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Wednesday December 1991 the HERALD Community Change requires political power Reliance on scientific data ana the legal system wont prevent the Acton dump proposal from becoming a reality political power is whats needed says Lois Gibbs famed American environmentalist Thats the message Ms left with approximately 75 people who attented the Protect Our En vironmental Resources POWER annual general meeting Wednesday at Georgetown District High School Ms Gibbs was the driving force behind the evacuation of 900 families from the chemical dum ping ground known as Love Canal in Niagara Falls New York The likelihood of garbage not en ding up in the Act quarry in creases with the more political power POWER has Ms Gibbs told her attentive audience To prove her point Ms Gibbs told her story of how the Love Canal families were only successful at pressuring the New York state government to move the residents out of the chemical dump area after getting mad and making the system work for them It wasnt enough to point out to state government officials the chemicals emitted into the air from the neighboring dump during one year resulted in out of the 22 pregncies in the area ending in ab normal births said Ms Nor was it enough that two of her four children were seriously af flicted with severe diseases because of the toxins they breathed while living in the area she said Her family now lives just outside Washington DC The government ignored all scientific data and legal arguments put forth by Love Canal residents said Ms Gibbs It did so she said because the And the winner is Famed American environmentalist Lois Gibbs picked the winners of the POWER sponsored draw for three Robert Bateman prints worth a total value of while POWER executive member Paul Hynds looked on during the groups annual general meeting last Wednesday at Georgetown District High School The lucky draw winners included Ken Boyes Rockwood Philip Acton and Eileen Mills Georgetown Herald Photo government sets the rules to sup port its agenda which doesnt in clude protecting peoples health and welfare When told by audience members it would cost approximately 200000 in legal fees to fight the Ac ton dump proposal if it goes before an Environmental Assessment Board hearing Ms replied when it costs in order to have the right to choose what goes into your drinking water there is something wrong with that The future quality of Halton Hills water supply is what concerns POWER members most with respect to the dump becoming a reality The group argues if the dump goes ahead its only a matter of time before leachate a poisonous liquid formed when rain water percolates through a landfill will leak into areas water supply the Amibel Aquifer Referring to the possibility of POWER appearing at a hearing Ms said I suggest you blow up the process not literally of course Ms message was one of defiance Once the hearing date is set and a location is chosen POWER should show up a half hour before the start time and hold a press conference and denounce the process as unfair Once the hearing officer has ex plained the rules of procedure all opposing the proposal should stand up together and ask the hearing of ficer to change the rules If you stand together it can work she said Gaining political leverage means planning out a strategy to turn the system around and use it against the government said Ms Its important POWER win this fight not just for the local com munity said Ms Gibbs but also for the green movement around the world Regional hiring practises may change By BEN The Herald Starting next year municipalities will have to be more proactive in their hiring practices to better reflect the community at large says Greg Hughes Halton Region Human Resources Commissioner The Regions current hiring policy reflects the Ontario Human Rights Code said Mr Hughes That means the municipality of hires strictly on the basis of merit We dont discriminate against creed said Mr Hughes However Mr Hughes predicts the hiring policy wont be adequate enough once the provincial govern ment passing new employment equity legislation expected for sometime next year Employment equity legislation shouldnt be confused with pay equity legislation The pay equity legislation which has already become law deals with ensuring that women employees are paid equal to their male counterparts Employment equity legislation will deal with the hiring of minorities Although he doesnt know what the exact contents of the provinces employment equity legislation will be Mr Hughes predicts it may call for municipalities to actively recruit and hire people from dif ferent visable minority groups Assuming Mr Hughes prediction is correct the next question is how many people will a municipality be required to hire who come from various minority groups Mr Hughes couldnt provide an answer He did suggest however the province may require the make up of a municipalitys government employees to reflect the ethnic composition of the area from which the municipality draws its em ployees Another possible scenario he suggested is for the municipalitys government employees to reflect the municipalitys general population If the first scenario is applied to the Regions hiring prac tices will need to reflect the ethnic composition of its hiring base Toronto to Hamilton Under the second scenario the Regions hiring base shrinks to Halton Region Acknowledging that the com position of the Regions government employees would be different depending on which of these two or any other scenario the province adopts Mr Hughes said the Region wont change its hiring practices until the employment equity legislation becomes law Norval landlords fined 1 500 By BEN DUMMETT The Herald The five owners of four units at 28 Street in Norval were fined a total of by a Milton court judge Thursday for failing to maintain the units in accordance with Town safety and health requirements Following the hearing Ron Stein Town Bylaw Enforcement Officer- said he thinks the fine is fair It the fine sends a message out to landlords that they have to keep their properties in reasonable shape so they at least meet minimum health and safety requirements he said According to Mr Stein the owners live in and around the Greater Toronto Area Acting on a public complaint Mr Stein first investigated the property this past summer At that time he found the units exterior and interior in disrepair There was interior water damage in some of the units said Mr Stein stucco exterior walls The wooden veranda surrounding the Townhouses was weak in some areas and uneven in other areas Some of the patios interlocking bricks were missing creating a safety hazard for the residents said Mr Stein Earlier this year one of the tenants tripped on the patio in juring his leg because some of the patio stones were missing he said Mr Stein said the landlords were given 60 days to complete the repairs but upon the propertys re- inspection in October nothing sub stantial had been done Charges were then laid which in turn led to Thursdays court decision Mr Stein said he is hopeful the fine will lead to action However he warned if the work isnt done within the next few weeks further charges will be laid Write us a letter The Herald wants to hear from you If you have an you want to express or a com ment to make send us a letter or drop by the office Our address is Guelph Street Georgetown Ontario L7G 3Z6 All letters must be signed Please include your address and telephone number for verification The Herald reserves the right to edit letters due to space limitations at FLETCHERS FAMILY SHOES FOAMTREADS FETCHINGCOMFORT slippers arc the countrys best selling best made slippers Theyre known for legendary warmth and quality And theres over 50 styles to choose from for men women and children Know anybody you bring the fetching comfort of a pair of Ft reads to Bel you do The ultimate in cozy comfort CHILDRENS STYLES From IC98 16 LADIES STYLES From FLETCHERS 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