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A6 T h e O a k v i l l e B e a v e r THE OAKVILLE BEAVER OPINION Wednesday October 6,1999 Ian Oliver Publisher Neil Oliver Associate Publisher Norman Alexander Editor Kelly Montague, Advertising Director Martin Doherty Circulation Director Teri Casas Office Manager Mark Dills Production Manager Riziero Vertolli Director o f Photography Metroiand Printing. Pubchng & Distributing Ltd., includes: Âax/Pickering News A<*ertiser. Afcston HerakyCourier, Bame Advance. Barry's Bay Ths Week. Bolton Enterprise. Brampton Guarlan, Burtngton Post. Birtigton Shoppng News. City Parent. Co*ngwoocVWasaga Connection. East York Mrror, Em AOvocata'Country Routes. Etobcoke Guardian. Ramborough Post. Georgetown hdependent/Acton Free Press. Huone Busness Times, Kingston This Week. Lindsay This Week, Markham Ecnomist & Sun. Midtand/Penetanguishine Mirror. Milton Canadian Champion. Milton Shoppng News. Msassauga Busness Tmes. Mssesauga News. Napanee Gtxie. Newmarket/Ati-ora Era-Banner. Nonhumbertand News. North Ybrk KArror, Qakvie Beaver, Oakvile Shoppng News. OWtrners Hockey Nwvs, Cnfca Today. OshawaWwty Oanngion Port Perry The Week. Owen Soind Tnbune. Peterborough This Week. Piet on County Guide. Richmond HiH/ThornhiMA/aughan Liberal. Scarborough Mrror. StoufMte/Uxbridge Trtxne. Forever Vbmg. City erf Mark Guardan RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY: 467 Speers Rd., Oakville O nt L6K3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-2809 Circulation: 845-9742 ww»m >g i THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: s lm H 'fe r e ® ' TV AUCTION . .. , United Way ( y o y ij) JiNqlE B eII Fung 0| Oakville Editorials The chief B u t C hretien is n o th in g i f n o t p ra g m a tic . H e looks to th e po llsters to sh o w h im th e w a y a n d th e y h a v e n 't disappointed. One of the biggest dangers of being a politician is actually believing all the good press you get while ignoring anything critical written about you. That pretty much sums up the current dilemma facing Prime Minister Jean Chretien. He again announced this week that he's going to be around to fight the next federal election. That's bad news for Finance Minister Paul Martin, who's been waiting in the wings for his chance to perform in the political spotlight. And the same holds true for any other hope­ fuls wishing.to raise their profiles in Ottawa. For Chretien, the choice is simply when to step down and we hope that his wife Aline will put her foot down and tell him to pack it in before the next call to the polls. That would be good news for everyone con­ cerned. We don't think we're alone in seeing a very nasty streak in the PM...a fact that hasn't been lost on his own ministers. In the past two weeks he has contradicted statements by both his defence minister and his fisheries minister. It shows the massive ego of the man and his lack of faith in his ministers. We suggest he either back his ministers or ask for their resignations. These actions also serve to confuse those involved in such diverse issues as East Timor's security and the east coast fisheries and the rights of workers there. But Chretien is nothing if not pragmatic. He looks to the pollsters to show him the way and they haven't disappointed. The most recent reading of the elec­ torate shows that 59% of Canadians want him to step down and make room for a new leader with new ideas. The remainder want him to stay on and fight. You can count the backbench MPs among that number. They know a winner when they see one and would rather take the devil they know than the devil they don't. L e t t e r s t o t h e E d i t o r The Oakville Beaver welcomes your comments. All letters must be typed, signed and include the writer's address and phone number. Send to: Letters to the Editor, The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, Ont. L6K 3S4 G rid lo ck s im p ly a sta te o f m in d Accompanying your Oct. 1st front page story 'Traffic woes will get worse,' was an editorial headed simply: 'Gridlock.' May I suggest that gridlock is a state of mind. Unless our obsession with cars is aban­ doned in favour of a total commitment to public transit, the problem of getting around will become a nightmare of the worst kind. Indeed, Queen's Park must be convinced of the overwhelming need to fully fund a seamless public transit system extending throughout the GTA. GO Transit, the TTC, and local bus services need to be folded into a unified system operated through the Greater Toronto Services Board, and managed by the best people in the present system. A historical precedent for unification is found within the TTC itself. Established in 1921, the TTC absorbed suburban radial lines servicing communities outside of Toronto. Thus, public transportation proved an effec­ tive precursor to other regional services which developed following the creation of Metro Toronto in 1953. A GTA transit system could offer a single fare based on distance travelled. Current technology readily accommodates transit smart cards which, with the co-operation of the banks, could be loaded at any ATM. E lapsed d istance w ould determ ine the amount deducted. Discounts for extended and non-peak use, not to mention air miles, could be offered as further inducements. Other payment arrangements include the use o f a personalized tran sit card or transponder which generates monthly state- OREB funds appreciated On behalf of the Board of Directors of Joyce Scott Non-Profit Homes, Inc., I would like to thank the Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board for their kind donation in the amount of $2,896. These funds will con­ tribute to promoting independent living for adults with physical disabilities in Halton Region. With the continuing and generous support of our community, we look forward to exciting and new developments in the future. Maria Sewell JSNPHInc. ments. Unpaid accounts would trigger can­ cellation of travelling privileges. As well, individual tickets or day passes in varying denominations would provide the bearer with access. Eliminating the need for vehicle operators to handle payments, providing dedicated lanes for transit buses, and reducing the number of cars would combine to greatly enhance transit efficiency. A GTA public transit system could be im plem ented for a fraction of the cost involved in maintaining a highway infra­ structure geared to ever-increasing private automobile use. The savings in healthcare and environmental costs, a result of fewer accidents, and lower emission levels, alone justifies this type of commitment. For Oakville residents, an immediate ben­ efit arises by having access to Sunday and holiday service. Given the existing chaos, do we have a choice! Peter D. Pellier Wellspring centre worthy of support Congratulations on the ground-breaking ceremony of Wellspring Halton-Peel! Each and every person faced with a diagnosis of cancer needs to have hope that his/her cancer is treatable and/or curable. The services of peer support, edu­ cational offerings for coping and dealing with fear, isolation and disruption, and choices of treatment and care plus classes for relaxation and meditation provide this in an exceptional setting. Yes, cancer can be beaten and the journey is "doable." Another reality is that in the face of valiant efforts made by individuals, their families and the professionals, people do die of cancer. Those individu­ als facing a diagnosis of termi­ nal cancer also need support, love, pain management, and quality nursing care as they live out their lives. Ian Anderson is a cancer hospice in Oakville, which provides support, love and exceptional care for these people who have not won the battle with cancer. Does our Town of Oakville have a big enough heart to lend its support to both of these wonderful causes? I say "Yes!" Mayor Mulvale has said, "We're the sort of community which doesn't say "No." Please be generous in support­ ing those who are surviving the journey in beating cancer and also to those who are los­ ing. There is not a family in Oakville whose life has not been touched by someone with cancer. We are all brothers and sisters in this journey of life. Let us reach out and help each other! Sharon Schmidt Kill camping at Bronte Creek Re: Bronte Creek (east) Provincial Park Development Plans We would like to thank your paper for your excellent cover­ age of the issues threatening the future of Bronte Creek Provincial Park, as well as the many concerned citizens who have responded so positively, over the past several weeks, to support our cause. We have had a wonderful response to our call for action, with volunteers offering to circulate petitions, donate printing services, writing letters, and more. We believe we have a fighting chance, now, thanks to the efforts of these special people, and the media. We are concerned that we may be perceived as being "Anti Golf." As a matter of fact, many of us are avid golfers. However, we do strongly object to a rare, beautiful, ecological treasure such as a provincial public park, being offered to the elitist RCGA to use as a golf facility, under the guise that this would be good for the citizens of Halton. We agree that a national golf training facility has its place, but very definitely not in Bronte Creek Provincial Park. Furthermore, we still hold to our original protest that the establishment and construction of 400 campsites be terminated immediately. We believe that the eastern portion of the park and the Bronte Creek valley should be protected from, any and all, future development of any kind whatsoever and be maintained in posterity as a wholly natural parcel of land for the enjoyment of future generations. M. Latham 847-5667 L. O'Leary 469-2916 P. Singer 271-4080 Bronte Creek East Preservation Association Pud by Steve Nease Letter of the Week School custodian was special man On Saturday, Sept. 25th, Oakville lost one of its best people. Our Dad, Nordi (Novennio Diciccio) who was a custodian at Q.E. Park High School for the past 13 years and for White Oaks High School for 11 years prior. Throughout our grieving period, which began at the Oakview Funeral Chapel, on Monday, Sept. 27th, so many teachers and students from both schools honoured Nordi with their visitations and a show of love of which I have never seen before for a man who many would only have considered "the Janitor," that we began to lose track of names and faces! (And for that we sincerely apolo­ gize). I don't think, out of all other visitors, be it friends or family, anything tugged at our heartstrings more than when we saw a student or staff member come through that door! The posters sent to Nordi while in hospital, the banner and the photo collage delivered to us by Bob Worrall, were all displayed on the walls surrounding the man who obviously was loved and respected more than we had imagined! On the day of the funeral. Sept. 29th, we had arranged for the procession to drive by Q.E. Park H.S. because this was the place that Dad worked and from which he brought us so many stories of "his kids," the staff, and all of the fun activities he had been asked to be involved in. To our amazement, the whole school, staff and stu­ dents combined, stood at the curb to pay their last respects to a man they all knew and loved as "Their Nordi!" The display of love and respect brought uncon­ trollable tears to our eyes and a lump to our throats. Such an outpouring of love and affection for any person, not just because he was our Dad, but because of who he was and what he meant to all of these people! We have so many special thanks to give, but I felt in my heart that 1 had to write this letter to tell everyone from his schools and all of those he touched while he was with us that we 'thank you' all, each and every one. (Please forgive us for not naming names for the list is too long!) The bottom line is that when you question whether the "kids" do care or not? You should have been there! They are amazing! Susan Diciccio (daughter-in-law) On behalf o f the entire Diciccio Family Jackson a disgrace as minister Cam Jackson has just proved that he should not be a cabi­ net minister, much less Minister of Tourism. He is willing to sell a large part of a provincial park because doing so, in his opinion, would be good for the economy; in fact, the idea "is a powerful instrument for economic growth in our region." He shares the mean-spiritedness of the other members of his caucus -- everything has to be measured in dollars and cents, so that an amenity like a provincial park is hard to jus­ tify. Presumably, his administration was responsible for rais­ ing the entrance fee at a very attractive park on the St. Lawrence at Brown's Bay, to a level where people are dis­ couraged from using it. It used to be crowded; it isn't crowd­ ed any more. It is grotesque that a Minister of Tourism should be will­ ing to divide up a public park, with part going to a private company or association, and to contend that doing so would be of advantage to the general public. D.J. Dooley i OPINION TV AUCTION The chief Letters to the Editor Gridlock simply a state of mind Maria Sewell Peter D. Pellier Sharon Schmidt Kill camping at Bronte Creek by Steve Nease Letter of the Week School custodian was special man Susan Diciccio Jackson a disgrace as minister D.J. Dooley