The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.durhemregion.com PAGE 4 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, March 17,2004 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 Janice O'Neil Cheryl Haines Composing Managers Clarineton's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 Œtjc Canadian Statesman I « nitons EDITORIAL c . m ail letters to ncwsroom@durhamreKion.com Harper's best for party leader What's most notable about the race to be leader of the new Conservative Party of Canada is who is not running. While Stephen Harper, Tony Clement and Belinda Stronach are furiously lighting for Conservative Conservative delegates across the country, we can only wish Bernard Lord or Mike Harris were in this race. Mr. Lord and Mr. Harris offer intriguing possibilities. Mr. Lord is New Brunswick's premier, is fluently bilingual, has shown he is a winner and is young and energetic. Mr. Harris Harris has twice won the race for premier of Canada's most populated populated province and would be assured of tremendous support in a federal election. Alas, both men said no and we're left with a lesser race. A careful examination of all three candidates shows Stephen Harper is the clear choice: While Belinda Stronach brings a lot of energy and excitement excitement to the race, she is sadly lacking in experience. Ms. Stronach, before her January January announcement to run, had never been involved in politics at any level. It's a tough game where experience counts tor much, and it isn't clear Ms. Stronach knows much about national or international issues. Tony Clement can't even get himself elected in his own riding, riding, as his loss in the last provincial, election showed. Moreover, Mr. Clement was an also-ran in the 2002 provincial leadership race, which Ernie Eves won. Mr. Clement is anonymous oh a national scale and has almost no charisma. A vote for him is wasted. While Stephen Harper does not exactly inspire "Trudeau- rnania" he has advantages his competitors lack. He has been elected twice to Parliament and won a tough leadership race to take over the Canadian Alliance Alliance after Stockwell Day stumbled. He is fluently bilingual bilingual and well versed in national national and international issues. Mr. Harper has fought the tough fights and was instrumental in finally uniting the right, something something his predecessors could not or would not do. Mr. Harper, of the three candidates, candidates, is the only one who can seriously challenge Prime Minister Paul Martin in a federal federal election campaign, who can call the Liberal leader to account account in the House ol Commons Commons and on the electoral hustings. hustings. Mr. Harper has the track record to make him a potential prime minister, which is something something his' competitors cannot say. He is the best choice to be the inaugural leader of the Conservative Party ol Canada. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR e-mail letters to ncwsroom@durliamregion.com OPINION e-mail letters to newsroom@clurhamrcgion.com Leave Mel Gibson alone on 'Passion* It seems like everyone is talking about 'The Passion of the Christ,' Mel Gibson's movie about the last day of Jesus' life. I hear it discussed at least once a day, and I suspect with so much conversation going on, many are growing weary of the topic. I was, too, until I overheard overheard a few people talking about how they will be interested to see how Mr. Gibson spends the money he earns from the movie. Many seemed to feel that, because of the religious religious context of the movie, Mr. Gibson should give a large portion of the money to charity. Early estimates project the movie will earn Mr. Gibson's production company about $400 million, a point which irks some people. I can't remember anyone belly-aching about the earnings of publishing houses responsible responsible for production of the Holy Bible or other religious texts. Singers have been earning money recording spiritual music since the dawn 'of Thomas Edison's phonograph. With 'The Passion,' it's the size of the prize that has people in knots. I watched Mr. Gibson during his interview with Barbara Walters Walters and, while lie seemed a bit defensive after months of tak- Shelley Jordan Staff Writer ing shots from religious organizations organizations concerned that the movie was anti-Semitic, he never once stated the movie was anything more than his artistic interpretation of a religious religious text. He may have felt guided by his god, but I've heard many artists thank God for their success while standing at a podium to accept an award. Not one person person stepped forward to help Mr. Gibson produce this film. The $25 million investment investment came out of his own pocket. So few were willing to support this movie, yet now they are willing to help Mr. Gibson spend the money, or at least suggest suggest what he should do with it. So with regards tc'The Passion,' Passion,' Mr. Gibson is the kid nobody nobody would play with until he earned enough money selling Bibles to have a pool installed in his backyard. The pool was bigger than, folks thought proper, proper, so now they want him to start baptizing people in it. It's his backyard. It's his pool and lie earned it. He shouldn't be judged on how he plans to use it. Reporter Shelley Jordan's column appears every second Wednesday. Let's all work to keep park beautiful To the editor: In downtown Bowmanville there is a park called Bowmanville Bowmanville Valley. This is a treasure treasure to have where everyone can walk beside the creek or on the paths through the trees. It's a shame this lovely place is being spoiled ,by. the irresponsible irresponsible dog ownerswho walk there. Everywhere you go there are mounds of dog dung. We take some plastic bags with us and pick up after our two dogs and put it in the barrels in the parking lot. It's easy to do. Every day we see a man who volunteers his time to cut dead trees and make new paths for people. There are paths through the trees to see the birds; robins are there already this year and there are ducks on the creek. Come on you other dog owners, pick it up and keep this lovely place clean and safe for everyone to enjoy. Anne Wilson Bowmanville Time for a change with our politicians To the editor: Congratulations to the citizens citizens of Durham Region. The letters in the paper are great! It sounds like we are all fed up with these so-called politicians and their need to make themselves themselves rich. What makes what they are doing any different then what happened with Enron, etc? Why has there not been any response from this council? It is time to get rid of the Region. What does it do for us anyway? When the next election rolls around, I only hope we remember remember all this. We need to lake a stand and get some normal normal working people, that have some common sense, elected. We need representatives who know what it is like to live without a silver spoon. Tim Dakin Bowmanville It's time we elected regional chairman To the editor: Well, finally somebody on regional council is listening* as some have asked that the regional regional chairman will be voted on by the taxpayers in the next election. Meanwhile, Roger Anderson is crying the blues that it would cost a lot more. v money to vote, in the chairman by the taxpayers. Hogwash. What he means is it would cost him ihore money. He would have to use some of his $151,000 to run a campaign. campaign. I would advise Mr. Anderson Anderson to save his money,, enjoy the free ride for the next two years, because he would not be elected by taxpayers. Ernie Roberts Bowmanville Concerns raised about water To the editor: Re: 'Water pressure high in Durham' March 10. I read the Region's water report report that lists the pesticides, chemicals and poisons that, however small in quantity, appalled appalled me. We have been told what high-quality water we are getting from the water department, department, but water conceals poisons poisons that are dissolved and hidden hidden by chlorine, another poison. poison. I understand it is difficult for municipalities to provide perfectly perfectly clean and healthy water for such large populations. However, hiding the truth about the contents of our water from the consumers with fancy talk and omission is not right. The ones found naturally in the water are small in comparison comparison to the chlorine, fluoride, atrazine, gasoline, oil, road salt, etc. They are not all found naturally naturally and are proven to cause diseases. Is it fair to say pure water is not good lor you, when the alternative is the municipal water cocktail it provides? We consume water to flush poisons from our bodies. If we need extra minerals or vitamins that distilling removes, take a vitamin vitamin tablet dr eat a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables. I'm sure that, in the long run, it will be better for, you. Yes, the costs are high, but so is our water bill. Who's ripping off who? I'm satisfied with the D-3 Distillation machine and the service I receive from Glacier Water Systems. . ■ nr David Hayes Oshawa WWII veterans are in nursing homes To the editor: Re: 'Nursing home challenges challenges smoking ban,' March 7. "We're not going to ask war veterans (who fought for our country) in the legions to stop smoking." Regional Councillor Mark Holland should visit some of the places about which he speaks. Who does he think the current residents of nursing homes are? Having been a member of the legion for over 10 years with a Second World War veteran veteran father who smokes in a nursing home, I'd be willing to bet that there are more smoking smoking veterans in the local nursing nursing homes than there are in any of the local legions. Janet Thrner Courtice Letters to the Editor We welcome letters that include name, city of residence and phone numbers for verification. Writers are generally limited to 200 words and one submission in 30 days. We decline announcements, announcements, poetry, open letters, consumer consumer complaints, congratulations congratulations and thank you notes. The editor reserves the right to edit copy for length, style and clarity. The newspaper contacts only those people whose submissions have been chosen for publication. publication. Fax: 905-579-1809; e-mail: newsroom@durhamregion.com Phone 905-579-4400 Classifieds 905-576-9335 Distribution 905-579-4407 General Fax 905-579-2238 Newsroom Fax 905-579-1809 E-Mail newsroom@durhamregion.com 865 Farewell St„ Oshawa 0NL1H7L5 Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 CLICK AND SAj^ Today's question: Is the Region's proposal to amalgamate transit systems across Durham a good idea? □ Yes □ No □ Needs more study Cast your vote online at infodurhamregion.com Last week's question: Should the Regional Chairman's position be elected by the public, or remain an appointment of regional council members? □ Appointed 10.6% □ Elected 89.4% Votes cast: 216 HAVE YOUR SAY Question: The Ontario government is considering allowing allowing patrons to bring their own wine into restaurants. Do you think this is a good idea? Bud Henning "I think it's a bad,idea. It's not fair . to the restaurant because it's cutting into their profits." TRUE GRIT Pt* BEBM A UK 1 1 lh ' ' ' ////// ( omette HI ft 1 11 Ir S tmk m h ill rn ME-WHto A By Tim Dolighan ■EB glati Robert Bond "No, I don't agree with it because the liability would be put on the restaurant." Doreen Bowie "No, I don't think it's a good idea because it will be difficult keeping control of the underage drinkers." Mary Hegarty "I think it's a good idea because there's too much of a mark-up on wine at the restaurants themselves." y® OMK TO "WE -\\A 'ft/t w OH NO/ (U?PEA& UE'sActwj MdOtF/ m JJ W dolighan, .corn (c) Copyright 2004 ®i)c Ciumbinn Statesman 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 space price error occupies. Editorial and Advertising content of the Canadian Statesman Is copyrighted. copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction reproduction is prohibited. j^ocna 0 ©* doc own* mcDUNca.