ON GOVERNMENT REFORM Much has been heard and read on the proposed reforms recommended by the Ontario Economics Council. Arecent release follows; 1. The concept of regional government should be expanded to include consideration of the reform of the total system of government in Ontario. This will require the examination of the organization and operation of the provincial services as well as the municipal system. The objective of this reform should be government which is understandable to the electorate, which is capable of providing services as efficiently as possible and which can be controlled by the democratic process. 2. In the determination of the transfer of functions and revenues to regional government from either the existing municipalities or the provincial government the operating principle should be that, in so far as possible, the elector is able to assign responsibility for provision of services to a specific level of government and that he is capable of provision of services to a specific level of gov- ernment and that he is capable of understanding the real cost of each service as well as the direct and indirect benefits received. Such a pricing of public services is a prerequisite to the assignment of priorities for public expenditure. 3. Prior to the intriduction of regional government in any area, studies should be undertaken to provide the elector with information on the current costs of providing public services. These studies should also indicate the savings that night be effected by the transfer of responsibility to a regional government, and the additional costs that might result from any improvements or expansions of services within specific areas of the region. 4. Every effort should be made to ensure that regional governments have a sufficient tax base to provide a minimum level of services without undue relaice on conditional or unconditional grants. the province must, however, maintatin sufficient tax revenues to provide-for its own operation and for the provision of "equalization gtants" to the regional governments . 5. Consideration should be given to the possibility of codifying the division of responsibilities between tne province and the regional governments in a single document as one method of introducing structural reform in government. This could have the added potentio! benefii of helping to rational- ize views on the appropriate sleare of tyvit f sphere of acivity ar ihe provincial government which, in turn, could serve as a basis for discussions at the federal ~ provincial level. Included with the release was a booklet entitled Government Reform in Ontario. This is a comprehensive report with detailed analasys as it effects municipal government. The book is av- ailable in the News Office and we urge those in- terested in future developments at the municipal level to read it. HORIZONTAL 36. Entertain 51.Greek letter 9. A medley 1. Headwear 37. Volcano on 10. Rural sight 4. Cicatrix Martinique VERTICAY. 11. A condi- 8. Scottish 40. Seed 1. Faucet i parece arctic covering 2. Biblical 16. Carry navigator 41. Anas- king 19. English gun 12. An enzyme tringent % Communi- -- 20. Culture 13. tem ey 5 eee : er 2 eis shar' . Shrew . Fence : 14. A noun 47. Great steps 22. Proportion suffix Lake 5. Italianlake 23. English 15. Recreations 48. Goif 6. Mimic school 17. Window mound 7. Thing, 25. A fruit part 49. Beverages inlaw 26. Feign 18. Perform 50. High 8. Thin slice 27. Noted ' alone inventor Je Tokify Last Week's Answer 20 type Alc Cc 30. To corner 22. Network aa Be RI SCE 33. Topics 24. A challenge OIRIAL B 34. Discharge 25. New Jersey PIANIO|RIAIM RAE | 36. A satellite city RIA[S|P} PIEIRE IL of Uranus 29. Salutation Je [Mp MIE | 37. Rodent 30. River in . es ate ete 38. Jewish ontana IN month Jenene CL EE mere) enane H 32. To hold 40. Dye indigo back 42. Matched 34. An Old group Testament 43. Macaw people 44. Soak flax 35. Leander 45. An affirma- loved her tive TEP Or iraere 8G 7 ro rl Paes YH | Tl Ga PLL) we | Ce PP as eee oo 7 to Oa a 7 | I eT er] | Wael | Ge aro yee Clore eT yt er Pern eet