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'When are we going to wake up?' asks reader Dear Editor: A person knows when they have had enough to drink and then to stop drinking. Which gets them in trouble time and time again. We need more man- power to patrol our water- ways. Do they have to be provincial police? Don't you think we are capable enough to take care of drivers who drink and drive in high speed boats in our channels and water- ways of Georgian Bay. I started driving at an early age, like 10 years old. I took my first boat to Wawa, Taysee and Lake Simcoe by the time I was 13 years old. I was respon- sible for teenagers and adults. I was the captain, cook, bottle washer -- you name it, I did it. My father taught me and my wife even left the scales on the fish I caught. I asked her, "Did you scale this fish?' "What's that?" she said. Really, there were people around who thought that there were no scales in fish. I honestly believe that give us a boat and a Cobra talk machine that talks in a radius of 35 miles and they could fly in by seaplane or helicopter. That would leave them to look after real serious business like accidents caused by in- competent and drunk drivers. I believe the premier of Ontario would be happy to save a considerable sum of money by doing this. Now, I am not slanting or ridiculing the OPP or the Midland police force. I am only pointing out the savings. Yes, I believe there are people in Midland and Penetanguishene who would love to just police our waterways for nothing. Because they would be out in the air talking to people, advising people, helping people, they would help us_ keep our waterways safe. All the time I see power- ful speed boats driven by teenagers, each with a bot- tle of beer in their hand, driving with one hand. Or the guy who just jumps in a powerful speed boat and does not know how to drive such a powerful weapon. One such person racked up two boats -- and also hacked up my wife's cousin. = But we must guard against driving while drinking and incompetent people. I don't think this is a new item. We had this happen 60 years ago. I believe some of the older residents of these area know what I am talking about and would say their grandsons and daughters tore many a hole in the family fathers' pride boats. I know they used to defy us in the 2-3-5 mile nar- rows of the approaches of Parry Sound with nothing less than sail boats. Also at Go Home Bay.they figured they owned the bay. Their fathers and mothers told them the bay was private. So with 500 people they would cut across the bow of our boat, the Midland City. We had to reverse and slow down all the way -out of the bay to the main channel. These youngsters needed a slapping and I asked the captain if I could drive over and swim to them and give them a lick- ing with my bare hand. | said it's their word against mine, but the captain said no, not just yet. I will catch them in the docks. I will deal with them privately. But all the talking in the world will never correct a spoiled child, a child given too much by his mother or father. Maybe each one has a divorced parent who gives the world or a power- ful speed boat to soothe his upbringing. The mothers and fathers play a part in the upbringing of our modern teenagers, so they too should be punished along with the selfish spoil- ed teenager. These people do not care, they hide behind their million dollar homes. It's time the mothers and fathers took stalk of themselves and blame themselves for the deaths of young people, full of dope, who get in accidents. This goes on and on. What are you going to do to stop the slaughter on the highways and waterways of Ganada? Sincerely Brian Wood Publicity brought town out to see Danes Thank you for your ad- vance publicity and coverage of the Danish Police Band visit to Midland on Friday, August 7, 1987. As a result, the people of Midland and the surrounding area turned out in good numbers to en- joy the parade down King Street and the one-hour concert at the town dock which was an enjoyable event. In addition, I would also like to thank the following personnel who helped to bring it all together: The RCMP, OPP, Police Chiefs of Midland and Pene- tanguishene, Maclean-Hunter VS Midland Boatworks Restaurant, Martyrs' Shrine, Ste. Marie among the Hurons, Labatts Brewery, Midland Chamber of Commerce, Johnstone's Music Land, the Reeves of Port Cable 6~* McNicoll, and Tay Township and last, but not least, the Mayor of Midland. Thank for for printing this letter. When the next event is planned I will keep you informed. Yours truly Brian Dubeau Vice-President and General Manager Penetang-Midland Coach Lines Allan and Marjorie Shares enthusiasm for Vera Bullen says she has always been interested in politics and that that's a good attribute for a can- didate's wife to have. "A candidate is a very busy person, they are real- ly on-the job almost 24 hours a day," she explains. "T would think it's very for- tunate if the candidate's wife is equally enthusiastic about politics. I think you can give a lot of moral sup- port." Over the years she says she has noticed a change in the way the public views politician's wifes. "I don't think there are any pressures now to have (wives) always present, smiling in the background. I think people are more focussed on issues than personalities now." Because Vera works for the Ontario government (she's a social worker, working with the mentally handicapped), her role in husband Fayne's campaign is very limited. "T can't canvass or fund raise,' she says. Instead, she takes over other chores and duties, lightening the load for her husband. The four Bullen children, their parents say, are in- terested in politics and are very supportive of their father's campaigns. "They've always helped when they could," says Vera. "'They've delivered thousands of phamplets and they enjoy it." The Bullens say because they are an active family and are involved in com- munity work independant from politics, an election Sacrificing family togetherness Both Allan and Marjorie McLean will agree, politics means sacrifice, especially in terms of family togetherness. "There are a lot of things that you have to give up that you are unable to go to," explains Marjorie, noting she is missing her grandmother's 97th birth- day party. Rather than be- ing at the party, she is home in Orillia, providing support for her husband in his third bid at re-election as M.P.P. for Simcoe East. In addition to the elec- tion campaign, she is busy helping her daughter plan for her first year of university. "Tm trying to help her decide where she is going to be living," says Mar- jorie, noting that's what a _ lot of other mothers are simply increases the pace of their life, rather than changes it. "You just rearrange your priorities for a few weeks," explains Vera. Fayne says the only negative aspect of cam- paigning has been that dur- ing elections he hasn't had much time to spend with his family. "I missed a lot of being with them at games. But on the other hand, it gave them a sense of independence. "I was out doing. They were out doing. It made us a doing family." Politics, says Fayne, has also benefitted his family in that it has made the family recognized in _ the _community. Perhaps the biggest ad- vantage running for office has had on the Bullen fami- politics ly is that it has made for a politically aware family. "It's so important what people choose as their government," says Vera. "The more people unders- tand the issues, the better the country will be run." A disadvantage of this particular election for the Bullen family is its timing. Vera and Fayne were to at- tend a family reunion in Grenada, but the election was Called two days before they were scheduled to leave. Instead, their twin sons attended. Otherwise, the timing has been good. The weather is good for can- vassing, says Vera, and a summer election means Fayne does not have to take a leave of absence (without pay) from his teaching position. spending the summer do- ing as well. And although her hus- band has been in politics for many years and been in other campaigns, Marjorie says an election campaign is still not old hat. "I don't think it ever is." Majorie sees her role, in terms of her husband's political career, as that of supporter. "T guess the biggest role is to support your husband and to try and do what you can to help him." She helps out in commit- tee rooms and does some canvassing, but otherwise stays in the background. "T figure one politician in the family is enough,"' she explains. She concedes with Allan so busy (he says he has yet to take an entire weekend Fayne and Vera off), she spends a lot of time on her own. "You have to learn to do a lot of things by yourself," Besides doing volunteer work in the local hospital's gift shop, Marjorie keeps herself busy with sewing, gardening and household chores. "T always fill my time,"' she says. 'I'm never bored." Between them, the McLeans have seven children. "Sometimes I think they've missed out on things that other children do with their parents," says Marjorie. Allan says he wishes he could have spent more time with his children, done more things with them. "To be able to have gone fishing with my son or to have gone to picnics or just go out cn a weekend and enjoy my family," are things he says he would have enjoyed doing. "But politics has always been in- volved and took over my life. To be a politician you have to give up these things." As for the benefits of be- ing in a politician's family, the McLeans count meeting many different people and _ having politically aware children who have seen more of the background to politics than other people have. And although politics has cut into family life, the McLeans have no regrets. "If you are going to be a politician, the public is your boss and you are its servant," explains Allan. » Tuesday, August 18, 1987, Page 7