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PAGE 4 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, JANUARY 15,2003 www.durhamregion.com Tim Whittaker Publisher Joanne Burghardt EdUor-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 Clarington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 Efje Canadian ü>tate£man ■ Jan. 15, 2003 Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Phone 905-579-4405 Classifieds 905-576-9335 Distribution 905-579-440/ General Fax 905-579-2238 Newsroom Fax 905-579-1805 E-Mail newsroom@durhamregion.com 865 Farewell St., Oshawa ON L1H7L5 Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 infodurhamiregiGn.com EDITORIAL e-mail letters to newsroom@durhaniregion.com Region should take its time before building new HQ G VJti iven just 10 days to absorb absorb a new regional headquarters report, it's not fair to ask councillors to vote 'Yes' or 'No' on the project at a Jan. 22 meeting. The proper course for councillors at next Wednesday's Wednesday's meeting is to defer a decision decision to allow representatives representatives to have any question they have on the proposal answered. answered. After all, constructing a brand new $67.7-million building is not like buying a new car or an appliance. There's no hard-sell, limited- time-only, offer-ends-by-this- date situation here. If there's convincing evidence that constructing constructing a new building is far better for taxpayers than continuing continuing to lease aging buildings buildings across the region, the new HQ will go up. A delay of three or six months surely 'makes no difference in the long run. This past Monday, councillors councillors across the region had a chance to review the report and discuss it within their own municipalities. The one obvious difference from last June's preliminary report is the projected increase in annual annual leasing costs for regional regional office space from $4.8 million million to $8.7 million per year. The reasons for this jump include include the difference, expressed expressed as inflation, in 2005 prices from 2001, the growth of the region'(at least two per cent per year), the cost of replacing replacing police building leases combined with police growth, as well as other leasing expenses expenses not included in the initial initial report. If the leasing increases - a whopping $3.9 million per year - are legitimate as expressed expressed in the report, the case to build a new headquarters is much stronger. Still, there is no crying need to do it immediately. immediately. Many questions still require require answers. Is the $67.7-million price tag a reasonable estimate or will costs, as they did with the 401 exit project at Harwood Harwood Avenue in Ajax, skyrocket skyrocket out of control? Are we really talking about a building building complex which could eventually cost close to $100 million by the time all the costs are added up? Hundreds of thousands of square feet in office space currently occupied occupied by regional offices will be empty in a few years. Will the Region make an effort to find new tenants to help offset offset the economic impact felt by the building's owners, who, after all pay taxes to the Region? Ultimately, based on Durham's growth, a new building will be needed. There is no requirement a decision decision bemade at the Jan. 22 public meeting at 10 a.m. at 605 Rossland Rd. E., Whitby. Let councillors and members of the public have a fair opportunity opportunity to review the report (You can read it at www.re- gion.durham.on.ca) and pose questions before plunging ahead with a final vote. 0- utin mvsww . toESIAL M V V . v 81 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR OPINION Workfare editorial ignored important points To the editor: Re: 'Durham has been able to make workfare work,' editorial editorial of Dec. 22, 2002. Your editorial may just as well have come off the desk of Jim Flaherty at Queen's Park. The piece was pure Tory propaganda. propaganda. Those with different perceptions of the outcome of workfare apparently 'lose mil letters to newsroom@durhamrcgionj credibility' when mentioning the jobs created are meaningless meaningless and low-paying. According to you, nearly 2,000 workfare placements have been created and the numbers on welfare in Durham have dropped drastically. drastically. What does this actually tell us? Nothing. Many have dropped out of the welfare system because they have been forced to do so by the application application of stringent new rules brought in by the Tories. Where are the statistics to indicate what level of poverty these people now live in? But then as your editorial says, 'What should they, and we, expect?' Well, I, for one, expect expect a social system which does not stigmatize the less fortunate as beer-swilling layabouts, unwilling to work. I expect a social system which alleviates poverty, giving people people the necessary help, with dignity, that is required. I do not expect a system where welfare payments have not even been allowed to keep up with inflation, where the minimum minimum wage is $6.85. What your editorial praises and Tory policy has produced is a larger level of working poor. It is perhaps no coincidence coincidence the use of food banks in Ontario has increased by some 20 per cent and homelessness has also increased, topics your editorial ignored. But what should we expect if the already already rich need to be given secret secret tax breaks or lucrative consultative jobs from their Tory government friends? Harry McAlister Bowmanville e-mail letters to newsroom@durhamrcgion.com A place to remember OPINION e-mail letters to newsroom@durlmmrcgion.com Children often follow in politician's shoes T he senior citizen sat silently in the front row of the crowded visitors' gallery awaiting, his turn to speak to Clarington council Monday night. A flurry of activity activity took place around him while people gathered for the evening's meeting. Despite his uniform and medalled chest, few likely gave thought to the history contained inside the quiet man in front of them. "Late on June 5, 1944, they took off with 50 aircraft carrying carrying the troops and equipment heading for France. In addition to the troops' fighting equipment, equipment, each man carried a knife, toggle rope, escape kit with French currency, and two 24-ration packs totalling 70 pounds. It should be noted each paratrooper paratrooper carried almost 50 per cent more than the acceptable load tables for the invasion aircraft. aircraft. Most of this additional additional load was extra ammunition," according according to the history books of the 1st Canadian Canadian Parachute Battalion. Battalion. Pickering resident Jan de Vries was one of the battalion's paratroopers, men who would get their first taste of combat the fateful early morning of June 6, 1944, 'D-Day'. It is the day the allies began to reclaim Europe and is often described as the turning point and one of the most significant battles of the Second World War, The Canadian paratroopers, with the British 6th Airborne Division, landed seven hours prior to the storming of the beaches by allied allied land troops, Tactical prob lems scattered the paratroopers far beyond their target area yet they accomplished their mission mission to blow out bridges and cripple the enemy's tanks, to put out the German command centres and overpower command command posts. In Clarington Monday night, almost 59 years later, Mr. de Vries recalled the service of the 1.1 million Canadians who volunteered volunteered their services to their country and to the ideal of freedom freedom during the Second World War. But he won't be around to share his story forever. He asked council for a contribution toward the Juno Beach Centre (www.junobcach.org), an institution being built right now on the beaches of Normandy to help the world remember remember Canada's contribution to restoring restoring peace in Europe. The centre, which opens June 6, was the brainchild of Ontario war veteran Garth Webb, who called on veterans across Canada to do one last service for their country in helping to make this project a reality. They have accomplished that and are now nearing their SB-million fundraising fundraising goal thanks to the support support of individual Canadians, Wal-Mart and other businesses and the French and Canadian governments at all levels. With Clarington's commitment Monday Monday night of $5,000, every Durham municipality has now contributed to the centre. They fought for us, they gave their lives for us and now they have given us a place to remember them. P olitics is often a family business in Ontario and it has just lost its closest resemblance resemblance to a dynasty. Chris Hodgson, who resigned after seven years as a Progressive Conservative minister and frequently frequently touted future premier, had two uncles elected to the legislature before him. Glen represented the same eastern riding based on Lindsay for more than a decade starting in the 1960s and was steady and reliable reliable but never made it to cabinet in an era when the Tories had huge majorities from which to choose. Lou, who lasted only four years as an MPP in Scarboro, was an cx-Mountic, livelier and more personable, hut not inclined enough to pound the sidewalks in his riding. Richard Sutton, who married into the Hodgson family, was elected to the legislature in the 1950s and Chris Hodgson's, great-uncle Thomas ran for it in 1914, hut was defeated. Chris's grandfather, Clayton Hodgson, was an MP for a couple couple of decades. The family presumably presumably fell it should send Ottawa Ottawa a share of its political talents. talents. Glen and l.ou were the only brothers in memory to serve in the legislature together. One fraternal fraternal story is that Leslie Frost, later Tory premier, and his brother brother Cecil both wanted to launch their political careers in the 1930s seeking the party's nomi nation in their home riding, the same based in Lindsay that later became a Hodgson fiefdom. Neither would contest the nomination against the other, and each offered to step aside and let the other run, so they tossed a coin. Leslie won and went on to become the unbeatable Old Man Ontario, while Cecil became party organizer, organizer, one of many examples examples of the huge impact of luck on politics. Chris Hodgson says he has no idea why so many in his family ran for elected office and lie was motivated by wanting to serve the public, not emulate relatives, relatives, which is the proper thing to say. But five current MPPs have followed in a parent's footsteps. Liberal leader Dalton McGuin- ly's father, also Dalton, was an MPP, not as ambitious as his son. Tory Norman Miller is a son of former premier Frank Miller. Liberal David Capital's mother mother Elinor was an MPP who went federal and held senior ministries at both levels. Tories used to sneer at him as 'Elinor's hoy', Inti he now has won some respect. respect. New Democrat Shelley Martel's Martel's lather lilie is a former NDP house leader who once jumped to his daughter's defence by accusing accusing critics of 'lynching' her. Tory minister Tony Clement is stepson of former attorney general general John Clement. Another Tory MPP, Ted Cluidleigh, is a grandson of Tom Kennedy, who was premier briefly in the 1940s. Tom's nephew Doug Kennedy also was an MPP. Former Liberal leader Bob Nixon, whose father Harry was briefly premier in the 1940s, seemed bent on establishing a dynasty, but his daughter, Jane Stewart, became a federal minister. minister. Other parents and their offspring offspring in the legislature have included included Allan and Larry Gross- man, who both became Tory ministers, Larry also being opposition opposition leader; and New Democrats Democrats Cliff and Allan Pi I key of Oshawa Oshawa and Norm and Michael Davison. Liberal Margaret Campbell, who caused one of the biggest upsets by defeating Tory heavyweight heavyweight Roy McMurtry, later attorney attorney general and now Ontario chief justice, in his first bid to be elected an MPP, had a son Sterling, Sterling, who also became an MPP. Former NDP premier Bob Rae said if any of his three daughters thought of going into elected polities he would encourage encourage them and "tell them you have to have a love of people, a good sense of humour and a thick skin - it look me a long time to develop develop the last one." When Ernie Eves became premier he chose as chief of staff Steve Pengelly, son of former Tory minister Belle Stephenson. Chris Hodgson, come to think of it, has a brother Andrew who is executive director of the Ontario Ontario Tory party, and such backroom backroom boys often yearn to go public. public. So the Hodgson dynasty may not be over, Jacquie Mclnnes Staff Writer Eric Dowd Queen's Park CLICK AND SA^ Today's question: Given the release of last week's provincially mandated report cards, are you confident with the care being provided by Durham hospitals? □ Yes ! □ No Cast your vote online at infodurhamregic^. com Last week's question: What is the most important issue facing Durham Region in 2003? □ Addressing local hospital needs 36.6 % □ Developing a regional transit link 28.9% □ Getting Pickering nuclear reactors back online 23.2% □ Making a decision on new regional headquarters 11.3% Votes cast: 142 HAVE YOUR SAY Question How do you feel about a one-year freeze on business business development, including drive-through restaurants, in Bowmanville's east end? Gerry Peace "I don't think it's bad. A little extra time to sort this out helps." Angie Empey" "Good. It's fine how it is now." Lynn Kidd " I'm with the freeze, it's not a big city. It's enough (fast food places)." Rob Craig "Tim Hortons Hortons won't make a difference, difference, it is just a coffee shop." (El)c Gmuibiim Stiitcsnum is one of the Metroland Printing, Publishing Publishing and Distributing group of newspapers. The Statesman is a member of the Bowmanville Bowmanville Clarington Board of 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 spaco price error occupies. Editorial and Advertising content of the Canadian Statesman is copyrighted. copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction reproduction is prohibited. (•itiMI Miem«eW