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

More important is to ensure that controversial, and expensive, deci- sions, once taken. should remain effective long enough that only new and well documented evidence enl- lected over a significant period of time ought to be deemed adequate grounds for raising the matter again. To date I am unaware of any such compelling evidence. Group fights forced metric Whether last year's decision was right or wrong, whether, indeed, it should be a decision put before the electorate or one decided by ex- pérts, ought not presently to be the issue. 1 see that the members of the Waterloo Safe Water Society wish to reject the democratic decision of the voters and return the fluorida tion question to the polls once more. Had they won the last time would they now be clamoring for a re match? If they are successful in their bid for a further vote and win the plebiscite will they acknowledge the need for yet another twelve months later? If they lose again how long will it be before they demand one more head count? in order to maintain stability and some degree of order in local affairs it might be appropriate to institute a rule of thumb whereby, unless there are compelling grounds to the con- trary. issues once decided by the voters should be considered im- mune from further plebiscite for a period of five years. Is another warranted? As chairman of Measure Cana- dian, a group founded in Eastern Canada in March to fight forced use» of metric in Canada. I would like to apprise your readers of the goals of Measure Canadian and ways which they, as individual Canadians, can help us in this light Measure Canadian}. ultimate gual is to achieve freedom of choice for all Canadians in the use of men summon! systems. To achieve this goal, we have developed a nine The pomp and celebration of last week's Royal Visit and the proclamation of the Canada Act were welcome diversions after the long hard winter But at the same time. Canadians received confirmation of wide spread dissatisfaction with the federal government A poll taken by the Gallup organisation during the Tingling of the bells' in Parliament revealed an unprecedented acclaim for the successful campaign by the (lllielal Opposition to force the govern- ment to split up its controversial energy package Bill (1-94 Canadians trom every region of the country were not amused by the Trudeau whim-1‘s plan to legisiali- future increases in gasoline and home-heating fuels (If particular concern was the plan to have these increases forced through by cabinet edict without reference to Parliament. and without scrutiny by the general puts lit This poll only supplied the statistical picture of how Canadians feel nboul the social costs of the federal government) economic policies, As I attend gatherings across Waterloo Riding I am invariably asked when the WALTER McLEAN Rod Preece 6 Erb St. E. Waterloo If you. too. care and would like to get involved with our organization or receive additional information, please write or call Measure Cana- dian's national headquarters" office at 75 John St,, Brockville, Ont. or phone (613) 342-7110. paint program that include. such things " concentrating our lobby- lng efforts " 1treHovirteul your!» advertisers to use Canadian men summent and initiating legal chal lenses to the metric law. To assist us in our efforts, we would urge concerned Canadians to contact their provincial MLA, ask him/her their stand on forced use of metric and what, it anything, they are prepared to do about it. Measure Canadian was founded by a group of small businessmen. a retired newspaper editor, an MPP. and a number of municipal politi- cians All of these people are respected members of their com- munities. but above all, they are Canadians who love this country and are deeply concerned about our gradual loss of freedoms, sym- bolized (so vividly) by forced use of metric Measure Canadian believes that our best chance, over the short term. of stopping this erosion of our freedom lies at the provincial level. Canada wouldn‘t be in this present situation it provincial governments hadn't gone along with conversion by force. It is ‘not too late, because provincial governments still have the power to. effectively "neutral- ize" forced metric laws within their individual provinces. Provincial politician; have tried to "slough off" metric as a federal matter, but as you can see. that's just another convenient dodge. Get after your MPP, and make him/her stand up and be counted. Some of the things provincial governments could do are as fol lows: issue a public statement calling on the federal government to make the program voluntary; pass legislation to make it illegal to advertise or post metric measure, ments without their Canadian (Im, perial) equivalents; remove metric from all provincial statutes, thereby doing such things as reverting all speed limits to m.p.h.; if possible, opt out of metric under the opting- out provisions of the new Constitu- tion. government will respond to the over whelming demand that it Pomp up with practical alternatives to its hardline high interest rate policies Happily, one step has been taken Io help our hard pressed industries finance new product lines, and with them. new jobs in our area. Happily, one step has been taken to help (in January 12, as part of its toast to our hard pressed industries finance new coast travels, the Special Progressive product lines. and with them. new jobs in Conservative Committee on the Budget our area. and the Economy visited our area I The Industry and Labour Adjustment arranged for a wide range' of interested Program will offér capital at reduced groups and individuals to make formal interest rates. presentations They included The latest survey of leading eronomu‘ K w Automobile Dealers Assortatot forecasters by the Conference Board of Waterloo Federation of Agriculture Canada confirms the testimony of many m Sonal Planning Council of Kitchener Kitchener and Waterloo region according Waterloo to the experts. Canada is gripped by the Housing and Urban Development Assn worst recession since 1947 They expert an dation of Canada annual inflation rate of ll per rent for Wilfrid Laurier University 1982, unemployment rates of 8.5 per rent. Chambers of Commerce and a further rise in our already punishing The findings of the committee ha ye now interest rates for tgtt3.' been published under the title "They My colleagues and I in the Ofricial Opposition have been against the et-onum ir directions of this government from the very introduction of Mr MacFUchen's budget last November 12 Since the tinance minister has refused to withdraw his proposals, we undertook a nationwide survey of the views which the chairma- Measurc Canadian Steve Economic suggestions The standoff over fee negotiations between the Ontario Medical Association and the provincial government continues. Rotating walkouts by doctors are planned for a number of communities. Ontario has imposed a three- year M per cent increase in doctors' fees as of April I, and the minister of health has stated that he is convinced that doctors will not decide to opt out of OHIP in large numbers. Asked by Liberal Leader David Peterson to outline what level of opting out he would tolerate. the minister said: "When they reach the point at which all residents of this province cannot get opted-in services in their own community . v ." Against the background of the continuing controversy, Opposition MPPs have insisted that raises granted to doctors should not be paid by increasing omp premiums. Liberal Agriculture Critic Jack Ridden (Huron-Middlesex) has urged the province to make an effort to police the food industry, pointing out in the Legislature that the government has done nothing to monitor the buying practices of supermarkets which have formed buying groups to obtain larger dis, counts from food proceswrs. “All the major chains have formed buying groups," he said. "and this reduction in competition can only lead to higher food costs and reduction in food suppliers." The government has also. he said. ignored a recommendation by a Royal Commission into pricing and discounting in the industry that a forum be set up to watch discounting prac tices. Liberals David Peterson and Robert Nixon have sharply attacked the government for allowing TIC Investments of Dallas, Texas, to buy out their 50.1 per cent interest in White Farm Equipment of Brantford. ont. They accused the minister of being naive if he believes the U.S. takeover of the company wort't lead to the gutting of the company and the transfer of a valuable Canadian-developed patent to the US, As of April ie., a number of Ontario communities including our own lost almost all doctors" services fur ram-s considered nun emergencies Just a reminder to send in your rc-sponw to my questionnaire Postage is prepaid Thcruntarw Medical Association claimed tl had overwhelming support on the first day of Queen’s Park Report general public has on our country‘s wonomir future Out of thew hearings. vu- have developed a number of clear policy alternatives Housing and Urban Development Asso ciation of Canada Wilfrid Laurier University Chambers of Commerce The findings of the committee have now been published under the title "They Didn't Ask Us", '. The following is a partial list of policy initiatives which we believe would contribute to a different. more positive direction for Canada. I Restore individual and investor Con tidence by establishing a climate for growth, development and expansion It is the duty of government to encourage WATENLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY, W". 2t. "" - PAGE 9 rotating walkouts try doctors, thte-fifth of the ()MA‘s branch societies were asked to protest against the provincial government by walking out and the association said that 80 to 100 per cent of all doctors participated in walkouts, which are scheduled to continue every day in different areas for five weeks. According to the minister ot health, protest action try doctors have already harmed the health of six people. Liberal Leader David Peterson charged that the strong participation in the protest try doctors has proved that the minister was wrong in predicting that the majority of physicians would ignore the OMA's plan to close doctors' offices each day in different areas for the next five weeks According lo the 1981 income tax guide for Ontarians. the basic provincial tax is 16 per cent of the basic federal income tax However. this is not actually the case for many people on the lower income scale It was reported that about haif of Scar borough's too doctors had urged the OMA to begin a full-scale province-wide walkout on April 26. Pharmacists have expressed anxiety that shortages of brand-name drugs could develop if the protest campaign by doctors continues. and prescriptions for inexpensive generic drugs are not forthcoming for people on government drug plans, The deputy registrar of the Ontario College of Pharmacists has Slated that a few pharma vista have already asked the college for advice because they didn't stock a brand namv drug prescribed by a doctor. He felt that if the campaign continues. shortages of brand name drugs "could be serious" For example. if taxable irtcome is SL880. federal tax is tl?., while provincial tax is Mr40, If taxable income is $2.090. federal tax is $37. provincial tax is $109. Challenged on this matter. the provincial treasurer said "lt would cost us $250 million Ontario can't afford it ICs as simple ax that " band Peterson raised Hus matter m the Leeislaiure, asking why the province could afford $650 million for 25 per cent of Sunrur. but could not find $250 million to help poor 0n tarians, The explanantion for this discrepancy is that the frderal government gives assistance to hum-r income people with a tax reduction Unfortunately, the provincial government has not seen fit to fully match this reduction Apparently poor taxpayers are forced to pay more to the Ontario government than to the federal government. growth instead of merely grabbing more revenue from a diminishing pie 2 Withdraw the November i2 Budget and replace it with an economic plan that will promote job creation 3, Get moving on major national projects to stimulate the economy. create jobs and meet urgent national and regional needs 4 Restore harmonious federal provm cial relationships and negotiate adequate funding of provincial health care, post secondary education and social serwce programs c, Reform the budget process to ensure full public discussion of significant tax changes so that individuals and compa mes can assess their impact and plan for their implementation Each November. in parliamentary committee could hold open pre budget hearings on the possible impart of proposed measures. Budget irtiMatives would only become law after they are passed by Parliament. not on the night they are announced Our committee hearings confirm that there are things that can be done by our national government despite the difficult international economic scene.