WMfTBYFREE PRMS, WEDNESDY. JUNE 26,1985, PAGE 5 ""I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hoatility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." - Thomas Jefferson fi0 ____________________________ ~ w000' rWTT~ A ~~e'>~-z ý CR0 W'S NEST_ by Michael Knell Random thoughts I liste to admit this, but Ive got writer's block. I usuaily find some subject wlth which to fil this space cacli week. But not this week. So, what you're about to get is some randomn thoughts on three different subjects. DO YOU CALL THIS JUSTICE? Last week, tic Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling denying Susan Nelles thc right to sue the Attorney General, the Crown Attorney and the Govermunent of Ontario for maliclous prosecution while ailowing her to continue lier suit agamnst the Metropolitan Toronto Police Force. While the court regretted that it could not grant Nelles' request, it also noted that the Crown was only acting in its proper function, and therefore, can't be sued. What a lot of poppycock. Susan Nelles lias paid the price for being wrongly accused of some of the most brutal murders that ever took place in this country. The Crown Attorney and, indeed, Uic Attorney General must accept some of thc responsibility for her anguish. For all accounts, there neyer was any evidence to indicate she was guilty of any of Uic murders at the Hospital for Sick Children. As trained and experienced lawyers, surely Uic prosecution must have realized that the evidence was flimsey, if not circumstantial. They sliould have realized that thc police had not built a solid case. They should have rejected any request from, the police to proceed . But they didnt. So, they should be forccd to accept responsibility for their actions. And wlile we're on this subject, I've always been a littie disturbed by one Metro police officer who told thc Grange Royal Commission that one of the reasons lie suspected Nelles in the first place was because she refused to be questloned without legal counsel being present. Because a citizen chooses to dlaimlier civil riglts is not an indication of guilt. If I was being questioned by police in connection with a murder investigation, 1 too, would want counsel. The police officer in question should realize that civil riglits are to protect the innocent and their opportunity to excercise those riglits cannot be disregarded. ONTARIO'S NEW PREMIER For Uic frst time since 1943, the Liberals will form a government in Ontario and like Uic federal Conservatives, will have a unique opportunity to bring in new ideas and new policies that will give this once powerful province new hope for Uic future. Despite what thc Tories say about Bob Rae being the power behînd tlie Urone, Uic man in control is going to be David Peterson. Like Brian Mulroney, Peterson lias an opportunity to make history - if lielias Uic guta to follow lis instincts and lis heart. Premier Peterson lias a long and rocky road in front of hlm but lie does have several things going for hlm. He's young, he's not only a lawyer but a successful businessman as weil. He's briglit and articulate. Of the men leading Ontario's threc major parties - lies the most talented. But from Uic day (today, that is) lie takes tlie oath of office, lielias got to take charge and be ready to deal with Uic many problems facîng thus province. In addition to Uic separate scliool funding bll, Peterson is going to have to deal wiUi Ontario Hydro, Suncor, rent controls, extra billing and prepare hlm- self for lis flrst Ministers' Conference which, I believe, will be held sometime later this year. I have hope for David Peterson. V'Il admit I neyer had any for Frank Miller. Wc can ail do nothng more than wait and sec what the new administration lias in store. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION Wdl folks we have but five montlis and two weeks until the next municipal election and from wliere 'm sitting it's going to be as duil an excercîse as it was in 1982. 1 cannot fathomn why people don't take an active interest in municipal politics. The voter turn-out for municipal elections is tradltionally no higlier than 35 per cent. If Uic wliole truth were known, Uats appalling. There is no level of goverument dloser to the people. Local government is responsible for many of tlie things we take for granted. Roads, water delivery, santary sewers, public transportation, planning, education, police and fire protection services, welfare, homes for the aged, public health are ail the responisibility of local government. So many of Uic publie services we use everyday are provided by ither our town or regional counicil. Wliy do so few of us take an active part or interest in local politics? 1 cant an- swer tliat question. The work load on our mnayor, councillors and sdhool trustees is increasing every year. Our council, for example, lias taken an active interest in economic development - a function that used to be left solely to the provincial gover- nmnent. But in times of economic uncertainty, council lias decided that it lad better attract its own industry to provide jobs for its own people. Mfter almost seven years of covering local municipal politics I can say that it isn't dull. In fact, at times, it's just as exciting as federal or provincial polîtics. Issues sucli as Uic Decorn proposaI make for interesting and stimulating debates. But often, it is duli and uninspiring. That doesn't make it any less important. Local government touches our lives everyday. Perhaps we should take more in- terest in it. WITH OUR FEET UP By Bill Swan Wlitby Tigers did not bring the four-minute mile to town on Sunday. But wliat they dld provide should become an annual tradition. Except for brisk breezes fromn the south - smack in Uic face of the atliletes -- tlie weather qualified as perfect. But the gusts lield enougli strength to slow running times by ten to 20 seconds. The best- conditioned athletes in Uic dlite division suffered the lesst, since their training pits tliem against sucli forces regularly. Thus the Craig twins (rom Toronto ran a relatively slow (for tliem) 4:13. Notable in the elite class: Mike Gallaglier (rom Oshiawa, in 4:17. You'll hear more about this young man. Also take note of the name Brendan Matthias. Brendan won both the higli scliool male race and the open male in good times (both under 4:30). A corner, for sure. Details of the finish are available elsewliere in the paper. The main question prior to the event revolved around the sensibility of losing off Brock St. and running tlirougli the heart of town. Undoub- tedly, some motorists may have been delayed. But Ian Barron and Bill Peel, the Tiger organizers behind Uic day, lad covered every contingency. Praise to them, and tlie club members who worked to provide an interesting afternoon. May the sun continue to shine on the event next year. And on a personal note: I did not run the event this year - I qualify for the masters (over 40) event -- because I remember liow mucli the lungs hurt in a one-mile race. But 1 solemnly promise to be at the start line next year. Fit or fat. THOSE SOAPY PEOPLE One of the great mysteries in life confronts us al in the next few weeks. Will Jack Abbott survive? 1 would like to get riglit down to business and give you the answer to that question. But first, many readers must be introduced to Jack. And once you know how mudli of a scoundrel lie is, the question of lis survival will take on more meaning. First of ail, this is the guy wlio lackmailed lis haîf-sister Asliley out of the presidency of the family corporation by threatening to telIl is father shc (Ashicy) was not father's daugliter. Are you with us su far? Jack is aiso Uic guy who lad an affair with is father's young wife; is trying to seduce another millionaire's wife; who had an affair with a young and sweet high schooî girl, who fell in love with him and whose heart was broken when she became pregnant and Jack jilted her. In the midst of aIl this - trouble just follows Jack around -- his father did find out that his young wife (JiIl) had an affair. A "friend" showed hlm explicit pictures of the night of the snow storm, (without revealing that Jill's partner for the evenin$ was son Jack). The result? John feil in a heap on lis bedroom floor witliwhat proved to be a stroke. He is now in the hospital, in intensive care, conscious but not able to speak a word. Mcanwhule, Jil, not knowing that her infidelity caused Jolin's stroke, is crying buckets on the bedelothes. Which is enough to make John stroke out again, rcally. So, besotten with grief, Jack has bought a new executive jet for the family firm, and plans a trip somewhere. The question is: will he survive? For the truth is, his contract is up. He may be written out of the show. The possibilities: his jet could crash; a jealous lover from the past could shoot hlm (flot a good bet, since last year his wife, in a jealous fit, wounded hlm and repetition is flot a good thing); his sister could kilI hlm for taking the company presidency from her (since she has recovered from her amn- nesia and remembers how dirty her brother fights); or his role in the series couid be lianded over-to another actor. The series, by the way, is The Young and The Restless, altliough a lot of the characters are both. And the real mystery beguiles: if Jack dies in the crash of the family firm's executive jet, will Jack's body ever be found? And if it is, will Jack be alive one year hence (for a guest appearance) suffering from amne;ia? Those who have speculated about Jack's fate, and would like to go on record, write the Whitby Free 1 Press, P.O. Box 206, Whitby, LiN 5S1, witli your name and a brief outline of what you think will liap- pen to Jack Abbott. Then, when the jet crashes, and Jack's body washes away, and Jili contracts amn- nesia and father John faîls in love with his special care nurse, and Ashley finds true love with lier mother's husband's younger brother (who hasn't been introduced to the show yet.) you can say you saw it here first.