PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1977, WHITBY F whitby SERVING OVÉR 28,000 READERS lan Burgess, Publisher-Managing Editor erated byWhitby residents for Whitby residents. -Brian Wlnter Community Editor -Jim Quail Community Editor Published every Wednesday contributing Editor Production Manager Print & Promotiona' by M.B.M. Publishingi Manager and Photography Inc., Classified Ad Manager Phone 668-6111 Circulation Manager Mailing Permi The Free Press Building, Member 121 Brock Street North, Better Business Bu P.O. Box 206. Whitby, Ont. Whitby Chambero -Briani Winlter -Jim Qluail -Marje Burgess Mb-Robin Lyon, -S. van Deelen' 0-Sharon Lyoner t No. 460 rof the: ireau of Toronto of Commerce Thank you Whitby Free Press Vikings Dear Mike: I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took a part this year in the inaugral season of football in the town of Whitby. Firstly, a vote of thanks to the Free Press and its publisher, Mike Burgess,for their sponsor- ship and support through- out the season. Thank you to all those parents who came out to lend moral support to the team and coaches, especially to Mr. Sherman the team and coaches, especially to Mr. Sher- man, and Mr. and Mrs. Sim and Mr. Buisman whom I don't think missed a single game throughout the year. I have been involved in minor football for eight years now, and I had never in the past been priviledged to work with parents who have the dedication of those I met in Whitby this past year. Last Wednesday night at our final game in the cold and wet of a Scarbo rough park, I looked a round and saw a least a half dozen of you. Thanks to Joe Arbuth nott, a fellow Jaycee and my assistant coach. He bore with me through al the good and bad times and was always a calmini influence to remind mi of the duties of a referee I will always have warn memories of his cheer leading sessions befor and after the games. . Now to my team. I seems such a long tim ago that we first got to gether to try to learn th basics of a very complex T t-n wif , m I hardly recognize the motley collection of in- dividuals we started the season with. You be- came what I told you we needed to be,"A TEAM" 1 have never before seen a group of boys mature and come together as a unit like you did this year. Gentlemen, you have nothing to be a- shamed of concerning the season just past. You conducted yourselves well under some very try- ing circumstances, as in , our victory over the Ti- cats. A first year team making the playoffs at all is a fact which you can be as proud of as I am. Remember,you were only a game away from being the champs, but you viill always be champions in my eyes. I have so very much to remember from this year. I remember the "Great Turtle" our first touch- down of Bob Sherman, Rob Crawfords three in- terceptions in one game, - the improved defensive paly of Paul McEachen, Mike Kyne and Brian - McFarlane, our first win. - I wish that 1 could men- e tion every one of you Il with an example of the , courage and dedication g that you all showed at e different times through- out the year. I hope the n season has been as en- r- joyable and profitable for e you as it has been for me. I am immensely proud .t of every one of MY boys e Good bye,good luck, and - I hope to see you all, and e many more next year. KEITH WAGAR HFAD COACH gaine. JLuurinu;u.x'iiuw ~- Poppy campaign is the best ever Dear Mr. Burgess: On behalf of Whitby Legion's Poppy Cam- paign team for 1977, I wish to thank you and your Staff for the great cooperation you extend- ed through the Free Press towards making this year's Poppy Campaign in Whitby the best ever. A very deep apprecia- tion of the sacrifices our local men and women made in wars to preserve freedom and democracy was demonstrated by our townsfolk this year, as rarely before. Almost everybody from Mayor Jim Gartshore down, bought a Poppy before November 11, Remem- brance Day. Through your columns I would like to say a sincere "Thank you" to the gpod people of Whitby who made our efforts so rewarding. Yours truly, James Lee Chairman, 1977 Poppy Campaign. Send letters to Box 206 Whitby, Ont. Report from Q ueen 's Park By George Ashe., M.P.P. Durham West Recently I have been cited in various newspaper reports as being the lone disenter in voting against an N.D.P. resolution which proposed that all senior citizens and dis- abled persons who own and occupy residential property be categorically exempted from property taxes for education. In this column I would just like to set the record straight and explain why I voted against such a proposal. First of all I do not agree with such a universal measure. I do not agree with the premise that all senior citizens and all handicapped persons owning and occupying their own homesregarlless of their incorne, should receive total relief Admittedly there is a large number of people on fixed in- comes but, by the same token, there are a considerable number of seniors and disabled persons whose Incomes are are higher than average. As I said in the Legislature, one of the most important considerations in designing a program ta provide property tax relief is to restrict such relief so that persans with in- cornes well above that of the average working family do nt receive disproportionately heavy property tax relief. Granting tax relief to certain groups merely shifts the burden on to others. - it just doesn't dissipateinto thin air- the funds have to be made somewhere. 1 see no reason ta allow an affluent member of one particular group to receive -the same tax breaks as say the average pensioner on a tixed incarne. I think this resoiution overlooks the fact that Ontario's prgrarn of property tax relief for the elderly is one of the success stories of thetOntario government. The introduc- tion of the Ontario Tax Credit System in 1972, placed property tax relief for ah hou eholds in the basis of ability- to-pay taxes. A year later a Pensioner Tax Credit, which is now $110, was introduced in recognition of the extra burden of property tax borne by the elderly. This tax credit replaced and extended the existing selective program of Ontario property tax relief ta recipients of the Guaranteed Annual Income Supplement. Last year, elderly persons eligible for tax credit relief, paid an average of $4J4 in property tax and received an average credit of $286 which translates into tax relief of over 60 per cent against the total tax 'burden for both municipal and educational purposes. Furthermore, there are many mlinicipalities which also provide property tax relief and the government is currently working to reduce this burden to all our most needy senior citizens in Ontario. . I feel that the past actions of this government demon- strate its responsibilities towards those least able to cope with the burden of taxation and will continue to do so in the future. Treasurer Darcy McKeough has stated that after the commitments to relieve the majority of senior citizens of property taxes is complete there will be scope for further actions. One such possibility is to replace low-income hous- ing subsidies with income tax credit. Further property tax relief to those on disability pensions is andther goal which will find its place among these priorities. But such action has to be carried out with the recognition that the govern- ment has a fiscal responsibility to all of its taxpayers. In conclusion, I must re-emphasize my commitment to our group of citizens known as "senior citizens". I think my previous record in this regard speaks for itself. I do not feel however a "universal" shift in any taxation, without con- sideration of financial ability to pay, is fair to our senior citizens, their children, or their grandchildren; in other words, all segments of our population. - FREE PRESS Voice of the Cou nty Town Michael1 The only Whitby newspaper independently owned and ope 1