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6 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, February 22,1994 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice' The Port Perry Star PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - Phone (905) 985-7383 FAX 985-3708 Toll Free 1-800-561-6698 The Port Perry Star is authorized as second class mail by the Post Office Department, Ottawa, for cash payment of postage. 188 MARY STREET - Second Class Registration Number 0265 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 6 Months $17.72 includes $1.22 GST 1 Year - $32.10 includes $2.10 GST Foreign $90.95 Includes $5.95 GST EDITORIAL LoL 1B7 ADVERTISING Publisher - J. Peter Hvidsten News Editor - Scott Anderson Sports Editor - Kelly Lown Advertising Mgr. - Anna Jackman Advertising Sales - Jackie McDonell Advertising Sales - Paul Hillier Production - Pam Hickey, Barbara Bell BUSINESS OFFICE Retail Sales - Kathy Dudley, PRODUCTION Annabell Harrison, Trudy Empringham, Susan Milne, Robert Taylor, Richard Drew Office Manager - Gayle Stapley Accourtting - Judy Ashby, Louise Hope Retail Sales - Marlene Moore. \ Member of the N Canadian Community Newspaper Association Ontario Community Newspaper Association Published every Tuesday by the Pon Perry Star Co. Ltd. - Port Perry,Ontario. Editorial Comment Taxing Growth In Ontario When it comes to implementing meas- ures in Ottawa, it appears one hand does not know what the other is doing. And such was the case in Ottawa last week concerning the redistribution of the federal ridings in Ontario. Last week, the Electoral Boundaries Commission unveiled details of a major overhaul of the electoral ridings in the province. Under this scheme, most ridings in On- tario would see some changes. Four new seats would be added to the province in- creasing to 103, the number in Ontario. A three-person commission determined recently that the changes were needed due to the province's growing population. Statistics show the province has grown 17 per cent in the past 10 years. Leading the way in this growth were re- gions around Toronto including Durham, York, Peel and Halton. To accommodate this growth, Durham has been granted one new seat, York two additional seats and Peel three new seats. One seat from Metro Toronto will be redistributed. The Durham Riding, which includes Uxbridge, Scugog, Clarington and the northern portions of Whitby and Oshawa, would also see changes to include Brock Township, and the exclusion of Uxbridge. The new boundaries would become ef- fective at the first dissolution of parlia- ment which occurs at least one year after the representation order is proclaimed. Despite recognizing the need for elec- toral boundary changes, a number of Lib- eral members have come out in criticism of the move including Durham Riding MP Alex Shepherd. Mr. Shepherd argues that the meas- ures are costly at a time when the federal government is looking at ways to cut costs. The government is expected to un- veil its budget on February 22 which is described as a "tough budget" by all those involved. According to the MP, the move could cost taxpayers more than $600,000 per year in Ontario. He estimates $200,000 per member including travel and expens- es. Mr. Shepherd has hit the nail on the head in arguing against increasing the size of parliament. In these fiscally tight times, the government must practice what it is preaching and look at ways to save money. The size of the ridings should be increased, with the MPs taking on the additional burden, not the taxpay- ers. Lad Wg SERA Or OF ag roa 4 7 WEIR VID, / / / // 7 , / /7 4 / 7 7 JA Iv IY 0 ~ NL NN JN a LAE y NGS EM ns 7 eV 2 A) , PAC . £1 ' iy SAFES AL z ASCE "> \ Dosa May PREY TRE, News item: Mayor pall js the first to announce e's running In the tall election. Remember - When ? HISTORIC PHOTO COURTESY SCUGOG SHORES MUSEUM VILLAGE ™ v3 Lake Scugog. This pic} | house, which are ng lofiger in the park. The Lakeside Park shiping a group of area residents enjoying the day oh re taken in 1960 shows the bandstand and wharf" Letters to the editor Reader responds to cigarette smuggling To the Editor: About the underground economy ---- without it, I think many of us could nei- ther support or survive in the legal econ- omy ---did that ever occur? Certainly not to politicians with their heads in the sand...and I am not speak- ing about contraband smokes. If you want to call the underground a failure, I have no trouble agreeing with that, as long as you don't lay it on the un- derground...without which many many would stagnate with less and less (per- haps most of all, those with drive). Those that is who are willing and able to do for themselves and pull others along doing it. But, when inept government "throws" it away faster than "doers" can make it...I'd say we either go underground...or revolt. Either option is disgusting. But, is it government's fault --- or ours for permitting it? Cigarette Contraband I did hold out hoping for Chretien's leadership (still do) but when he reduces cigarette tax, to me that is another bla- tant admission that we cannot enforce ourown law. (quite a few of them). That's unsettling. Turn to Page 7 Random Jottings by J. Peter Hvidsten SEEING IS BELIEVING: Unless you've ever worn eyeglasses, there is no way a person can understand how important sight is. My association with glasses started early in my life, while attending elementary school. I didn't even realize I had poor vision until my teacher sent me to an optometrist to have my eyes checked. Eye glasses were prescribed and instan- taneously a whole new crystal-clear world jumped out in front of me. I wasn't happy about having to wear glasses because I was confronted with the normal teasing about "four eyes" from the kids, but as time went by they began to accept me and my new look. Then about 20 years ago I decided to try contact lenses. Once again I was thrilled at my new found freedom. No more glass- es fogging up in the winter, or sliding down my nose in the heat. I could actually see when I went swimming and it opened up sports like scuba diving for me to try. As the years went by, I gradually got tired of taking the contacts out at night, washing and rising them in solutions and having to re-insert them every morning. The novelty had worn off after about ten years and I returned to wearing glasses. In the past five years laser treatment to correct short-sightedness has become very popular, so after receiving some informa- tion about two years ago I decided to give this new technology a try. - I'received treatment on my first eye about a year and a half ago, and although it did not provide me with 20/20 vision, (due to a stigmatism) it did improve my eyesight to the point I could get around with only a contact lens in my other eye. About a month ago I underwent laser treatment on my second eye and amazing- ly a few days later I was able to walk and drive without any corrective lenses. Even though my eyesight has not been corrected completely and I wear my glass- es for reading and working, for the first time in 40 years I'm able to get up in the morning and not have to reach for glasses or stumble into the washroom to insert contact lenses. As | said at outset, if you've never had poor eyesight and haven't had to rely on glasses or contacts, you just can't realize what a thrill this new found freedom is. For instance, I can roll over in the night and look at the clock on the nightside table to see what time it is without squint- ing or reaching for my glasses. In the shower, I can reach down and ~ pick up the shampoo without having to worry it's conditioner or even worse, tile cleaner sitting on the shower floor. But . best of all, I can now see my kids clehrly when they awake me in the mornings. _ Would I recommend laser treatment? Absolutely not! Lasér eye treatment isn't for everyone, ahd there's no gaframtoe of success so the decision to undergo this treatment is very personal and one that can only be made by the individual. For me the procedure provided exactly what I hoped to achieve, and that is the ability to function comfortably without wearing corrective lenses. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Port Perry Star encourages its readers to make use of the letters to the editor column to express their opinions and viewpoints on just about any subject, as we feel a lively letters column will help make this a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that all letter writers sign their name and include a phone number for verification. Sorry, anonymous letters will not be published unless The Star believes it to be in the bast interest of the public. We also reserves the right to edit letters with respect to their length, content or libelous comments. TA Hr Stet SE Noy HR Ri hi ev age 2 wh i ie: at ft!