PAGE 6. WHITBY FREE. PRESS. WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 19. 1987 e ~AJ r s ~ww VOICE 0F THE COUNTY TOWNq T he only Whinbysnewspitper isndepeiidenttmît n >4idonid operitied b% %Il lI% res.ient oNUi~resi<teni P.ubiished overy Wednesday By 677209 Ontario Imc. Phono: 668-6111 DOUG ANDERSON Publisher MAURICE PIFHER Editor PETER IRVINE Advertising Manager it was a weicome announcement iast week when local members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) proposed a meeting of the three Durham Centre candidates. Now that'the meeting has been arranged. for tonight (Wednesday), despite some possible shor- tcomings, It still sounds good. Liberal candidate Allan Furlong will probably at- tend, but maybe late because of a prior commit- ment. Conservative Stephanie Bail and NDP Sarah Kelly (who is an OPSEU mem ber but is on a leave Local debate of absence as member while campaigning) will definitely attend the meeting at the Legion. OPSEU members want answers on employment equity, quality education, safety in the workpiace and imfproved health services Important issues, to be sure, but wili questions extend beyond these? Good attendance by the general populace May ensure it. WlIi It be a proper and formai debate, such as Ontario residents viewed Mondav nioht betweefl the three party leaders? Or will the OPSEU forum be one of Mere question and answer and Informai exchange between candidates? Let's hope the moderator can- prevent a f ree-for-all in what May be the only chance to see the candidates together before voting day. tise of municipal building was case of 'political arm-twisti' To theeditor: Copy of letter toMayor Attersley and Council: As a taxpayer in the Town of Whitby, I read with great interest, about the visit of David Peterson to our Municipal Building. Perhaps it was my $2,200 in property taxes or my recent water bill for $192, which made me take more notice of this event and to ask you, how much did this campaign ploy of Mr. P'eterson's cost the local taxpayer? If you will recaîl, Uis same premier refused to meet with Whit- by council to discuss the Decom issue, because he was too busy. Yet he had time to pay us a visit during Uic height of his campaign. Regar- dless of the person or political party involved, I resent very highly that my tax dollars were used as cam- paign funds. Before writing this- letter to you and to council, I made inquiries at the Town offices. In thepress, the defence that the mayor offered to justify Mr. Peterson's visit, related to a resolution which council passed in 1979 and then re-affirmed in 1982. However, Resolution No. 138-79 states, "That it be policy of the T axpayers taken for granted To the editor: Once again, Uic taxpayers of this community have been taken for granted. .In staging a Liberal campaign raily at the Whitby municipal building, Uic local Liberal can- Letter was.'hate lit erature' To the editor: The letter by Barbara Black lFree Press, Aug. 5) critical of Uic bandling of Uic Sikh boat-people is appailing. Ms. Black is entitled to bher opinions, but she is not entitled to Uie ignorance and bigotry dLsplayed in ber letter, which is notbing more Uian a crude example of hate literature. I furUier question the judgment and sensibility of an editor who would publish this garbage. Yours sincerely, Morton S. Rapp, M.D. Director of Education Whitby Psychiatric Hospital didate, Allan Furlong, and his leader David Peterson, exhibited very poor judgment. .To add insult to injury, it would appear that Mr. Furlong and Mr. Peterson took it upon themselves to invite Liberal candidates from Oshawa and Durham West to kick off Uieir campaigns from our municipal building as well. I find no fanit with the premier visiting our community and being received by Uic mayor. However, I do take exception to the use of public property for partisan politics. Did Uie Liberals pay for use of the local taxpayers' facilities? Who bore Uic ancillary costs associated with Uis event? Why was Mr. Furlong ailowed to personally distribute partisan literature from within the municipal building? I am deeply distressed at this ob- vious disregard for the taxpayers of this community. If this contem- ptuous attitude towards the public purse is indicative of Liberal fiscal responsibility, the citizens of this community had best think long and hard before casting a vote for either Mr. Furlong or Mr. Peter- son. Sincerely yours, Cathy Rowell Whitby Town of Whitby to permit the use of facilities in the Whitby municipal building by the leader of any Provincial or Federal party, upon receipt of request thereof. " Unfortunately, nu such request could be found by Town staff. The question to ask is, did the mayor in- vite, Mr. Peterson? If so, is this following Town policy and if not, are the mayor and Mr. Peter- son ready to pay for this "visit" out of their own pockets? Further inquiries have made it clear that during the working day, Town staff was directed to prepare a special welcome and that a num- ber of staff were asked to work overtime. Most disturbing, I have been told that Liberal candidate AI Furlong was permitted into the staff work area Uic day before the visit to campaign during their working houms. .As a taxpayer, I feel that Uic staff should not be subjected to' this political arm twisting by any can- didate. The spirit of Res. 138-79 im- plies that, any political leader is welcomne to our building. Hlowever, it does not state that they are en- titled to carry out their cam- paigning during working hours nor does it state that political can- didates are allowed to pass out literature during this visit. In no way can this event be classified as a "4state visit" - Uic stafi and tax- payers were used to promote political careers and nothing more. During my inquiries, I was unable to firid ont how much ail of this cost the local taxpayers because Uiat was confidential i- formation.-The minutes of Uic 1962 caucus meeting of c9uncil, re- affirming this resolution, are also confidential. Why? I was given a clerk's report (52- 82) which explains why our own Chamber of Commerce has been refused permission to use the municipal building for Uic Peter Perry Awards. -The reasons' given' (a) Loss of rentai revenue an- ticipated by the parks and recreation dept. (b) Increased - demand on custodians' time to keep the municipal building properly cleaned resulting i increasee salaries and wages expense. (c) Open 'concept of building which compromises departmental security; and, (d) The availability of more ap- propriate accommodation ini other public buildings. Surely, if these conditions apply to the people of this Town, then they should also apply to any political campaign. Truly Mr. Mayor and council, this whole event appears to be a political pay-off, at tic tax- payers' expense. Over this past week, since the visit by Peterson, a number of rumors have surfaced. Mr. Atter- sley, are you planning to run on the Liberal ticket in the next federal election? Regardless of the people, politics or parties involved, as a taxpayer, I feel that the spirit of Resolution 138- 79 bas been terribly violated, and yet we are expected to pay for that too. I await your written response. Sincerely, Dennis Fox Whitby 4 LETTERS VTheWtee Press welcomes letters to the Editor on any subjMfeeto oncern to our readers. Letters should be brief and to the point - rarely more than 300 words. Ail letters must be accompanied by the name, address and phone number of-the wrTiter; 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 ail letters. Send to: The Editor, Whitby Free Press, Box 206, Whitby, Ontario LiN 5S1 or drop through our mailsiot at 131 Brock St. N. Aý- The Free Press Building 131 Brock Street North P.O. Box 206, Whitby, Ont.