PAGE 6, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5,1987 w mp w -y VOICE OF THE COUNTY fTOWN Published every Wednesday By 677209 Ontario Inc. Phone: 668.6111 rhe Free Press Building 131 Brock Street North P.O. Box 206, Whitby, Ont. DOUG ANDERSON Publisher MAURICE PIFHER Editor PETER IRVINE Advertising Manager ~ ~ idep.RI ~de si il% omtîri d mid opt-rait hb% %Nliii 1 r) ie, gfor %h ~i >hN Recognizing our youth Every year the Ontario Community Newspapers Association runs The Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year awards-program in conjunction with the program's patron, Canadian Airlines International. Since the program began in Ontario in 1981, member newspapers have grown more and more supportive and the association receives inquiries riegularly throughout the year from members' staff asking for information on the program. Nominees must be residents of Ontario, in- dividuals or groups aged 6 to 18 years who have performed single or continuing acts of courage, shown ingenuity, resourcefulness, fortitude or selfless service. Nominees may also be involved in worthwhile community service, have overcome disabling physical or psychological handicaps, or have performed acts of heroism perhaps endangering' their own lives. The nominees in the latter category must have performed these acts within the current qualifying period (Nov. 1, 1986 to Oct. 31, 1987). However, this program is ongoing: if a nomination is not received by the end of the qualifying period, that nomination can be carried over into the next year. A committee of community newspaper editors- and representatives of the patron, Canadian Airlines International, will select the award recipients from all the nominations received. The awards recipients are selected and an- nounced each January and awards are presented in March during the annual convention of the On- tario Community Newspapers Association. The Ontario Junior Citizens of the Year will receive a plaque citing their accomplishments, a Junior Citizen of the Year lapel pin, $200 and a family portrait with the Lieutenant -Governor. Recipients and their families are invited to the presentation luncheon and also to a reception hosted by the Lieutenant Governor. All other nominees will receive a certificate recognizing their nomination. Nominators should document the activities of their nominee with letters, newspaper clippings, recommendations, etc. Each nomination form should also bear the signature of one additional supporter. For any additional information, write OCNA at P.O. Box 451, Oakville, Ontario, L6J 5A8 or call1- 800-387-7938. Make sure that the outstanding young people in the community are given the opportunity to receive the recognition they deserve. Why is there preferential status for East Indians? To the editor: The Sikhs should be sent packing back to where they came from. Allowing them to stay sets a preceaent and in the coming mon- ths, Canada could be deluged with these illegal immigrants. Aside from the illegalities in- volved, these people should not be allowed to carry their ceremonial daggers. Even a Canadian-born citizen could be charged for carrying a weapon under the term "Possession of a weapon dangerous Fennell: amendments are needed By SCOTT FENNELL MP Ontario riding For the last two weeks, I feel I have been constantly on the telephone listening to the complain- ts of my constituents, on the Gover- nment's actions regarding the 174 migrants landing off Nova Scotia. My constituency office has been deluged with dozens of calls every day, and everyone objects to allowing the migrants to stay in Canada. I want to go on record as stating I positively agree with their sentiments. One just has to look at any newspaper to understand that we are not alone in our feelings. The Canadian public as a whole, has been very critical of the manner in which these persons arrived in Canada. It has been suggested by many that these people should be immediately removed from Canada and be processed through normal immigration channels like any other immigrants wishing to come to our country. I understand their opinions, but unfortunately, our regulations do not allow us to do so. When the current Immigration Act was drafted in 1976 anyone in Canada, whether here legally or illegally, was given the right to: 1. a determination of the claim by the Minister. 2. a redetermination before the Immigration Appeal Board of any claim rejected by the Minister. These were not simply assuran- ces or administrative arrangemen- ts but were rights established in the law which make it impossible to remove anyone until these rights are honored. The more people who abuse the system, the more all Canadians lose, as it affects all of us. Those trying to immigrate legitimately to Canada, or even to visit relatives in Canada, have a greater degree of difficulty, because the system is so bogged down with refugee ap- plications. It is unfair to everyone else who tries to follow the regulations. I have received continual support from my constituents for the strengthening of the regulations, as well as making the system fairer to all applicants. I will definitely represent the views of my con- stituents to the Minister, and work hard to obtain amendments we need to the Immigration Act, to stop the abuse once and for all. to the public." If these people are starving in In- dia, let them kill their cows which wander the street (they are consid- ered holy and East Indians will not slaughter them). They come here to eat our roast beef while Canadian-born and bred are without bread and living on Toronto streets. When it comes to the point where this East Indian faction-marches on Queen's Park because a Scar- borough school trustee stood his ground and refused to name a school after Mahatma Gandhi, then it is time Canadians refused these people their welcome. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When East Indians land, they should be divested of traditional daggers and turbans and not given rights far above and beyond those of Anglo and Franco-born Canadians. It takes three years to get landed status. What gives these people preferential status? Barbara Black Oshawa -'q LETTERS The Whitby Free Press welcomes letters to the Editor on any subject of concern to our readers. Letters should be brief and to the point - rarely more than 300 words. Al letters must be accompanied by the name, address and phone nunber of the writer; however, on request, your name may be withheld from publication if we agree that there is a valid reason. The paper reserves the right to reject or edit all letters. Send to: The Editor, Whitby Free Press, Box. 206, Whitby, Ontario LiN 5S1 or drop through our mailslot at 131 Brock St. N. ----------