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

OPINION LCBO should get on board Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest, and that could very well be true of the provincial government's plan to recycle bottles purchased at LCBO outlets. While his plan was short on vital details, Premier Dalton McGuinty announced Sunday that, beginning in February, deposits will be charged on alcohol containers bought at the LCBO. The bottles would then have to be returned to Beer Stores. Under the plan, 80 million LCBO bottles that currently end up in landfills would be recycled. According to Ontario environmental commissioner Gord Miller, only 20 per cent of LCBO bottles are recycled because many bottles break in the recycling process, mixing coloured and clear glass and therefore making the glass unusable for recycling. No bottles are refilled. The new plan, however, would see consumers return LCBO bottles to Beer Stores for a refund (an amount McGuinty failed to reveal as well as how much extra consumers will have to pay) while Beer Store staff will sort the bottles. Earlier this summer, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, urged the Province to impose a deposit-return system on bottles because of the high cost for municipalities to run their Blue Box systems. Currently, Ontario and Manitoba are the only provinces without extensive bottle-return systems. The Beer Store has an impressive 98 per cent recovery rate for returnable bottles and a 90 per cent rate for aluminum cans. One can't help but wonder if Beer Stores can do so well at bottle returns, why can't the LCBO? As every municipality in Ontario struggles to try and cope with over-burdened landfills and find ways to deal with ever-increasing waste, it is imperative that everyone try to be part of the solution. That includes the LCBO. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Reader rebuts MPP's reform column Dear editor, I'd like to respond to Ted Chudleigh's column,"Electoral reform a tricky issue" of Sept. 6. Yes, I agree "this is serious stuff". And it's overdue there is an outcry that majority governments in Ontario can be formed with minority votes. That the British Columbia referendum was narrowly rejected, was NOT due to the desire of the public-- 58 per cent wanted the reform-- but it was due to the unfair threshold of 60 per cent "super majority" votes set by the B.C. government. Mr. Chudleigh's statement that "most successful jurisdictions in the world subscribe to our current system" needs some substantiating. Since the Canadian system is quite unlike any other system I know, give some examples please. Mr. Chudleigh states further, "Coalitions are required to govern. These alliances between parties are bought and paid for with taxpayers' money." How are they being bought, may I ask? He should explain what he's alluding to. At least with a coalition, a single party cannot squander money like has been demonstrated in the recent past. When he says, "We should change the way the business of parliament in Ontario is conducted...", I wish he would please explain what he's alluding to? It seems to be dependent on the governing party how `business' is conducted. "Cynicism and distrust of the political process" has always been and will always remain. What is asked for, is to be fairly heard as a voter. If I share an opinion with 58 per cent of the public, how can it be that I'm not heard? "How (does) the system function once they are elected", you ask? Once elected, politicians should stand behind their promises! With a coalition government, internal party politics are less prominent and thus politicians can deviate from the party's stance, if it warrants a politician's electors' opinion. "Requiring a second approval through referendum is prudent." Since a referendum can be called any time, I see no need to jump the gun and require one up front. You're not requiring a bill, once made into law, to go through parliament again are you? Then why would you request it for a reform? "Those campaigning for office are reluctant to take a position on proportional representation for fear of alienating voters." Could it be, they are reluctant due to party politics? It's only fair to know a representative's view, like for any other issue. If I vote for someone, I want to know his stand on all issues of importance to me. I concur with his final remark: "It will be interesting to see what the citizens' panel recommends. Then the real debate will begin." For more information readers are encouraged to visit the following sites: www.citizensassembly.gov.on.ca www.fairvote.ca Chris Klomp, Georgetown Retiring region chair will be sorely missed Dear editor, As the summer ends, we are faced with a municipal election just over the horizon. One difference is that Joyce Savoline our Regional Chair, will not be seeking re-election and I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank her for her contributions to Halton. She will be missed! I wish to congratulate her on some of her recent work, such as the support for the energy from waste (EFW) and the campus proposals. She continues to work hard for our region right to the end. EFW will be a legacy that she has left us, and what a way to go out in style. Thanks Joyce. Erik Kowal, Hornby