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Lacing up Five-year-old Adam Clarke rests on the ice surface at Little Lake last week. Clarke was there during the Midland YMCA's holiday children's programs, which It seems that political news is becoming a con- tradiction in terms in Canada these days. Or maybe not even these days. Anyway, here's hoping the oxymoron soon vanishes. The federal political scene has become somewhat frustrating to watch lately. Certainly superficially exciting -- or at least significant -- events did occur throughout 1987. Free trade became a political reality for the first time since Confederation. The Tories plummeted to the low 20s in the public opinion polls while the New Democrats surged to an historic first-place stan- ding. A former federal cabinet minister was found guilty, guilty and more guilty on conflict of in- terest charges. THe government acted on im- migration and drug laws, both of which are far- reaching measures. The Meech Lake Accord could bring fundamental changes to the way Canada is run as a political and constitu- tional entity. Talk of senate reform has been rekindled because of Meech Lake and because of Allan MacEachen and_ his obstructionist-minded cohorts in the upper chamber. So, one might argue, what do you mean federal politics was boring in 1987? What do you mean watching Ottawa was at times, frustrating? How can "political news" be an oxymoron in light of all these events? Well, Ottawa may be moving and shaking on some levels, but one wonders just how much direction our leaders are offering Canada. To bor- row an alogy used fre- quently in conjunction with a 1912 events: Are our politicans making any fun- damental changes in the way our ship is being run, or are they simply rear- ranging the deck chairs? kept kids busy and entertained during the Christmas season. The MPP for Simcoe East has reintroduced a private member's bill which could suspend dou- ble retirement allowances. Al McLean introduced the bill during the last session of the legislature. McLean thinks that peo- ple who are getting one government pension should have it suspended during periods when they are employed by the public service or any other government body. The purpose of the bill is to end the practice whereby people who are receiving retirement pen- sions from the government are also being paid as a member of another govern- ment commission, board, committee or other body. This is known as "double- dipping." An example of this type of situation is one where a Looking beyond 1988 Do any of the events that have transpired during 1987 stand to fundamental- ly affect Canada's overall direction on, or position in, the world? NDP leader Ed Broad- bent and Liberal leader John Turner have been arguing that free trade will ruin Canada as a nation and that our culture will be lost in an American abyss. These two men, who believe they are standing as cultural beacons in a sea of apathetic fog, may have a point in a narrow sense. Canadian should enter free trade proud of and aware of their identity -- or they should not enter it at all. Ed and John have been stress- ing the latter, but they should not treat free trade as though it were the turn- ing point for Canada's future. They have to realize there is much more out there to consider than free trade and the other issues of 1987. It seems that all three parties are so caught up in the issue of the mo- ment that none of them can grasp the big issue of Canada's future. Canada's future is much bigger than free trade, than the Meech Lake Accord, than senate reform. All of these issues are part of this, but they must be tied together in one big policy package that attempts to answer the questions: "What do we want Canada to be like in the 21st century? Where should we be going and what should we be doing?" Canadians and Canadian politicians have a penchant for getting caught up in the details of the present. When one gets so preooc- cupied with every opinion poll and every small issue that springs up, one loses sight of the forest through the trees. As 1988 unfolds, and the possibility of a federal elec- tion becomes a probability, Canadians would be wise to ask for a vision from the three party leaders. What is Canada's place in the world? How are we getting along with developing na- tions, where political power will be transferred to a much greater degree in the coming decades? How are we going to realign our manufacturing industries in the future to meet emerging trends because, as U.S. presidential can- didate Gary Hart so right- ly noted, band-aid solu- tions do not heal, but mere- ly cover deep wounds. How are we going to deal with the national debt, and what will happen to the Canadian economy as the U.S. comes to terms its debt? These questions have no set answers, but any at- tempt at addressing them by any of the three major parties would be prudent and welcome. All three parties are gear- ing up for a late 1988 elec- tion, and Canadians should feel challenged by the chance to drill their would- be leaders on some serious questions after four years which have been dominated by scandals and day to day issues. Oh cer- tainly, the question of our future may not have the entertainment value of Sinclair Stevens or the im- mediacy of free trade, but should these questions be passed over far too much longer, there's a good chance Canada could be passed over too in the years to come. Political news, then, in 1987 and even in the years before, has only been coverage of developing events. Little new or creative has come out of the think- tank we call our House of Com- mgns. In fact, looking at the combative tone of the recent parliament, just plain old "tank" would be a more appropriate description. It would be enthralling to, in the 1990s, look back on 1988 as the year that changed all that. MPP. Simcoe East End double-dipping person has held a position and is now retired and receiving a government pension. Many of these then receive or obtain ap- pointments to other "government"' positions such as the Liquor Board, police or traffic commis- sions or a municipal posi- tion and are paid from the public purse while also receiving a pension paid in a large percentage from the same _ public purse, McLean says. The MPP believes that this is wrong, and that in such a case, the govern- We need Al McLean, MPP for Simcoe East, has introduc- ed a private member's bill calling for a holiday on the third day in February to be named Simcoe Day in honor of the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada. McLean said February is one of the few remaining times of the year without a holiday and suggested naming it Simcoe Day would be a good way to honor John Graves Simcoe at the same time. He said recognition of the accomplishments of Simcoe is long overdue. By naming the new holiday, said McLean, his col- ment pension should be withheld for the period of employment at the other government job. Any in- terest earned on the withheld funds would be tacked on to the public employee's pension when it began again. McLean isn't saying whether he's confident about his bill passing this time around. "It's hard to say what's going to happen. It's up to the government. If it's a priority to them, then it'll pass if not,it won't. They control the agenda." a holiday leagues in the legislature would be acknowledging the many contributions made by a man who was elected to the House of Commons in 1790 as a member for St. Mawe's, Cornwall and appointed on September 12, 1791 as the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada (now Ontario). Simcoe convened the first Legislative Assembly in our province, McLean has_ twice received first and second reading for a previous bill that would have renamed the "Civic Holiday' in August 'Simcoe Day," but that bill died on the Order Papers. * China * Stoneware * Crystal ° Flatware * Nurseryware 711 Yonge St., Midland We've got what you're looking for... And so much more... PLACE SETTING ¢ Figurines * Handpainted Jewellery * Scarves * Picture Frames and Albums * Gunds Stuffed Animals Y) Ontario @ a wide range of access to government information with a few exceptions; and @standards for privacy protection that must be followed to protect your personal information when it is either used or disclosed by a government agency. Freedom of Information and Privacy Branch, Or, information on the Act is available by writing to: Management Board Secretariat, Sixth Floor, Frost Building South, 7 Queen's Park Crescent East, Toronto, Ontario M7A 1Z6. Murray Elston, Chairman of the Management Board of Cabinet FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY ACT Ontario's new Freedom of Information and Protection of Individual Privacy Act, which is now in effect, provides: The Act covers all ministries and more than 200 government agencies. These organizations, along with many public libraries and Ontario Government Bookstores, have copies of reference directories dealing with General Records and Personal Information. If you would like to know more, all government ministries and agencies have a Freedom of Information and Privacy Coordinator who can assist you when making a request. Wednesday, January 6, 1988, Page 7