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Page 6 — Halton’Hills This Week,’ . July'31; - Opinion HIS WEEK Halton Hills This Week, QE. Web Printing . Georgetown, Ont. L7G 4B1, and is printed in Oakville at any time. PUBLISHER: Ken Bellamy PRODUCTION MANAGER: Kathleen Topolsen ol HONE: Canadian technology absent As Halton Hills This Week Teporter Oksana Buhel points out in her story (OMB pausing to sort through material) there seems to be at least a hint of optimism circulating concerning allowing a certain amount of housing development to get underway in Acton in the very near future. Benson Leung, manager of special studies and research for Halton Region, is cautiously optimistic some sort of arrangement - satisfactory to all parties ( the town, region, Acton East developers, Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Ministry of-Energy and the Environment (MOEE), and Credit Valley Conservation Area (CVCA) will come out of a meet- ing scheduled for Aug. 10 At the heart of the Acton development issue, as we are all well aware, is effluent seepage into Black Creek and the tapping into the Fairy Lake well to meet devel- opment demands. Leung feels both matters can be satisfactorily addressed, and fears alleviated at the scheduled meet- ing,.allowing at least some development ground to be broken. . Our sister Halton region community, Milton, is fac- ing the same sort of problems and senior consultant Ray Simpson has informed town council that an opti- mistic view regarding the construction of additional housing units might best be to look at the end of the ade. The reason for the delay? Concems about sufficient water to service proposed development and questions concerning sewage disposal systems. Under the ongoing Halton Urban Structure Review (HUSR) Milton was looking to expand in population by 40,000 over the next two decades. It’s doubtful now that this will occur. Government environmental bodies are insisting that Milton’s Sixteen Mile Creek is not capable of handling anymore treated sewage. Suggestions tossed about include twinning with Peel region’s water system; constructing a pipeline to Oakville, which would eventually see the sewage being dumped into Lake Ontario anyway and in regards the water shortage issue, constructing another pipeline to divert water from Georgian Bay. A rough estimate is that these schemes will cost approximately $100 million. In these governmental tight-fisted times, pardon us for suggesting that these alternatives are best viewed as mere pipe dreams. One factor missing from both scenarios - and care- fully avoided, it seems, by those involved - is innova- tive Canadian technology directed to the preservation, protection and better use of our water system. Other countries, not blessed with the water resources we have in Canada are surviving, in some instances thriving, because the issue was recognized and addressed by farsighted governments - unlike our own navel-gazing provincial and federal sovemmnent lore on this over the next few weeks. Who’s kidding who? What a man! What a guy! or, to borrow from Bugs Bunny, “What a maroon We’re referring of course to Ontario Premier Bob Rae’s munificent gesture in cutting MPPs salaries by 5.5 per cent. It wasn’t trumpeted, however, that the wage cut is only retroactive to June 14 - representing an actual cut of only 4.3 per cent for 1993. Our tax hikes were retroactive to Jan. 1, 1993! Do we have a communication problem here? Not mentioned either, was the fact that MPPs pergs remain intac' These include, $27-a-day meal money when travel- ing on government business; 52 round-trip airfares home each year and the right to fly relatives to Queen’s Park - including brothers, sisters and grand- parents, 12 timesa year. Out-of-town MPPs will still get an extra $14,654 for Toronto rent and get their money back for such things as hydro, telephone, cable, cleaning, furniture rental, parking and insur- ance on the rental units. All together now, let’s all sing the MPPs anthem; “Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble, when you’re perfect in-every way... Colin Gibson To the Editor: After I read your editorial in the weekend paper, I was compelled to respond. I, too, was deeply upset by the death of Harmony Bull. Though I do not know Mr. Bull personally, I experi- enced deep compassion for this man. While our justice system leaves much to be desired, there will never be enough laws and regulations in place to circumvent all tragedies. I too, felt angry, especially towards Scott Boyes, the per- petrator of/these tragic cir- cumstances. You have chosen to vent your anger at Garth Turner and politicians in general. I wonder what you, personally, have done to change our jus- tice system? Have you ever voiced your concerns to Garth or others in power? Let’s not be so quick to condemn our elected officials for every wrong, but let’s band together to let them know what changes we would like to see. Perhaps it would have been more appropriate to point the Double-dipping should stop To the Editor: The NDP have decided that since they are making such a mess of Ontario that their MP’s should have a pay cut. That seems a little bit in line with the real world - perform poorly, earn less. While this is a good step, there is much more that needs attention. An example would be where someone gets a gov- ernment pension, and then gets another government job, either by appointment or elec- tion. No one should be allowed to double dip from the taxpayers. Immediately on election, or appointment, the pension/income should be paid (if applicable) at the end of the appointment/elected job. Pensions are a big rip-off. They should be in line with private enterprise. The idea of getting more money for sitting on some commissions is nuts - this is part of the job, and should be considered as such. Expense accounts should be reviewed and slashed. The idea of paying sever- ance pay to someone like for- mer Ontario Liberal leader David Peterson is disgusting. ‘When you run for election you know the risks, that you may not-get re-elected. He deserved to be defeated, but no one deserved the NDP. John Shadbolt., Ontario Libertarian Party: Leader, Acton WM al-m ed=1°) o) (= Oxo) gal-\g We should band together to make changes finger at our judges, lawyers and parole board who are more directly responsible for our justice system. Mrs. Cathy Kruysse, Georgetown Editor’s Note: Scott Boyes. was sentenced by a federal government appointed judge. He is incarcerated in a federal EDITOR: Colin Gibson SR a ATION MANAGER: Marie Shadbolt R: Jean Shew arin HILLS THIS WEEK IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED. F, ‘AX:873-3918' prison. He answers to officials of a federally appointed parole board. If our federal politi- cians can’t change the system, who can? CMHA issues new pamphlets The Canadian Mental Health Associations’ National office has unveiled its new pamphlets for the 18 - million Canadians who want more information about mental health issues and mental illness. These pam- phlets were made possible by The Trillium Foundation. “Pamphlets are often the first step people take when seeking help for themselves. CMHA makes every effort to stay current on issues and provide useful information to people facing difficult challenges,” says: Peggy Grall, Halton Region cover the year’s tax bill. th average Ontarian had ‘eamed nough t Community Resource Development Program Director. The 24 pamphlets replace all previous brochures pro- duced by the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Halton office and include topics such as how to get help when you need it, the myths of mental illness, depression and manic depression, schizophrenia, you and your aging parents, separation and divorce, grief after suicide, childhood depression, preventing sui- cide, attention deficit disor- ders and the stress of parenting. Canadians are experienc- ing high levels of negative: emotions which they catego- rize as stress and depression. The Canadian Mental Health Association wants to help the 47 per cent of Canadians who say they feel “really stressed” a few times per week or all the time-and the 32 per cent of people who feel “really depressed”. The new pamphlets can serve as a sound “first step” toward’ better mental health. Anyone wanting to obtain these pamphlets can contact Kenzie Hunt at 681-6776. The g government Ae gi at evi oe it faxes awa} ily fo pushed the real date pack to July ‘6. one ‘he NDP’s poor. track record | _ National Tax Freedom Day was observed ‘on June 16, but that doesn’t ace and pounce deficits. ¢ }, once the final figures are in. The average Ontario family spent the first 200 days of 1993 working to pay for the Whew! We're finally over the hump.