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PAGE 4THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, NOVEMBER 6, 2002 Tim Whittaker Publisher Joanne Burghardt Editor-in-Chief Chris Bovie Managing Editor Judi Bobbitt Regional Editor Fred Eismont Director of Advertising Eddie Kolodziejcak Classified Advertising Manager Kirk Bailey Distribution Manager Lillian Hook Office Manager Barb Harrison Composing Manager Œïj t Canabmu Statesman Ckirington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 ■ NOV. 6, 2002 Metrolancl Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. www.durhamregion.com Rhone 905-579-440C Classifieds 905-576-9335 Distribution 905-579-440/ General Fax 905-579-2235 Newsroom Fax 905-579-1809 E-Mail newsroom@durhamregion.com 865 Farewell St., Oshawa ON L1 H 7L5 Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 infodurhamregion.com EDITORIAL e-mail letters to ncw.sro(>in@durliniiirc|>ion.coin Two-hatter firefighters should be protected A ccording to the International International Association of Fire Fighters, a union bylaw preventing fulltime fulltime firefighters from also serving as volunteers - or two-hatters as they're known - has been on the books for 50 years. Which begs the question, why has such a bylaw been allowed to lapse and why does the IAFF feel the need to enforce it now? The issue has inflamed tensions among firefighters across Ontario where of the 17,000 who serve as volunteers, volunteers, as many as 1,000 do so as two-hatters. That means two-hatters put on the gear as full-timers each week, and when home, also serve as on- call volunteers. A Private Member's Bill from Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott would protect protect two-hatters and allow them to continue in their role. Currently, Whitby full-time firefighter Timothy Lee, who volunteers as a fire-fighter in his free time, is facing IAFF sanctions and may lose his full-time position over his refusal refusal to give up his volunteer hat. ... Provincial legislation would override IAFF bylaws and would allow Mr. Lee, and thousands like him, to continue continue to serve as two-hatters. The two-hat system is important important in Ontario, where smaller communities which cannot afford full-timers and which may struggle to find volunteers, can get the exper tise of two-hatters. That was the genesis of Mr. Arnott's bill, which has passed first and second readings readings at Queen's Park and now goes to a third and final reading. reading. Should it pass, it will become become law. "Nobody should be intimidated, intimidated, charged and face the possible loss of their full-time job for being a volunteer firefighter. firefighter. There is provincial and public interest in protecting protecting two-hatters who wish to serve as volunteer firefighters," firefighters," says Mr. Arnott. In Clarington alone, some 25 two-hatters have handed in their volunteer resignations this year, leaving the department department scrambling to Find fully trained volunteers to fill the spots. Most Durham municipalities municipalities employ two-hatters so the impact of resignations is felt across the region. While the legislation will encourage some to maintain their two-hat status, union arguments arguments to hang on to just the one full-time hat may persuade persuade many to quit as volunteers. volunteers. The point ultimately is that firefighters,many of whom have been" two-hatters for a number of years,.should have the choice- of what they want to do. The legislation, once it has passed, will guarantee that right and will act as a protection protection to the smaller municipalities municipalities which need to maintain their stable of experienced volunteer firefighters. OPINION FEDS RAFFLED BY LATEST BERM ON OBESITY www.dolighan.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Canadians deserve to have doctors To the editor: The doctor shortage is pathetic pathetic for Canadians. Recently I was told by my doctor he was retiring and that left me looking for a new doctor. 1 was really upset to think I may not get one, as what few doctors that arc left can't take any more patients. 1 "V<: They are overloaded now. We as Canadians deserve to have a doctor now, not years down the road. Our politicians have got to do something about this situation situation soon as we Canadians do at least deserve this. Linda Ruiter Newcastle mil letters to newsroom@(lurhimiregion Retreat waste of money To the editor: A few weeks back I read in the paper regional councillors councillors were going on a retreat that was a waste of time! At least, to me, that is what it sounded like most of them were saying. Now, this week they want to raise taxes. I believe there , are times when money is spent ■ foolishly, (not only politically), politically), but I don't ever recall anybody anybody admitting it like some of the councillors did. Maybe I read the story wrong or misunderstood misunderstood it. It is pretty easy to spend other peoples' money, especially when we just sit back and take it all in! Tim Dakin Bowmanville OPINION .coni Hospital care praised To the editor: I am tired of hearing all the bad publicity regarding our hospitals. hospitals. I am sure there are frustrations frustrations over waits for beds, etc., but there are some very caring and dedicated doctors, nurses, and other staff members in our local hospitals. I am speaking of the care my husband received when he recently recently spent four weeks in Lak- eridge Health Bowmanville. He had nothing but the highest praise for all the staff. My family and I spent the last 30 hours of his life at his bedside and we were all treated exceptionally well. We will have great memories of his caregivers in the continuing care unit of our local hospital. Merle Avery Bowmanville e-mail letters to ncwsroom@(l urhamrcgion.com Hampton school hopes antique bell hasn't rung for the last time e-mail letters to ncwsroom@(lurhamrcgion.com Tories bend their policies to win provincial elections N ext to defacing gravestones, gravestones, stealing or vandalizing vandalizing a piece of history is a senseless act. There's something disturbing about 110 years being snatched away in one weekend. About a month ago now, a disheartened group arrived at M.J. Hobbs Senior Senior Public School in Hampton to discover their school bel) missing. There's an empty concrete slab next to the school where the hell perched since the 1960s when it was moved there from a nearby school that closed. The hell dates back to 1892 when it first became a fixture at Tyrone Public School. "It was symbolic of the Tyrone school," M.J. Hobbs principal Margaret Fier says, "It's an icon." Back then, its purpose was likely more of a traditional nature, nature, being rung to mark the beginning beginning and end of the school day. Now. it represents a symbol of days past. A symbol that's become become part ol'M.J. I lobbs, considering considering the hell has been there Ibr all hut two years of the school's existence. "It's an integral part of our school," says the principal. It became as permanent as the very structure itself, or so everyone everyone thought, Planning must have gone into the removal of the relic. This is no light bell. School officials believe believe it's brass, around Iwo-fccl high and two feet in diameter. It's not something that could be snatched in an instant and carried off by a youth on a dare. They suspect it would take a vehicle to lug the antique away. The principal principal reported the theft to Durham Regional Police the day it was discovered missing. She says a search of the area around the Hampton Hampton school was unsuccessful. unsuccessful. Staff Sergeant Alan Mack of the Clarington Clarington Community Police Police Office says police are still investigating, but no information has come forward since the incident. The principal hasn't heard anything cither. It's funny how we don't think about things until they are gone. When asked for memories of the hell, people at the school shared stories of it being rung on special occasions. The principal and librarian recall students ringing the hell after the graduation dance each year at the end of their elementary school careers, There's no doubt countless other stories of past school days and friendships are encased inside inside the antique. Let's hope someone will recognize its value and return an old school hell to its rightful place in history. O ntario's Progressive Conservatives Conservatives have a zero-tolerance zero-tolerance policy toward those who break the law, but they are ready to bend it to win an election. Premier Ernie Eves, in a burst of compassion has chosen Jaime Watt, an advertising executive praised as a media guru and the party's most astute astute communications strategist, as co-chairman co-chairman of his campaign in the election due next year. Mr. Wall specializes in making opponents look bad and won his reputation working for former premier Mike Harris in the 1995 election, election, when he created a commercial showing a likeness of Liberal leader Lyn McLeod on a wcathcrvanc, twisting and turning turning with each puff of wind and suggesting accurately the Liberals Liberals were indecisive. This left out, however, that Mr. Harris was not always pointed pointed in the right direction, because he made promises, including one to stop government constantly increasing increasing its revenue from gambling, gambling, which he dropped like a losing lottery ticket the moment the election was over. Mr. Harris planned to install Mr. Wall as communications adviser adviser in his office, hut a victim phoned revealing Mr. Walt had been convicted of fraud and forgery while owning a clothing store a decade earlier and Mr. I larris withdrew his offer. The much-in-demand Mr. Watt turned up a few months later working on a contract for Mr. Eves, then finance minister, selling selling his economic statement, but the opposition parlies raised such an outcry he was cast out again. Mr. Watt still helped behind the scenes in the 1999 election and ran Jim Flaherty's recent campaign for leader and, while no one had a real chance against Mr. Eves, injected the most excitement with his feisty claim Mr. Eves was a pale pink imitation of Liberal leader Dalton McGuin- iy- Premier Eves has shown how highly he rates Mr. Walt by forgiving and recruiting him, as an earlier Tory premier, William Davis, snapped up those who ran Al Lawrence's campaign campaign and gave him a close race and fright. Mr. Eves risks opposition criticisms criticisms by appointing Mr. Watt, When his convictions were first revealed, the Liberals said they were shocked the Tories would "employ a convicted con artist" to sell their message. 'fhe New Democrats questioned questioned the Tories' integrity and said "everyone knows Wall is adept at selling people tilings they don't want." They can he expected to repeat repeat these concerns as the Tories become more aggressive, The Tories Tories already are circulating newsletters charging Mr. McGuinly is "still not up to the job," a continuation of their successful successful theme last election, and lists of Liberal changes of mind. The Tories will argue Mr. Wall, who was in his 20s when he broke the law, has paid his penance and rehabilitated himself. himself. But they have made it a major theme the opposition parties arc soft on crime and have too much sympathy for those who commit offences and not enough for their victims. The Tories also have a zero- tolerance policy toward welfare recipients who defraud and ban them from benefits for life, although although most arc pitiable people who have not had Mr. Watt's advantages advantages in education and work opportunities. The Tories, in addition, arc not spreading their forgiveness evenly. evenly. The prime example of this is the case of Steve Gilchrist, Who had been one of their brightest young prospects when lie stepped down as municipal affairs minister minister in 1999. Mr. Gilchrist resigned resigned as police investigated an allegation lie told developers who wanted to meet him, to speak first to a Tory fund-raiser. Police found no evidence of wrongdoing, but it emerged Mr. Gilchrist had been convicted of evading tax while involved, also in his 20s, in his family's business. business. Mr. Gilchrist may he the hardest-working hardest-working MPP, commonly leaving his office at 3 a.m., and others without his drive and ability ability have been appointed to cabinet. cabinet. While it is not enough of an excuse, if everyone who evaded tax was caught the courts would come to a standstill, But Mr. Gilchrist has not been reinstated in party favour and neither neither have Alan Eagleson or Terry Jones or oilier former Tory MPI's who have been in trouble with the law, bill they are not needed to win an election. Natalie Miller Staff Writer Eric Dowd Queen's Park CLICK AND SA^ Today's question: Do you plan to participate in any local Remembrance Day ceremonies? □ Yes □ No Cast.your vote online at. infodurhamreglcwt.com Last week's question: Do you think Ontario postsecondary postsecondary academic institutions will have enough staff and resources to accept substantially more students in this so-called double-cohort year? □ No 80% □ Yes 20 % Votes cast: 50 HAVE YOUR SAY Question What does - Remembrance Day mean to you? Emily Forster "Remembrance Day means to me we remember all the people (who) sacrificed their lives to make our country a better place." Julie Horner "Remembrance Day means a lot to me because if ■ the people didn't'fight some of us might not have been , here today." Chris Chown "To nie it means a day we can honour and remember the people who died for our freedom." Daniel Sonderskov "Remembrance Day is a time to remember all the men and women who sacrificed themselves to make our country a peaceful place." tEljc Ciinntiimi â>tntcsiwin is one of the Metroland Printing, Publishing Publishing and Distributing group of newspapers. The Statesman is a member of the Bowmanville Bowmanville Clarington Board o"f Trade, the Greater Oshawa 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. advertisement. Credit for advertisement advertisement limited to space price ! error occupies. 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