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Cat Stevens once wrote that "the first cut is the deepest." Let‘s hope that that is true in the case of the Harris government. It‘s difficult to imagine a deeper or a ¢rueler set of cuts than those which were announced last week. ‘The most meanâ€"spirited attack is directed at welâ€" fare recipients. They will be hit with a 21.6â€"perâ€"cent cut in benefits, unless they are elderly or disabled (reviving the antiquated distinction between the deserving and undeserving poor). Harris fails to understand the near impossibility of feeding a family Poor are paying for tax cuts on a monthly welfare chequeâ€"even at existing rates. ‘Taking an average of $300 a month out of that cheque means that many will be choosing between eating and â€" During the election campaign, the Tories comâ€" plained that Ontario‘s welfare rates were "35 per cent above the national average." They never mentioned that they were only 65 per cent of the poverty line or that Ontario has a much higher cost of living. To put an end to such generosity, they promised to cut them by 20 per cent (well, 21.6 per cent â€" but Mike has admitted to having "trouble with numbers"). Even after their cuts, we were assured that the rates would still be "10 per cent above the national average." Soon after being sworn in, Harris stopped using the term "national average" as a benchmark for cuts. Last Ffihy,the'l‘ofienefimedtoomuio'smwdfue rates as "10 per cent above the average of the other nine provinces." ; The change in wording appears innocuous until one realizes that the national average includes all ten provinces and both territories. The reality is that the cuts put Ontaric‘s welfare rates significantly BELOW the national average. Watch for similar maneuvers around the minimum wage, which is also to be tied to "the national average." One of the key points of the soâ€"called Common Sense Revolution was that health care, "classroom" education and law enforcement were to be exempted from otherwise universal cuts. Unless you count the decision to kill photo radar (and cancel a study into its effectiveness), law enforcement appears to be doing PAINTING THE REAT OUTDOORS! * Premium Quality * Available in Solid and Semi Transparent Colours â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"-COUPON-â€"â€"â€"-â€"T Buy 2 Gallons of Professional Stains and Receive 1 FREE stain brush, I a "*"" C "Y""; per customer|§ INT./EXT. INT./EXT. SEMI GLOSS OIL _ FLAT LATEX 16.99. 11.99. 30% OFF #2216 ALL EXTERIOR ULTRA PAINTS only #2212 18°° | ‘50 e o o o o o o o o o 0o 0o 0o 0 0 0 0 0 IN WATERLOO IN KITCHENER ClifOniicle Voluntary Pay 12th ANNIVERSARY JACKET ® 113 King E @ Ottam 576â€"1520 e KITCHENER 576â€"5296 _ wce o o o o o o 0o 0o 0o 0 0 0o 0o 0 0 0o 0 0o 0 0 o Rewarding our carriers for a job well done! Proken Wadsheld (CAUTO GLASS ) FREE ‘ t o DEDUCTIBLE! ?\\) Piece{Barrel 0 â€" sRA : 20 vre WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 1995 â€" PAGE 7 with any windshield claim OR 355 Weber St. N. _ 746â€"8084 1464 Victoria St. N. 579â€"1980 10 Manitou Dr. 748â€"2555 APPLE Auto Glass gqg» $50 g 2 Waterpark Passes DISCOUNT WE PAY YOUR Free Games from TOWNE BOWL DEDUCTIBLE! KFC Aug. 295 tm $