THE OBSERVER
» Saturday, March 27, 2010
1 NEWS
New arrivals. New sales. Always affordable. Home décor, fashion accessories and so much more!
www.inspiringaccents.com
Open 7 days a week • 3 Arthur Street on Elmira’s downtown corner
Kings fall to Brantford in semi-finals > STORY ON PG. 16 VOLUME.....15 ISSUE..........12
SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2010
.com
www.
Albrecht defends government's use of mail-outs Federal Liberals look to curtail what they see as abuse of privilege Joni Miltenburg
T
THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY Joseph Ditner put in some hard work at the Laurel Creek Conservation Area Mar. 23 when his class from St. Teresa’s Catholic Elementary School visited the historic site to learn about maple syrup production.
WEEKEND WEATHER
SATURDAY
Cloudy Periods
5° Sofa Special Choice of 4 colours
SUNDAY Light Rain
Coffee and 2 End Tables
398
$
he federal Liberals are taking aim at the mass-mailed flyers that fill up mailboxes and recycling bins, but KitchenerConestoga MP Harold Albrecht believes they serve a valuable purpose. MPs can send out four newsletters per year, called “householders,” to every household in the riding. Additional mailings can only be sent to 10 per cent of households in the riding, and are dubbed “ten-percenters.” MPs are also allowed to send leaflets into other ridings in numbers equal to 10 per cent of the households in their own ridings. The cost of printing and mailing the flyers is covered by taxpayers. The Liberal party estimates that “ten-percenters” cost taxpayers approximately $30 mil-
6°
Opinion...............06 Business.............09
lion per year, including $10 million for printing costs, $19 million for postage and $1 million for mail preparation. The party put forward a motion that later passed in the House of Commons, calling for an end to the practice of mailing leaflets into other ridings. Albrecht contended that the flyers allow MPs to communicate directly with their constituents, and allow the party to reach people in ridings where it doesn't have any representation. “I feel they’re a very good tool to get direct information right to the constituents, and it allows them a mechanism for feedback too,” he said. “It’s important people have the opportunity to hear what their government is up to.”
> SEE MAIL-OUTS ON PG. 23
Living Here..........11 Sports.................16
Classifieds..........22 Local Events........31
FLYER FLYER SPECIALS SPECIALS END END Mar. Mar. 31 31
Set of 3
Loveseat
Available in Stone, Salsa, Mocha & Spa
487
$
30 Benjamin Rd. Waterloo W 519.746.0060
Flyer Specials at www.furniturehouse.ca
Monday Monday to to Friday Friday 9:00am 9:00am to to 8:00pm, 8:00pm, Saturday Saturday 9:00am 9:00am to to 5:00pm, 5:00pm, and and Sunday Sunday 12:00 12:00 to to 5:00pm 5:00pm