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

PAGE 4 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, July 7,2004 www.durhemregton.com Tim Whittaker Publisher Joanne Burghardt Editor-in-Chief Chris Bovie Managing Editor Fred Eismont Director of Advertising Eddie Kolodziejcak Classified Advertising Manager Kirk Bailey Distribution Manager Lillian Hook Office Manager Janice O'Neil Cheryl Haines Composing Managers Clarington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 ®(je Canabiait Statesman inions Phone 905-579-440C Classifieds 905-576-9335 Distribution 905-579-440/ General Fax 905-579-2235 Newsroom Fax 905-579-1805 E-Mail newsroom@durhamregion.com 865 Farewell St., Oshawa ON L1H 7L5 Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 EDITORIAL e-mail letters to ncwsroom@durliainrcgion.com Sentence sends a terrible message ■. M ' mi, ' j V'"'$ - Two members of our com- ' inunity committed a betrayal of • trust beyond comprehension. if Yet for damaging their ! /nephews' lives likely beyond re- ' pair, a former Blackstock couple will spend only a matter of months behind bars. This obscenely obscenely lenient sentence was handed down this week in a high-profile case that angered and generally repulsed too many . of us right across the county. We heard stories of the two ; boys arriving at their aunt and uncle's in January 1988, the beginning beginning of a trail of abuse that didn't stop until they were res- . cued 13 years later on June 29, 2001 at their Blackstock home, ; located in eastern Scugog Township. Township. The boys' mother died in - 1993, five years after they were ! adopted. These young boys, now 18 and 17, were subjected to beatings beatings with various objects, forced outside in thunderstorms, tied to : beds and even caged for hours at a time. And that only scratches • the surface of what they endured 1 at the hands of their adoptive ■ parents. The boys' were un- i aware they were adopted until ; 2001. ; The man and woman each re- ceived nine-month sentences for / their convictions on forcible ■ confinement and assault with a • weapon, and another month ; 'each for failing to provide the ' necessities of life. The sentences : will be served concurrently, as the couple is being given credit for the equivalent of 20 days in pretrial custody, and under Canadian law, are eligible for par-ole after serving two-thirds of the sentence at most. All this means, unbelievably, they should be home for Christmas, Christmas, if not Thanksgiving. And because of the ban that prevented prevented the publishing of the couple's names, once out, they can arguably arguably start their life anew, albeit albeit under three years' probation. probation. The boys should be so lucky. Court heard the damage was extensive extensive enough that their recovery recovery continues today and that they will likely never complete- • ly get over the abuse. So what message does the sentence send? The worst one possible. It suggests our legal system won't take a strong stand against abuse at its worst. If this case represents abuse in the extreme, what precedent does this punishment punishment set for other cases? It says we're not prepared to make those responsible pay for breaching the sacred trust a child puts in his parents or guardians. Judge Donald Halikowski, in his ruling, said the couple started out with "good intentions" but quickly descended "darkly into abusive behaviour... ending in near torture." No amount of reasoning can justify these horrible horrible end results. 9* fot.\3 m MBM) MlAW z. «if smmm *-§} g mÊÊfflÊ LETTERS TO THÉ EDITOR The Province's newly implemented implemented health premium goes into effect this week. Will it have a big impact on your finances and monthly budgeting? □ Yes □ No Cast your vote online at infodurhamiegion.com k Last week's question: Do you believe a minority government can be effective in governing Canada? □ Yes 28% □ No 72% Votes cast: 161 HAVE YOUR SAY Question: Do you think a minority government in Ottawa will be effective? Charles Gray "No, I don't think so. They'll be fighting each other all the time." c-mail letters to ne\vsro6m@(lurhaniregion,com OPINION ^ ■ . e-mail letters to newsroom@durl)amregion.com .v /. ■ Contract is a sign of things to come When my 16-year-old son .'was approached recently to join ii work crew to tear down a barn, j jny husband and I were present- t. ed with a contract to sign. ;[ The prospective boss began |,by explaining how he would • .treat his crew. > j Those under 18 were not re- ; inquired to perform any task in V Iwhich their feet were not firmly «planted on the ground, and they > "could not enter the job site with- ;> lout a member of the senior senior crew. yjj They could not t Work alone, and they if Were told about the 'right to say no" law, > >hich, loosely stated, >£ays that anyone can > -refuse to perform a g task they deem to be ; too dangerous without • "fear of being fired. ' ; The contractor continued, continued, saying that each member of the crew would be given a • Jour of the site, told where the .danger zones were and given an - intensive training session before . they were allowed to dig in. ; - Then came the contract, ; which exempted the contractor ■ .'from any liability should my son • be killed or injured on the job. Quite frankly, even though : 'the person my son would be ; "working for is a family friend ■ 'whom I know to be a responsi- ble person, it is really hard to scrawl a signature on a piece of Shelley Jordan Staff writer my child's life away. My son is six feet tall and, to most people upon meeting him for the first time, he appears to be closer to 26 than 16. He is mature and strong, and has experience experience working on farms performing performing similar labour. I believe he can do the job, and I know he will feel no qualms about telling his boss he refuses to perform a task. But the document has been with me for two weeks, the job starts Friday, and the pen I will use to sign the page seems too heavy to lift. I thank the stars for my husband, because without him, my son would , never have performed back flips off the diving board at the local swimming pool, and he would certainly not have taken a ride oh any of the insane rides at amusement amusement parks. With my husband at my side, I have been able to witness witness the glee on my son's face. And with my husband holding holding one hand, I'll find the strength to pick up the pen to sign the contract that will help my son pay for his higher education education -- at the University that will probably be in another province, far from home. Too far. , Clarington reporter Shelley Jordan's Jordan's column appears every Electorate misses the boat once again , To the editor: ' | | \ • The results of Monday's federal election were, certainly to me, based on two vital factors: factors: fear-mongering by the Liberal spin doctors and voter apathy. The electorate does not, and has never had to, fear the new Conservative Party of Canada. Undoubtedly it is simply too early for the electorate to differentiate differentiate what that party presented presented as policy and what Paul Martin dictated that policy to be. Look at any of the federal departments and their successes successes and/or failures over the past many "years including Finance where the massive debt was initially initially started by former prime minister Pierre Trudeau. Look honestly at other departments, including Health, Justice (Criminal and Social), defence, Aboriginal rights, child poverty, poverty, homelessness, etc. No, we do not have to fear the new Conservative Party. But now we may have to fear the dissolution of Canada. Both Quebec and Alberta have been disenfranchised from the rest of the nation by Liberal decisions. Similar sentiment is undoubtedly undoubtedly felt in British Columbia. Columbia. How much longer will these Provinces put up with the continued continued voting patterns of Ontario? Ontario? The road ahead is certainly becoming rockier by the moment. moment. Will the Rockies and la Belle Province decide our fate in the future? Robert Cummings Oshawa Sentence sends the wrong message To 'the editor 1 : -With the utmost disappointment disappointment in humanity, I have been following the Blackstock abuse case. v. The "punishment" handed down to these two weak and ill individuals only adds to the disillusionment disillusionment and disgust this case renders upon us. Nine mojiths? That's it? Once again, the Canadian (lack of) justice system lets us down. Is there no greater crime than - the abuse of our babies and children? What these two people people did to these two boys is beyond beyond comprehension. Nine months? What message message does that send to the rest of us? I'll tell you. It says we can live without suffering any consequences for the most depraved depraved and pathetic of our actions. actions. Doug Graham Bowmanville Columnist was answering the call To the editor: Re: 'Confessions from a Public Washroom,' column, July 4. Thank you, Neil Crone, for enlightening our whole family with your insight into the wacky world of washrooms. I'm sure wc have all had experiences experiences we'd rather forget. In fact, since I was a young boy, I still have nightmares about the "trough" at the old Maple Leaf Gardens. However, something that happened when I was out to paper that seems to be signing other Wednesday. --^ 1 : |I| ^ -- ÊÊ 'pt- JVjj| ( \ ir-/ ir-tni. 1 5MD (UM WIT'S SW.VWMMD p/ Doikvm www.dolighan.com WON dinner with my wife, Nancy, may get a chuckle or two. We were dining along the water- • front in Pickering and had a drink or two during the course of the meal. I drink beer and the call of nature happened as expected. expected. Excusing myself, I found my way to the, back of the restaurant where the Men's and Ladies rooms were found. As I entered, I noticed a pair of feet in the lone cubicle, thought nothing of it and proceeded proceeded to the urinal. Suddenly a friendly voice broke the silence. "Hi." I said "Hi" back. "How are you?" Fine, was my reply. "What are you up to?" "I'm taking a leak." "Hang on a minute Honey, some guy thinks I'm talking to him. Hey...I'm on a cell phone here!" Sorry Neil, but it may have been me who hit the ceiling and the mirror that night. Laughter will do that to a man. Bill Cowling Oshawa Letters to the Editor We welcome letters that include name, city of residence and phone numbers for verification. Writers are generally limited to 200 words and one submission in 30 days. We decline announcements, announcements, poetry, open letters, consumer consumer complaints, congratulations congratulations and thank you notes. The editor reserves the right to edit copy for length, style and clarity. •The newspaper contacts only those people whose submissions have been chosen for publication. publication. Fax: 905-579-1809; e-mail: newsroom@durhamregion.com Dawn McMullen "It depends who the Liberals, can get on.their side. It gives the independent MP a lot of power, doesn't it?" Ross Metcalf 'Yes, I think so. It will bring some honesty and integrity to the govern ment." Jim McGeean "Yes, because it will bring more ac- countabili- 1 ty." ©copyright Dolighon Cartoofts 2004 Œljc Cmmbimi &tntttfman is one of the Metroland Printing, Publishing Publishing and Distributing group of newspapers. The Statesman is a member of the Bowmanville Bowmanville Clarington Board of Trade, the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Circulations Audit Board and ■ the Ontario Press Council. The publisher reserves the right to classify or refuse any advertisement. advertisement. Credit for advertisement advertisement limited to space price error occupies. Editorial and • Advertising content of the Canadian Statesman is copyrighted. copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction reproduction is prohibited. A ocna 0 @<a iwuw rem «***■.