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A $25,000 Environics survey of local attitudes toward Waterloo‘s electoral system has confirmed what we suspected k & 24. 5230 h 4n trts ic tadninline Ariintodinnainmna o dn ts P all along â€" it‘s not a burning issue among city residents, but most people are in favor of election by wards rather than the current atâ€"large system. That the need for wards is not a burning priority should surprise nobody. We have a shortage of water in this area. We have a shortage of affordable accomodation in this area. We have people who don‘t want to have to work Sundays in this area. We‘ve had marked increases in all levels of taxation this year. We have a shortage of good recreational and cultural facilities. These are the issues that are priorities, as the May survey of 1,009 residents showed. Compare these issues to that of wards. Going to a wards system of election instead of the current atâ€"large system is an idea, not something concrete. Ideas tend not to be burning issues. (Opinion It took centuries for the idea that women are equal to men to become a priority in our society. It took centuries for the idea of the divine right of Kings to be eclipsed with a very slow evolution toward democracy. And it is taking years for the superiority of the ward system of electing officials to be accepted as fact in Waterloo. b on ic t istiodintcict « J tniecbainintnli d ie ies 2 For it is a superior way of government in that it makes elected officials more accountable to their electorate, and allows neighborhoods to get a fair hearing at council. It also enables those without large budgets to afford an election campaign. And ultimately, it gives potential for higher voter turnouts in municipal elections. 2o What this newspaper finds particularly interesting in the survey results was the swing away from a support for the atâ€" large system to a ward system when respondents had their options explained to them. . L 1t seems to show that, to a large extent, people will favor a ward system when they have the facts in front of them. _ hifinageina ied To ds t Rciet ineseciainilnts Aurrepiaenn As the viceâ€"president of Environics told Waterloo city council Monday, "it‘s important to get the awareness levels up." We concur, and think council‘s next step should be to spend money on a slick, not boring, but slick, information campaign explaining the merits of both systems. Using public meetings to explain an issue is a way to almost guarantee nonâ€"participation. This city deserves an allâ€"out media blitz on such a vital issue. We feel confident that when the facts are out, people will decide in their best interest. And we don‘t want to seem smug, but we suspect they‘ll choose to endorse a ward system of electing officials when they cast their vote in the November referendum on the issue. O â€" â€" And in case council is thinking of muddying the water and "No, 4 the indiv delaying yet again progress on this issue, perhaps they should M°‘mte:r“(’;:; C oclh look carefully at the Environics results. any foreign substance int While a ward system is preferred across all segments of OUr _ that isn‘t food, is a risk." community, it is the younger voters and the newer residents of the city who are most in favor of a ward system. With the rate of growth of this city, one thing is predictable â€" a ward system is inevitable. The current council might as well go down as J being on the right side of history. Chronicle On with it £, WEDNESDAY JUNE 22, 1988 will You Said It P se â€" f m‘kv. * A A # | > o ¢ | “ h & w# a + P s mess: 3 \* us T ~ f 3 1 "No. It‘s up to the individual to look after their own health. Introducing any foreign substance into your body, Economic sUMmMIT | Second Class Mail Registration Number 5540 established 1854 Should tobacco companies be liable for smokers‘ deaths? John Filipetti Waterloo "No. Should the LCBO be responsiâ€" ble if you drink and drive? There is a danger involved, and you are responâ€" sible for your own actions." Toronto "No. Even without warning labels, people who smoke know that it is unhealthy because they are always hacking. People ignore warning labels because they feel it doesn‘t apply to them." of Ameria Ed Brauch Waterloo