The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Dear Sir: Having served in Canada's military for a considerable num- ber of years in the past, I am quite surprised, but not really shocked, at the apparent cavalier attitude that many of our present government's ministers appear to have towards the military men and women that they send into potentially dangerous situations. Take for example the circum- stances of a day or so ago, when - The Preserver - sailed back from its tour of duty in Somalia, repatriating more than three hun- dred troops from active duty. The city of Halifax put on a gala reception for the returning Military personnel, but where was OTTAWA? Surely the return of these men and women from doing their duty and enduring the hardships that they had would warrant at least a Senior Minister's presence? Well, it just didn't happen, did it? Where was our Prime Minister? As far as I can determine, he was rescaling his friendship with a past president of the USA. Yes, beyond doubt, this visit would do all of those returning military personnel a great deal of good Well, if the Prime Minister was not present to welcome our people back on behalf of the Canadian populace, perhaps that is just as well, so we know what his real feelings are. But surely some other senior cabinet mem- ber should have been there. Certainly, at least the Minister of National Defence should have been present to bask in her new- found glory, and welcome back those military personnel who, perhaps, she not personally, but certainly her office had sent there rogressive Conservative leader candidate Jean Charest blew into town Pyesterday trying to garner some support from local Tories for his bid to replace Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Unfortunately, he had nothing new to say about how he would govern dif- ferently from either Mulroney or acknowledged leadership front-runner Kim Campbell. We find it interesting that ever since the prime minister announced his retirement, all of a sudden everyone in the PC ranks is talking about the deficit and that if they were elected, they'd soon have things under control. Hogwash. In Charest's case, the Quebec MP said if the public gave the country's leaders, (meaning him as PM) a mandate (read majority government) he would take whatever actions were necessary to deal with the deficit. Of course this is just pandering to the obsession of the moment and fails to deal with the larger reality that the Progressive Conservatives have had two terms where the Canadian public elected them with a majority govem- ment. When they voted out the Liberals, they did so with the promise by Tory leader Brian Mulroney that there would be a new deal in Ottawa, that finally, someone would be in power to deal with the economy and bring in fresh new ideas. Troops getting little support from our political leaders Well those fresh new ideas have not materialized. in fact, we're far worse off now than before the PCs took power. That's not to say we'd be any better off had the Grits or NDP been running the show during Mulroney's term. but the hope in electing the PC's was that things would change for the better. Tax policies that were supposed to more equitable have not served the middle class den. They have less after-tax money than ever before as Canada edges its way up to the top of those countries with the highest taxes. That kind of progress we can do without. Instead we saw the prime minister. who had earlier lambasted former Liberal leader John Turner for patronage appointments including Senate seats, revert to just those kinds of actions. So much for integrity, so much for change, so much for a fresh approach, so much for progress. Nothing has been streamlined in Ottawa. Instead the Canadian public has witnessed unbridled spending and no concrete initiatives to try and reduce the deficit or the more crippling total debt that is sapping the very lifeblood from this country. As the most fluently bi-lingual candidate to emerge in the PC leadership race. Charest is an appealing figure. He has youth and competence on his side but he comes from Quebec and it's doubtful whether the Tories will risk running with a leader from that province in the next federal election. What they're looking for is a leader they hope can galvanize public opin- ion and they think they've found that person in British Columbia's Kim Campbell. The Tory faithful see her as the way in which they can bring the disaffected western Canadians back to the party and away from The Reform Party and other groups. But with the latest Environics opinion polls showing a Kim Campbell campaign would fall just short of victory over the Jean Chretien-led Liberals, Charest may still be thinking he has a shot of upsetting Campbell for the leadership. Certainly, at National D, been present found glory those milit: perhaps, she certainly her to represent Canada in an iss that the military were probab not too happy about. All of the were separated from their fan lies for a considerable length time, but where were the poll clans that sent them "over ther ”“ OPINION It's along shot but stranger things have happened in politics nt hazard a guess, tld appear that National Defe EDITORIAL an Still hoping n an Issue 3 probably \11 of them ll nce and our ministers are. Look back a few years and remember the return of our troops from Desert Storm - as well as other situations wherrour govem- ment has sent our military into very hazardous locations - with apparent complete disregard for their safety and, certainly, for their family life. It's all well and good to say that these men and women are doing the job that they enlisted for. But think a moment... and consider what our neighbors to the south do for their returning troops. Surely, the appearance of a senior member of our overpopulated, overpaid, underworked, and totally incompetent (at least in my opin- Dear Sir: Now is the time of year when the manifestation of their funive noctur- nal expeditions is exposed. As the snows melt, their pets odorous deposits emerge intact; not just the odd pile here and there, but vast accu- mulations from a long winter of igno- rant, thoughtless and criminal excur- sions. Beware of the Midnight Pooper brigade was too busy politicking. and campaigning for the position that she aspires to hold as Prime Minister of Canada. This should give us an idea of where the pri- orities of our present government able ALONE CALL845-5585 It Ill would just like to c 't letter in today's (' I am Catholic and EC ll; IFO IN he ri it at to comment on the "Right to abortion is question- 's (Wednesday, March Mst) paper . I'd like to say and I do support abortion. I believe that women t to chose abortion, but I don't think it's right. I'd all Catholics do not share the opinion that is stated Mar h -iiirii)iirrijiiii)_r/fiiiii)] All callers are allowed 45 sec- onds to express their opinion and must provide their name, address and phone number for verification. Got a gripe? Give us a call. Readers are invited to express their opinion on a topic of their choice by calling 845-5585, box 5250. A cross section of the responses will be published in next Wednesday's Oakville Beaver. cxpcc troops. Would this not appear to be mildly appropriate? I am quite certain that a simple request from the minister respon- sible, would have resulted in an aircraft being made immediately available, to transport her from wherever she was at the time to Halifax (perhaps even an old. but very serviceable Sea King heli- copter). At least she should show her respect for the men and women that participated in Canada's effort in Somalia. I went to the trouble of calling CTV news after viewing their video tape of the reception. They, too, agreed that there was indeed no federal or "official" cabinet representative there. Then, per- haps, it might have been just as well that there was no "official" federal representative at the small Who are they? Are they harried parents who send an uncaring teenag- er out in the anonymity of night? Are they affluent businessmen whose pro- motion of Toronto, the clean, doesn't extend to Oakville? Maybe they're just selfish jerks. They're the MID- NIGHT POOPER's. Unlike seemly scoopers and plastic bag toters, they perambulate unarmed and uncaring. paper ."ederal Cabinet could be ted at the return of our MCIâ€"mm Speed-l FROM 1116 THRONE; Q 4!I}'*%:f<:“’?“"“““’*“’ _ii_ijjji The Oakville Beaver “homes your comments. All Manors must be signed and include the writer's address and phone number. Letters should be typed. double-spaced and addressed to: Lam to the Editor. Ttte0.ltttilitmr,46rSp-RtL,Nltttilh,thtt. LIK384 M 467 Spears 893d. pakvillp, pt1tpk 354 Jennifer Maciel return of our lot appear lobe Classified Advertising: 845-2809 Circulation: 845-9742 or 845-9743 845-3824 Fax: 845-3085 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER It If, time. is so important to our ministers that they cannot afford to spend a little of it to welcome back, or even send off our troops to foreign lands to their duty as Canada's representatives, perhaps, we as Canadians, should te-evalu- ate our thinking when we cast our ballots at the next federal election, and put these miserable, uncaring and, certainly, overpaid and underworked representatives of our government out of their mis- ery, and relocate them as befits their worth. Remember... the but earnest "welcome back" that Halifax staged, as at least this was very sincere and most appreciated by the returning troops and their families. troops vote too tf A. Velleman Warrant Officer (ret'd) RCAF 'Fee..rPP.Fe.P-eeP.'.rrrPr'ePPPPPVPPP- Ian Oliver Publisher _ Robert Glllbey Advertising Director Norman Alexander ICrUmr Geoff Hill Circulation Director Teri Cans Office Manager Tim Cole: Production Manager BEHIND From the very outset. there will be a loss ofjobs in areas such as: operations planning, food and beverage services, technical base opera- tions, accounting, pricing, scheduling and yield management, and tech- nical operations, to AMR employees in the United States. lit 1994, there will be a further loss of 900 jobs when the reservations function is moved south of the border. Furthermore, in the future, when the econo- my improves, any possible growth in the workforce will take place in the U.S., and the jobs will not come back to Canadians. We are, in effect, giving jobs to Americans. If the proposed investment goes through, there is little doubt that Air Canada would be forced into a similar sort of deal with a large American carrier. This will result in Canada's two national airlines being relegated into playing a small part in an American dominated net- work with Canadians making up a small portion of the workforce. Under the proposed deal, the CAIL Employee Investment Group will have one seat on the Board of Directors, and this nominee must first be approved by American Airlines. AMR, however, will have two seats on the Board of Directors, with full veto and special voting rights. There will be 1271 jobs lost immediately, with at least another 900 when reservations move south. CAIL employees are offered no protection against further job loss, and indeed, there is a provision that more func- tions may be subcontracted. At the same time, AA gets an irrevocable 20 year management contract worth two billion. They are guaranteed an annual appreciation of 6.5% in preferred shares. At the end of 20 years - holds a direct 56% interest in CAIL - a mere 70% appreciation!! Karen A. Park Dear Sir: I am writing to you in regard to the proposed investment by American Airlines in Canadian Airlines International. As an employee within the Canadian aviation industry, there are some issues which con- cern me. I am worried that ourjobs and the future ofour industry will suffer under said proposal. What follows are just a few of my concerns. - LETTER OF THE DAY ----..-.-. Airline deal had for Canada WEEKLY FOCUS odut :enl ak uga News, Newmarksl-Auror5 ErtrBanna Orllha Today, Oshawa/Whitby This Week a HlllfrNmihillNaughan LIboval, Sparbortt rial published m the Oakvllle Beavev Is , man in whola or in pan of 1m malotlal is l of lhe publlshu an 0: led ovqry This We thridge Ike Br ampt mday. Wednesday l Matvoland Punt ak, LIMBBY 1 Tribune, Milton 'a-Banner. Nor wt pl anh'Vork Minot, Oakvnllé Pmsrborough This Week. gh M2301. An elect copy! t, y rctly madden wimul the April M, 1993 Week, " Al an