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) A close look at. amrre- view of. federal social wel- fare and income-support programs is always in order. The time may very well have comedor compre- hensive reform in order to simplify the support sys- tem, to provide more adequately for those really in need. to strengthen the disincentives to those who would abuse the system. and to save money over all. . However. I 'am not abodt to make pensioners. widows. mothers. children. ff A friend can make all tftedlfferenee Last May 22 I felt that the election period had been too long. In assessing that feel- ing. however. I must re- member that the nomina- tion had happened " months before that. On February 18 I may feel that the official election period of eight weeks will have been too short. This time the circum- stances were different. Gen- erally though, I feel that in most of Canada an actual campaign of four weeks would suffice. In very spar- se and large ridings, on the other hand. eight weeks member that the nomina- lam not too much worried .ion had happened " months about the cost of elections. tefore that. On February 18 They still represent the de- 1 may feel that the official mocracy we want at a bar- :lection period of eight gain, namely about $2 per Weeks will have been too CanadianUn any event. the mm. This time the circum- cost is something we pay itances were different. Gen- ourselves. The election erally though. I feel that in costs represent income for most of Canada an actual many people. especially Campaign of four weeks women who tackle the enor- would suffice. In very spar- mous task associated with w and large ridings, on the election. It is money well .ither hand. eight weeks spent. " Mo.-' Elliott m “I - OId tune but you em on when grow with: only day _ But otd - just grow but-come Waiting to! someone to say Hello in that _ "do. - John PM * _ What is it liketobeold? . _ Everyonewho im’t must ask themselves that - tion many times. The answer, aeeordirtg to atathorities, is that for many old people, lifets little mire than we lonely day leading to another. Family and friends are gone. health is rotten tailing. eyes and ears don't work the way they once did. And most important, there's no one left to talk to. There is a Twin City based group that is trying to change that for many old people. Called the Friend- ship Group, the purpose of the organization is to gather and train volunteers to make weekly visits to senior citiuns. "People in nursing homes (and similar facilities) can be very lonely,“ according to Friendship Group coordinator Carol Powell. And personal contact and conversation -- even one once a week - can help cure that loneliness. 3.11:0th Met-Isaac! Mary-num- Frank Epp Liberal the handi-capped, and the unemployed bread-winners the scapegoats of our econo mic problems Health Min- ister Crombie's suggestion that certain family ailowan- ces be cut at the same time that the middle and higher income people were being awaNed new tax credits bordered on the scandalous. could be too short. Perhaps a compromise at six weeks is the solution. The responsibility of the federal government to aid those below the,poverty line. and especially widows and pensioners. must be taken more seriously. EEC TION '80 Ihelieve that society has an obligation to care for all of its people - the senior ii tizens. the disadvantaged. the disabled. Thegood so ciety is, however. one where individuals and iroups ac- cept some responsibility for the care of all ",' we should not rely only dn the State'for the provision of care. Go- vernment programmes must be efficiently adminis- tered, and a total review which the Progressive Con- servative government had begun was to effect a greater efficiency and streamlining of existing pro- grammes. An example of our party's commitment to stopping wastefulness can be seen in our approach to the unemployment legisla- Stewart “be. We! the group's herd of directors and one “the Mrs. any: "the ”neural contact tttet-tet-ee-tdi-tati-- lines." And that's the purpose of the group. The Friendship Grow mltarted by a you) of We - holding “all” - who were laminar with facilities not: as nursing homes. The steering committee came to the ertasetttasieterttgat many people in and: lacllltles dun have triads and were very lonely. So they approached the lateral manhunt to apply for a grant underthc New Horizons program. That program allows the partial financing of programs de- signed by and for mmmmity seniors. The Friendship crimp concept met with approval from the govern- ment and a grant of about $15,000 has approved. The next step (womanizer: was to actually institu- te the visitation "program. And that's where Carol Ptr- well came in. _ ' She was hired as co-ordinntor with the respon- sibility oi selecting and training the volunteers and fittding out which area seniors needed and wanted vi- sitation. 'tw, “My biggest expectation (or the volunteers) is that they must visit every week," she said. To date. not one of the volunteers has left the program. Her biggest responsibility is to "offer training and sqqttrrttovoOtteers. - l - _ . __ - - baht Ed Brooch-m Mud can at Mon! ulna-h and Omaha dating a brief stop at 8mi- wqtette" Hall in Comm Tuesday night. man; we have begun to take steps to lighten the legisia- tion and to plug loopholes. Inefficiencies in administra- tion can reduce the cost without hurting individuals: the Clark Government is de- dicated to compassion for the unfortunate members of our society. On December 14th. the day after the Go- vernment fell. I was to be appointed to a parliamen- tary Task Force of seven members of Parliament to study and promote Volun- teerism in this country. One of the objectives of this Task Force is to achieve so- cial goals through private sector involvement. and I am excited by the challenge of working on that Task “tuba Chroniciq, weaned”. .1.er so, 1900 Force. Volunteerism gives a sense of "active" ci- tizenship and of people who act of their own choice to try to shape their com- munity and their country. Voluntary action is often first to identify new or negl- Yes. Bill C-21 was in- troduced by the Progressive Conservative Government but not passed because of 'ettattttevo1-teerdttesdtartmrttteviqltuttpterthe senior and the volunteer. MI. Powell more.” con- venetbn and especiatly listening. Sometimes volu- teerl play games such as checker: or cards, or they my simply vii: to spend the visit talking. The minim-n mini. Mr. McMillan and)“. Powell agree. itrtttart the.vohnteer be able to develop a sin- cere 'rieitdatslp with the senior citizen. 7 Both university and college students presently vo- lunteer tor the group, as well as some people an punching no and some already toured. A number of young mothers are ulna volunteers, and sometimes take tie" children along to the delight of the senior. “here is even one whole family doing weekly visita- The Frienddlip Group presently includes over 25 volunteers, but Ms. Powell says more-are definitely needed. People interested in volunteering should call 742-6512 between 9 a.m. and noon. _ Senior citizens who would like weekly visiiation shodd call the same number. 'rheFYiendship Group is primarily aimed at seniors who have trouble, getting around on their own. "We're Just trying to reach as may people as pos- sible with the limited resources we have," Mi. Powell said. And judging by the response to the group thus far, she and her volunteers have achieved that aim. More election coverage on Pg. 5 ected community needs. and first to change old services or bring in new ones. It also provides very concrete ben- efits a conservative estima- te put the value of voluntary work at over' $1 billion in. 1971! this unneeded election. It would %ve reduced the election to 47 days.