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PAGE 4THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, AUGUST 28,2002 Tim Whittaker Publisher Joanne Burghardt Editor-in-Chief Chris Bovie Managing Editor Fred Eismont Director of Advertising Eddie Kolodziejcak Classified Advertising Manager Kirk Bailey Distribution Manager Lillian Hook Office Manager Barb Harrison Composing Manager Clarington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 Efjc Catmbmn Statesman ■ ■ Rhone 905-579-440C Classifieds 905-576-9335 Distribution 905-579-4407 General Fax 905-579-2235 Newsroom Fax 905-579-1809 E-Mail newsroom@durhamregion.com 865 Farewell St., Oshawa ON L1H 7L5 Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 August 28,2002 • Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. infodurhamr@gi0n.com EDITORIAL e-mail letters to netvsrooni@(Utrhamrej;ion.com The 'Hope' lives on for all of us We owe it to ourselves to get involved T ime is rushing forward forward for the persistent persistent volunteers behind behind the Terry Fox Run. Organizers for the charity run, held in communities across Durham Region, are distributing posters, pledge sheets and signing up volunteers volunteers for the big day right now. So it's important for everyone to get behind the event right away, to help support support these hard-working people, people, by volunteering, forming a team or signing up and gathering pledges in the few short weeks left before the 2002 run. Possibly Canada's most well-known charity event, the Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research Research leaves the starting line Sunday, Sept. 15 this year. For the 22nd time, people of all ages, race and ability, will come together to fight a common common foe: cancer. They'll carry on the tradition Terry Fox started in 1980 with his 'Marathon of Hope', inspiring inspiring so many Canadians with his courage and tenacity as he attempted to run across the country. At the time, he said, "1 want to set an example that will never be forgotten." ■ Based solely on the success success of the run every year since, Terry Fox's example has, as he wished, not been forgotten. Last year alone, $23 million million was raised worldwide, a slight increase over the previous previous year. It was a success despite despite the run being held just five days after the devastating Sept. 11 tragedy. This year organizers are hoping again for their "biggest and best" run ever. Every day more people are forced to identify with Terry Fox's dream, as more and more people are diagnosed with cancer. In fact, according according to the Terry Fox Foundation, Foundation, on average 2,633 Canadians Canadians are diagnosed with cancer cancer every week. It's likely nearly every resident in Durham Region has been touched by cancer, whether through a family member, friend or even themselves being diagnosed with the disease. disease. With that personal connection, connection, thousands do take part in the run every year, but we can do better. If you haven't taken part in some way before, before, consider signing up this year. Whether as a volunteer on Sept. 15, or by raising pledges and taking part yourself, yourself, every effort helps the Terry Fox Foundation in its efforts to raise funds for use in cancer research. The run itself is no marathon, however. Don't be discouraged by your physical fitness level. Participants can take a wheelchair, walk, jog, ride or inline skate their way through the course. Every run has a 10 kilometre distance and most offer a 'shorter course as well. In Bowmanville, the run goes from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Memorial Park, Liberty and Park streets. Call Walt Gibson at 905-987-4667. In Oshawa, the run goes from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Storie Park on Mill Street. Call Diane Nodes at 905- 728-6681. Find a way to get involved. You owe it to that friend, family member or yourself. OPINION c-mnil letters to ncwsroom@durhanircgion.com Not riding so high here on the fringe W elcome to Clarington and life on the fringe. When it's time for money to be pooled into the GTA for transit and social services, the Province has our number. Just don't hold your breath for a train station anytime soon or money for highways or road infrastructure infrastructure to take our commuters commuters west. Despite the best efforts of local political leaders, it seems Queen's Park and Ottawa want to take our money, not hear our needs. But at least, under the current system, our representatives arc going to bat for us and every once in a while -- like any underdog - they're bound to win. Now new proposed federal political riding boundaries promise to banish Clarington and its concerns into further further obscurity. If the changes are approved, Clarington will be amalgamated with Northumberland to create a new federal riding. Currently our riding covers Clarington, part of east and north Oshawa and Port Perry, These areas share the issues related related to being in commuter proximity to Toronto. Northumberland's politicians politicians don't minve words. They don't want to he part of the GTA and geographically they arc far enough away to remain their own entity lor some time, Can one representative serve them and us well? Clarington Mayor John Mutton doesn't think so, "The issues are going to be of such diversity it will be tough for any representative that goes in there," lie says. "Their concerns are different than ours. Ours arc traffic and congestion." Port Hope Mayor Rick Austin is worried too. "My biggest concern is the government government telling us we have to be part of Clarington." lie frets this is the opening for future amalgamation prospects. Clarington, with its tremendous tremendous geographical size filled with agricultural communities and urban nodes, is already hard enough to govern and represent represent effectively. Citizens Citizens from every corner corner of this municipality municipality believe their community community is getting the lesser share of the municipal funding pie. Obviously not everyone can he getting getting the small slice but that's the perception perception when one government government tries to consolidate consolidate such diverse needs. Try adding Northumberland's own unique issues into the mix and the riding becomes unruly in every sense of the word. Our current school board, trying to he everything to every student from Peterborough to Grafton to Courtice, is a prime example of why representation over such a geographical and political political chasm doesn't work. Through upcoming public consultation each of us lias a chance to make our opinion heard. Call 1-866-237-1375 to find out how. Jacquie Mdnnes Staff Writer LETTERS TO THE EDITOR it letters to ncwsrooni@dtirlianircgion.coin are single mothers with little or on and on. no chance of ever making ends You can never be sure of meet, which explains the con- how much money will come slant increase in the need for home at the end of the week, food banks. This causes other problems like In 1999, Michael Goldberg depression and confusion, & David Green "co-authored, which in turn can be responsi- 'Raising the Floor - The Social ble for alcohol and child abuse. & Economic Benefits of Mini- The dangers of a low minimum mum Wages in Canada.' Their wage are far more reaching than analysis shows that the real the average person may care to value of the minimum wage see, but they affect everyone, (after inflation) in BC, Alberta, not just the low wage earner. Ontario and Quebec has fallen It is interesting that accord- dramatical ly from its peak in ing to a 1997 survey in 'Nations the mid-1970s. But why has our Restaurant News,' corporate government allowed this to salaries had risen by 20 per cent happen? Thai's simple, just over the previous year. In 'Fast take a look at who benefits from Food Nation' by Eric Schlosscr low wages in North America, he says that a $ 1 increase in the To understand the disgrace minimum wage would raise the of minimum wage other factors price of a fast food hamburger need to be taken into considéra- by about 2 cents. Prices in the tion: paid an hourly wage with fast food industry have climbed no benefits, work when they are steadily, while wages have not. needed (if business is slow they But then" again, I wonder how are sent home early); if they many of our politicians have happen to work over 40 hours stock shares in fast food con- lliey sometimes work overtime glomerates? without time and a half for fear Debra Muise of losing their job. The list goes Bowmanville OPINION e-nia Minimum wage a disgrace To the editor: I was pleased to see in Jane McDonald's report on community community food banks (This Week, ■ Aug. 23) she mentioned the minimum wage of $6.85 has not increased since 1995. The statistics speak volumes. Regarding Regarding minimum wage earners data from Statistics Canada's Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID) show that: 61 per cent are adults (19 years of age & over); 64 per cent are women; and 48 per cent have some postsecondary postsecondary education; It simply isn't true that most minimum wage earners are teenagers living at home. As a matter of fact only 19 per cent are in this category. The majority majority of the 61 per cent of adults e-mail letters to ncwsroom@(lurltamrcKion.com Citizens can often block government policies O rdinary citizens are discovering discovering they have extraordinary extraordinary clout and they will be more inclined to use it. The prime example since Premier Ernie Eves came to power has been their ability to prevent prevent his Progressive Conservative government government selling outright the Hydro One electricity transmission network, which shocked it as if it touched a live wire, but there have been others. On Hydro One, the Tories totally ignored their opponents, the opposition opposition parties in the legislature, when they argued the Province should not sell the transmission system. But members of two unions went to court and claimed the Tories Tories had no power to sell, because I hey failed to pass a law giving themselves authority, and the Tories Tories scoffed they were meddling busybodies who had no right even to raise the issue. When the court agreed with the unionists, Premier Eves could still have pushed through a law and sold outright, hut the case aroused such concern among the public lie dithered before eventually eventually retreating to say he will sell only a minority interest, I lis new Tory regime started off looking humbling, flip-flopping flip-flopping and unsure of itself, not the competent, businesslike group it hoped to appear. It has been deprived of income income to balance its books, alienated alienated some investors, weakened its theme privatizing privatizing is good and offended offended business, which it relics on to finance its electioneering. The case also turned a light on the way the Tories ignored the excessive perks given Hydro One's senior senior officials, whose president billed taxpayers taxpayers for almost everything everything but her nail polish, polish, and the Tories will wish the unionists had stuck to their dues collecting. Citizens struck again when four single mothers and welfare recipients went to court to object to the Tories' noted spousc-in- the-house law introduced to crack down on welfare abuse. This law said single women receiving social assistance are to be treated as part of a family unit from the moment they live in the same home as an income-earning income-earning male, and may lose some or all their benefits. It has led to 10,(10(1 women being cut off welfare and the Tories to boast they cut welfare rolls. But the court ruled it prompts intrusive personal investigation and undermines the dignity of women merely because they receive receive social assistance and is discrimination discrimination forbidden by the Charter of Rights, The court found the law also makes it difficult for women to set up personal relationships and forces them to stay in some that become abusive by pushing them into financial dependence on men. The Province will appeal, but already has acknowledged there is some validity in the challenge by changing its law so a couple can live together for three months before being classed as a spousal unit and be subject to losing benefits. Gays also have gone to court over the heads of politicians and obtained a ruling the federal law defining marriage as a union between between a man and woman is discriminatory discriminatory and must be changed to allow same-sex marriages marriages and the Ontario law registering registering marriage must conform. Premier Eves, who is trying to appear open-minded and innovative, innovative, said he has no objection, objection, but Tory MPPs who have fought gay rights through their political lives feel they are powerless. powerless. In yet another case, former welfare recipients cut off benefits benefits for life for defrauding the system have launched a court challenge arguing this is cruel and unusual punishment and violates violates the Bill of Rights, When citizens have such successes successes stopping government, it will encourage others to seek them and the Tories have to be concerned still more of their key policies will go down the drain. Eric Dowd Queen's Park CLICK AND SAYj^ Today's question: Do you support leash-free areas for dogs in Durham communities? □ Yes □ No Cast your vote online at infodurhamregi com Last week's question: Would you be willing to make lifestyle changes to reduce smog? □ Yes 84% □ No 12% □ Not sure 4% Votes cast: 75 HAVE YOUR SAY Question The provincial government has indicated there may soon be more funding for schools. Do you think local schools are currently receiving sufficient funding? Shawny Cameron (parent) "No. Last year I had to send pencils and parents sent money in so kids would have stuff. They were little things but necessary." Patricia Cota (teacher) "I don't think we are funded sufficiently. sufficiently. I know how hard it is for administrators administrators trying their best to - give students what they require. require. The funding just isn't there." Karen MacDonnell (teacher) "No. I know we are short textbooks all the time and we scramble at the end of the year to make our budgets. There are all kinds of cuts in the classroom that shouldn't happen." Andy Soles (student) "No. There are some students that need extra help like speech therapy therapy that 1 can't get it." iKhc Cnnabimi Â>tntc6mmi is one of the Metroland Printing, Publishing Publishing and. Distributing group of newspapers. The Statesman is a member of the Bow- ; manville Clarington Board of | Trade, the Greater Oshawa 1 Chamber of Commerce, On-1 tario Community Newspaper j 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. advertisement. Credit for advertisement advertisement limited to space price error occupies. Editorial and Advortising content of the Canadian Statesman is copyrighted. copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction reproduction Is prohibited, A°cna ITF1Î1 WHB