MOSTLY MUSINGS At the budget meetings last week, council continued to play politics with the Whitby Historical Society. Having put the soeiety through hell and back last year over the moving of Lynde House, council decided to hold up the society's grant (much less than they wanted) over an unaudited statement. The Town has not received an audited statement from the society for several years and it has not been an issue before. Also, the Ontario government no longer requires audited financial statements. The Town says they want to know what happened to $6,000 that was supposed to go toward some repairs to-Lynde House. They don't really want to know because requiring that the money be used on a privately-owned building like Lynde House would have been illegal. Besides, they already know where the money went. They know the society spent some $14,000 (and the Ontario government another $14,000) on a feasibility study for a museum in Whitby. They also know that they, the Town, were the only people to receive any benefit from the first phase of that study (the technical reports on moving Lynde House) yet have refused to pay that portion of the bill (approx. $6,000). We all know that .iost of our councillors have little interest in history ôr museums yet there is no need for them to continue their tactics of intimidation. In the past the society has usually knuckled under. With Lynde House gone, the society has nothing to lose. Someòne at Town Hall seems to have forgotten that Lynde House was moved last year. The Historical Society received a letter from the town last week addressed to 960 Dundas St. W. which used to be, the Lynde House address. On the subject of old buildings, it was sad to see the demolition of the old Bloor Street School. Although it was in a very unromantic and uncomplimentary setting between the 401 and the CN railway tracks, it was nevertheless one of the most recognizable buildings in the region. Can you imagine how many millions of people have passed that way on the 401 and commented on the quaint little one- room schoolhouse. Millions more.will pass that way and see instead the rows of non-descript industrial buildings with their messy yards and rusty fences. The Town official who is quoted by a CN spokesman as calling the building an eyesore must be blind - the school was the only building on that entire stretch with any attractiveness whatsoever. LACAC, to its eternal shame, didn't have the building on any of its lists because they thought the building was in Oshawa. If you've driven along Hwy 2 toward Toronto lately, you will have noticed a fine stone house on the corner of Brock Road in Pickering where there previously seemed to be nothing but trees. The building is known as Post Manor and, yes, it was there all along sheltered from the bustle of a major intersection by a small forest of evergreens. It was inevitable that with the pressure of develop- ment all around, the owners would eventually sell their extensive property. In the circumstances, it is a credit to the developer that he recognized that the building itself has greater value than the land it stands on and the building will be preserved where it stands on its original site. Now that the trees are gone (they were no where near as old as the house), everybody can see and appreciate this fine old stone house. The administrative committee approved the second phase of the secondary plan for the downtown a couple of weeks ago. The plan was slightly improvedþy the reduction of the eight-storey height limit to six, but the change offers no significant improvement in the protection of the historic neighborhoods of the downtown area. In reducing the limit to six, they incorporated a provision which would allow higher buildings through a specific site plan process. Since the people who will evaluate plans are the same ones who originally wanted eight storeys, I get little solace from the height reduction to six storeys. I suggested at the meeting that specific site plan ap- provals should start at two or three storeys, a measure which would - provide a large measure of public control over the future of the area, but our -planners are awfully reluctant to make significant changes in their original proposals. The six-storey limit with provision for higher buildings is basically a rephrasing of the eight- storey limit. Gerry Emm brought up the relative heights of six-storey buildings and mature trees (roughly the same). Unfortunately the Town takes about the same care of its trees as it does historic buildings and the numbers of both are dwindling. A few months ago, there was a rumor that a developer wanted to demolish the old library building at Dundas and Byron. The Town had owned the building and had had it designated as historically significant. I was surprised to find out that the Town had sold tbe building and had not retained an easement to ensure its preser- vation. Historical designationi only protects a building for a maximum of nine months whereas a heritage easement exists in peptuity. If the Town was serious in its initial designation of the bilding, it had an obligation to ensure that subsequent owners would respect its intention that the building be preserved. WHITBV FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY. MARCH 11.1987. PAGE7 PAGE SEVEN A Matter-ofOpinio This space has been set aside for well-developed comments on issues of local concern. Articles of preferably 700 - 1000 words may be submitted by anv concerned individuals whether politician or private citizen. Senti to the attention of the editor ai Box 206. Whiib. Ont. LIN 35SI. or leave ai the Free Press of- fice ai 131 Brock St. N. By GEORGE ASHE DURHAM WEST MPP As most of you are probably well aware, I am a great supporter of the free enterprise system. In my view, there are very few services that can be provided more efficien- tly and economically by gover- nment than by the private sector. Having put that clearly on the record once again I find it difficult to understand why an industry, in this case the oil industry, constan- tly seems to do things to further tarnish an already bad public image. Let me be very clear. I am not talking about your local fuel oil dealer or your local gasoline station dealer or lessee. In most cases they are told by the oil giants what they must sell their product at, or else. I am talking about Petro-Canada, Shell, Texaco, Imperial Oil, and Sun Oil (Sunoco) to name most of them. The most recent episode followed the federal budget where as we are all aware, the federal tax on motor fuels was raised by a penny a litre. Did the oil giants pass on the penny, and only the penny? No, they decreed that this was the time to move up about five cents a litre figuring, I suppose, that the gullible motoring public would blame it all on the federal budget. We all know the story line from the oil com- panies, "We are just restoring a fair market," but isn't it coinciden- tial that they all decided this, in- dependently of course, at the same time and the same price! I am sure you have also noticed another "quickie" that has been, over a period of time, pulled on the motoring public. Unleaded gasoline was priced at 2.4 cents per litre above leaded, and premium unleaded 3.6 cents per litre above leaded prices. By the way, these differential prices are far in excess of the additional refining costW. But ho and behold, that was, not enough. There is considerably more regular unleaded sold than premium unleaded so the differen- tials became 3.0 cents regular unleaded and 4.0 cents premium unleaded. Recently that premium unleaded differential has grown to 4.5 cents per litre. A rip-off! In the United States the more common regular unleaded differential is about 1.0 cents a litre. This, I un- derstand, is more indicative of the additional refining costs. What is the answer? What can you do? Very little I suppose. But at least shop where the price is the lowest and to maintain market share the other "big names" will corne down to meet the com- petition. You could also write to the presidents of the oil companies ex- pressing your feelings and in ad- dition, you can indicate your displeasure to the Minister of Con-. sumer and Corporate Affiars in ot- tawa. You the motoring public and tax- payer can influence the market place. Refugee policy change By SCOTT FENNELL Ontario Riding MP I have received many comments from constituents concerning the recent changes in the refugee system. These changes were an- nounced two weeks ago by thé Minister of Employment and Im- migration, Benoit Bouchard, and Minister of State for Im- migration, Gerry Weiner. The ministers announced a series of administrative changes to the present regulations which would increase Canada's ability to help genuine refugees who need our_ protection, and deterring abuse of the refugee determination system. Most of the comments have been very supportive of the amendments. The government has been very aware of the abuse of the im- migration program for some time now, and we would be negligent if we had not taken corrective action at this time. Both ministers are presently working on legislation concerning the refugee deter- mination system, and plan to have the work completed and the new Bill tabled in Parliament as soon as possible. There is no doubt that ·a positive immigration program is required, in order to permit the proper entry of immigrants and refugees. But such a program cannot be properly maintained if abuse of our refugee program is allowed to continue. The changes took effect immediately, and I would like to briefly outline some of the new regulations. Canada had a blanket policy on admissions/non-deportation which applied to certain countries; this has now been cancelled. Minister's permits will no longer be automatically issued at the port of entry. All refugee claimants coming from the United States will now remain temporarily in the United States until an immigration hearing can take place. People arriving in Canada from countries whose citizens now require visas to visit Canada, will also require transit visas if they are travelling through Canada on their way to a another country. More help will be given to international airlines to assist them in detecting false travel documents of passengers bound for Canada.