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PAGE A6THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, April 2, 2003 www.durhamrcgion.com 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 Œijc Canabtan Statesman Rhone 905-579-4406 Classifieds 905-576-9335 Distribution 905-579-4407 General Fax 905-579-2236 Newsroom Fax 905-579-1805 E-Mail newsroom@durhamregion.com 865 Farewell St., Oshawa ON L1H 7L5 Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 Clarington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 April 2,2003 Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. infodurhami'egicm.com EDITORIAL e-mail letters lo newsroomfs 1 (lurliamrcsinn.com Six-figure earners a spring I t may feel like an April Fool's prank to the hapless property taxpayer who always always feels the bite, but the revelation revelation of yesterday's $100,000 club is no joke. Not when some municipalities municipalities are looking squarely at double-digit double-digit property tax increases this coming year. . Take for instance our boys and girls in black. Our cops are tops; certainly at the pay window, window, that is. While it's natural to see salaries rise over time given inflation, inflation, growth in the force and pay raises as part of the annual situation, it may surprise you to see the skyrocketing numbers of $ 100,000-plus earners among Durham's finest. In 1996, the very first year salaries were published, just,the chief and his two deputies cleared $100,000. In 1997, that number increased to the chief, and three deputies. The number dropped back to three in 1998 and in 1999, increased to five in 2000, and, brace yourselves, hit 38 in 2001 and, an astounding 49 in 2002. Your tax dollars are certainly very hard at work. Mind you, to be fair, many of the officers cracked the $100,000 club putting in overtime overtime hours and guarding, Ontario Ontario Power Generation Sites in the wake of terrorist attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, • 2001. We're still paying the bill as taxpayers, even if it's being funnelled through OPG. The police budget has been jumping by leaps and bounds each year seeing annual $ 10- million increases as routine with a lot of that money going to pay overtime bills and negotiated negotiated pay increases. Plenty of sergeants, inspectors and even shock first-class constables now make the list who weren't there in 2000. Of course, whether you work for the school boards across Durham Region, or are a top executive executive with Lakeridge Health or Rouge Valley or are a top city, town or municipal staffer, times have been very, very good these past few years. Many have joined the six- figure club, increasing its numbers numbers exponentially. In 2000, the City of Oshawa had just five staffers in the $100,000 club. By 2002, the largest municipality municipality in Durham counted 15 in the select company. That was by far the most dramatic increase among municipalities. Whitby and Uxbridge, by comparison, had one staffer apiece in the club, Clarington and Pickering had four, Ajax had two, while Scugog and Brock had none. Oshawa has 10 services directors, directors, three commissioners and a fire chief in the club, all led by city manager John Brown at $184,636 per year. Mr. Brown made $165,053 in 2001, $151,898.37 in 2000, $142,768.60 in 1999, $130,517.44 in 1998, and just $121,488.12 in both 1997 and 1996. Only Lakeridge Health chief executive officer Brian Lemon, at an eyepopping $268,265.28, earned more on the list of Durham civil servants. servants. : | The raises have been extremely extremely healthy for many of our local civil servants, far in excess of what average workers can expect expect from the government. We suggest when the candidates candidates who want your vote come knocking this fall during the municipal election, you ask them to explain the increases. c-mall letters to newsroom@(lurhimircgioii.coiu Operation overload Y esterday, my car radio tuned to CBC 99.1 for the ongoing SARS and Iraq war coverage, I was poised for the latest updates on my way across town. Ready for Operation Overload, Overload, 1 instead got Sad Goat Café where people were trying to come up with the lyrics to the 'Patty Duke Show'. As an encore, encore, the show featured a reading reading from 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,' which was a thoroughly thoroughly enjoyable read before becoming a Broadway play and a Marilyn Monroe classic. Yes, it was a break from 24- 7 reality reporting and it was bliss. Errands done, I returned somewhat somewhat guiltily to the newsroom with a bounce in my step. It's not that it isn't important to remain informed. Actually here in the news business, business, we encourage people to care about the world around them and some in this industry industry are not even above promoting a little little low-level panic to keep readers readers rapt and advertisers spending. spending. In this case, no manufactured manufactured panic is necessary. We have a war being fought for freedom while ironically threatening world peace and economic stability for years to come. At the same time the first major medical threat to the general general population in Ontario in more than half a decade is spreading like a grass fire in April. No doubt we are all in shock and awe at how our world has changed in the last lew weeks. But somewhere along my drive it occurred to me the war and SARS, (which like all diseases diseases worth their print has a catchy acronym) will go on or be resolved without my constant constant attention. Consider these symptoms to determine if you might need to reconsider your daily media dose: • You know Paula, Wolf and the other CNN personalities on a first-name basis and know if they arc having a bad hair day; • You have a favourite general; general; • You consider yourself an embedded couch potato potato whose daily attendance attendance in front of the TV is critical to the outcome of the war; • When military personnel personnel talk about being in the theatre you break out the popcorn; popcorn; • In reaction lo SARS you're hoarding N95 surgical masks; • You know what an N95 mask is. If you're looking for a little reality relief yourself or have been scratching scratching your head to come up with those zany sitcom lyrics since the beginning of the column, hum with me now... "Meet Cathy, who's lived most everywhere, everywhere, from Zanzibar to Barclay Barclay Square. But Patty's only seen the sights a girl can see from Brooklyn Heights - What a crazy pair! But they're cousins, identical cousins all the way, One pair of matching hookenils, different as night and day..." Ah, for simpler times. Jacquie Mclnnes Staff Writer also rnsto mm mam, sars wr/ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR e-ni Reasons why carp died questioned To the editor: The opinions expressed by the representatives quoted in your, cover story of your March 19, 2003 edition regarding the 200 or more dead carp in,'West- side Marsh have shocked many local resident's who have respectfully respectfully observed nature here for years. Clearly visible in your photograph photograph of the dead fish is an extensive, extensive, heavy-gauge plastic barrier barrier which runs completely across the creek at the north side of the bridge, and was erected by those working in the 'Marsh Regeneration' project. The mass of dead fish was not 'winterkill', a 'normal occurrence', or to quote CLOCA's Jeff Andersen, due to 'ice and wind action', and to suggest such is to treat those who care about nature as if we were idiots. Such a statement does make us wonder about the qualifications qualifications and ethics of those involved involved in this project. As well as fish at risk there are birds, such as herons, swans, and water- fowl, who nested or fed previously previously in the marsh (now about to be dredged), coyotes whose habitat is a highway for massive equipment, and the beaver whose lodge is now exposed, now that so much of the creek has been eroded. It's too late for the many wildflowcrs and trees that have been bulldozed. We expect respectful answers to important important questions and solutions respectful of nature. Margaret Booth John Budtlo Bowmanville Red Cross symbol must be protected To the editor: In an age dominated by a proliferation proliferation of advertising messages messages and symbols, branding has become the buzzword. Where once we spoke only of companies having an identifiable identifiable corporate brand, the same now applies to the Humanitarian Sector. Among the most recognizable recognizable symbols in the world is the Red Cross. The image of a red cross on a while background (reversal of the Swiss flag) is synonymous with worldwide humanitarian relief and observance observance of the tenets of the Geneva Geneva Convention of 1864. Wherever there are people suffering you will find the Red ( Voss ready to help. This is true anytime, anywhere, long before the United Nations was a reality, By being a potent and recognizable recognizable symbol, the Red Cross is able lo serve its critical function, ail letters to iicwsroom@(Hirhamrcyion.ce particularly in war zones and regions regions of political unrest. The Red Cross symbol provides protection protection for those in need, and for the Red Cross professionals and volunteers who are assisting them. This also applies in Durham, where the local Red Cross has assisted at 21 fires and helped meet the basic needs of over 170 men, women and children children over the last 12 months. Unfortunately, in recent years, marketers' and others/ have increasingly increasingly used the syihbol of the Red Cross, as they try to sell their wares or promote their services. services. Not only does this devalue the meaning of the symbol itself, but it also adds to confusion as to what the symbol represents. Indirectly, the lives of those working as field delegates and volunteers are put at grave risk, as well as the vulnerable under the protection of the Red Cross. In the face of increasing uncertainty uncertainty and insecurity everywhere everywhere in the world, it is vital the use of the emblem is protected, so that people requiring basic needs for survival, and the lives of those helping them, are afforded afforded the highest possible protection. protection. It is critical we continue to protect the use of the emblem as spelled out in international treaties and Canadian law, so that lives are not further endangered. endangered. The symbol is the only protection they have. So remember, if you see your children's toys, or any goods or services, emblazoned with the red cross on white background, call your nearest Red Cross office! office! Beverly Dyer Volunteer, Durham Branch, Red Cross Badmouthing U.S. wrong To the editor: After hearing about Durham MP Alex Shepherd's comments regarding Ambassador Paul Cel- ' Iticci, I felt 1 had to take the time to write you. Because of the Liberal Liberal government, our relations with the U.S. government have hit an all-time new low. I couldn't couldn't blame them if they never dealt with us again. It's bad enough that we're not a part of the coalition, but to have members members of our government continually continually bad mouth the Americans is too much. I have always been a proud Canadian, until now. Who would stop Saddam Hussein if he sponsored terrorist acts here'/ Or let's take it a step further; what if he decided he was going to invade Canada? Who would stop him? Us? With our military? Are you kidding me? After 40-plus years of continuous continuous cuts lo our military, we couldn't stop a hunch of Boy Scouts armed with slicks and apples, You know who would save our asses? The Americans, the same Americans you and your Liberal government bash at every opportunity. Do not begin to tell me about how great our military might is because I was a part of it. I know what our government government thinks of our armed forces. Do you know the definition definition of 'loyalty'? (Loyalty: faithful faithful to any person to whom fidelity fidelity is owed especially in times of revolt.) I am a big believer believer in loyalty and when your friends ask you for help, you go. For the life of me, I can't figure figure out why we aren't over in Iraq with our American brothers and sisters. It sure can't be because because we need more evidence against Saddam. Am I left to assume assume it's because we can't financially financially afford to send our troops or is it because that embarrassment embarrassment we call our PM, is worried about his legacy? Tim Chretien Courtice Hospital staff are the best To the editor: Over the past few years I have had the pleasure of being treated in or admitted as a patient patient to seven of our hospitals from Toronto to Kingston. On every occasion, the firefighters, firefighters, ambulance staff, nurses, nurses, doctors, all hospital staff treated me with the utmost professional, professional, compassionate, emphatic emphatic care. The care I received was far beyond just good bedside manner. manner. Our hospital staff are the best. Cecil Morrison Bowmanville MP's remarks inappropriate To the editor: I am writing concerning Durham MP Alex Shepherd's remarks to reporter Jennifer Slone regarding U.S. Ambassador Ambassador Paul Cellucci. Mr. Shepherd Shepherd felt that Mr. Cellucci should be censured for his remarks remarks criticizing Canada. I question Mr. Shepherd's ability to represent his constituents constituents fairly when the PM accepts accepts these tasteless remarks of members and Mr. Shepherd is in agreement, It sometimes makes me feel I am ashamed to he a Canadian when this is happening happening in Ottawa. Mr. Chretien should realize the deplorable state in which the Liberals have left our military; we would he unable to defend ourselves, should this he necessary. I am also concerned that trade would he adversely affected affected between our two countries due lo the thoughtlessness of the Liberal members. Gloria Darch Com licit CLICK AND SA^ Today's question: Are you taking any extra precautions precautions because of the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome? □ Yes □ No Cast your vote online at infodurhamregic|i.com Last week's question: As Durham plans its first community strategic plan to direct it into the next several years, what should be the Region's Region's most important priority? priority? □ Proper infrastructure 34.2 % □ Smart population growth 23.3 % □ Health care 18.3% □ Environmental protection 16.7% □ Developing parks and recreation 7.5 per % Votes cast: 120 HAVE YOUR SAY Question Are you taking any precautions against SARS? Ashely Easton "I am worried about it, so I stay home more." Anne Blodgett Rob Abrari "I'm not concerned for myself, I'm just worried for my family." Amanda Cannataro "I don't go out as often and wash my hands a lot more often." îEljc Cniinbimt £>tntcsmmi 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, On- • tario 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. Editorial and Advertising content of the Canadian Statesman is copyrighted. copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction reproduction is prohibited,