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Chronicle Iromically, it was the partys great success in the ‘80s that set the stage for its cursent struggles By forging a caahtion of western redâ€" necks (John Crashics description, not mine) and Quebec nationalâ€" ists, Brian Mulroney was able to win consecutive majoritics. But, by strengthening these two contradictory political forces, Mulroney sowed the seeds for Reforin and the Blow Quebecors. No one who has stepped forward to lead Mulraneys party has demonstrated the capacity to tchiunld what was destroved in 1993 Waterloo Town Square 75 King St South, Swte 201 Waterloo, Ontano x3 1P3 Telephone B86â€"2830 Fax No BR6â€"9 38 3 Eâ€"mail _ editor@waterlooâ€"chronicle.com Segal says he is "proud" of his association with Brian Mulroney, a statement that will be featured prominently by his opponents if he wins the leadership. He is hated by Mike Harms whiz kids and other right wingers in the party. most of whom would permanently cast their lot with Reform if Segal becomes PC Party leader Hugh Segal, the other frontrunner, also does not have history on his side. Party members and voters alike tend to view party backâ€" room boys with disdain. Jim Coutts wielded a great deal of power as Principal Secretary to Pretre Trudeau, but twice failed to convince voters in Spadina (also considered a "safe seat") to vote for him. Vetâ€" eran NDP strategist Gerald Caplan couldn‘tt even win his party‘s nomination in Broadview Greenwood after Bob Rac left federal polâ€" ttics for Queen‘s Park in 1982 F0 000 Clark has always felt cheated that C â€" | _ he last the 1980 election after only a f f lew months in office, then lost the ,fifi} | party leadership to the scheming | L . ; Brian Mulraney before he could have 2 7 anather shot at being Prime Minister Ey\ . Holding two senior cabinet portfolios E was not sufficient to heal the L & ‘ wounds. Fifteen years later, he appears to be determined to try again Scott Piatkowski ME hecoming more than "a hiccup in history‘ Before taking the final leap into the leadership race, howevgr, Clark may want to consider the fate of Arthur Meighen. Like Clark, Meighen had a few short months as Prime Minister in 1919,. Later, in 1940, he agreed to come out of retirement to lead the Conservaâ€" tives again, but lost a "safe seat" byâ€"clection to CCFer Joe Noseâ€" worthy in 1941 With the exception of Jean Chretien, voters have not treated comeback candidates with much respect bund ane Uhen again, there was hittle n 1976 that suggested that a 30â€" something MP named Joe Clark would be a suitable leader for the PC Party. The fact that he won the leadership at all (by, as Segal says, SCpanitists With all due. candrlates Hug spiring lot exen trum. Pallister Rrictls Mantoha government Hes sad or done till HaDoTLd the sudden departure af Jean Charest has exposed the federal Progressive Cansercative Party as httle more than a hollow shell I1s former leader s personttied what was left of the party that few log il sues essoms cum ‘ n ; ;::. s .,A‘ â€" w a lust e ‘« Who will lead the Tories? AxotnER VIEW OPIvION I placed UY pat namely none‘ to local bopeful John Long Joe Ulark and Brian Palhster are an uninâ€" ed myselt on the right of the polmcal specâ€" Id the most juntor of cabinet posts in the chore Luling as a federal candidate in 1997 to suggest that he has the stature to be a atty, let alone the ability to revive a monâ€" und when he resigned to take on the evil heing "everyanc‘s third choice") stands as one of the greatest political upsets of this century, but his seven vyears at the helm of the party were marked by underachevement Display Advertising Bill Karges Gerry Mathice Norma [ yea Reporters: Tim Gardner Boh Vrhanac Editor Deborah Crandall Circulation/office Manager: Carolyn Anster Classified David Oliver Group Advertising Manager: Buich Grieve You can see how the councillors are apt to read that one, What! You want us to give up our very own agency that makes us feel like empire builders and gives us the offâ€"chance of bagging the head offices of GM, Sony and DuPont all in one shot Ken Seiling is the leader. He‘s the only regional councillo vlected from across the region and it‘s time to lead The discussion is bound to be a beaut. Regional council The councillors mostly seem dedicated to protecting their own bailiwicks. They specialize in extolling their talents on the local level and at making impressiveâ€"sounding applesâ€"and â€"oranges comparisons. This summer‘s big agenda item is the need for a regional economic development corporation to replace competing municipal agencies. They said â€" mostly with straight faces â€" thai they weren‘t convinced that mergers would save money. Frankly, they wouldn‘t be convinced if you drove the first year‘s savings {in neat bundles of $100 bills) in dump trucks and deposited it in their laps. By the year or the yearâ€"andâ€"aâ€"half, there‘ll be a provincial election and Queen‘s Park will move forward to do the things the region should have done and should be doing Sull, as things stand, you can‘t expect much from regional councillors. Last year they studâ€" ied the merging of sewage and garbage collecâ€" tion, and the only product was warm air across the tonsils. Vital Reprieve: Waterloo Region has a window of 12 to 18 months to do some meaningful reforms. Or at least that‘s the way Chairman Ken Seiling has the future figured "m“[ Most summers we can expect little or no tumult about eduâ€" cation, but that‘s not likely to be the ticket this year. The rumâ€" bling and grumbling is apt to go on. By the way, now that the schools are mostly out, mothers from coast to coast are beginâ€" ning to understand anew why teachers need 10 weeks of vacation. Education rumblings apt to go on Group Publisher: (Chervl MceMenemy Production: Millie Martin Kerri Miller Circulation: ferry Fischer Matthew Hayes Of course before we even think about restoring Graham Street.... This preliminary procedure must first be carried out | The views of our columnists are their own and do not necessanly the views of the newspaper Waterloo Chronicle is published every Wednesday by Oxce over _ LIGHTy _ oT Think of what would have been involved. First of all. vou d have to have an airâ€"sea rescue facility. And you‘d have to pro vide Tighthouses. radar stations and other navigational ards Then, of course, there‘d have to be a yearâ€"round 1ceber; patrol. (Remember the Titanic!) The cruises would surely create jobs, most of them govern mental. As for me. I‘d hke a summer job on the accherg patrol Say, a lot of people would have to learn a bit about hoats For example. they should know when they‘re walking alt You‘d be surprised at the people who get it aft backwards That‘s government welfare for gas compaâ€" nies. It means that Ontario motorists alone pay $100 million a year for gas they don‘t receive By the way, I hate selfâ€"service. It‘s always so bad Steady as she goes: You won‘t be able to so sailing on the Conestoga River at St. Jacobs because the Woolwich Townâ€" ship council nixed a firm‘s plan to run 20â€"minute cruises 11 was a wide decision The Fairway Group A diviston of Southam Inc International Standard Serial Number ISSN N832 44 t Dollar Daze: You remember the Canadian dollar â€" the latâ€" est version of the Edsel. It‘s recovered a bit. And just when the banks were thinking of not locking up at night lors, you know, have a knack for taking meaningless inforâ€" mation and making it even more meaningless. They explain little known facts in such a way that you immediately underâ€" stand why they were little known in the first place A little label on the pump says the automatic temperature compensation at the pumps has been set at a median of 15 degrees Celsius (Hawaiian} weather when it should be set at six. And I‘ve run into a new (at least to me} gouge on gasoline. It allows oil companies to charge extra to make up for the loss of gasoline caused by weather changes Low Octane: Crude ail prices have plunged to a 1 2â€"year low, but gasoline prices seem to be stuck in neutral In March gas prices dipped bellow 47 cents a litre when crude hit a 10â€"year low, but the latest drop in crude hasn‘t meant big savings at the pumps. Mailed subscription rates $65 yearly in Canada $90 yearly outside Canada Sresent en