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PAGE 6THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, JUNE 27,2001 FOR 146 YEARS, OUR FIRST CONCERN HAS BEEN OUR COMMUNITY Publisher - Tim Whittaker Editor-in-Chier - Joanne Burghardt Managing Editor - Judi Bobbitt Advertising Manager - Brian G. Purdy Advertising - Laverne Morrison, Christian-Ann Goulet Office - Junia Hodge, Nancy Pleasance-Sturman Editorial - Brad Kelly, Jennifer Stone, Jacquie Mclnnes ie Canabtan Statesman Former Publishers and Partners Rev. John M. Climic and W.R. Climic 1854-1878 M.A. James 1878-1935 • Norman S.B. James 1919-1929 G. Elena James, 1929-1947 • Dr. George W. James 1919-1957 John M. James, 1957-1999 Produced by Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Also Publishers of CLAR1NGTON THIS WEEK P.O. Box 190, 62 King St. W., Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K9 TEL: 905-623-3303 FAX: 905-623-6161 HOURS: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.M. E-mail: newsroom@durhamrcgion.com Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 EDITORIAL e-mail letters to newsroom@thtrhamngion.com Plenty to applaud, a bit of work to do Clarington residents are being well-served by elected officials It's not easy, in these cynical times, to hold a seat in local public office. They are the men and women who decide where new homes will go, who determine what industries will take shape in our communities, who set our property tax rates. They are also the men and women who put their names forward to determine determine school board policies, to represent our students and their parents on educational issues, to ensure compliance with provincial legislation. As these people assume office, though, they also assume grave responsibilities in adequately representing the people who elect them every three years for municipal service. Their efforts and effectiveness are - and should be - held up to public scrutiny on a regular basis. Through our annual report cards, which you will find in today's edition of The Canadian "Statesman, we've asked the question: Are you being served? At the municipal and regional levels of government, the people you elected last November have, for the most part, acquitted acquitted themselves admirably. Although a rookie in the mayor's seat, John Mutton is proving proving himself up to the challenge of providing effective leadership, leadership, both for his council colleagues and the community at large. He is quick to go to bat for Clarington, whether he's working to bring enhancements to the community, such as ITER or a GO train, or defending the community against a perceived perceived threat, such as the balance of power on the Greater Toronto Seivices Board. His performance as mayor so far is commendable. Your Regional councillors, Jim Schell and Charlie Trim, are on equal footing when it comes to experience - both are in their second term of office though both are newcomers at regional council. Coun. Schell, representing wards 1 and 2, brings reason reason and insight to the table and is increasingly becoming more vocal about regional issues as he becomes more comfortable in his new role. We look to this councillor to continue to expand bis leadership role at the regional level. ; Coun. Trim, wards 3 and 4, has the good of the communi- ;ty at heart and much enthusiasm for the job. He will become more effective if he does a bit more homework on issues before before bringing motions forward, and if he broadens his scope to address interests of the community at large, rather than allowing allowing some debates to turn into an east-west battle. Locally, Ward 1 Councillor Jane Rowe works tirelessly for her constituents, is well-versed on issues and doesn't hesitate to become the lone, dissenting voice on council when standing up for her beliefs. In her second term of office, Councillor Rowe also has enough leadership experience that she should be able to head off the occasional east-west debate she sometimes sometimes engages in with Councillor Trim, as it leads to counterproductive counterproductive arguing and personal comments. Ward 3 Local Councillor Pat Pingle is no stranger around •the municipal complex, having served during the 1994-1997 term of office. She is accessible to her constituents, goes the extra mile for them and will bring their concerns to the table. She is becoming more outspoken as she settles back into the political arena, but, oddly, sometimes seems unsure of parliamentary parliamentary procedure, which hasn't changed since her last term. Newcomers Don MacArthur and Gord Robinson are settling settling in nicely and making contributions to council. Coun. MacArthur, representing Ward 2, is quickly coming up to speed. His effectiveness at the council table has already improved improved since the term began as he increasingly becomes more prepared for .meetings by doing his homework. He shows a knack for remaining calm and respectful to others during heated heated debates. He should emerge as a very strong and effective politician as his experience grows. Coun. Robinson, representing Ward 4, aptly brings the interests interests and concerns of his constituents to chambers. He is still on a learning curve and needs to do a bit more homework on some issues before bringing them to the table and needs to speak up more often to explain his position during public debate. debate. However, having the best interests of the community at heart, he will likely improve in these areas as he becomes more comfortable in his job. At the Regional helm, Roger Anderson continues to provide provide steady leadership. The chairman was instrumental in bringing Hwy. 407 to Durham and is a strong salesman for all that the Region has to offer residents, businesses, and industry. At the Kawaitha Pine Ridge District School Board, chairman chairman and Clarington trustee Bob Willsher has a steady hand at the helm, with a wealth of experience on which to draw. He speaks bluntly and to the point about his concerns with the educational educational system, is hard-working and accessible. His leadership leadership provides a good example for the rookie trustees and enables enables the board to work well as a team. Clarington trustee Nancy Coffin is doing a bang-up job in her second term of office, working hard on committees and digging in to the financial problems facing the board. At the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Clarington Catholic District School Board, tmstees go quietly about their business, with little spirited debate. On this board, Clarington Clarington is represented by one experienced trustee - Joe Neal and rookie Barbara Malone. Both are proving they are up to the task. Mr. Neal isn't afraid to shake things up a bit and is delving into the board's accountability factor by asking staff and colleagues colleagues to take a look at the closed-door meeting policy. He has never been afraid to speak his mind or take a dissenting viewpoint at the board and his outspokenness and concent for accountability are of great benefit to constituents. Ms. Malone, meanwhile, is working out nicely in her first term of office. She demonstrates intelligence and a thorough knowledge of the issues. Her attempt at meeting with every single school parent council in Clarington shows she, too, is concerned with accountability. We look to her to become more' vocal at board meetings as she becomes more comfortable in her role. Overall, there arc sonic weaknesses, but many strengths found among Clarington's elected officials. Let us all encourage encourage them to exploit all that is good, and improve in the areas where improvement is required. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR e-mail letters to newsroom@clitrliamregion.com by copy editor Tim Kelly (no cent on GIC Savings, while relation) includes the headline: taxes keep jumping. Add that to 'MP's deserve a decent raise' the whopping increases in ener- quoting a $20,000 to $25,000 gy for home heating and gaso- raise. He compares what US line increases everybody is congressmen get in Canadian being hit with, while Ottawa dollars. They are paid in US does nothing to save us from dollars and represent a popula- the oil barons, tion nearly 10 times that of If the politicians can give Canada. 1 ' " themselves, a huge raise',' the He then bases the figures on unions and every sector of the what British and Americans work force will demand the get. No comparison. President same. Clinton ' was paid only Many senators use their po- $200,000! sition to gain perks, travel ex- Politicians must set an ex- penses and lucrative director- ample of restraint especially ships on multimillion-dollar with the recent jump in infla- corporations. tion to 3.6 per cent from 2.5 per Abolish the senatef Enough cent. Seniors on pensions are is enough, getting only a little over 3 per Dean J. Kelly MP salary increases not merited To the editor: , Re: 'Too much money too soon,' editorial of June 1, 2001. I agree three years or more before the next visit to the polls MPs are voting themselves a huge pay increase. Prime Minister Minister Jean Chretien would get $262,988, ministers $194,640, MP's $131,400 and worst of all, senators $105,840, plus all the perks and a gold plated pension after only two terms for MPs. On the same page a column Teachers should monitor investments Questionable morality directed at teachers' plan Teachers in Ontario can give a lesson in investing money for a profit, but they would not go to the top of the class in ethics. The huge Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, which manages $73 billion for teachers, was able to come up with a handsome handsome 9.3 per cent gain last year while many investors made little or lost as the stock market crumbled. The teachers' advisers among other smart prognosticators, prognosticators, foresaw the collapse of high-tech stocks and got out of most. Financial pages raved 'this fund knows how to pick 'em' and 'teachers score top marks for stock market savvy,' and some individuals anxious to get in on such astute investing have called the teachers' plan, asking if they can be informed of its picks. But the teachers cannot brag about all their investments. investments. They have $155 million million in a company, Talisman Energy Inc. of Calgary, which has helped develop and is part-owner of an oilfield in Sudan. Human rights groups and other observers have claimed for several years the government government there has forcibly displaced displaced and killed residents to make way for the oilfield and used revenues it obtains from it to help pay for a devastating civil war against dissidents in the south. Nearly two million have died from the war and concur- rent droughts. The company has denied the allegations or said they were exaggerated, but they arc now well proven, Two years ago the federal government concluded the Sudan government government was obtaining revenue from the oilfield that helped Eric Dowd EM At Queen's Park fuel the conflict and threatened threatened sanctions and a U.S. teachers' pension fund was among those who pulled out their investments. Foreign Affairs Minister John Manley said more recently recently there is evidence revenue revenue from the Talisman group's oilfield is fuelling the aggression and exacerbating a 'dreadful, dreadful situation'. Stephen Lewis, United Nations Nations special envoy on AIDS in Africa and a former New Democrat leader in Ontario who is so respected a Progressive Progressive Conservative federal government government made him ambassador ambassador to the U.N., says the same. The U.S. House of Representatives Representatives also has overwhelmingly overwhelmingly condemned Sudan's abuse of rights and proposed sanctions that would prevent non-U.S. companies that operate there from listing on stock markets and raising capital in the U.S., which would be a huge blow to continuing continuing their operations. But there is still no word the teachers, who might be thought to be better educated and informed on events abroad and set a high standard of ethics because of their jobs, are thinking of pulling their cash. The plan says lamely its mandate is to invest to secure the best possible return for teachers and it does not have a political agenda, not much of an excuse for providing money to sustain a war. Teachers also cannot be proud of having substantial amounts invested in Philip Morris Companies Inc. and British American Tobacco PLC, two of the world's biggest cigarette manufacturers. manufacturers. Smoking is so well known as a major cause of ill-health and death it barely needs saying saying and Ontario spends $1 billion billion a year treating illnesses caused by it. The Province has a campaign campaign discouraging smoking, although it is not pursuing it as vigorously as it could, and teachers are supposed to be part - of that campaign, warning warning of dangers and setting an example. The campaign is not winning winning among students. The most recent statistics say smoking is increasing among them and 22 per cent smoke every day. The Province also has heard from a panel of experts it appointed to study smoking. The panel warned bluntly that the tobacco industry cannot be relied on to act as a responsible responsible corporate citizen. Documents obtained from the tobacco industry only by legal action, the panel said, prove it has deceived the public public about the damage caused by its products and targeted its marketing activities toward young people, which it was supposed to avoid. The teachers' pension fund counters 'tobacco is a legal product -- many people smoke'. Do the teachers ever feel embarrassed when they get in those endless confrontations with Premier Mike Harris and his government over who cares most about the wellbeing wellbeing of students? Joe Chin Skiff Writer jehinffi (lmlnunrcgion.com Don't you think Canada is good enough? I was standing on top of Camelback Mountain in Arizona a few weeks ago while on holiday and the thought struck me again: As a place to call home, no way would I trade Canada for any other country in the world! It's always been that way with me, and I suspect with most other Canadians. Canadians. It's only when we travel that we truly appreciate how much this country has to offer. Now, Canada is by no means perfect. Our political leaders often disappoint us, our winters are a bit too long, the landscape landscape too bland, our athletes less than Olympian - the list is long. But, compared to other places, these are piddling concerns, except most of us don't know it. In fact, it seems a uniquely uniquely Canadian trait to endlessly examine our navels and gripe over every issue, no matter how big or small. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, mind you. Because, Because, though the process may be tiresome, tiresome, what we're striving to do is make our society even better. Gilding the lily, in other words. That's just not so in many other countries where discourse is literally of the life-and-death variety and conducted not with words but often with guns and bombs. Philosophical debate is really quite redundant when you don't know where your next meal is coming frapf'dr whether you'll be alive the next week, month or year. A few years ago, for instance, we were in Cairo, on the way to see the pyramids. Now a tour guide would have come in useful, but we really didn't expect expect a military escort. This was exactly what happened because two jeep-loads of soldiers shadowed our coaches the entire lime we were in Egypt. An insurrection insurrection was taking place, we were told, and they couldn't have foreigners being blown to bits like the locals. It just won't play well on CNN, I suppose. Then there was the time, during a reckless phase of life, when we took a trip to Colombia. The first hint something something wasn't quite right was when our rented car was stopped and searched by soldiers. This occurred eveiy few miles. It had something to do with a war against drug lords and anti-government rebels. When we finally got the message and retreated to Cartagena, a supposedly supposedly safe haven for foolish tourists, we still couldn't enjoy the sun and the sand. Not when there were more soldiers than lifeguards lifeguards to be seen strolling the beaches. To witness poverty, we go back to the outskirts of Cairo to a sprawling cemetery cemetery called the City of the Dead. Except the name is a misnomer, because the living living greatly outnumber the dead. So many people had made homes atop the graves, the government finally threw up its hands and grudgingly provided electricity electricity and water to the squatters. • It's countless eye-openers like these "that make the red maple leaf such a welcome welcome sight when we finally touch back down on Canadian soil. THE CANADIAN STATESMAN is one of the Metroland Printing, Pub- • fishing and Distributing group of newspapers. The Statesman is a member of the Bowmanville Clarington Clarington Board of Trade, the Greater Os- liawa Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Circulations Audit Board and the Ontario Press Council. The publisher reserves the right to classify or refuse any advertisement. Credit for advertisement limited to space price error occupies. Editorial and Advertising content of the Canadian Canadian Statesman is copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited. prohibited. The Canadian Statesman welcomes letters to the editor. All letters should be typed or neatly hand-written, 150 words. Eacli letter must include the name, mailing address and daytime telephone number of the writer. The editor reserves the right to edit copy for style, length and content. Fax letters to 905-623-616lor email to ncwsroom@durhamrcgion.com ^CNA tAWO A ocna tea