THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE FREEDOM PARTY OF ONTARIO
APRIL 1992
ONLY ~YOU CAN SAVE CANADA! the social role of private property as ~ Openers ___ 01 the means of production. Whereas f1) a sociali sts uphold the doctrine of Nen FASCISM AND FROGS government ownership and control of "'a:: the means of production (i.e., no Cl... a: private property, total government a:: ("Like, hey, Bob Rae isn't Hitler! ") -- w by Robert Metz control), fascists simply uphold the :r remember the frog. u...~ Did you know that if you take a doctrine of state control, dispensing ::L o frog and put it in a pot of cold water Had the change in Canada's poli with the need to consider the status of o w tical environment that has taken a property. After all, in practice, control w on top of the stove, then gradually a:: u... turn up the heat, the frog will actually generation to condition us to its is ownership. acceptance otherwise occurred In, stay in the water without trying to Though they say, fiv e jump out of the pot? In fact, if you may call them years, we turn the heat up slow enough, it will selves sociali sts, would all be actually cook to death --- without ever Conservatives, or much more trying to escape. Robert Liberals, don't be aware of its Metz is pre surprised by most Dumb frog, right? Maybe. But that nature. The sident and politicians' eager has nothing to do with why the frog change in leader of the support of fascist seem s willing to die. Unfortunately, temperature Freedom policy: rent con the poor frog dies simply because the would have Party of trols; official change in heat is so slow that it been much Ontario_ bilingualism ; pay doesn't realize it's in an environment more notic equity laws; Sun which is dangerous to its well-being. able. We day shopping laws; would be In the same way, right now, each censorship; gun much more of us is a 'frog ' in a pot of uncomfort control ; minimum wage laws; forced able to se nse how radically we have ably warm --- yet comfortable -- union dues; hiring quotas; discrimina shifted away from the fundamental 'water' which is about to become tion laws ; drug prohibition, among a working principles of a free, tolerant even hotter. As each day passes, li st of many others. What each of and prosperous society and fallen those who have the power to turn the these policies have in common is that right into the clutches of the very heat up or down --- our elected each represents a control on private ideology that thousands of Canadians politicians --- increasingly choose to property, contract, or choice. Whether fought and died to protect us from. turn the heat up. More laws, more one agrees or disagrees with them, taxes, more re strictions, more control No, Ontario's not predominantly both in theory and in practice, th ese by politicians, and of course, le ss and fascist --- yet. But our current mixed controls can properly be referred to less control for citizens and taxpayers. economy {part capitalist (p rivate as being fascist. property, individual freedom and It's just a matter of time before Once a society has enough such choice), part socialist (state owner the political 'waters' in Ontario come policies in place, there is very little that ship, monopoly), and --- increasingly to a boil. Our well-being is about to be can be done to prevent the same type --- fascist (state control of private threatened by a political environment of catastrophe that enveloped Europe property)} is coming to a boil. If we're that has a nasty name with nasty during the second world war. Of not careful, the frog just might croak. connotations. course, one, two, or even three fascist It' s called fascism and it's about Increasingly, the political direction policies does not a fascist state make. time more of us woke up to the fact in Ontario is towards fasc ism : state Just how many have to be in place that fascism is increasingly becoming control 01 pdvat(J property or pdvate before we can no longer avoid the a dominant philosophy of Ontario's choice. It is important for each of us fascist label and its social and econo " mixed " economy system. to recognize that politically, the dis mic consequences is at best, I sup tinguis hin g c haracteristic that pose, a matter of personal judgement. If you think that 'fascism' is too separates a socialist policy from a I'll leave that for you to decide. strong a word to apply to Canadian fascist policy is not to be found in By the way, did I mention that if politics --- that it just couldn't happen their similar philosophies (i.e, state you take a frog and put it in a pot of here, that people who use the word control), but in their unsimilar views of are being unreasonably alarmist cold water ... (END) Election Fal/out .. TRUSTEE CANDIDATES ACCUSED OF LYING DURING ELECTION
LON DON (December 11, 1991 ) . Quoted in the WEDN ESDAY. [)(,CCl1I bl'r I I . I !I~ I London Free Press as saying that there were " more untruths told during this campaign than in any other election I've been in," Cheryl Miller, re-e lected chairper EDUCATION : I so n of the London Board of Education, accused I candidates endorsed by the London- Middlesex Tax Reputation of board I payers' Coalition (LMTC) (see last issue, Freedom Flyer) of damaging the " reputation " of the board as a wounded in election, consequence of such " untruths." says Cheryl Miller I Among the candidates endorsed by the LMTC was FP I leader and president, Robert Metz, and other FP guests gathered (o r the m ee ting '1 The London board it w as "ok ay to be proud" of constituency presidents, members, and former party of educati on needs Lo ndon's ed ucation ~\'~te m ami sugg ested the board -needed to candidates including : Jack Plant, Paul Blair, Patti to improve its image improve its image with the pub· Plant, Steve Ronson, Robert Vaughan, and Dave by 'getting out the lic by "getting out the rcal m e, sage of p ublic educa tio n." Fortner. real message of llut. she warned. It 'S gOing to public educati on', be a tough year ahead. trying to muintai n an education ,,\'~ t Cf11 I w ith little to no i n c re a ~e i;, p ro [P- says its chairperson. UNTRUTHS? vi nc ial tax g rant s. By Kell ey Te ahen "\Ve can no lunger let the Stunned by the accusation, FP president Robert Metz Th e L o n don Frce Press m in istry i mplem ent program s contacted Miller on De cember 11 to get specifics about withou t providing full funding 1 here \\'ere "~e ri ous w ounds" for tho!:>c prog r am~." she slJid. the nature and source of the " untruths" in question. in n icted on the London board of " \Ve'lI have to deCi de what's According to Miller, it was suggested that Jack Plant, in educatlo n 's repulalio n elu ring necessarv and what''-) nict..' - the municipal election , says its a nd go ~ j l h w hat';-. neCt::-,s.Jry ., citing a survey conducted by a school association which ncw chairper,on. Chen'l ~ li ll e r . Amo ng other pCJln l \: "t iller, In her in~uiu r il l ad Ca n adian s arc suffering rev ealed that 52% of grade 7 and 8 parents were d re>s [0 t h~ hoa rd Tuesd ay :.J stress fro m joh losses. thr reef'S· diss atisfied with their children 's education, " left the impres n ight, :>;l1d thL'fe were "more untruths told dUring this ca m· sion and also from Ihe nalll)n,oI tur m o il O\'e r the country's fu· sion" that " all " parents were so dissatisfied. p~ign t h:l n in ~ny other election "\\·c l !" \'c been in." tu re. shc sa id. \\'lil ha\'C tn c1 eal with the funnelled·dnw;) In citing another " untruth " , Mi ll er denied a clai m by \ \ '111..' 11 ; l ~ked latcr w ha t thn:-.e ··untruth:-."' were. she sa id m em ~ tr esses nn f,undlcs
Miller's comments refl ect an orchestrated attempt on Above: Coverag e 01 a//egabons against the part of sc hool board trustees and administrators to LM TC can didates from London Free Press. shift the bl ame for the shortcomings of the public
"f" C1J education system on those who tTl would have the temerity to point them '"a N out. More importantly, her comments G) ...... reveal that for the first time in recent a:: Cl... a: memory, the board is running scared. a:: w In fact, despite opposing LMTC > .J LL.. candidates on issues of setting educa :I: o tion standards, holding the line on Cl w taxes, and controlling the amount of w a:: money spent on teachers' salaries, LL.. re-elected trustees were quick to jump on the LMTC issue bandwagon (at least in their publicly-issued state ments, if not in actual fact), suddenly endorsing national testing in schools, holding the line on teachers' salaries, and suggesting other spending re straints. "That's my first priority --- the word will be restraint," Miller was quoted as saying in the December 4/91 London Free Press. OJ WON'T GO AWAY Barkley's comment that trust Aboye_- Sample coverage from the london ee candidales who have the sup Unlike most elections where the pon of taxpayer groups are "nol Free Press reveals how out of touch with people who build a communil\,. defeated candidates tend to disappear education needs the public education system has bUI deslroy," is doymright mean· spiriled and completely unfound. between elections, neither Freedom been. Below_- EdJlodai responses to OSSTF ed. Undersla ndably, it is not Ihe Party nor the LMTC have let up on president liz Barkley's comments {fljected "community" she is afraid will be d"'lroved: it is her union's their on-going education campaigns. against FP's Information campaign (see last monopoly hold OVer an educa· lion 'yslem Ihat detcriorales in Stay tuned for details of these cam issue) cxact proponion to the increased paigns and the reaction to them in the lax dollars we keep Ihro.... ing 'I 11 10 keep it alive. next issue of Freedom Flyer. Teacher's In Ihe long run. leachers Ihem· [P- FREEDOM PARTY TORONTO (January, 1992) - PRIMER? FP member William Trench has published his first book: Only You Needless to say, with a perspec Can Save Canada - Restoring tive like that, Only You Can Save Freedom and Prosperity, and Canada has Freedom Party's full judging by initial reactions, it has all endorsement. In fact, the book con the makings of a Canadian best-seller. tains a 'Foreword' written by FP leader Robert Metz who, after work Only You Can Save Canada ing with Trench during its initial drafts, is a direct challenge to the prevailing believes that readers will come away intellectual environment in Canada, from the book with a much deeper but it purposely avoids adopting an understanding of FP's perspective "intellectual" stance. Using plain com and many of the principles underlying mon sense and down-to-earth every individual freedom itself. day language, Trench's book cuts through Canada's "intellectual" politi "There's not a thing in this book cal jargon with the ease of a hot knife that would contradict Freedom Iri" AboV8_- FP member and cutting through soft butter. Party's principles or platform," says author William Trench Metz. "If you want to get a pretty good understanding of what Free dom Party is for --- or against -- Libertarian Party of Canada, the OJ TIRED OF SOCIALIST then Bill Trench's book is probably a National Citizens' Coalition MONOLOGUE very informative and entertaining way (NCC), the Northern Founda to do it. " tion, and the Reform Party of "One of our problems is that for Canada. far too long we have not had a (END) dialogue in Canada," observes [p- NO MONOPOLY ON Trench. " What we've had, and con' FREEDOM Iri" GET YOUR COPY tinue to have, is a socialistic ffiQOQ: TODAY! While FP holds a unique position logue, led by the CBC and echoed by as the only provJi7cia/ organization As of this writing, Trench's book is the bulk of the media. Canadians listed under "Names and addresses available to the general public through deserve options, they deserve a of groups, organizations, and publica W.H. Smith and Classic book choice, they deserve to hear all sides tions which favour more freedom and shops across Canada, as well as before they are required to make up less government, and/or changes to through Oxford Books in southern their minds. My book is intended to current government policies" (whew!) Ontario ($8.95 cover, distributed by put forward some alternate ideas on at the back of Trench's book, there Cannon Books). Groups like th e how Canada can function; to show are many other organizations listed as NCC, Northern Foundation, the that prosperity is achieved not by worthy of investigation. Among them Libertarian Party, CFAR, APEC, oppres sing the individual but by are the Alliance for the Preserva and of course, Freedom Party are liberating him; not by government tion of English in Canada offering various purchase options to making our choices for us, but by (APEC), the Canadian Associa their members in an effort to promote government protecting our individual tion for Free Expression (CAFE), Only You Can Save Canada. See right to make our OM-r7 choices. '" Citizens for Foreign Aid Reform back cover for details of where (CFAR), the Fraser Institute, the to order from Freedom Party. l.D III til Book Preview.. __ Only You Can Save Canada__ _ 11:1a N en "'a: ONLY YOU CAN COMMENTARIES c... a: a: UJ SAVE CANADA > IP" PETER WORTHINGTON, Author, Columnist: ....J l.J.... ::E William o by "It is a reflection of the sorry state of Canada today that it should need a Cl UJ ook like this. UJ a:: Trench l.J.... "William Trench has an enviable faculty for getting to the heart of an issue "I just had to write this book, " quickly, reasonably, clearly, and concisely, and has done a remarkable job of says William Trench in his introduc ollecting all the aspects of this country that should concern every citizen. He tion to Only You Can Save eems to have a better understanding than many native-born of what Canada Canada - Restoring Freedom s, could be, and should be. and Prosperity, a book he pub "So much of what Trench says appears obvious; unfortunately no one lished himself after realizing that years else seems to be saying it, or to have thought the country out as clearly as he of complaining "didn't help one bit" as. This may be because he seems to possess two qualities all too rare in Trench's outline of the tragic political anada today: common sense, and the courage to say what he thinks." course being followed by Canada's elected politicians conveys an urgent message to fellow Canadians: "Only IP" ANNE HARTMANN, President, Northern Foundation: ~ can save Canada. If we all leave it "What a great bookl" to others, nothing will be done." the laws of nature, ignorance of the one million seconds = 11.5 days,· one IP" CANADA HIS CHOICE laws of economics, ignorance of the b/~onseconds = 31.5 years/" "Unlike the majority of people lessons of history. And now, to com pound the problem, ignorance of just who live in Canada, I am not here by [D" SPEAKS HIS MIND accident of birth," emphasizes how bad the mess is. In addition to basic economic Trench. " I came to Canada by choice "Most people are aware that we matters, says Trench, " I will be saying in 1966 . Looking around me today I have a large government deficit," things that some people have insisted see a very different Canada from the points out Trench. "Many are even should not be said, even if they are one I came to - a Canada of aware that it's around thirty billion true." pessimistic citizens, a Canada where dollars. However most people I speak work and profits are penalized, where to appear to think that the deficit is Take, for example, the issue of indolence is all too often rewarded, the amount of money that the govern multiculturalism: As an immigrant and where criminals are treated as if ment has spent in excess of what from South Africa, Trench speaks with they're victims. " they've taken in from taxes --- ever! experience when he says : " I, for one, Trench's book backs up his They don't seem to realize that the am totally opposed to this whole claims with a haunting clarity that thirty billion or so talked about each multiculturalism idea. I left a country manages to capture the Canadian year at budget time is just the shortfall preoccupied with racial differences. dilemma --- along with many potential for that year." Government programs that seek to stress and promote these differences solutions to the dilemma --- in only To help the reader visualize "just are utterly distasteful." 140 pages, and in a conversational how bad" things are in Canada, style understandable even to those Trench uses simple illustrations and Or official bilingualism: "The who do not know a single thing about examples to help concretize difficult basic flaw in our thinking is that the Canadian political process to-comprehend concepts, like the Canada is a country of two namely, the majority of Canadians. enormity of Canada's growing debt: languages, English and French. In Says Trench: "In my opinion, , 'To give you an idea of how much fact, Quebec is a province of French there is only one reason for the mess bigger a billion is than a million," he and the rest of Canada is a country of we 're in. IGNORANCE. Ignorance of suggests, " consider the following: English, and the two should be recog nized as such." "C Q.> granting the benefit of the doubt even 10 rt> to Pierre Elliott Trudeau, who, he --J ""T1 says, probably acted with "the best of ::0 n:r DAVID SOMERVILLE, President, National Citizens' Coali rTl intentions." Our only enemy, insists rTl tion: o Trench, is IGNORANCE, and that is a o 3: "This book is an act of good citizenship by someone who cares deeply condition that can be easily corrected ""T1 r about Canada and about freedom. Blessed with libertarian instincts, soun with KNOWLEDGE and ACTION. 1 g traditional values, and a lot of common sense, William Trench has addresse Only You Can Save Canada many of the challenges facing our country, supplied some of the solutions, is a most effective weapon in the fight and issued a call to arms. I hope tens of thousands of Canadians read hi to lift the veil of ignorance or to stir book and heed its call." many into action. Initial reaction to the book seems to indicate that it is doing n:r KENNETH MCDONALD, Author of Keeping Canada its job. Together: ''This book is very well written, clear, concise, practical, stimulating. With o::r THE FUTURE IS UP TO many day-to-day examples, it shows how successive governments have Ie CANADIANS EVERY Canadians by the nose to their present condition of unmanageable debt and WHERE fractious, litigious society. Where does Canada's future lie? "I'm urging everyone I meet to buy the book so that they, in thei "I'm a realist," says Trench. "I thousands and I hope hundreds of thousands, can be moved to save thei know that we 're not going to eliminate wonderful country form that curse of the twentieth century --- the professiona politicians and governments. politicians. " "The best thing Canada could do Or justice and the law: "I can the tax-free expense accounts." would be to live up to its promise of a hear the objections now. 'Our sys strong, solvent, bastion of freedom, tem's fine. Oh, there may be a few instead of the drowning, floundering, IJJ HOW Y.QU. CAN SAVE things here or there that need to be socialist, economic cripple that it is CANADA corrected, but basically it's fine. fast becoming. Anyone who disagrees is an alarmist.' Trench's book concludes with an " And Canada could do it, you No, there are notjust a few things that explicit list of 19 possible avenues of know." (END> have to be corrected. Our system is action that the reader might follow, not fine. It is based on a fundamental including supporting various political error. Instead of constructing our and lobby organizations which he lists society on the rock of common jus at the back of the book. 'This may, in ONLY YOU CAN tice, we are slapping it together on the fact, be orie of the most difficult things SAVE CANADA sand of expediency. We are getting for the reader to do," comments RESTORING FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY further and further away from the Trench. "Most people who work hard common sense of common law, and and are self-sufficient aren't interested more and more under the control of in joining pressure groups of any arbitrary legislation and legal decisions type. But if they don't add their voices by unelected judges." to those of other concerned citizens, they will be drowned out by the 'rising Or on freedom itself: " No one clamour of the ever-vocal mobs who can take away our freedom. We can, WI want to live at the expense of others. however, give it up, and most of us • ... II fetTla''''Jb ie- jOO of collec l l~ a I L~ a~ t :io of If you truly believe in a cause, agree 11'1"'; CO.Jl"tn \1'I1t! ~",~• ..I~j CQOCtc'm" .ef/Glt.0i Weiland-Thorold FP Constituency Association) presen By Anne-Marie Tobin ted a brief "as a private individual" which challenged the CUll udio ll Press motivations behind the private member's bill introduced by TOHONTO - When groups Dianne Cunningham, Progressive Conservative pu>hing for mandato!)· use of hin·c1e helmets in Ontario ap· MPP for London North. pn1ached Dianne Cunningham. the'· had a rccepti'·e audience. ·rhe Lo ndon Nonh Conse ,,·a· m·e i\ 1PI' ha> spent sc\·en years (]:J DENIES PERSONAL MOTIVATION helping ht>r ~ ( ) n }\c\'in reCQ\'er Fi lt.! photu f!"Olll a he,,,J inj ury ~ urfere d in a A private member's bill that Fitzgerald was reprimanded by the chair when he C~lr '-Icciclent when he was l-t. would require cyclists to wear brought up the possibility that Cunningham's motivation to "\\'1131 vou wallt to do if \'Oll helmets has a champion ill t'\ er (':\p~' ril' ll c(, thi ~ is tn;ke London North MPP Dianne introduce such a law might have been initiated by a recent ::-oure il nc\"cr h<.Jp pe n ~ 10 anyone Cunningham. personal tragedy. Referring to an automobile accident in ehe·, chi ld"· said Cunning ham. She i .... ~t('L' ,in !! a pri\'a te m l' lll I:ach \"(" " . In Canad3. m ore whic h Cunningham's son was severely injured (and in he'I··.' bill through Ihe leg i, laturc than 'i.lIiH) childl·en are se rious· which he was not wearing a seatbelt), Fitzgerald com I h"l wuuld am end the lIighwa\' Iv injured and more than 6U die Tr"rric c\ct and require cyclists in b icycle accidents. mo~ t f rurn mented, " Mrs. Cunningham... You have my deepest In We"r helmets. The hill has h e " d' inju l·ies . said sympathy, but I do not believe this is the way to try to been ap pro' ·e d in p rinciple and Cunningham. IS being studi E'd by an all·panO' Studie ..... ha\'e sho\',: n a nI\' two rectify the situation." commin eE' . " Icgislati\·e sta ge to three per cent of ch fld ren ran?I,· reached by private m ern· ,,·car helmets w hile expen s sa\· Nevertheless, Cunningham responded: " I do not mind ber< bills. helmet use could reduce head CUllni n ~ l la J1l says a two-year injuries hv 85 per ce nl. talking about that. That is not the reason I am bringing kad time would ,illow helmet forNard this legislation. lll"nuLKturers and the public to SOME OPPOSED: But ~ome C\· rncpare fo r implementatio n in ci i,!> are opposed 10 legislation. UCI()hel·. I !I;YJ. ~l arc i a I!,., ,,, c\T les e\·e ,,· d,l\· " I am a Conservative and I have never, ever been one The cumminee has already in T oronto " nd e'ncou rages otl;· to support intrusions into people 's family lives, so for me heard some d ram~ t i c t e~ tim o n v . CJ"S to do the same to cu t dow n .lerem,· I!crnpel of the Ontario on poilul ion. thi s has been a very difficult piece of legislation to bring I kdd InIU'" Associ'llio n told of ··To shift the re,pon, ibilitv of forth. It has been based on improving the quality of life ... I /)"111;': hit h:; " p ickup tl"ck ~; If et \ · (I\\';l\' from nlo t ar i ~h. \\ !lilt ~ bil'~'c1illg U ll hi:-. ninth fruOl -u rh;1I1 'pl~lTlning ~ Hl d frum can te ll you this was not something I wanted to have to hlnhd~l~' 11 years a~o. Totb y he ! he t!L'll crll1 non-c\" c1ing IlH.' llI ;t!· bring fOrNard. Some days I wi sh that (accidents with II\'L':-' \\'j l h :-.c \-e rc heauac he ...... it\' ~1()L':-' no! ~ l lk(J -llc e I he cau .... c 11l"l·:-. l'~ l ~il\' ;\Ild ha :"') ni l pc riphcr - ,,·f cyc l i n g .· ,he t old till' children and adults on bicycles) would just go away." ;11 \ ·j ..... jf)1l 'un h is left ..... idc. (C\lllI11 I11t'l'. "'I ..... 1lt'IlT fuu r IllOll lh .... in I O I ~ d 1 hL' OnLu-j() ("'c1ing :\ ...... ,()('l " What is next?" asked Fitzgerald. "What next restric III Ih ~' ilU:-' PII,I1 . '1 ht· tl iletur ..... ;1111)11 :""uppul1:--. lilt' u ..... l' o f Iwl- Il .r d h) jllI1 1lH.' illio .t n)lll ~ 1 It) 11lt'1:-. h u t l hink:-- puhl il' edul':I ti on will be placed? Will drivers of automobiles and 1"l'll1q\ t' pa rt of m," :....k ull I n lei I l tlll. r;llht'r I h;ln l (' g l ~ I ;I II(ln . I .... passengers be required to wear helmets? Will we start t h l' hr;l ill ..... \\"(· 11. ·· I hl' \ " ~Iy to go. banning sports, making regulations for people in sports to wear helmets or actually banning some that are con (]:J Above_' london Free Press (December ~ sidered dangerous? It opens quite a can of worms and I (991) coverage tells a different story. 'What you think it should be avoided. Therefore, I would like you to want to do 1/you ever expenence this is make sure consider withdrawing this bilL " II never happens to anyone elses chi/d .. If (HELMET .•• cont'd next pg) <••• HELMET from prev pg) "If I had all the answers, we would not have public hearings," responded Highlights from Fitzgerald's Address to the Cunningham. "We have public hear Committee: ings so that people like yourself can Helmet Law Unenforceable: "Should this bill become part of the come before this committee and help * HIghway Traffic Ac~ I have a concern about enforcement, particularly with us with this legislation ... I do not have regard to young children under twelve years old. As you know, the any questions because I understand ProVincial Offences Actstates that children under 12 cannot be charged with why you are here." an offence. This group of cyclists is the most inexperienced, the leas knowledgeable and thus the most likely to have an accident, yet they are rrr ADMITS PERSONAL exempt, for all practical purposes, from the bill. I take serious issue with any MOTIVATION attempt to attach culpability to the parents." Despite her denial that her per * Helmet Law Misdirected: "Another problem is that the aim of this sonal experience "is not the reason I bill is to minimize injuries after the accident has happened. It would be better am bringing forward this legislation," to focus your attention on reducing the accidents in the first place. I sugges Cunningham was quoted in the Lon you accomplish this by rider training... Before riders should be allowed the don Free Press, in direct reference to privilege of using a road, they should demonstrate they can do so her son's car accident, "What you responsibly." want to do if you ever experience this Helmet Law Disincentive to Bicycling: " ... cyclists I spoke to is make sure it never happens to * were almost unanimously against it. Some female cyclists said they would anyone else's child." sell their bicycles before they would wear or buy a helmet. They cited Whatever Cunningham's actual reasons ranging from the expense of the helmet to such trivial things as motivation, it is clear that regardless of messing up their hair. They also want to know what they are supposed to the outcome of her private member's do with their helmets once they arrive at their destination." bill to force cyclists to wear helmets, * Taxes on Safety Equipment Discriminatory: "Our taxation it will have very little effect on the system generally is discriminatory in the way you put a tax on something injuries of those who fail to wear their you do not want people to buy, like cigarettes and alcohol. Yet safety seatbelts in cars involved in accidents. equipment is fully taxable as well. " FREEDOM PARTY the Soviet Union --- rich in human and natural resources, but depressed by runaway sociali sm. AMONG 'LAST, BEST " The Libertarian Party, the Freedom Party, and the Reform Party HOPES FOR CANADA' are the last, best hopes for Canada," he said. If health, education, transport, TORONTO (November 17, 1991) - and welfare were privatized, argued Block, the government's bite of the GN P In a Toronto Sun news article titled would fall from 52% to a mere 5%. OJ JJ r'1 Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) are the can be "de-certified" or defeated in initial formation r'1 o result of provincial legislation (Section 217 of the stages. Like a union, "dues" are compulsory and the o 3: Municipal Act) aimed at compelling business people compulsory BIA tax is fully enforced by law. And in the OJ r within an arbitrarily-selected area to join a "business same way that an individual worker would have to quit -< r'1 association." As " members" of this forced "associa his job to avoid compulsory dues, so too must the JJ D lJ tion", they are also forced to pay an additional tax to individual businessman be forced to leave his business JJ " the municipality --- largely to do things that their community to avoid the extra compulsory tax for that to property and business taxes should already be paying area. "-J for. Like unions, many BIAs adopt political platforms, Ostensibly, the BIA tax can also be used to supporting or opposing various political issues --- all the "improve" and maintain the appearance of munici while claiming to "represent" the BIA "membership." Rally-owned property within the designated BIA area, Last but not least, BIAs as legislated under Section and for collective advertising to promote the area. Of 217 of the Municipal Act deny the right to vote to those course, the BIA tax widens the municipality's tax base being taxed. In other words, BIAs are blatant forms of by adding it to already existing property and business taxation without representation_ taxes. As one may well guess, the magnitude of the effect At the heart of the issue lie s the principle that is at BIAs have on Ontario's economy and business climate the heart of every BIA controversy: freedom of are far greater than most would imagine. Documen associati on. Since BIA "members" cannot indepen tati on and press reports of BIA disasters which include dently and voluntarily join or quit a BIA, they are runaway taxes, misappropriation of funds, lack of therefore subject to forced association, where indepen accountability for funds, outbreaks of animosity within a dent planning and action becomes superceded by business community where none existed before the forced collective planning and action. BIA, incidents of fraud, misrepresentati on, and more, fill A BIA operates very much like a labour union, an entire filing cabinet at Freedom Party headquar being a body that requires a large consensus before it ters. C•• BIA from prev P9) voluntary, and that democratic reRre Needless to say, Rae 's pre-pro sentation within the operati on of BIAs grammed response offers us only two simRly does not exist." possibl e interpretations of his stand on BIAs : (1) he is completely incap able of understanding or addressing ~ [)J RAE SIDESTEPS ISSUE the issue, or (2) taxation without In his two-paragraph re sponse to representation is fine by him. Either BIA'S ARE Metz dated September 10, 1991 , Rae way, unwary victims of BIAs will not HAZARDOUS completely avoided the issue as out find a friend in Rae . (END) lined above by once again falsely TO YOUR informing Metz that " You can address [)J GET THE DETAILS! ECONOMIC any dissatisfaction with a BIA through the municipal council, since a BIA is Copies of the correspon HEALTH directly accountable to it. " Rae sug dence referred to in this article & gested that if a new business does are now available to FP mem INDEPENDENCE not wish to belong to a BIA it may bers and supporters on request_ locate in an area where there is no Just call or write_ See green box [)J Abovc_- FP 's original BIA BIA. on back cover for details_ Warning broe-Y7ure is sllli aVa/lable to members & supporters 017 request Victory for Taxpayers! Q) 01 n:J . 0. N en JAMESVILLE BIA DEFEATED ...... 0:: CL a: 0:: HAM I LTON (October 23, 1991 ) - the catalyst that helped turn the tide. of the municipal government, shoul d w :> After five years of debate and contro the vote turn out favourably. Under -I I.J... versy, the Jamesville BIA in Hamil the BIA, municipal assessments L a:::r NOT EVERYONE HAPPY o ton has finally been defeated. Thanks ranged from $35 to more than $1000 Clw w to the persistent efforts of Ron Bur Ward 2 Alderman Bill McCul per year, depending on the size of the a: I.J... ridge and supporters (i ncluding loch, a supporter of the BIA, denoun business. Freedom Party), what was once ced the outcome of the vote by Long-time m embers and suppor· beli eved to be an unwinnable war arguing that the number of merchants ters of Freedom Party may recall against provincial and municipal p0liti who voted represented only 42% of when, in 1987, Hamilton city council cians has turned into another example the 157 m erchants eligible to vote. voted unanimously to approach of how one individual can actually Ironically, McCull och himself was Ontario's Attorney-General to investi· " beat the system" that's out to beat voted into council by only 12% of gate FP 's BIA Warning brochure him. eligible voters within his ward. under Section 177 of the Criminal In order to dissolve the Jamesville Code (i.e., "spreading false news"), [D" POLITICAL PRESSURE BIA, council authorized and directed the same section under which Ernst the City Solicitor to prepare a bylaw to Zundel was charged for "denying the F aced with the relentless pressure repeal By-law No. 85-198 (Desig Holocaust" (see Freedom Flyer, July/ and arguments that Burridge presen nating the Jamesville Business 87) . ted to Hamilton City council, it was Improvement Area) and By-law finally forced to concede to the No. 86-74 (Establishing a Board wishes of a majority vote held by BIA a::r GET THE DETAILS! of Management), in accordance members on October 9/ 91 where 67 with Section 217 of the Municipal Copies of documentation, merchants voted ' NO' to the James Act (see previous articie, pg 10). press clippings, etc., relating to ville BIA versus 19 who voted 'YES'. this BIA are available to FP Although there was no ~ obligation According to the Hamilton members and supporters on on the part of councill ors t9 grant the Spectator (Sept. 26/91) , Burridge request. See green box below merchants their wishes, the threat of was quoted as saying that he would for details on where to write or possible defeat In the upcoming begin forming a private business call. November 12 municipal ele ctions was organization operating independently FREEDOM FLYER Volume 4, Number 2, March - April 1992, IS publiShed by the Freedom Party of OntariO, a fully-registered Ontano political party. E[Jltor: RObert Metz; Subscription Rate: $25 per year (SIX Issues) . FREEDOM PARTY OF ONTARIO Freedom Party of Ontario IS a fully-registered Ontano pOlitiCal party. Contnbutlons are tax·credltable. Statement of PrinCiple: Freedom Party IS founded on the pnnclple mat: EVlfIY IIld/Vldl/8/, III /tie pe8cel'lll plI/~·I Il! ofpe/~ ·oIl81 I'lI/fJllnll!l1/. 118S 811 flb.'olll.te IIgll! /0 IllS or/IeI' OI+'!I /If:!, I!bell}'; fllld plupelty. Platform: that me plllpOSe of gOVllll1mel1tts to p l u!ecttndlvldual freedom of chOIce, 1I0lto re stnct It. Annual Membership & Support Level: $25 minimum (tax· creditable), Provlnctal Executive: Ollll1110 PI I?Sldelll.·Robert Metz; Vtce-PII?Sldell!, OlltaIlO:L1oyd Walker; Ollll1l1o Secl etalrRobert Vaughan; ClllefFlI1f1I1CI8/ Omce/:'Pant Plant; Executive Ollicers: Barry Malcolm, Barry Fitzgerald; Party Leader: Robert Metz We are aware that, due to their reduced size, many of the reproduced articles or letters In this newsletter may be difficult for some to read. FULL-SIZED REPRODUCTIONS ARE THEREFORE AVAILABLE ON REOUEST. TO ORDER TRANSCRIPTS, REPORTS, OR OTHER REPRODUCTIONS mentioned br published in this newsletter (or simply to request more Information on Freedom Party) please call or write : FREEDOM PARTY OF ONTARIO, P. O. Box 2214, Stn. 'A', LONDON, Ontario NGA 4E3; Phone: (519) 433-8612; OFFICES: 364 Richmond Street, 3rd Floor, LONDON, Ontario, N6A 3C3 . ...-