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

' 'rl t .iré‘ Sikh mmmmeuhudwms-muoutm and... ee-tm-tttru-h-N-pt-tret-i-ttts akigitaioltratitt_urr-r-'ttt.r-titur-ttt_iatrettrttt. tiottttraatetr-ttteee. What has happened to the rights of Canadian citizens who have been murdered over the past nine years? - - _ . - _ _ - The final appeals are now being heard for four convicted police killers. According to Canadian Press reports, the lawyers {or two of the con- victed killers will argue the death penalty is an unusual and cruel penalty and that it is con- trary to the Canadian Bill of Rights. However, these same killers had no com- puncti'on in snuffing out the lives of policemen who were trying to carry out their duty of pro- tecting society. . - of . cons cien ce _" The Prime Minister, Solicitor-General War- ren Allmand and Attorney-General Ron Bas- ford have all stated that it is against their con- sciences to allow the death penalty to be car- ried out. These men speak of conscience de- spite the fact that they freely took an oath to support and uphold the laws of the land and they now refuse to carry out this duty. T This government further feels it has a defensi- ble position in proposing a bill that would elimin- ate the death penalty for all convicted murders and replace it with a 25 year prison sentence. The Prime Minister of Canada has said re- peatedly there will be no plebiscite on capital punishment. The results of such a plebiscite are too obvious even to him. Mr. Trudeau goes on to say it would be the ruin of the parliamen- tary syétem to allow this issue to Come to a public vote. _ _ _ - -_ _ .. . Mr. Trudeau regularly reminds us that it is his decision and that of his party's caucus that capital punishment will be abolished in Canada. He also goes on to say that if Canadians are un- happy with his government they can vote the Liberal Party out of office. That is our right as the electorate. , Many Canadians eagerly await the opportun- ity of exercising their franchise as soon as possible. The process of government is not well under- stood by many of us in this remote-control age. How do Governments reach decisions? This ques- tion was discussed at a recent meeting of the North Waterloo Progressive Conservative As- sociation. We talked about lobbying, community groups, special interest groups. and government created interest groups. For examples of these. we pon- sidered the influence of the stop Pickering Air- port campaign called "People or Planes", Also. the lobbyists who fought unsuccessfully for the Canadian edition of Time magazine and Readers Digest. Consider our own Downtown Residents Association. All of these and hundreds more were created to inform and influence decision makers. In this complex world I suppose we need these groups to do research, to educate and inform. and to express the public will. There A View Erma the Grass Rants A matter T -eterrt1ertryrttrelirrt-. "htat'rrto"ttteh-Amtie.to-d1aC-e. urmus..m.ou. addr-em-d-tr-ttredness: www.mon..mm mm: mm Bound Editor. MSW walnut” mum-mummy...” Ittiitllttrtlit “.353103“ n ‘-:, ia) Is William St. like Albert? The politicians and the City Engineer denied that it was in the widen- ing discussion during Monday night's council meeting. The previous week Mr. Willis had an- nounced his intention to widen William Street, a block a year, to 32 feet. This year's section. Avondale to Dunbar, is presently 25 feet. N Had the "engineering recommendation passed on Monday night. the affected residents would have found out by receiving official letters of no- tification. By objecting to these, they would have forced the issue to an OMB hearing, at added cost to the taxpayer ultimately. Thanks to our associ- ation's policy of council watching. the residents had advance notice and were able to express their concern to their elected representatives be- fore the decision had been finalized. 7 llawntown nonreactive The residents felt William w'ould be just fine repaved at its present width, that it did not need to have the new city standards of 32' for a collec- tor road, nor did it need 5 foot sidewalks. Council's present policy is to introduce Local Improvements under section 8 of the Municipal Act rather than section 12. In the latter case, objections mean that the matter is dropped for the present. Under section 8, objections mean an OMB hearing. However Council must pass this by a two-thirds majority. Here is where the drama came on Monday for the residents of that parti- cular block on William, with a recorded vote add- ing to the suspense. Lately the aldermen who received the most votes at the last election have been voting togeth- er on issues (Waterloo’s Reform Caucus?) Alder- man Henry must be exempted, as he's been ab- was concern amongst those attending our meet- ing that sometimes such organizatidnhecome emotional; that they do not express the public will; and that through repetitive and outspoken criticism they influence decision makers dis- proportionately to their numbers. Bob Gramlow. Mayor of Wellesley. conceded that groups do have an influence, that they can be very persuasive, but he only objects to them if they become overly emotional and outspoken. Another noteable comment comes' from econo- mist John Crispo in addressing The Royal Com- mission on corporate concentration. an example of a government created interest group. He said, "Politicians hire Commissioners for their known preconceived notions or those with none at all but who are willing to bend to suit the situ- ation. Successful Commissioners in turn. take SUN am AVE I'i!a'a,liuAiiMy, sent due to ill health. On Monday Aldermen Car- roll, Mewhinney and Tumbull were joined try Alderman Voelker to defeat the two-thirds ma- jority required. Then what? Brian Tumbull pro- posed that Council tour the spring work sites. They voted to go and look at William Street. I propose we citizens look at William Street as well. Mr. Willis told the residents it wouldn’t cost them any more to have a 32 foot road than it would 25 feet. Who pays? We do, of oourse. if not from our municipal tax pocket, then from the provincial one. , T . ___ More questions need to be asked. If present daily volume is 4.000 cars, what was it last year or five years ago? Are there factors which will increase present use rapidly? Have paving costs risen as fast as the price of gasoline? Why do we need 5 foot sidewalks in old neighbourhoods? What about ecological damage, when continuing to widen at 32 feet will eventually mean the loss of all the trees on the north side t, SOS. our T shirts said, "Save Our Streets", as we all supported Albert Street residents when our group was lauded. Those people on William value their streetscape just as dearly. We must take a look and see if we do too. This month marks our fourth year as a Resi- dents' Association. The annual meeting will be next Wednesday, May 12th at the Adult Recrea- tion Centre at 8 p.m. The theme will be a panel discussion on a Minimum Maintenance By-law and its effect on downtown residents. Its a good chance to chat with other downtowners who share your interests and concerns. Do come. time, appear fair. open and studious, do the poli- tician's bidding or close to it and keep quiet after- wards. tf rm sure everyone agrees that democracy only works properly where the decision makers are well informed. responsive to the public will, objective and open. Politicians should be open to the influence of many people, and accurate information. as well as educated opinion. Thus, lobbyists have a role. Well informed responsible pressure groups have a place. However. they must operate in the open without special favour or positon. We have a right to know who they are. How are they funded? Who are their leaders? Who do they represent? These important ques- tions ought not require legislative control but rather responsive. political leadership and a vigi- lant Press. .- submitted tee admin submitted by Rosemary Rowe H By Richard Robson