The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Editoriais When democracy stinks Believe it or not, you do not have to be a Russian Politburo member to believe that democracy can stink. No, democracy reared its ugly head in Midland, Port McNicoll, Vic- toria Harbour and other areas of Tay Township just last Thursday. It was at that time that the residents of these glorious communities were forever banished to the political wilderness. Allow me to explain. We have in our parliamentary democracy something known as representative govern- ment. People are represented by their Member of Parliament, who in turn is elected by running in something known as a riding- -a tract of land that holds X number of peo- ple. Ridings are not based on size, but on population. This is why Metro Toronto has dozens of ridings and Northern Ontario on- ly has three. Things get sticky, however, whenever the ' population of the country or province grows. As people move and new residents come to Canada or Ontario, one soon finds that there are now 200,000 people in one riding and 34,000 in another. The way the bureaucrats balance this is by redrawing riding boun- daries, so the population statistics for each riding are more even. Last Thursday, Ontario bureaucrats and politicians got together and redrew a whole bunch of boundaries across this great pro- vince. Because of the way those boundaries were redrawn, those of us in Tay Township got what could amount to a very bad deal. (Please note the understatement in the previous line.) If an election were held today, our can- didate would not be the man born with a pin stripe suit on and a pipe in his mouth--Al McLean. No, we would likely get a candidate from Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, or yikes, even Huntsville. Now there is nothing wrong with these communities when one views them as individual entities. However, the bureaucrats and politicians down in Toron- to seem to think that Midland, Port and the Harbour belong with Huntsville, Gravenhurst and Bracebridge on the political map. One must only conclude that the politicians who voted this boundary change into law were a) illiterate and could not read the bill; b) have never been on vacation and can therefore not read maps; or c) were drunk at the time they were voting. Our former ally, good old Al McLean, wag- ed some sort of a one man battle over the issue, but his cries were drowned out over the roar caused by such things as extra-billing and other hot issues of the day. What in the world do Midland et. al. have in common with Huntsville? Our economies are different. Geographically speaking, we are just slightly closer than Iceland is to Australia. Further more (huff huff) the bureaucrat with tunnel vision once again saw fit to put Midland and Penetanguishene into different ridings. Yes, folks, Penetang, Elmvale and Orillia were properly linked together and placed into one riding, but Midland got lumped together with the great white north. What this means is incredibly important to us. First, it will be very difficult for a can- didate from Tay Township to be elected to the Legislature. This is because he or she will have to be popular with party members in Huntsville, Gravenhurst and Bracebridge- something very difficult for someone this far south to accomplish. Secondly, our MPP, who will likely always hail from those three northern outposts, will place Midland's political concerns after those of Huntsville, Gravenhurst and Bracebridge. The reason is simple; those three Muskoka towns have somewhat similar economies, fairly close ties, and will therefore likely raise What about artistic licence? Lask week's absorbing soap opera saw the advantages and disadvantages of the new photo ID which is now a requirement on driv- ing licences. This week's saga is entitled Licences for everyone. Why not enlarge (no pun intended) the photo idea? Why not photos for all licences? Just think of the endless possibilities when you are required by anybody at anytime to prove either who you are or what you are. A licence for every occasion. So you pull out your wallet or purse, and in the see-through plastic pockets made for the purpose, here's what you've got. A fishing licence. There you are trying to carry a giant (stuffed) sturgeon bigger than you, and smiling at the same time. The 29 pockets on your jacket are stuffed also, with lures, hooks, line and weights. Your rod is loaded with four pound breaking strain. Sweat (simulated) drips from your brow. Any good conservation officer would fall Sidewalk food eee we for this one, hook line and sinker. A hunting licence against a (backdrop) forest scene in 3D Technicolour. You stand with one foot, left or right depending on preference, on a moose. You appear to be a midget by comparison. Your trusty bow and arrow (rented) is held casually in the left or right hand. You look grim. Now you explain to the game warden how in real life the deer walked into the back of your pick-up truck, laid itself on the floor, tied both sets of legs itself, and expired, out of season! A marriage licence. Hey, next to a mor- tgage, this is the biggest thing in your life. Bride and groom smiling at each other after the service, and on the back, a duly sworn statement by either a civic or religious dignitary that, yes, this is you. This licence is especially valuable to any couple who try for a last minute reservation in a motel and have the last name of either Smith, Jones, or Brown. 007 James Bond would not be required to carry anything to show anybody at anytime. Thank you. A private detective licence. This one is fair- ly straightforward. It would show the licenc- ed investigator in one of two ways: as photographed through a keyhole, or, looking through a keyhole with ear pressed to the door. No easy feat, if you try it. A licenced plumber. If this brings visions of pipe wrenches, coveralls, vise, pipes and fittings, no. The photo would bear the legend Registered Licenced Plumber, under which the person is shown quietly working on a press printing his own money. A licenced chiropractor licence would show the person in medical whites leaning over the padded couch and throwing the pa- tient's back in or out, as the case may be. The patient, depending on the scenario, would be shown with a grin if the back was Carey Nieuwhof similar concerns. Midland's economy and interest, however, are far more closely linked with Orillia, Penetang and Barrie. Our MPP from the north will not likely work as closely with the MPPs from Barrie and Orillia and Penetang, simply because his constituents from Hunt- sville, Gravenhurst and Bracebridge really don't give a hoot what goes on in Penetang or Orillia. All of these factors have made Midland and the rest of Tay Township politically impor- tent on the provincial level. We will no longer have much sway at Queen's Park because, more often than not, our interests will be voted by the folks up Muskoka way. Our new riding (titled Muskoka-Georgian Bay, by the way), will be a constant source of frustration and anger for the thinking man in Tay Township. The boundary change was quietly passed into law last Thursday, so there's really not much we can do but grin and bear it. I suppose we'll have to learn to live like political nobodies and relish the memories of the days when we used to have influence. And to think, all this has been done to accom- pany population shifts, in the name of democracy. Anyone feel like a revolution? v Ray Baker being thrown back in (no pun intended), or, a grimace if the back was being thrown out. You see now how everything drops into place? (Pun intended). A licenced newspaper columnist after five years hard labour, learning the craft, would be shown with pen in hand and the look on his or her face would denote wisdom, com- passion, knowledge, inspiration, humility, understanding, and, oh yes, I nearly forgot, modesty. On second thought, let's leave the photos out of licencing. Then people can take you at face value again. THIS WEEK'S QUOTE: "Natives in Cen- tral Amazonia believe that a photograph steals a part of their soul." World Digest Ray Baker and his family live in Penetanguishene. He is a freelance writer whose editors have removed his photograph from his newspaper column. _Letters Volunteers remember those who forget Dear Editor, It is with gratitude, I express my sincere thauis to all The Villa Care Centre nursing home volunteers, The Villa nursing home staff, the residents of the Lodge and the com- munity at large, who participated in our Alzheimer's fund raising campaign. Special thanks to our Volunteer friends at Midland Times, Midland Radio CKMP, CKVR TV Barrie, CKCO TV Kitchener, Georgian Home Bakery, Georgian Bay Com- munity Six (local programming). Their con- tribution helped to make it first rate. It was a geat success!!! Our Seniors and their families had a great day visiting. This func- tion once more offered an opportunity to be involved with the friends of the local community. Thanks for making this a memorable day for Alzheimer's! Sincerely, Lucie Markham Volunteer Co-ordinator Villa Care Centre We invite our readers to express their views on subjects of personal interest. This newspaper reserves the right to edit all material submitted for space, grammar and _ legal restrictions. Please include name, address and phone number of writer with article, BEE aan Magee eee ss SS eT! --_--OOCOOCOCO OC The Penetanguishene Citizen «#lcomes Ltters, | Pubiisher. Andrew Markie Manager: Judy French Editor: Mich2le Gouett --Penetanquishene Citizen-- Published by Bayweb Limited every Tuesday at 74 Main Street, Penetanguistiene, Ontario 549-2012 Second Class Mai! Registration Number 2527 hand), and carry th: writer's address ., 'telephone nuntver for verification. Pen names are r.ot alioved and ancnymous letters will ne* be published. Letters published by this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the opiniox | of this newspaper, its publisher or editor. to the Editor. They mist be legible, signed "<. | i i Page 6. Tuesday, July 15, 1986 0 OOOO OO