the automatic deduction of support payments from income, income, and will be an important part in the fight against poverty of women and children in Ontario. Ontario. As a member of the Standing Standing Committee of the Administration Administration of Justice, I along with my government colleagues, spent weeks in an all-party committee pushing this law' forward, despite deliberate stalling by Liberal and Conservative Conservative committee members, to prevent swift passage of the Bill. At present, three quarters of the 90,300 current orders filed with the Family Support Plan are in default to some extent. extent. Approximately $470 million million dollars is owing in arrears. The families who should have received support payments have turned to welfare at a cost of $140 million dollars, borne by the taxpayers of Ontario. At the moment, more than 80,000 children in Ontario arc not receiving receiving family support, and this is intolerable. On Thursday, the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) launched their Celebrity Challenge Challenge at Queen's Park. The challenge, which I. accepted along with 10 other MPPs, ; is to live the life of a person with diabetes for one week. We must test our own blood sugar levels twice daily, and follow a strict diet and exercise program typical for a person with diabetes. diabetes. While I will not suffer insulin injections twice a day myself, my volunteer "Zeddy Bear" will bear the brunt of my injecting him twice daily with insulin on my behalf. The challenge challenge is part of an intensive education education agenda of the CDA. Over 500,000 Canadians have diabetes now, and do not know it. Early diagnosis and treatment treatment of diabetes can reduce the chance of complications such as blindness and heart attacks attacks from occurring, and as a result, save the Ontario Health system over $1 - billion dollars annually. November is Diabetes Diabetes Awareness Month, please give generously when the CDA canvasser, calls on your door. Finally, I was pleased to recognize the Orono Girl Guides' 50th Anniversary in Orono on Sunday, with the presentation of a Comemora- tivc Scroll from the Premier of Ontario. Until next week - be kind to one another - it's good for you. Sunday morning howls icily past our windows, on the first November weekend in 1991. Normal temperature range for this time of year hovers in low fifties or high forties. But not today, Mounted securely in the sprawling crotch of an old Manitoba Maple outside the windows, Arthur Mome- ter's quivering needle barely registers 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Fahrenheit. It hasn't moved upwards since dawn, and isn't supposed supposed to do so for another couple of days. A bitter sou'wester has driven the wind chill factor well below zero. The weather forecasters agree: things won't be better soon. Take those weather forecasts, and apply them to anything else today. Nothing will get better soon. Welcome to the Cow Chips Cafe, Pardner. What'll it be this morning? Uhhh, before before you waste time on the menu, allow us to advise what's still in the kitchen. Don't ask about Jobs. We're completely sold out. There are some UICs left, but the price is twice what you see on the menu, and you only get half as much as before. before. Today's special is the Public Public Service Submarine. It comes smothered in Unions, whether you like 'em or not. Only want one? Too bad. You gotta buy three. How 'bout a Nation Burger? Burger? Plenty of those remain in the cooler, since somebody started talking about tainted meat. Better order soon. Unless Unless people wake up, you won't enjoy this type of old- fashioned cooking much longer. What's that..., how come the prices arc so high? You must be kidding: those aren't the prices. That's the tax! If price was included, you wouldn't sit down. There's a possibility last week's comments about Brian Mulroney were too negative. Some folks suggest Canadians Canadians should feel honoured one of our citizens was considered considered for the top United Nations Nations post, and we should have supported our Prime Minister in his bid for the prestigious position. Under different circumstances circumstances we'd be delighted to join ranks. However, in this situation, it's necessary to go beyond superficial rationale, and assess motivations. In our opinion, Brian Mulroney Mulroney badly wants to be the next Secretary General of the U.N. Plenty of evidence suggests suggests he engineered the nomination. nomination. Would it not be extremely naive to assume the President of the United States would- nominate anyone - for anything anything - without being fully aware of the nominee's aspirations? aspirations? It would be equally naive to assume Bush originated originated the idea himself, rather than at Mulroney's request. Why would Bush bother to comply? Based on the federal federal government's relationship relationship with the United States over the past seven years (including (including the Free Trade agreement, agreement, and the Goods and Services Services Tax), George Bush must genuinely consider our Plastic Bags on Signs Viewed as Hazardous Dear Editor, On driving through the Port Perry and Blackstock community community today, we noticed quite a few election signs scattered around. At least two candidates surprised us when we saw their signs were covered in a clear plastic bag. Now, with the increasing increasing knowledge about how harmful plastics can be to the environment we were astonished astonished to see potential political figures doing this. Rain, wind and vandalism can damage cardboard signs, however, covering them with plastic may be more detrimental detrimental when excess "garbage" blows off. Having this "garbage" "garbage" scattered around the township, is annoying, wasteful wasteful and possibly deathly, for some birds and animals. Also, it is hoped that after November 12, all candidates will remove election signs to reuse or recycle recycle them and not leave them to litter ditches and roadsides. It is an unfortunate irony of our time that in an election where one of the major issues is location of a landfill site and what to do with masses of garbage, garbage, that such an environmentally environmentally unfriendly medium would be an accepted form of candidate candidate advertising. We hope in the future that such practices are changed so that candidates, especially those that promote groups like Zero Garbage would use more environmentally friendly methods. methods. Sincerely, Mark Sturman Seagrave Nancy Pleasance Tyrone Brian to be a Best Buddy. How 'bout a scenario where George sez: "Brian, we've appreciated your cooperation. cooperation. Is there anything we can do to say thanks?" Bingo. Why does Brian want the job? That's not tough to figure figure out, when you analyze how things have developed - or more accurately - failed to develop in Canada. Unless we're completely off base, the complicated, long range Tory agenda came unglued during the Spring of 1991. Up to that point things proceeded according to plan, with all the bad medicine being being administered well before the next federal election. What was supposed to happen next - just before the election - was a convenient return to more prosperous times. (Remember a while ago, our Brian announced the end of the recession?) Unfortunately, Unfortunately, himself and his buddies spent too much time listening to the Egg Heads. They completely ignored an ominous rumbling from the streets. The Tories also underestimated underestimated the brutal impact of the Goods and Services Tax at the retail/consumer level. Ironically, that happens to be the voter level too. As a result result the carefully planned, desperately needed economic recovery stayed in the toilet. And threatens to grow into something worse... just in time for the next federal election. election. In addition, Mulroney's Tories fed - and profited from - the flames of Separation in Quebec for two government sessions. Public opinion polls suggest they did too good a job. The mood in Quebec is not positive, unless you like exploring brave new worlds. After seven years, (and several damning incidents such as the infamous Meech "roll the dice" tv interview where Brian prematurely claimed credit for saving the country), most Canadians know the Prime Minister well enough to conclude the obvious. obvious. The man could not endure endure a humiliating election defeat, nor accept blame for destroying the nation. Both now loom as distinct possibilities. Instead, if the opportunity appears, you'll see him bolt ranks, and run like a cowardly cowardly deserter, at a crucial juncture juncture in the nation's history. We firmly believe this to be the true measure of the man. We are better off without him. We Asked.... What is the most important municipal election issue? .. .And Yon Said Wade Hadiman Bowmanville Good Question. It probably looks like the taxes and development. People want to know where the taxes arc going - they don't want the Town of Newcastle to become another Toronto. Joan Lambert Courtice I really don't know. I don't follow the election issues carefully. Jill Darnell Bowmanville There's so many of them. I haven't really thought about them all. There is the environment environment and development. Where do you begin and where do you end? Phil Pattrick Bowmanville name change The something - Newcastle. but Next week's question: Do you think Highway 407 is needed? Ü B