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PAGE 6, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12,1987 r e ~ww VOICE OF THE COUNTY TOWN The~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~I nyWhhynwpprndpnet.on-dadpeaebyWihridn frhiths *residents Published every Wednesday By 677209 Ontario Inc. Phone: 668-6111 DOUG ANDERSON Publisher MAURICE PIFHER Editor PETER IRVINE Advertising Manager Ready for debate With all three party leaders having made stops in Whitby, candidates for Durham Centre are receiving party support and some image enhan- cement as each seeks election Sept. 10. What is now needed is a head-on confrontation between local candidates to allow voters a chance to see how they perform. Durham Centre, a new riding with a growing population that has brought in many new residen- ts, is up for grabs between Sarah Kelly of the NDP, Allan Furlong for the Liberals and Stephanie Ball for the Conservatives. There's no incumbent to support or reject based on previous performance. So ttiQ$nàidates, like many, of the electorate they seëk'to represent in the legislature, are new and unknown to many. Visits through the neigh- borhoods of north Oshawa and urban Whitby have been essential since their nominations for the sake of introduction and identity. Meanwhile, a little more experience is evident among the candidates for the Durham East riding which includes north Whitby. The incumbent is Sam Cureatz, a 10-year man as NDP, while an op- ponent is never-say-die NDPer Marg Wilbur, a previously unsuccessful candidate in Durham- York. Diane Hamre, meanwhile, makes a bid for the Liberals, buoyed by her experience in Durham Region politics. Transportation, schools, the environment, day care, affordable housing, auto insurance and the land registry office are among the issues that have been raised by candidates for Durham Centre,.a riding of more urban make-up than predominantly rural Durham East which shares some of those concerns and nas more of its own, such as far- ming assistance. It remains now to stage an organized debate or debates within each riding, to permit interested residents a chance to assess the performance of each of the local candidates. Local voters should have that opportunity, just as they will when the party leaders meet Aug. 17 for a televised.debate. We eagerly await confirmation of a proposed debate to be set up'next week In Durhami Centre by the local chapter of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. New group seeks to be voice for rural post offices To the Editor: Rural Canadian post offices remain in jeopardy. Despite assurances from some M.P.s and public relations officers of Canada Post, Donald Lander (president of the corporation) and the Hon. Har- vie Andre (minister responsible) stand firm behind their plan to close, amalgamate and privatize Canada's 5,221 rural post offices over the next 10 years. No rural post office enjoys immunity from this plan. Rural Canadians have organized in all parts of the country over the past eight months to protest this plan and to offer constructive, cooperative suggestions to the government and to Canada Post. We call our group Rural Dignity of Canada. Our name speaks for our cause. Rural Dignity is a grassroots association coordinating the efforts of concerned citizens and giving life in Ottawa to the issue of rural post offices. We are a collection of farmers, fishermen, teachers, merchants, service clubs, clergy, mayors, community development workers and "or- Big, Little Sist To the editor: On behalf of the Board of Direc- lors, Big Sisters and Little Sisters of'Newcastle, Oshawa and Whitby, we wish to thank all those who in the community who contributed to the success of the recent Big Sister Bowlathon. Approximately $10,000 was pledged and this money will ensure that our program will con- tinue to meet the needs of our dinary" villagers. We have no for- mal membership and no political affiliations. In the short time since we came together in December 1986, Rural Dignity has proved an effective voice for rural Canada. Our ac- complishments include: - being instrumental in having the Standing Committee on Gover- nment Operations reconvene and re-examine Canada Post's cor- porate plan; - presenting a brief and holding over two hours consultation with Book prize enjoyed To the editor: I would like everyone to know how much I am enjoying the book about one-room schools-which was the prize for guessing the picture in the Whitby Free Press. Thank you LACAC. Sincerely, K. Schilling ers say thanks community. Thanks again to those generous citizens, the media, the Oshawa and District Real Estate Board and the Big and Little Sisters them- selves who made this event so suc- cessful. Yours truly, Carol Rhodes Executive Director Big Sisters N.O.W. this committee; - ensuring that this committee heard from mayors and M.P.s of areas already affected by the plan; - establishing local committees in all 10 provinces; - being granted a national char- ter for our organization; - holding - public meetings, giving interviews to the media, making presentations at the in- vitation of provincial federations of municipalities, mayors' associations, conventions of various groups, etc. - responding to Canada Post's public relations campaign; - initiating and co-ordinating a consultation process betweèn citizens, municipal represen- tatives, an M.P. and Canada Post which resulted in the recovery of two cancelled rural routes in Eastern Quebec. This is to date the only instance in the country where lost service has been restored. We have made significant progress, but we have a long way still to go. Canada Post's plan to close ap- proximately 1,700 rural post offices annd privatize the remaining 3,500 assumes a steady decline in the life and economy of rural Canada. In effect, Canada Post is banking on our death. This could become a self- fulfilling prophecy: reduced ser- vices discourage new investment and are already creating hardships for existingsmall businesses. You can demonstrate your com- mitment to ensuring the survival of rural Canada by taking the following actions: 1) Making a financial donation, however modest, in order that we may continue our efforts across the country and in Ottawa. 2) Circulating copies of this letter among your staff and any local businesses or groups you think should know about the latest rural struggle. 3) Recognizing the rural post of- fice issue as an important one and regularly updating the situation. 4) Printing "Letters to the Editor" from concerned iùi- SEE PAGE il "Here they come". 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 number 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. --------------- - --- - --------- xtv4%dent f rmu pu w rhe Free Press Building 131 Brock Street North P.O. Box 206, Whitby, Ont.