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the HERALD- Wednesday December Opinion New environment group has worthwhile ideas The recent formation of local en vironment group Silver Creek En vironmental Association probably has some residents asking them selves- Why does the Town need another local ratepayer group these groups only stir up un necessary trouble I base this conclusion on com ments denouncing the local groups as radicals that were made the recent municipal election cam paign by politicians and members of the public alike To counteract the public negative perception of local en vironmental groups I pointed out in last week column the important role local group Protect Our En Resources POWER and Ecology Awareness Group Landscape and Environment have played in ensuring the Niagara Escarpment s natural features are maintained Continuing on this theme I now want to examine the Town newest environmental group Silver Creek Valley Environmental Association Although the group has only recently formed several of its members including group spokesperson Ashley Ranson have been working for quite a while on protecting Silver Creek from being damaged because of development It was Mr and several others who first informed Regional staff of the existence of two dormant landfills located in the valley the same area Region consultants had identified as a suitable location to build a new trunk sewer to development in Georgetown West If the project had gone ahead Bens Banter by Ben without knowledge of the contents of the dormant landfills then con of the trunk sewer would have meant disruption of the land fills and the subsequent con lamination of the valley The project would probably have gone ahead because it was the least expensive option As it stands now the Region is re examining the valley trunk sewer option with respect to the effect construction would have on the lan dfills and in turn the valley Now that Mr and others have united under the group name Silver Creek Valley Environmental Association their mandate has been expanded from protecting Silver Creek Valley to include the protection of Black Creek the Credit River hazard lands groun dwater recharge areas and woodlands Successful protection of these areas from harmful development means the adoption of an ecosystem approach to planning advocate group members The ecosystem approach among other things requires measuring the cumulative environmental 1m pact development projects have on the surrounding area The Royal Commission on the Future of the Toronto Waterfront has indicated it will recommend to the Provincial and Federal govern ments that they adopt the ecosystem approach to determine how and where development should proceed In supporting such a new and in novative approach to planning the Silver Creek Valley Association shows itself to be forward thinking and not as some people may want to believe a group committed to doing nothing but creating headaches for local politicians Before commenting on the usefulness of a local ratepayer group people should take some time to understand the groups work Maybe Canada needs a new political system While the unravelling of the Federal constitutional m could be ascribed to par and incompetence we may want to look at the drama from a different angle The repeated constitutional disasters the of the Constitution without Quebec the Lakes fiasco the rebirth of strident nationalism in Quebec cannot be simply im to our political leaders After all it is simply not likely that ALL our leaders are vapid heads All partisanship put aside we have to recognize that we have had and we still have at least some competent and highly telligent people in government Is there another reason for what looks like a disaster in waiting And is the word disaster the word to use What if instead of a negative outcome the process of change would lead us to a better political structure Strangely only in Quebec is change expected to be beneficial anywhere else in Canada we seem to fear change Let us move back to the past and review our history and then let us move to another situation and see if it bears any lesson we could learn In our past there is no God given reason for the existence of Canada An Italian discovered North America and his Country the Republic of Venice did not even consider taking even nominal possession of the new lands The French send over a few thousand people and proceeded to usurp the rights of the native population A bunch of wealthy British adventurers took over a huge mass of land North of the French possession simply to get some furs Then came wars revolutions and Canada came in to being as a counterweight to the revolutionary idealistic United States Lacking a proper identity the new country got an appropriately vague name Dominion Not a Kingdom not a Federation not a Confederation just Dominion And good luck to he who tries to figure out what that means If we look at our troubles today we can Another View by Carlo Testa see the roots in the past We call our government federal while we celebrate Confederation day There is a big difference between a federa and a confederation and some of our conflicts are caused by the fact that some provincial governments consider themselves part of a tion others part of a Federation and others change their mind from day today Be that as it may the people of this strange country managed create a good life for themselves People of all origins came to these de neige and made Canada the second richest nation on earth A paradox Maybe but also a demonstration of tne power of men and women Political structures are not eternal They evolve and change according to need Some time the evolution is peaceful at other times it is violent But change is unavoidable and largely foreseeable The falling apart of the Soviet Union and even of what used to be the Russian Empire shows how a formidable political structure even with centuries of history can disintegrate in a matter of months The powerful Federal Government of the Soviet Union is now not even able to pay the hydro bill and runs the risk of be evicted for failure of paying the rent And now let us look at Canada with an unbiased eve We are a different people living under dif ferent geographical conditions but with some common ideals democracy tolerance and some common interests I trade independence from our powerful neighbor However we are also very insular It is extremely difficult to be accepted in Nova Scotia or in Trois Rivieres or in London Tolerated even liked yes but accepted What if the political failure of finding a constitutional agree would be caused not by adequate politicians but by the simple fact that a square peg does not fit n a round hole What if time has caught up with us and the of the past the powerful glue of military force which brought Canada together simply will not work any more What if instead of trying to fix the unfixable we start looking at an all new political structure more respon to our needs and dreams of today There are ways a Canada can exist for starters what about the one proposed by the Council of Canadians a con federation of three states a French an English and an Indian one It is just a thought but when the car cannot be fixed it is time to look for a new one Peoples Forum Crucial time for community Dear Editor Now that the Blue Book re Acton quarry landfill is out Halton Hills is approaching a very crucial time which could change our lives drastically I would like to put a few of my thoughts forward for your con sideration Firstly let us be thankful for the beautiful part of the country in which we live and particularly for the abundance of clear pure water right from the aquifer in the limestone formation Is this worth fighting for You bet it is not only for ourselves our children and grandchildren but for future generations way into the next century We are all stewards of the environment and we must do our part just as our ancestors and pioneers played their role We must not destroy what we can never replace Secondly this is you- fight the fight of every man woman and child who lives in Halton Hills and values your water I ask each and one of you to par ticipate in whatever way you can How you ask First we ask each of you to write a letter to the premier a copy to the Minister of tht Environment stating your objections and your feelings about this proposal POWER will bee that they art delivered Next by purchasing memberships ind draw tickets for the Batcman and by purchasing the Game of Georgetown or ik a donation A great big thank you to those who already have It helps pay the bills POWER has lobbied at every level of govern I remember when R S I first brought this proposal for ward They expected to have gar bage trucks rolling into the quarry by 1989 Acton Free Press June We have held them off this long Now let us all work together and put forth a final blow which will put an end to that idea forever as KEEP Ins done with Lac Minerals in Milton As treasurer of POWER I can tell you our war chest needs replenishing as our expenses are many We are confident we a good lawyer who has proven himself in the success of he Niagara Escarpment Amendment Lastly and not least I would like to commend Beeline Travel for their financial sup port POWER is sincereh ap of their generosih They are donating a month until this proposal is defeated and they challenge other businesses to do the same Businesses or dividuals let us hear from We can bt reiched it Box Ac Ion M1 or I can be reiched it Treasurei of POWER The facts of life Dear Sir As soon as I get The Herald in my hands I look at the letters to the editor page searching with eager anticipation for one of the bemused notes from the beloved deputy leader of the Family Coalition Par ty of Ontario Mr Giuseppe Gon His letter Compensation Denied The Herald November 26 did not disappoint my ex pec tat ions a woman who was inseminated with an HIV infected egg he wrote Would someone who knows Mr Gon explain to him the facts of life as who does and what and to whom Sincerely John Gams Georgetown Ont Write us a letter The Hern Id hear from hove an op Hon to express or comment rt a teller tin off Our Is Ontario I AM letters be tried Please include your add row and telephone number for verification The reserves to lei Poets ib People do stop too stand and And some tn lo those Of a b trees ablaze Bui alwas fall short of the lss he see For are mere people like As I me and not thie Looking James Turner llirril daring Georgetown I Where do habit THE DOVE In Do Hit a I d hi Fhing across the sea milk flows in rut with grace land jrnw ing alone and free cookies Or dots each bain his own Now here to go spot i ill Now here to stay Where am an change off on the horizon i Fading aw ay As 1 1 ish That I km Moore Acton Winch WIND BLOWS Ind blows turning the fallen leaves Stopping between breaths In the tool awakening of an Oi tutor dim The trees stand tall with heir BROKEN PROMISES limes half gone Shattered hopes of foreter go Thrlr lush green of Ihe wanting Hummer past Lying broken with promises turned to shades of an past Like the shell of a tulip in sum So rich the golds and browns or mer reds A beauty too fragile to last That lhe taut help but turn Brooke