PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY,APRIL 4, 1984, WHITBY FREE PRESS whitby Voice of the County Town Michael lan Burgess, Publisher - Managing Editor The only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitby residents. Published every Wednesday by M.B.M. Publishing and Photography Inc. Phone 668-61 Il The Free Press Building, 131 Brock Street North, P.O. Box 206, Whitby, Ont. MICHAEL KNELL Communlty Editor CONWAY DOBBS AdvertisIng Manager Second class Mail Registration No. 5351 The Free Press' c A few weeks ago, the Whitby Free Press re- started our annual "Council Column." The pur- pose of this column Is to afford the members of Whitby Town Council with a medium through which they can bring their constituents up-to-date on the affairs of the municipaltly and what they In particular are doing for the residents of their ward. Since the Introduction of the column only two members of council - Gerry Emm and Tom Edwar- ds, our regional representatives - have seen fit to contribute. Last Monday night, the editor of this newspaper I am aware of the fact that the aircraft industry is a sensitive one, and that what happens to it matters in a unique way to the whole country. John Diefen- baker's decision to cancel the Avro Arrow punched nerves from one coast to the other. I have thought more than once that it was one of the most visible turning points in the way that Canadians have come to think of themselves. We were proud and confident after the Second World War. Iri those days, the 20th century did look as if it might belong to Canada. Since then, we have had to face up to the fact that we no longer play the best hockey. Regionalism and separatism have raised their ugly heads. Development and investment have slowed to a point where the economy is almost at a standstill. The armed forces have fallen into disrepair. A million and a half Canadians are out of work. The fact that we have our own constitution hasn't really helped. We have come to think of ourselves as second class. I think some of that feeling dates from the Avro Ar- row, so I can understand some of the government's sensitivity about Canadair. It is not just that four thou- sand jobs are at stake. In a way, what also is at stake is our image of ourselves as a competitive, self- sufficient, modem country. The jobs alone do not justify the government proposai to prop the company up with $1.35 billion of our money. Unless there's a screw loose in my pocket calculator, that works out to a cool $337,500.00 for every blessed job, every worker. And the proposai to bail out Canadair guarantees nothing. AIl the govemment is suggesting is that if the com- pany is relieved of its debt load, then potential pur- chasers of the plane on which the company is pinning its hopes, the Challenger Executive jet, will feel confi- dent that the aircraft they are buying today won't become the Edsel of tomorrow. A dubious proposition at best. Canadair is confident that if the Edsel factor is removed from the picture, that it will be able to seil fifteen Challenger jets annually. Screams of laughter have been the aircraft industry's response. The point is, apparently, that the market for the executive aircraft at the moment is very soft, and the Challenger costs $13 million a copy It's not as if the govemment's judge- ment about the aircraft is entirely untarnished. The Lockheed Aurora, which the Defense Department bought to replace the Argus, is giving them troubla The F-18 is so sophisticated that it, too, looks like a ground crew's nightmare. Why should anyone believe what Senator Jack Austin tells us about the potential of the Challenger? Why didn't Canadair build something to replace the Argus? What makes the govemment think it should prop up a company which has proved, for whatever reason, that it is not viable? Where does the govem- ment get the nerve to suggest spending another $1.35 billion, when it's supposed to be holding the Une? I'm not waiting for answers, you understand. l'm past texpecting them. overage of Whitby is second to none took an Informal survey of three of the four ward councillors. Two of these gentlemen apologised for not contributing - one cited .Illness as his reason for not writing and the other didn't realize it was his turn and ran out of time to produce it...which are both reasonable excuses we can un- derstand. However, It was the response of the North Ward Councillor Ross Batten that disturbed us most. He informed the editor of this newspaper that he felt we were not doing an adequate job of covering councli and when we wrote local storles we ten- ded to quote staff more than councillors. He concluded his comments by saying that "I don't feel I should do your job for you." Well, we have news for Councillor Batten. For the last 14 years, the Whitby Free Press has made it a point to cover the issues and the decision makers of Whitby Town Council. No other newspaper in this region has gained more knowledge or understanding of the issues facing this municipality through personal involvement than we have. Our record of involvement in the community both personal and financial is second to none, and visitors to our downtown office will see our front wall loaded with commendations awarded to us over the years. The editorial staff of the Free Press has never once refused to carry stories prompted by local members of council. If they have a concern, we try to make It our concern as well. Over the years we have had criticisms not only of council but of its individual members as well but that does not mean that we oppose everything they do or Ignore them In our editorial pages. Wherever and whenever possible we have made it our policy to Inform the people of Whitby of the events In theirown community. It is also curlous to note that over the past few years not one other member of local (or regional) council has made a similiar charge or voiced simillar concerns. This community, as we have said before, Is the heart and soul of this newspaper. We are a local weekly not a provincial dally. Our survîval and success over the years has been because of the support given to us by the people who live In Whitby. Our concerns are their concerns. This is where we have choosen to make our stand. We aren't asking Councillor Batten to do our job for us. We believe we have good quallfled people who can do the job for themselves. But because of two separate requests from two members of council this newspaper decided to once again of- fer the column to mernbers of council as a way for them to communicate with local residents...the people who not only elected them, but also pay their salaries. If any councillors feel there's no need to com- municate with their electorate so be It. We do the best we can with the resources available to us; we are not perfect; we do miss things, but ail things considered the staff of the Whitby Free Press believe we do a fairly good job. mumumo