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Public opimion surveys indicate that most voters cast their ballots based on idenuftcation with a particular political party, more than any other factor (including the qualifications of their local candidates}. An exceptional candidate can be worth about an extra five per cent of the vote, which isn‘t enough to turn most races. There are only a few exceptions to this ruleâ€" people who are elected because of who they are, more than or in spite of the party that they represent. The other recent defection is more perplexing. Angela Vauâ€" tour, a rookie MP from New Brunswick, didn‘t cross the floor to the government, but slid down the opposition bench from the NDP to the Conservatives. Vautour, who was elected in a wave of anger over cuts to Employment Insurance, appears to have forgotten which party initiated those cuts. Coverage of last weekend‘s Tory convention noted that "Vautour seemed mildly alarmed at the suggestion of a ‘social audit‘ of governâ€" ment programs. ‘Obviously since I‘m very new here, it‘s someâ€" thing I‘ve just heard of today... I would certainly not be in favour of reducing funding." Perhaps Vautour should have asked to see a policy manual before naively deciding to switch from a party of the political left to one of the political right. The current situation in Saskatchewan offers an interesting twist on the concept of changing one‘s political stripes. There, the Liberal caucus has agreed to enter into a formal coalition with the NDP government, which fell one seat short of a majority. The Liberal MLAs are not "crossing the foor", but will continue to sit on the opposition side and will continue to form a separate caucusâ€"as they should. Opposition Saskatchewan Party leader Elwin Hermensen called the move an insult to voters", ignoring the fact that his own party was the creation of defecting Liberal and Tory MLAs during the last term of the Romanow government. Also during that sitting of the legislature, lLiberal Buckley Belanger resigned his seat and successfully sought reâ€"election as a New Democrat. It would be a reasonable expectation for any other elected member who wishes to change parties to do the same as Belanger. H they are so Sure lllflr constituents \“Ppl‘” lh(‘” (lCI(‘l“K‘n‘ W Il\‘ nol pass a Jaw that forces them to test that sapport in a byâ€"clection? L raise this issue by way of introduction to a subject that has been getting a lot of attention of late: that of elected members switching parties or "crossing the floor". Since the 1997 fedâ€" eral election, two MPs have changed parties, with the fifth place Progressive Conservatives losing a member to the Liberâ€" als and gaining one from the NDP Clearly, these MPs must believe that they represent one of those exceptions to the rule Newfoundland MP Bill Matthews joined the governing Lib Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo‘s #1 Service Company Your local authorized bioguard chemical dealer SAMAKRA FPODOOLS & SPAS _ ... Thoughts on crossing the floor * 3. s se & h es £42. 3 t h 4 so d L > R ' ~a0 } o l E wl o o aell o. s s You said fit (Continued from page 7) to pay them for washing their windows. I feel that it is better that they are working than colâ€" lecting a welfare cheque. It might be more beneficial to them to flip burgers at some fast food joint, but if they are not creating problems or acciâ€" dents then 1 feel they‘re not a menace to society. Some driâ€" vers may have had a bad inciâ€" dent or harassment with squeegee kids, but until I do, 1 have no problem with them. Comnor Slinger In the lives we live there have always been street kids. Kids without homes and jobs, without family support in the things they do. 1 personally believe these kids have choices in the decisions they make. They may not come from the best up bringing but there are always choices and 1 strongly think that being a squeegee kid is bad Squeegee kids should not be Firstly. I think squeegee kids should not be allowed. They inumidate drivers and saon people will be detouring all over the city; just to avoid these harassers Many people are allowed cHROKICI should look for new jobs Squeegee kids here in Waterâ€" loo do not cause a problem 1 have found that they are pohte and making money to survive When you drive past the very uncomfortable when a pushy street kid is all over their most treasured possession; their car. I know I would not appreciate them touching my car. Also, these kids are collectâ€" ing tax free income. Even though they barely make miniâ€" mum wage it is not fair to the rest of us tax payers. 1 believe that the street kids can find regular jobs that will help them learn how to make a proper livâ€" ing. These kids have choices and if they aren‘t mature enough to make good ones, we as a sociâ€" ety need to step in and make a change. In â€" conclusion, â€" these squeegee kids have choices and if they need a little guidance we need to help them. They should not be allowed to intimidate people. This is a free country and we should not feel trapped to certain streets, driâ€" ving though our city. 1 think the "I‘m definitely thankful for friends and family at Thanksâ€" giving. Just because they mean so much these days. And it‘s nice to come from a good home and have friends who you can have fun with and that kind of thing." "I‘m newly marmed and I just bought a house. That‘s why I‘m thankful." Chris Gordon (on the corner of Weber and Schaeffer, beside Fitzgerald Brothers Carpets) Jessie Hoddle Natalie Spies 490 Weber St. N., Waterloo, Ontario They have some important survival decisions to make squeegee kids they approach you nicely and if you deny their service, they thank you and walk away. Although, at the same time squeegee kids which I have seen in Toronto are intimidatâ€" ing and become very ignorant if you say you do not wish to have them wash your winâ€" dows. Do the squeegee kids of Waterloo harass and intimiâ€" date? Fram the sounds of the article, no they do not As long Tnglish and Spam are not causâ€" ing any major problems for the In both respects they do pose a safety problem because they run between cars at intersecâ€" tions. Basically, we have to be careâ€" ful that people do not feel intimidated and teenagers should not be weaving in between traffic at intersections. There are many jobs available which are safer and more respectable. I think the local squeegee kids should look for a new job. Their behaviour is not intimâ€" idating and certainly not harassing. Sahara Pools has moved to a bigger and better location October 1, 1999 a little oasic.in. Jessica Sherman Phone: Fax: traffic and safety on Weber and Erb they should be able to conâ€" tinue their attempt at making a living. If the public does not feel obligated to have their winâ€" dows washed then 1 don‘t see any harm, especially since there haven‘t been any comâ€" plaints regarding these particuâ€" lar squeegee kids. When you think of the way many other street kids make their money, washing windows is a much safer idea. On the other hand, if they have to stop the "squeegee menace" in Toronto by making, a clearâ€"cut law then it is only fair that they stop in Waterloo as well.By only banning it in one city the squeegee kids will still remain a problem. If they can‘t do it where they normally do they‘ll just go do it someâ€" where else Unfortunately English and Spam won‘t be able to do this for rest of their lives so they‘ll need to make some important decisions for their survival English mentioned that thes gain a lot of respect from pass ing public. I think they should use this to go out and find a mare reltable job, especiall with winter coming around th corner o â€" "I‘m thankful for my health, I guess. I have a sister in North Bayâ€"I‘ve just come back from seeing herâ€"and she‘s eight years younger than me and she has terminal cancer. They‘re trying new drugs on her now and we‘re hoping... So healths something to be thankful for." "I‘d have to say we live in a pretty good commumity because 1 just participated in the ‘CIBC Run for the Cure‘ (for breast cancer} Sunday, and we surpassed our targets big time. So I‘m thankful for living in the community 1 live in People here just seem to give, give, give." Meredith Stocki« (Continued on page 9) (519) 884â€"5295 (519) 884â€"8641 Sherry Streeter Ken Hammell