T PAGE, 4. WEDNES.DAY. OCTOBER 21. 1978, WHITBY FREE PRESS whifby Voice of the County Town Michael Ian Burgess,1 'Ibe only Whltby newspaper independently ownedand operated by Whit] [Publised every Wednesday by M.B..M. Publlshlng I and Photography Inc. >-Phone 668-6111 - T'he Free Press Buildlne Publisher - Managing Editor 131 Brock Street North, by residents for Whitby residents. P.O. Box 206, Whitby, 0O int. Community Editor -Brian Winter Contributirig Editor -Jim Qua it production Manager -Marie Burgess Print & Promotional Manager -Robin Lyon Ctassitied Ad .Lynnr Wagner, Circutatiofi Manager -Sharon Lyonl Mailing Permit No. 460 Mamber of the: Better Business Bureau of Toronto Whitby Chamber ot Commerce e ectiOn sigins is costly By John Roberts DII With the November 13 municipal elections now Iust around the corner, we can expect to see two interesting phenomenon comnmon to election time -- candidates and signs. Candidates visit your homes and knock on your doors pri mariiy to introduce themnselves and make you aware of the face behind the signs and brochures. The signs keep the candidates visible. And the signs, while they should be visible, offen are not, at Ieast for any length of time. Many candidates take the smart route. They don't put up signs until after the Haliowe'en festivities, thereby cutt 'ing the attrition rate of the signs substantiaiiy. But other candidates feel that they have a right to post signs at their pleasure, not at the pleasure of the various vandals and mischief makers around the town. And their point is well taken -- the candidate does have this right. There is too little emphasis placed on this wanton destruction of campaign posters. it's almost the thing to do -- have a little fun and tear down a few signs. Nobody will really care. There are lots of signs around. ,People shouid care. Not only do these signs cost money, but they form an important part of rnany contestant's campaigns. As well, they are the personai property of a candidate. Mostý people would be quite upset if someone destroyed a piece of their personai property, but again little is said about the destruction ln this particular case. We've got to stop thîs type of vandalism. it's not amusing or the thing to do. lt's theft and destructivéness, both morally and legaiiy wrong. And vandaiism can lead to nothing more than further vandal ism. DOLLAR it S Working outside homne pays in -satisfaction - By Bin Poliey,- CA Many wives and mothers are now working outside the home, or planning to return to the work force. What is their real contri- bution to the family incomne, after working expenses and income tax are deducted? For purposes of arith- mnetie, let us assume that the lady of the house finds full-tîime employmnent at $150 per week. From this sum wiIl be deducted incomne tax of $17.75, assumiîng she does flot dlaim any of the children as dependents for tax purposes; Canada Pension Geueral financiai advlce by memnher of the Institute of Chartered Accountants dfOntario. Plan contributions of $2.35, and Unemployment Insur- ance at $2.25, leaving a net pay cbeque of $127.65. She may find it to her advantage to dlaimn one or more of the cbildren as dependents. In this case, her take-home pay will be higher. However, if ber husband earns a lot more than she does, the loss of both wife and children as dependents wii raise bis income tai considerably. On a salary of 815,000 per year, bis tai if he cdaims à wife and two children under age 16 as dependents will be 81,885 per year. Without claimning bis wife, his tai rises to 82,656. With neuîher child listed on his tax return, his tax will be 82,961. On the other hand, both spouses may contribute to, a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) of their own, to a yearly total of 84,560, if tbey do. not participate, in a company pension plan. These con- tributions will ligliten their tax load. In most cases she will have to pay transportation costs, and for lunch at bier place of employment. Even if she cardes her lunch most days, there will be occasional lunches out. She will most likely need to invest in a working wardrobe, or to update bier present wardrobe. Our lady will find she bas less tinie to spend in the kitchen, and will turn to teconvenienoe fooda", or the family may choose to eat out more often. With less tume to do the laundry, she may find that the family needs more clothing to see them through the week, as well as more towels and bedding. 1s working outside the home worth it? In actual dollars and cents, it isn't as profitable as the gross salary figure would in- dicate. However, in terms of personal satisfaction, it may be well worth it. Mr. Polley is with Dunwoody and Goanpay, OakvOe. By George Ashe MPP MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS As I arn sure you are well aware, Monday, Novembtc l3tn is municipal election d ay in Ontario. Traditionally, voters have sho*n a&great deal of apathy during municipal elections, and as -a rule do not turn out in any significant numbers at the poi 'ling stations. I sometimes feel this is because people don't realize the depth of the job performed b4 local politicians. Local government concerns itself directly with the problems tha t most affect the daily lives of the residents of Ontario, such as density of neighbourhoods, shopping conveniences and leisure tirne facilities, as well as the provision of 'hard' services such as water and sewer. For this reason alone, the municipal council is an important level for decision-making. llowever, your municipal officials must be prepared to represent you in other jurisdictions as well. Council sets the local budget but then the key is to arrange for the financing of thi.ý; budget on the national and international dollar markets and in these days the competition is fierce); Council may ad")pý plans for an industrial park in the community but the (A' failure of such a project is totally dependent upon thc.ahility of your municipal elected representatives to seil the concept to business; proposed legfislation at the provincial and ft'deral levels must be followed and municipal politicians equipped to support the federal or provincial member when broad legislation could adversely affect their individual communities. For instance, the Town of Ajax is attempting to convert the Sleam Plant to different uses in order to prevent the closing of the facility and the resultant negative impact on industry in the area. To accomplish this, the Ajax Council is seeking incentives from Government, and is also working closly with the business community to ensure that any investment by the town or other levels of governmnent is economically sound. The Town of Whitby is îmmersed in a program to revitalize its downtown core. The Whitby elected representatives have, and will continue ta work closely with the provincial and federal levels both in planning and financing this projeet. And from several parts of the Durham Region, a Study Group has been formed to prepare a report on restructuring public utilities in the commuaity. The auteome of t"i sttady Is vital because it will affect the hydro services in the area not only for present residents, but for generations to corne, which places an added burden for careful decision-making by the municipal repre- sentatives.* When you consider the diversity of talent required to adequately complete these tasks, the lack of interest by the voters in municipal elections is, to say the least, disheartening. During the last Session of the Provincial Legisiature, The Municipal Elections Act was amended to, among other things, encourage greater voter participation in municipal elections. To reduce the chance of inclement weather conditions, polling day is now the second Monday in November, rather than the lst Monday in December. And as a result of these amendments, employees must be afforded three consecutive hours while the poils are open for municipal voting, advance polling hours have been extended from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and handicapped voters, like blind voters, may now have a friend mark the ballot. Each of the three municipalities in Durham West Riding have seven member councils. In Whitby, council consists of the mayor, four councillors (one from each of the wards> plus two regional councillors who are elected at large. In Ajax, council is made up of the mayor, one councillor from'eëach of five wards and one regional councillor elected at large. Pickering is slightly different in that only the mayor is elected at large, while voters in each of the three wards elect their individual town councillors and regional councillors. It is in the best interest of you, the voters of the individual communiies, to exercise your franchise on November l3th. Each of the foregoing positions should be filled by the person you feel is most capable to represent you. In these very difficult economic and poîttical times, your municipal elected representatives can, and do, make a tremendous difference in the outcome of issues at ail levels. C~P/q1 ~~ Bf p//5 1JO/f/T Durm*g the mail strike deliver letters to 131 Brock Street North, Whitby 7,77- .... . .. ... i UK7-A-i "J W17-W YOMR