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¥Fditorial 7 Job may be redundant Once again the Town of Midland's lawmakers are beginning prepara- tion for another annual budget and, as in most years, local politicians are talking about possible ways of cutting public spending. In the next few months, members of the various departments and com- mittees of council will be submitting budget proposals and crossing their fingers that town council will look favourably on their respective requests. Like all subcommittees of council, the Midland Chamber of Commerce will be applying for their annual allotment to subsidize their expenditures for 1987. In an article on page four, in today's publication, Midland Chamber of Commerce President Hans Witt said he and his organization support re- taining the services of an Economic Development Commissioner and Chamber Manager (consolidated into one individual) after the resigna- tion of the current commissioner, Matthew Parry, that takes effect in March. Although the president claims the town needs an economic develop- ment commissioner, can Mr. Witt and other members of the Chamber honestly justify the cost to the taxpayers when council is looking to axe spending and ratepayers are already paying for such services at two other levels of government. Yes, the Midland Chamber of Commerce needs an individual skilled to efficiently manage the day-to-day operations of the office and effectively promote the Town of Midland to the hundreds of thousands of travellers looking for the ideal spot to visit, but do they need to spend the extra dollars to hire an individual also qualified as an industrial commissioner. Although Mr. Witt claimed the federally funded (through taxpayers dollars) North Simcoe Development Corporation (under the auspices of the Ministry of Manpower and Immigration) does not deal industrial development, Kamran Khozan's office has been working on enticing a number of industries to establishing in the area. Secondly, Midland resident's are already paying for the services of an industrial developer at the county level. A portion of town's taxes go towards the cost for Simcoe County's Resource Development Officer Ron Mills, who is responsible for industrial development within the 34 municipalities of the county. Before the members of the Midland Chamber of Commerce prepare their budget requirements for 1987, maybe they should sit down and discuss their mandate as a chamber, as well as, those of both Mr. Khozan's and Mr. Mills' offices. The Midland Chamber of Commerce will also have to be able to justify this added expense to those in the community they serve. Letters Santa's thank you letter Dear Editor: The following is a belated thank you to all who took part in the 1986 Midland Civitan Club Santa Claus Parade. We feel quite pro- ud about the success of the parade and we have been complimented for it. However, its success was not only our doing. There were many top quality floats entered by dozens of groups of people. We would like to thank those people among many others. Thanks to the downtown merchants, Rotarians and Y's Men for supporting our club in this project, to the band members and leaders, to those who generously donate tractor trailers, trucks, tractors and wagons, cars etc. for en- tries to be built on, the radio station, ESPSS band Dear Editor: : On behalf of the ESPSS Band Parents Association I would like to thank you for the great job you did in covering the St. Michael's Choirs School Concert Dec. 11. It was a big success for us and for St. Michael's Choir School. We would also like to thank everyone who came to the concert and all those who worked so hard to make it the success it was. We would also like to thank all the parents and friends who billited the boys; Father Dignard of St. Ann's for use of their beautiful church; Nick Boudouris who served the love- newspapers, and Cable TV for their promo- tion, our commentators, judges, the police department, sponsors of trophies, and the thousands of people who came to watch. The 1987 Santa Claus Parade will be the 10th Annual sponsored by the Midland Civitan Club and we hope to start making plans early in the New Year. We sincerely hope that it will be even bet- ter than before, and it will be, if we have more of the same enthusiastic participation we had on December 6, 1986. Sincerely Mike Tinney Midland Civitan Club thankful ly reception and packed lunches for the 138 boys and their leaders and bus drivers to eat on the way to their next town; Sharon Dion of Dion's Flowers for the beautiful decora- tions in the church and those that helped her; Bruce Tinney, Sister Clotilde, Ron Tomlison and the students of MSS and many numerous friends - a great community effort. Sincerely Jeannette Limages Concert Co-ordinator ESPSS Band Parents Association. HDH appreciates music Dear Editor: On behalf of the Auxiliary to the Huronia District Hospital we would like to thank all the Choirs and Musical Groups who took the time during the busy Christmas season to entertain the patients and staff with their Christmas Music. It means so much to the shut-ins at this time of the year. Thanks again. Yvonne Hook Dorothy Ogden Christmas Music Convenors H.D.H. Auxiliary Viewpoint Nixon: power, politics and a beard It is often said the reason John Kennedy became president of the United States in 1961 was because Richard Nixon forgot to shave one day during the previous year. That hairy occasion was the Presidential Election Debate between Kennedy and Nixon, when Nixon appeared on screen with an unsight- ly 5 o'clock shadow. The black ring-around- the-jaw-line made Nixon appear untrustwor- thy (Nixon untrustworthy?) and the election was decided on the spot. Today, the ghost of Richard Nixon's stub- ble haunts the corridors of Queen's Park. Would you believe the next man who could fall prey to the bearded burglar syndrome is one David Peterson? And that could be the least of his troubles. 1987 may see the fall of David Peterson. Don't get me wrong, he likely won't crash off the political spectrum, but it's probable that he will be reduced to being mortal, just like the rest of us. The media fell in love with Peter Davidson, or whoever he was back in 1985, because he was open and approachable. Bill Davis was loveable, but he would often confuse reporters with overly longwinded bafflegab, and then retreat to his office surrounded by advisors and pollsters. David Peterson, unlike Bill Davis, did not know how to govern at first. Consequently, he ran a government that was open, honest, and downright nifty. He -Penetanguishene Citizen-- Published by Bayweb Limited every Tuesday at 74 Main Street, Penetanguishene, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 2327 Year subscription rate $39.00 Page 6, Tuesday, January 13, 1987 served hot dogs to taxpayers at Queen's Park. He swore in his cabinet at the lawn of Queen's Park. He gave the public and reporters a tour of his office, showing it off like a ten-year-old shows off a new bike he can't believe he just got from his mom and dad. When David Peterson got the title "Premier" attached to his name, he seemed amazed by it all. Reporters liked that. He governed well, and reporters liked that too. Up until recently, the world was a wonder- ful place to live for Peterson. Up until now. Peterson's aides still treat their new found political power with awe. I had occasion to meet with Peterson's top aide, Hershell Ezrin, recently. He talked about how great power was, how neat it felt, and how new it was. Ezrin's assistants were very down to earth as well. They went out of their way to make you feel comfortable, chatted informally. You kind of felt that you were in Mom's kitchen, not like you were in the office of one of the most powerful men in the province. It was strange. However, the province's most powerful man is now beginning to look like he realizes all the power he holds. While his aides con- tinue to be open and bright eyed, David Peter- son is beginning to look like any other politi- cian. Reporters in Toronto are complaining that Peterson sounds and acts more arrogant 549-2012 Publisher: Andrew Markle Manager: Judy French Editor: Laurie Watt these days. When he took power, the Premier would stand and talk to reporters about policy for forty-five minutes after question period. In the Davis years, the only way you'd get the Premier to do that would be to glue his shoes to the carpet. Lately, Peterson has dismissed reporters questions with glib one-liners. He responds to serious policy questions with jokes. It's beginning to annoy the media. Consider the Ken Keyes affair. Ken Keyes, as we all know, led the league in drinking on the high seas last summer, and lost his cabinet job because of it. He was, after all, the province's top law enforcement of- ficer, and having the chief law guy charged with boozing it up on a boat does not look good. Keyes pleaded guilty to the charge and paid his fine. Peterson thought this meant Keyes could be re-appointed Solicitor General. Many other people didn't agree. Nevertheless, right or wrong, Keyes was sworn in once again as the Solicitor General earlier this month. He was not sworn in at Queen's Park though. He was sworn in secretly at the Lieutenant Governor's house. No reporters were invited. The press was told about the swearing-in three hours after it hap- pened. Peterson would not comment serious- ly on the re-appointment after. The media were, to put it mildly, teed off. (CNA Member Carey Nieuwhof In the legislature, Peterson has stonewall- ed on a number of issues. This is a tactic that upsets the opposition. The lack of printable material that stonewalling produces also upsets the press. But more importantly, David Peterson no longer looks like he's new at the job. He has appeared tired and bored recently. He looks uninterested in provincial affairs. All of this leads one to the conclusion that the honey- moon between the press and David Peterson will be over soon. There's one crucial factor, however, which will make the honeymoon between Peterson, the press and the public inevitable. In addi- tion to secrecy, lack of accessibility, stonewalling, and Peterson's apparent boredom with his job, is the fact that like Richard Nixon, David Peterson has not been shaving closely recently. In just about every television clip lately, our premier has had a five o'clock shadow. This is a dangerous recipe for disaster. When the media gets tired of stonewalling and secrecy, not to mention glibness, they will write negative articles. The public will read that, and they will look close- ly. They will see only one thing: a five o'clock shadow. Only the strongest of men will be able to withstand the ensuing wrath. Good luck Mr. Peterson. Remember Richard Nixon! --Eetters The Penetanguishene Citizen welcomes Letters to the Editor. They must be legible, signed (by hand), and carry the writer's address and telephone. number for verification. Pen names are not allow- ed and anonymous letters will not be published. Lettets published by this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the opinion of this newspaper, its publisher or editor. -- png _