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PAGE 6 â€" WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY , SEPTEMBER 30, 1981 Professor John Wilson of the University of Waterloo makes some astute observations and expresses a valid concern in this week‘s front page story on his reaction to the Liberal government‘s constitutional game plan. . If the government minimizes the importance of convenâ€" tion, Wilson says, the consequence may be that our deepâ€"rooted parliamentary and political customs and traditions are eroded in their value and validity. Basically, the report of the allâ€"party committee demonstrated very clearly that there is no fat left to trim from federalâ€" provincial spending on health, postâ€"seconâ€" dary education and social assistance proâ€" grams. â€" Of course, the Liberals need to downplay that part of the Supreme Court ruling handed down Monday which says its patriation plan, while legal, violates convention and is ‘"unâ€" constitutional." Earlier this summer, the findings of the Parliamentary Task Force on Federalâ€" Provincial Fiscal Arrangements were presented to the Cabinet and the general public. The task force included the following: Chairman, Herb Breau, MP (Lib. Glouâ€" cester, N.B.), Viceâ€"Chairman, Don Blenâ€" karn, MP (P.C. Mississauga South, Ont.) Bill Blaikie, MP (NDP. Winnipegâ€"Birds Hill, Man.), David Weatherhead, MP (Lib. Scarborough West, Ont.), Bernard Loiâ€" selle, MP (Lib. Verchéres, Qué.), Blaine Thacker, MP (P.C. Lethbridgeâ€"Foothills, Alta.), and Hal Herbert, MP (Lib. Vauâ€" dreuil, Qué.). _ That â€" as the professor outlined â€" is the only way they can win their argument in this particular case of proceeding with the current constitutional initiative. Professor Wilson doesn‘t see the Liberal plan as some sort of deliberate conspiracy to undermine tradition. But he wisely warns that the end result may be an erosion of that stability upon which the nation has progressed in its own unique way. His comments are certainly food for thought. "Oh well, heck... that‘s just some silly convention we can kick out of the way."‘ Is that what some will be saying? _ But what are the ramifications of such an attitude and the sort of things it may inculcate in the minds of the citizenry and future generations of Canadians? _ â€" As professor Wilson told. the Chronicle, a respect for parliamentary tradition and political custom forms part of "the central values of Canadian culture." If those values are diminished, we are faced with a potentially chaotic situation, replete with all manner of radical change. o Well before the task force was formed last February, Health Minister Monique Bégin told the House of Commons that she could not foresee any change in the size of federal transfer payments to the provinces for medicare and lrealth care support. Worth noting WALTER McLEAN published every Wednesday by Fairway Press. a division of Kitchenerâ€"Waterioo Record Lid.. owner ; 25 Fairway Rd S.. Kitchener. Ont address corregpondence to Waterioo office 92 King S South: Waterloo Ont . telephone 886â€" 2830 Publisher: Paul Winkler Manager: â€" Bill Karges Editor: _ Phil Jaisevac subscriptions $14 a year in Canada $16 a year in Ur‘ted States and Foreign Countries During the life of the task force, Finance Minister MacEachen stated that he planned to reduce all transfer payments by $1.5 billion. He told the task force that it was to keep his expenditure plans in mind while listening to witnesses across the country. At the time the task force reported, its chairman read the following passage from the report to the press: "It is our view t{:at there is now, for the most part, no fat left in the system â€" no fat in postâ€"secondary education, no fat in the health system, no excess spending in social assistance, little redundancy in social services." Yet, despite this strong statement from a task force with a majority of Liberal members, the finance minister told the media at the September cabinet meeting in Cape Breton, that he still planned to go ahead with his $1.5 billion cuts! Given the health minister‘s previous statements, the postâ€"secondary education transfers would seem to be the target for any cutâ€"backs. The minister responsible, Secretary of State Francis Fox, has not establishea 1854 possibility. It appears then, Schools made scapegoatl [# that the universities and community colâ€" leges are to be Mr. MacEachen‘s scapeâ€" goats. â€" Because Ontario universities, including our own University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier, as well as Conestoga College, do not wish to be the casualties in any federalâ€"provincial dispute, they have been calling all along for a Royal Commisâ€" sion to look into postâ€"secondary funding. Since the 1960s, when the federal govâ€" ernment decided to set up a transfer system, rather than give monies to the provinces, many educators have been concerned that Ottawa was interfering with the provinces‘ constitutional mandate for education. Today, the Trudeau Government wants to take political credit for funds spent provincially. This comes at a time when Ottawa finds the financial ‘shoe on the other foot.‘ Ironically, Mr. MacEachen‘s snap solution is to suddenly yank federal funding and leave the provinces high and dry. Ontario college and university students already contribute more per capita to the operation of this province‘s educational Now that the allâ€"party task force has demonstrated that the Trudeau Governâ€" ment‘s plans can only cause immediate reduction in the quality and accessibility of postâ€"secondary education in Waterloo riding, as well as the rest of the country, I will strongly urge Mr. MacEachen to drop In my role as official opposition spokesâ€" man on the Secretary of State, the department responsible for postâ€"seconâ€" dary education support, I am very conâ€" cerned that any rash moves by the finance minister should meet with forceful and informed opposition. his illâ€"considered and punitive political strategies. institutions than their colleagues in any province. Both Mr. Bruce Gellatly, Viceâ€" President, Finance and Operations, at the University of Waterloo, and Mr. Peter Venton, Viceâ€"President, Administration and Finance, at Wilfrid Laurier, agree that any drastic change in the federal government‘s support can only force up already large tuition fees. The other alternative, of closing some institutions in Ontario, is equally unacceptable.