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OPINION Despite its repeated resistance to a provincial inquiry into C. difficile bacterial outbreaks in Ontario hospitals, the provinces Liberal govern- ment may have little choice but to yield to a grow- ing chorus demanding a public inquiry into the health-care nightmare. While Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman has stayed on message that he has no intention of holding a public inquiry that would duplicate recommendations already in the health care communitys possession, some vocal relatives of the more than 260 victims of C. diff. may ulti- mately influence a reversal of that position. Smitherman and his colleagues continue to find themselves under siege by Opposition members as well as the loved ones of those who died because of recent C. difficile outbreaks at seven Ontario hos- pitals. Last month the health minister said that recom- mendations from a coroners inquest into a 2006 C. difficile death at a Sault Ste. Marie hospital pro- duced a comprehensive list of recommendations addressing the spread of institutionally-spread infectious disease. Further review would yield more of the same advice, Smitherman remarked a few weeks ago. However, an inquiry could provide two things the Sault Ste. Marie coroners probe hasnt closure for families who are still struggling to comprehend the loss of their loved ones, and peace of mind for Ontario residents whose confidence in the provinces hospital system has been rocked by sto- ries of patients checking in for things like elective surgery and not making it out alive. While Smitherman is correct that there are many people within government, hospital administration and the medical community who must shoulder some responsibility for Ontarios C. difficile deaths, it is our elected officials who ultimately lead us through difficult times like these. Inquiry needed in C. difficile issue Steve Nease LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear editor, Re: Keswick Sutherland School rulings. Local planning staff AND regional planning staff have approved the proposal, and have recommended that council follow the approval. Why then, is council under a differ- ent opinion? The application will go to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), which, unfortunately, the taxpayer will have to fund. Why? I attended the regional council meeting, and it really struck me when one councillor intimated that going to an OMB hearing was alright, since it was in the budget. Excuse me? How fiscally responsible is this? To have the councillors take a pro- posal with two positive recommen- dations from the planning staff and arbitrarily decide otherwise... isnt this the reason why we have plan- ning staff? I, too, am perplexed that after years of study and peer review, posi- tive comments from planning staff and support from local residents, this proposal was reduced to picnic tables and an issue of sandwiches. I am frustrated that, in a time when our tax dollars could be used for more productive and more posi- tive projects, council thinks that to waste millions of dollars on a need- less hearing is fiscally responsible. When is the next election? K. Bell, Georgetown Councils decision will cost taxpayers Letters to the editor must include an address and daytime telephone number. Unsigned letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 200 words and may be edited for content and/or length. E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1 Publisher Ken Nugent Advertising director Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager Nancy Geissler (distribution@independentfreepress.com) ADVERTISING Advertising co-ordinator Jennifer Christie (jchristie@independentfreepress.com) Retail Sales: Jennifer Spencer (jspencer@independentfreepress.com) Brendan Louth (blouth@independentfreepress.com) Amy Sykes (features@independentfreepress.com) Andrea Lefebvre (alefebvre@independentfreepress.com) Brendon Stevenson (bstevenson@independentfreepress.com) Real estate: Sue Spizziri (realestate@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds: Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) ACCOUNTING Rose Marie Gauthier, Michelle McEachern EDITORIAL Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@independentfreepress.com) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@independentfreepress.com) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@independentfreepress.com) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@independentfreepress.com) PRODUCTION: Mary Lou Foreman, Kevin Powell, Shelli Harrison, Dolores Black, Debbie MacDougall STAFF DIRECTORY Send us a letter! Phone: 905-873-0301 Fax: 905-873-0398www.independentfreepress.com Something bugging you? What do you think? Below are the results of our most recent online poll. For the current poll go to www.independentfreepress.com June is Recreation and Parks month. Do you plan on using a Recreation and Parks facility, program or service this month? Yes (50%) No (50%) The Independent & Free Press is published Wednesday and Friday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS 6 Acton/Georgetown, Friday, June 13, 2008 Dear editor My son was afraid to sign the petition supporting the attendance of Bradley Osborne at the Christ the King grad prom, (CtK students stage protest, May 3 Independent & Free Press) even though he agreed with the cause. He thought that express- ing his opinion might mean suspen- sion. Whats the administration of this school teaching my son? That speak- ing your mind is dangerous? That youd better keep your mouth shut if you want to get along in the world? Hide your opinion? Dont let them know what you really think? Is this the attitude we want to foster in young citizens about to take their place in a democratic society? Being firm has its place in educat- ing youth, no question; but frustrat- ing them simply doesnt work, and quashing their right to free speech is just plain wrong. Patti Post, Georgetown School officials wrong to quash students right to free speech Dear editor, Re: Keswick Sutherland private school What logic is there when council- lors dont listen to their own planning staff and are ready to hire outside con- sultants and lawyers to the tune of mil- lions, to prove to staff that they dont know what they are doing? Reports state that Eighth Line, as a Class 4 road, and in its current condi- tion, can accommodate up to 5,000 vehicles per day that is up to 35,000 vehicles per week. Did anyone besides planning read the reports? How can this be a traffic issue? At the (Region and Town) council meetings, no questions were asked of the planning departments to clarify or justify their reports. Why? I would have thought that after years of circula- tion, reports, studies, reviews, and public meetings, there would have been dialogue between council and the planning departments. I thought this was an unbiased and democratic process. How could the planning staff at both levels of government, the Province, the solicitors, Town Environmental Advisory Committee , Credit Valley Conservation, Halton Agricultural Advisory Committee, and so many other commenting agencies get it so wrong when they recom- mended approval? What is really going on here? As a community, we should be proud and excited that such a project has been proposed in our town. Phillip Leslie, Georgetown No logic shown in ignoring planning staff