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36 WATER ST., PORT PERRY, ONT. L9L1J2 Phone : om 335-6397 Fax: 905) 985-1410 EDITORIAL Where are jobs for immigrants? The federal government announced last week that the number of immigrants allowed into Canada in 1994 will be about 250,000, roughly the same number as last year. That number of 250,000, by the way, is slightly less than 1 per cent of Canada's total pop No other country anywhere admits more immigrants in terms of a percentage of total population. Be that as it may, there are a lot Canadians who feel 250,000 is too many. The federal Reform Party, for example, critics, ask, can Canada allow 250,000 people into the country when already there are not enough jobs to go around, and there is an enormous financial burden on health, education and social welfare systems? Precisely. Canada in 1994 is not the Canada that the great waves of immigration in the middle of the last century, in the early years of the 20th century and in the decade after World War 2. Those newcomers had no choice but to put their shoulders to the mill and work like hell. It was that or starve. The vast majority survived the initial hardships and went on to improve their own lot, "that of their children and ultimately this country. But Canada in 1994 is burdened with an economic problem that has two major prongs: double digit unemployment (much higher in some areas of the country) and sky-rocketing government deficits that are pushing our health, education and social systems to the brink of disaster. Nobody has come up with a magic formula on how to tie the performance of the overall y with the ber of immigrants that should be permitted into the country in any year. But clearly, the Canadian economy in 1994 is too fragile to successfully absorb an influx of people that would increase the total population by almost 1 per cent. Where are they going to work when already 12 out of 100 Canadians are searching for work, and many corporgtions will inue to eliminate jobs in the ths to come? As for the education, health and social welfare systems, can they afford a single additional penny in costs this year? Canada over the years has had an immigration record far perior to most countries. It is a good record, one that hoald be envied at home and abroad. But we have reached the point in Canada where our internal problems must be solved (or at least significantly improved) for the citizens who are here now. The old argument that immigrants are good for the economy doesn't hold up in 1994. There are over one million people out of work. Our number one priority is to get Canadians back to work so that they can start putting hing into the tead of being a drain on it. Likewise, no level of government can afford to add to its expenditures these days. Tax hikes of any kind will simply drive the situation down even further. Rather, governments should be finding ways to reduce tax levels to stimulate economic growth in the private sector. Curiously, the immigration level of 1994 is almost double what it was in the 1980's when Canada's overall economic health was in better shape. Would it not make more sense to trim immigration in the bad times and increase it in the good times? It is interesting to note that the federal government has cut the number of refugee claimants that will be allowed into the country this year from about 50,000 to 25,000. The government should be trimming immigration by at least the same ratio until we have put our house in better shape. advertising : Valerie Ellis 0 advertising sales : Chris Hudson accounting : Sibylle Warren fon eternal optimist : Liz Drebit "feature writer : Heather McCrae "Proud Canadians, prow to call Scugog Township home." published by Scugog Citizen Publishing Ltd. co-publishers : John B. McClelland, Valerie Ellis OCNA Member editor : John B. McClelland THE SCUGOG CITIZEN CCNA Member an independently owned and operated cena weekly community newspapér, 3% is distributed, free of charge, to over 12,000 homes and businesses CCNA Verified in and around Scugog Toumship. Circulation Comtrolled Subscriptions sold outside Scugog Township. wants current immigration levels cut in half. How, the | -- SUD 9030] PPFD WANT Gor CHERPP AD VCE ARGH ETTESw (Couch) A ae Couchnpck< THEY WOULD HAVE HAD MORE PROTESTERS HERE TODAY -- BUT THEY HAD TO GO FOR LETTERS To THE EpiTor E= Canadians must demand - lower government spending To the Editor: As government spending continues to soar we are in fear of more tax increases from both Ottawa and Queens Park. In the last five years of the Mulroney dynasty, we faced some 32 tax increases. Up to a year ago, we faced some 55 tax increases from the provincial regimes of David Peterson and Bob Rae. This is a total of 87. By now, the number could be near 100 (many of them hidden) Federal MPs are allowed $171,000 for office expenses, and when you add salary (part of it tax-free) travel, etc., it costs $267,000 for each MP we sent to Parliament. As there are 195 MPs, this adds up to a whopping $78,766,000. This does not include pensions, perks and money for special committees, etc. The total is likely well over $100 million annually. We have four levels of government in this country-- federal, cial, regional and specially commissioned art work, $1.8 million for security and $750,000 for communications. Total cost--$110.5 million. Only one leader stood up in the House of Commons to question government spending and more tax increases. Preston Manning of the Reform Party stated he would lead a tax revolt if it continues. Our hats off to the brave Reformers. Noted humanitarian and anthropologist Margaret Mead once said "never doubt that a small group. of thoughtful, the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Sincerely, Dean Kelly, president, Assoc. of Dedicated Canadians, Port Perry. Tobacco taxes To the Editor: Ontario Premier Bob Rae is right again by stating that tobacco taxes should not be lowered. Laws were made to be enforced and that is what should be done with both the vendors and consumere of contraband products. To lower tobacco taxes would be eapitulating to to Be tobacco local. We are over-governed and over-taxed for duplication of services. There is a similar situation in our schools with ever increasing taxes for duplication: The major portion of property taxes go for education. Canadian Press reports that Ottawa has spent $76 million for an embassy in communist China. Other costs include $13 million for design changes, $15 million for a change of contractors, $1 million for a swimming pool, $400,000 for interior decorating to the ambassador's residence, $350,000 on interior design in the staff quarters, $200,000 for for their reduction, and to the consumers who want cheaper cigarettes. The use of tobacco creates untold medical costs and kills, so why make it easier for consumers to pile up huge medical bills while slowly committing suicide? Yours truly, Roy Grierson, Port Perry. Trouble finding a place to park? To the Editor: Have you ever wondered why it is difficult to find a parking space near the Canadian Tire Store in the Port Perry Plaza? Could it have anything to do with the row of vehicl Only the owner of a major gold mine would have such an independent attitude towards the parking rights of the other stores in the same mall. Excuse me for being so poken, but I have observed waiting for repairs that tie up some of the best spots while the store's own parking lot at the rear remains nearly empty? this situation for several years. Yours truly, Bill Butson, Port Perry.