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"WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2001 - 7 OPINIONS & HAPPENINGS Brooklin Profile | [t's movie time for youngsters Saturday at the library By Roxanne Reveler Saturday's featured movie for little ones of school age is Walt Disney's film Flubber. It's about an absent-minded professor who creates a product that allows objects to fly through the air. It's an oldie but a goldie and the kids will love it. Movie runs from 2 to 3:35 p.m. and as usual is free, but you have to book a space by calling the library at 655-3191. And don't forget the ongoing "Storytime" program at Brooklin Library every Wednesday from 2:15 to 3 p.m. It's for three to five-year-olds and offers a gen- der to discover the joy of books and read- ing while sharing songs and action rhymes. Again, call the library for any open spots. Thanks a Lot Better late than never. The winners of the Group '72 Old Time Christmas draw held at Brooklin Community Centre on Dec. 17 were as follows: First prize of a wine making kit was Denise Budd of "Whitby; second prize of a $20 gift certifi- cate went to Diane MacEchem of Brooklin; third prize of a $15 gift certificate went to Dave Kirk of Ashbum. All prizes were sup- plied by Wine of the Times in Brooklin. Yum, Yum Next week is Shrove Tuesday, and to that effect St. Thomas Anglican Church will be holding its annual pancake Tuesday dinner as we head into Lent. It will be held, of course on Tuesday, Feb. 27 between 5 and 7:30 p.m. at the church, comer of Winchester and St. Thomas St. Lots of pan- cakes, sausages and a great dessert table, all for $6 per adult. Kids 10 and under are $4 and those under five eat free. Tickets are available at the door. Proceeds will be donated to the Christian Children's Fund. Guest Choir The English Handbell : Choir from St. Matthews Church in Richmond Hill will be guest performers at Brooklin United Church's morning worship service on Sunday, Feb. 25. A special concert will be held that same afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with a free will offering in lieu of admission. Horticultural Society News Brooklin Horticultural Society will be holding its next meeting in the form of a membership evening on Wednesday, Feb. 28 starting at 8 p.m. There will also be a silent auction followed by refreshments. All are welcome to attend. It will be held at Brooklin United Church. St. Thomas Anglican Church Ash Wednesday Children's Festival: "Love Your Neighbour" - Feb. 28 from 9:30 am. to 3 p.m. at St. Thomas Anglican Church. Includes songs, stories, videos, games, crafts, worship, drama, fun and fel- lowship and lunch. School aged children (JK and up) are encouraged to attend. Signed letters will be given to those in attendance for school authorities (pur- suant to the Education Act). For further information, call (905) 655-3883. Okay folks. It's beg and plead time again. Valentine's Day has come and gone, Easter is just around the corner and there isn't an article of winter clothing left in any of the stores in the mall. So Pleeze! Take down the Christmas decorations from the front of your house. They have lost their appeal for this winter and to be totally honest - they look dumb. And for all of you who have relegated the decorations to their respective sleeping quarters till next December - God Bless You. Anniversary at Asselstine's A celebration was held to mark the 30th anniversary of the Asselstine Country dealership south of Blackstock last weekend. Here, Floyd and Ruth Asselstine climb aboard a snowmobile in the showroom of the Yamaha dealership. They're located on Regional Rd. 57, just south of Blackstock. E-mail: editorial@portperrystar.com Misguided motion targets commissioner Last week the opposition framed a motion calling for the Ethics Commissioner to report to Parliament. The government defeated it, and we were accused of voting against our own 1993 red book promise. To put the issue in context, | think one has to review Straight what went on at the time. After the 1993 election, the issue of appointing an ethics commissioner was present- ed to the Industry Committee. Prior to this there was no such thing as an ethics commissioner. | can remember taking part in these discussions. The guidelines members of cabinet and their parlia- mentary secretaries had to subscribe to were decided then. However, the guidelines directed the commission- er to report directly to the Prime Minister, stopping short of ordering him to report directly to Parliament. Parliament, by its very nature, is a political place. If the ethics commissioner became a tool of Parliament, it would have resulted in reducing the power of the prime minister. It may have affected the ability of the prime minister and cabinet to operate effectively and efficient- Talk by ALEX SHEPHERD DURHAM M.P. ly as well. Obviously, ethics are found in the eye of the behold- er. People appointed to these kinds of positions make careers out of finding something to do. The Privacy Commissioner and the Freedom of Information, Officer appear to spend most of their time fighting paper tigers. In any case, | can imagine the same role unfolding for a so-called ethics commissioner who is always looking over someone's shoulder to see if what they are doing contravenes probity. If an office is going to report to Parliament, clearly, it better have something to report. In all my time in the House of Commons, I've never heard a commissioner say everything is fine. If that was the case, people would begin to wonder why the office exists in the first place. In order to get competent people into Parliament, we have to stop throwing hurdles in their way. People who Have no assets, or never secured direc- torships in companies or charitable organizations, would make the best candidates to be investigated by the ethics commissioner, since they have no conflict of inter- est in the first place and the commissioner knows noth- ing about them. The opposition chose a good motion, the purpose of which was only to embarrass the government. To some extent they were successful. It's just too bad the opposition couldn't spend some time trying to understand the role of the prime minister and government,