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PAGE 4THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, July 2,2003 www.durhamregion.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 Barb Harrison Composing Manager Clarington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 Efje Cmmtrimt Statesman ■ i July 2,2003 Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Phone 905-579-4400 Classifieds 905-576-9335' Distribution 905-579-440/ General Fax 905-579-2230 Newsroom Fax 905-579-1800. E-Mail newsroom@durhamregion.com 865 Farewell St., Oshawa ON L1H 7L5 Publications Mail Registration No. 07637,. infodurhamragiGn.com EDITORIAL e-mail tellers to iic\rsroom@(liirlianin , j'ioii.com Time is of the essence on Hwy. 407 project T he worst tiling you can give a politician is more time. The more time you give a politician, the less likely you are to get any kind of decision on an issue of importance. For more time provides the politician with excuses, options and chances to duck and evade making the critical critical call. When it comes to extending Hwy. 407 cast from Brock Road in Pickering, time spent arguing endlessly over routes, connections connections from the 401 and the ultimate ultimate destination of the 407 will only delay what Durham Region badly needs. There must be action, action, and soon, on getting the 407 extended. Every month that rolls by before before decisions arc made merely adds to the growing traffic jams that make early morning and late afternoon driving on the 401 a nightmare. The weekend slog through the region as cottagers head east Friday and west Sunday Sunday would try the patience of Job. Consider the headaches we face in heavy snowfalls or when a major accident occurs on the highway. Everything grinds to a halt. And the problem only gets worse as Durham grows by thousands every year. Imagine how bad it will get when there are 100,000 or 200,000 or 500,000 more people living in Durham? Those six extra lanes (three each way) of 407 super highway can make a tremendous difference difference in eliminating congestion, in providing a clear path through Durham Region and the entire GTA for just-in-time transport truck deliveries. In the long run, the elimination of traffic jams will actually benefit the environment environment since nothing causes more smog than thousands of stalled cars and trucks. The request by Clarington to push back the commenting deadline on the 407 to Sept. 15 from July 31 could be just what the Province ordered. After all, the government is expected to go to the polls this fall. Without a firm commitment to proceed on 407 expansion, who knows what the future could hold? Recall promises that were made about a regional courthouse and a cancer centre by the outgoing NDP government in 1995. Should a new government gain election at Queen's Park, all bets for any 407 work could well be off. Durham Chairman Roger Anderson knows what's at stake. "If you extend it (the deadline), deadline), you are gambling," said the chairman. The work on the Environmental Assessment required required before work can proceed must continue apace. Not only is the 407 at stake, but much-needed widening of the 401 east from Brock Road in Pickering all the way to Courlice Road in ClaVington is on the table. Such work is required to keep pace with Durham's population population explosion. While it's fair to suggest other transit options must be studied and the impact on the environment environment must be looked into, the bottom line is highway expansion expansion through Durham is desperately desperately needed. The pressure must be kept on Queen's Park by all Durham politicians who recognize recognize the need for quick, efficient efficient transportation links between between this region and the rest of North America. Don't delay, get' to work today. OPINION e-mail letters to iicwsruom@diirliamrcgion.com Packing up memories and moving on T he conundrum of life is that beginning new, exciting exciting journeys often means ending something else, comfortable comfortable and beloved. Anyone who has had anything anything to do with a graduation this June already knows this. A new life is about to begin, yet how do you let go of the one you arc still very much attached to? This week I will be heading to our newspaper division's Ajax office to assume the role of news editor, maintaining only limited reporter duties such as coverage of Durham's bid to host ITER. I am thrilled by the challenge challenge that awaits me. But, in taking it 1 must leave the best job 1 ever had, writing the stories of the people of Durham Region, and especially Clarington, where so much of my lime has been spent. I have been a reporter reporter in Durham almost almost 10 years now. The first four years were spent as a freelance writer for the paper, working from a computer and phone at the centre centre of my domestic universe - the I kitchen - while I raised my young children. Sometimes calls got returned during the most inopportune inopportune moments as 'reporter' and 'mom' worlds collided but the calls were always welcome. Reporting, like motherhood, was a job 1 would have done for free, because the rewards were so much more than material, The wonderment at my good fortune has never waned. In Clarington, where I spent much of my work time, I found a community community so engaging, warm and full of promise, I moved there. But across the entire region I have discovered incredible people people whose stories inspired me. There arc countless volunteers volunteers who pull out all the stops for causes that would be lost without their efforts; dedicated environmentalists who pore through tedious reports and attend attend long, dull meetings to preserve preserve our future; busy entrepreneurs entrepreneurs and residents who create opportunity for others through unpaid hours maintaining maintaining networking and ratepayers' groups. I've met kids who do more before they become adults than some of us accomplish accomplish in a lifetime and farmers who continue continue to run the family business despite tremendous adversity. Then there are politicians, politicians, some who really do work incredibly hard to represent us, despite our apathy for those efforts. efforts. Combined, their stories are the mosaic you read about in our pages and knowing all of them has been a rare privilege. Then there is you, the reader. To those- of you who followed me on this journey as it took me across Durham, into Russia, France and Spain covering issues issues that matter to our community, community, I say thank you for sharing it. Though it's time for me to say goodbye, there is nothing that I truly leave behind because you are all now a part of me. Jacquie Mclnnes Staff Writer www.dolighan.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR e-mail tellers to newsroom® 1 clm hamreyioii.coin Gay community must have equal rights To the editor: Re: 'Don't give licences to same-sex couples,' letter from Stephen Leach of June 20,2003. I disagree with Mr. Leach. The gay community must have equal rights in all areas of society. society. As a just and competent society society we must stop excluding portions portions of that society. I don't have the capacity to understand the mind of God and 1 don't think Mr. Leach does. History must be a teacher and not a master. Derek Treggalles Courtice To the editor: Re: 'Don't give licences to same-sex couples', letter from Stephen Leach of June 20,2003. Mr. Leach challenged "the City and Town councils to step in and adhere to the majority of its citizens..., to ensure no marriage licence will be issued to same- sex couples." Is it safe to assume Mr. Leach took a poll of all of the citizens of Oshawa? Somehow, I doubt it. I know I wasn't polled. Assuming Mr. Leach is a heterosexual heterosexual man, who is he to speak for the majority? Let gays and lesbians many. Does the marriage of any two people, gay or straight, truly affect affect the lives of "the majority of the citizens?" Hardly. Any marriage marriage only affects the lives of the individuals involved, and of course their own family and friends. Why squash happiness for anyone? In today's society, the daily news is full or horrors: murders, abductions, crime, terrorism, terrorism, car crashes, etc. The list goes on and on. Let's celebrate love, happiness, and family in all ways, shapes and forms. My congratulations go out to every couple, gay or straight, who chooses to get married this year. Fantastic! Good for you! And of course, best of luck for a long and happy life together! Jillian Walker Oshawa Don't close Test Hill To the editor: Re: 'Dangers of Test Hill are real,' column by Crystal Crimi of June 18,2003. I am one of the 'goon' parents Crystal talked about, who lakes his kids to Test Hill for day trips. The kids are always thrilled to see the bike riders and off-road trucks. I have never been 'whizzed' by a bike as you said 1 would be. We stay off the trail or road the riders are playing on. We can walk through the so called 'wasteland' as you put it, and enjoy the natural wildlife that abounds, safely. Or at least as safe as I feel on any sidewalk or park I've been to in Clarington. Test Hill is a natural wonder land that gives ordinary parents a neat place to go with the kids, that doesn't cost me a week's worth of grocery money. You can even get there in a regular car as I do. It's also a great place for all off-road enthusiasts to come out and play. Where else can you go? The wild and crazy people you portrayed, arc a very small number of extremists. These same types of people can be found in all groups and places. They are not the main group of users. So why can't you write about the positive images, from what the majority of this group is made up of? I guess you didn't actually go see them having good clean fun, did you? You spoke of death. Accidents happen, Crystal. Anywhere and everywhere. Even in your own backyard. And the problems are the same as those in any other unsupervised unsupervised area. You don't close a place to eliminate a problem. You face it, and find a proper solution. solution. If we look your advice on fixing problems, we should close everything down, including the highways because of bad and reckless drivers. If you stop access access to Test Hill, do you really think that will stop cars from burning in Clarington? Why don't we take an optimistic optimistic approach to the situation? Clarington could be host to an official official off-road enthusiasts park (Ganaraska), or even to the style of our U.S.A. neighbours that have complete parks and jamborees jamborees dedicated to these sports. This type of facility would only improve our image and create opportunities for Clarington. Ivan Lacoursiere Bowmanville OPINION e-mail letters lo newsroom ®du rhum region.com This is one roadside sign we'd all like to see I see a lot of signs in my travels. 'Stop', 'Free Kittens', 'Girls! Girls! Girls!' (I'm never quite sure if that last one is an invitation or a warning.) Most of them go by in a blur. But recently 1 saw a sign that literally sent a shiver down my spine. It was not some garish apocalyptic warning or portent of impending evil of any kind but still, its message resonated deep inside me. It was a quaint, almost crude, hand-painted sign on a piece of old plywood leaning up against a huge old oak at the entrance entrance to a farm driveway. driveway. Its message was remarkably simple hut its loveliness, as 1 say, struck me profoundly. It said only 'Welcome Home Aaron'. With the exception of maybe 'Dinner's on me' or 'Try this ointment' can there possibly he three nicer words in the English language? Well, 1 suppose it's really really only the first two that count; 'Welcome I lome', but it's nice lo make it a little personal by lacking lacking a name on there. I've no idea who 'Aaron' is of course, nor have 1 any idea what kind of a family lives in the house at the end of that lane. They could be cannibals cannibals for all 1 know, or devil-worshipping blood drinkers. None of that matters. What matters is the look on Aaron's face when he saw that tree and that sign and that farmhouse farmhouse again after being away for awhile. 'Welcome 'Welcome Home'. You are loved here. You are safe here. You are a part of here. 'Sit down and pass the brains, son. God it's good to see you'. Isn't that all that any of us ever wants to he sure of? Welcome Home. There's so much in there. Someone has been away and returned again, safely. There is change, there is growth, perhaps anger and emotion, hut underneath it all, the bedrock of love and family. I can't think of a nicer wish for anyone in this world than if ever you lose your way you will have a home somewhere, somewhere, where you will always he welcome, some place where people people arc always happy to sec you in their doorway. That is beyond value. We hear a lot these days about the 'homeless' and the disenfranchised. disenfranchised. And while their plight is important and something we should all help with, 1 think it's also important to be reminded, every now and then, that there arc still homes that children arc running running hack to and not from. I am 43 years old now and still, every time I come to my parent's parent's door I feel welcomed anew. 1 feel special. I feel loved, 1 am twice blessed because 1 gel that same feeling walking into my own home (provided the TV isn't on of course). I sincerely hope yours is the same way. If it isn't, maybe you should gel the paint out and make one of those little signs. It can he a rough world out there. We lake some of the edge off when we make our homes more welcoming. Thanks for that sign folks, you made my day. And 'Welcome I lome Aaron.' Sunderland resident Neil Crone, aetor-comic-writer, saves some of Ins best lines for Ins columns. Crone Enter Laughing CLICK AND SAj^ Today's question: Do you agree with the provincial provincial government's decision to give senior citizens tax credits credits for the education taxes they pay? □ Yes □ No Cast your vote online at infodurhamregioj^.com Last week's question: Do you agree with the federal government's move to legally recognize gay marriages? □ No 65.3% □ Yes 34.7% Votes cast: 219 HAVE YOUR SAY Question Do you believe ■ Clarington school board • trustees should be required to live in Clarington? Randy Cameron "They should live in the area, ' to concerns they know what •_ people are talking about." Bernie Huxter "Oh yes, strongly. They should be here. 5 Why woukh' they live outside the ' area? Like a cabinet' 1 minister ■ being' shuffled into an area, how do they know the ' area and the concerns?";' Karen Moloney' "I think it's a good idea; then they know' the area and, the people ■ they are., represent-,, ing." Kalon Sparks "Yes. Flow would they' • know what ' the kids need ' if they live in other ' areas?" ' <EI)c Cnnnbimi Statesman is one of the Metroland Print- ' ing, Publishing and Distributing Distributing group of newspapers. The " ' Statesman is a member of the" 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 advertise- "■ ment limited to space price error occupies. Editorial and Advertising content of the Canadian Statesman is copy- ' righted. Unauthorized repro- ' duction is prohibited.