I believe every citizen of Ontario is
entitled to get their just entitlements out of our system, and
perhaps a little more if they can manipulate it, legally, of
course.
However, I am a tired of the media, and every
activist, repeating that the Conservative government reduced
welfare payments by 20 per cent.
I have not heard anywhere about how the NDP
government went on a wild spending spree in all social areas,
increased welfare payments by 35 per cent, and reduced our
provinces credit rating significantly and dangerously.
Even with the 20 per cent reduction, I
believe Ontario still has close to the highest welfare payments
in North America.
While I believe that every citizen is
entitled to a basic subsistence when down on his health or his
economic fortune, I also feel that the one who pays the bills,
the taxpayer, is also entitled to fairness and justice.
On another matter, I just returned from a
motor trip to Toronto and again the driving both on 69 and 400
was noteworthy.
From Sudbury to the 400, we did not see one
police cruiser, and by and large many motorists sped,
tailgated, passed recklessly and lane hopped at every
opportunity.
Shortly after we reached 400, an OPP cruiser
appeared and motorists immediately slowed down, stopped
tailgating, did not pass recklessly and stopped lane
hopping.
Of course, their behaviour changed once the
police cruiser disappeared out of sight. It certainly appears
many motorists are like children who need discipline from a
higher authority in order to behave appropriately.
This does bring home again, to my wife and I
at least, that more police cruisers would go a long way to
prevent accidents and fatalities.
While four-laning 69, which will take at
least 10 years to complete, is a commendable objective from
many angles, it will still not provide the disciplinary
authority which reckless and foolhardy motorists appear to
need.
Frank Petkovich
Sudbury