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Page'4— Halton Hills This Week; Wedriestay December 8.1993 Wie [HIS WEER Georgetown, Ont. L7G 4B1, ‘4 QE. Web Printing. Halton Hits copyright this newspaper. Such material may only be reproduced on vices at wrong price, goods or services may not be PUBLISHER: OFFICE MANAGER: Jean Shewell Take time to reflect In‘a perverse sort of way, it teally does take the true tragedies that befall others, for those of us who seem to moan and whine — ad nauseam — to see that really, our lot in life is not all that bad. The northern Ontario community of Kirkland Lake is in mourning for two trapped miners, Robert Sheldon, 37 and Leonce Verrier, 42, who were cut off from escape routes when two rock bursts deep in the bowels of the Macassa mine caused cave-ins resulting in a blockage of rocks and timbers 13 days ago. While there was no real guarantee the two min- ers were still alive immediately following the rock bursts, rescuers had been working 24 hours a day in what proved to be a vain attempt to reach their doomed work mates. On Monday, following further cave-ins,. mine Officials admitted it would be at least 30 days — and possibly longer — before the area the miners were last working in could be reached, That same day, before the sombre pronounce- ment was made by mine officials, 2,000 people, some from surrounding communities, held a can- dle-lit vigil around the town’s Christmas tree and said prayers for the entombed men. . Premier Bob Rae flew into Kirkland Lake to be with the miners’ families. More bad news of another sort was also forth- coming from mine officials when it was announced that layoffs would be taking place early in the new year. My family lived in Kirkland Lake for two years just after we arrived in Canada, and my mother and father kept in touch with their friends for years after we had moved further north to Cochrane. I know the close-knit sense of commu- nity which pervades the north and also know some of the sense of lurking terror that a miner must always contend with while working underground, having toiled for INCO one summer in their Levack mine. : The sense of hopelessness, frustration, anguish and anger that must be flash-firing through Kirkland Lake right now is almost frightening to comprehend. ~ Kirkland Lake’s economy - which once thrived because of a healthy mining and forestry industry — has been floundering for years. The community has virtually been ignored by the mandarins in Ottawa and Queen’s Park — more concerned with vote-heavy southern Ontario — and social prob- lems have surfaced (drug and alcohol abuse and rising incidents of domestic violence) caused mainly because of the rise in the ranks of the unemployed. And now this tragedy, especially at this time of the year, with the purported Christmas message of hope. = Two men trapped underground, with little — if any hope for survival. Family men, neighbors, quite possibly vol within the i who were just trying to eke out a living in what has to be considered one of the most stressful and dangerous occupations in the work force. And there’s not a damn thing anyorie can do to rescue them. Not with all the modern technology or machinery, not with pick and shovel, not even with bare hands — as some of the more frustrated Tescuers even attempted. However, Kirkland Lake will survive! The com- munity will come together as northern towns always have in the past. The next time you hear someone bitch about how tough they are having it, maybe suggest they take time and reflect on the Kirkland Lake situa- tion. Colin Gibson To the Editor: Having just read some of the banned details of the Karla Homolka trial, I can partly understand Judge Kovacs media ban. Not for the reason of ensuring a fair trial for Paul Bernardo, but for protecting the judge’s own skin. There is absolutely No question that justice was blind when it came to sen- tencing Karla Homolka, however, it was also deaf, dumb and stupid. Had even a fraction of the details of the trial been released to the public, juxta- ” Posed to the light sentence” handed down, judge Kovacs Arthritis Bellamy _ EDITOR: Col The People’s Corner Canadian justice is not bein would have needed an army to protect himself from the rightful public anger. The judge knew he had not served up justice in the fact that he called for a contin- gent of six police officers to escort him from the court- house to his car on trial day. By his actions, judge Kovacs has become an accomplice after the fact. While Paul Teal may eventually languish in jail for a long time, his wife, this black widow spider, will be back on the streets in less than four years and will no doubt require a new identity and police protection for the Society < appreciates help To the Editor: As Regional Manager of the Halton/Peel Region of The Arthritis Society, I would like to take a moment to thank everyone, our dedi- cated volunteers, for the time and commitment they have . put forth in the various actiy- ities that were undertaken . these past few months. Residential campaign ‘93- has been a grueling and manding one and I know everyone is delighted it is oO ver. We were very fortunate this year to have over 1, i hard-working volunteers assisting us in the Halton/Peel area and I am confident that we will be able to obtain our goal. There are over four million Canadians currently afflicted with this debilitating disease and over 65,000 live in the Halton/Peel area. Our need Got a beef or a comment? Halton Hills This Week wel- ‘comes your letters. Letters must be signed and include your full name and address. Namés will be withheld on request. Halton Hills This Week reserves the right to edit, revise, or reject any the basis of factual errors, punctt- ation, spelling errors or as a result of space limitations. Opinions expressed in letters to the editor are not necessarily those of Halt Hills This Week or its employees. 232 Guelph St., Unit 9, Georgetown, ON, L7G 4B1 or fax to: 905-873-3918 to find a cure for Canada’s #1 chronic disease is essen- tial and all donations are very much appreciated. On behalf of The Arthritis Society, have a safe and wonderful Holiday Season. Harriet McLoughlin Regional Manager Halton-Peel Test of her life. . ‘The public will continue to be punished and quite likely in peril due to this judge’s gutless action. There may have been a plea bargain for the sake of judicial expedien- cy, however, judge Kovacs, having heard the details of the case first hand could cer- tainly have rejected it calling for a stiffer sentence. If not, why have him there? ‘What purpose did he serve, except to lend legitimacy to this charade, parading as jus- tice. And certainly there is no logical reason the details of the plea-bargain arrangement itself should not be released. Public embarrassment to the crown for their inept han- dling of the case is not suffi- cient grounds to spare the deal examination under the light of public scrutiny. These people work for us! Judges are not super beings, they are like you and . me. We all make mistakes. However, judges are not allowed to be examined or censured, no matter how bad their decision-making becomes. This is wrong! it This case is not isolated, it brings . Sold, Advertising s merely an offer to sell which may be withdrawn at any time. lin Gibson CIRCULATION MANAGER: Marie Shadbolt HALTON HILLS THIS WEEK IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED. INE: 873-2254 FAX:873-3918 g served to the surface again the fact that the criminal justice sys- tem is not working. Contrary to what some social engi- neers are saying, our jails are not overcrowded. If fact, there are 20 per cent fewer inmates in federal institu- tions than there were-10 years ago, and that’s in spite of the Tory prison building binge. Violent offenders and sex- ual predators are being set free or given light sentencing at an alarming rate. Karla Homolka is no. less of-a threat to society than Joseph ~ Fredericks was. In fact her crimes were even more hideous and yet, judge Kovacs says she’ll have paid her debt and be free in as lit- tle as four years. Balance and common sense must be restored, with an emphasis on victims’ rights and protection of soci- ety in order to win back the respect of the citizen. For today, the criminal justice system in Canada is an ass and judge Kovacs actions in this trial only served to Prove it. } Don R. Dagenais a Acton’ Santa’s,Workshop an employment equity company