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8B - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, June 12, 1990 Report from Ottawa: Senate interfering with federal by Ross Stevenson, M.P. Durham While much attention has focussed on the Meech Lake Ac- cord in recent months, there's another serious consititutional dispute which soon could boil in- to a crisis. It hinges on an extremely im- portant question --- who has the right to govern Canada: the elected government in the House of Commons, or an unelected Senate? The argument is proving expen- sive to all of us as taxpayers. Thus far it has cost the federal govern- ment $500 million it didn't want to spend. If it's not settled by year end, another $1.7 billion will be added to the national debt. The immediate issue in this argument is Bill C-21, govern- ment legislation which the House of Commons twice approved to extensively change the Unemployment Insurance Act. It makes the U.I. fund self- supporting on employer/employee contribu- tions. Rather than continuing to subsidize U.I. benefits, Ottawa's contribution in future will be directed to giving the unemployed new skills. There are extended benefits for maternity. A major feature is $800 million in new funding which, beginning in September, would have helped substantially to pay for more pro- vincial training and retraining courses at hundreds of vocational schools across Canada. In fact, training budgets for this v Fertilizing + Insect Control + Weed Control FITZGERALD'S WEED CONTROL 985-3540 10% DISCOUNT WITH THIS ADVERTISEMENT GOV'T LICENSED & GUARANTEED SATISFACTION Agricultu » '170 Queen Street, Port Fairy, Omario If you answered to any of these then why not apply at: Sap Sg ral Employment Services (416) 985-3831 year were set on the assumption these new federal funds would be available, and some existing pro- grams may well have to be cut back shortly if C-21 remains blocked by the Senate. A majority of senators, claim- ing they are acting in the public - interest, twice have refused to pass Bill C-21. Essentially they want to make amendments which * would leave the Unemployment Insurance Act as is. On both occasions the House of Commons majority has been equally firm in stating C-21 must pass. The government contends that as C-21 is a money bill -- in- volving government spending -- the unelected Senate should have no right to interfere with it. Though there has long been an understanding of sorts that the Senate must not try to impose its will on the House of Commons, there's nothing in our Constitution nor any law that says so. The Senate majority may well believe they're acting in the public interest. But there's ample evidence that they're also out of touch. Over the past year three separate public opinion polls have shown consistently that two- thirds of Canadians support the government's intention to shift its Unemployment Insurance fun- ding to training programs for the unemployed. Various research studies have shown that UI. is not TYPEWRITER SALES & SERVICE - Repairs to IBM & Smith Corona - & all other makes - Ribbons for all makes & models - including printers - We will pick up & deliver. 985-9783 JENKINS BUSINESS EQUIPMENT questions ©, a satisfactory way to redistribute income as more than half of the benefits go to families with above- average incomes. In our own community I've had calls from a number of consti- tuents who were upset about not receiving expected maternity or training benefits. While I'm very sympathetic with these people's concerns, I've had to explain to them the present reality in Ottawa. The govern- ment doesn't and cannot run the government? Senate. The majority of senators are Liberals, of whom a signifi- cant number were appointed by recent Liberal prime ministers. And these senators seem to en- joy making political mischief. It's hard to believe that think- ing Canadians will long tolerate seeing a government they elected being constantly thwarted by an unelected group of senators who are responsible to no one. We must hope the Senate will come to its senses soon. Agriculture employment centre looking for more student summer help Students looking for summer employment may find what they are searching for at the Agricultural Employment Cen- tre. The centre, located in down- town Port Perry, is helping farmers find that extra 'man'power needed in the sum- mer, and helping students find short term employment. Shelley Holliday, a Carleton University student, found sum- mer placement through the ag- ricultural employment centre for four summers. This year, Shelley is the stu- dent representative trying to track down students and farm- ers for the program. Her job entails telling farm- ers about the service and in- forming students about the op- portunity. "We're really busy right now," Shelley told the Star on Thursday. Most farmers are working on their first cut of hay, Shelley said. Ten students were sched- uled to work Thursday night at various farms around the Township. But tossing hay bales isn't the only task students will do. Farmers may hire them to pick stones or chickens, work in gar- densordo the gaily dhoees, ¥ ing agricultural relat- ed," Shelley said when sum- ming up the job. Part of her job is enticing the students to join the service. When the Star asked Shelley how she does this, she said "I tell them that I did it for four years. SHELLEY HOLLIDAY "Working at a store may not as strenuous," she ex- plained, "but I don't think it is as rewarding (as the agricul- ture crew)." Because the program is very labor intensive, it is targeted for the high school and post sec- ondarystudents. "The students do have to be physically capable to handle the job," she said. There is no standard pay rate, but the agriculture em- ployment centre recommends that the farmers pay the stu- dents $6 an hour. The centre is located above Brock's Department Store on Queen Street (take stairs locat- ed between Brock's two store fronts). . Students or farmers interest- ed in the program may call 985- 3831 or 1-800-263-3826. VALMED HEALTH SERVICES INC. Foot Care Services in Your Home (416) 433-1494 Jeep AJAX JEEP EAGLE LTD. SALES & SERVICE 493 BAYLY STREET EAST, AJAX, ONTARIO L1S 4S7 (418) 883-4100 Oshawa (418) 434-1810 SALES: Monday to Thursday 9 to 9; Friday & Saturday 9 to 5. SERVICE & PARTS SERVICE & PARTS: Monday to Friday 8 to 5: Saturday 8to 12. CUSTOMER CARE . ...... aera) AL Wo = NEE HIG