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PAGE 6* THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ APRIL 26,2006 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 Clarington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 Eije Canatnau Statesman Opinion | APRIL 26, 2006 uidbsmeas tiUb-b76-9335 Distribution 905-579-4407 General Fax 905-579-2238 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 ncwsroom@durhanircgion.com GTTA could be first link in top system If the brand new Greater Toronto Toronto Transit Authority (GTTA)- finally results in some fresh new funding for the fledgling Durham Region Transit (DRT) system, it will indeed be a good thing for riders in these parts. But until the Province comes aboard with some cash to help the DRT improve, it's worth taking taking a wait-and-see approach with the GTTA. The GTTA was first mentioned in the March provincial budget and was introduced into legislation legislation earlier this week. It's part of Move Ontario, a $1.2-biIlion provincial initiative which saw the Province pour hundreds of millions of dollars into Toronto subways and Mississauga Mississauga and Brampton transit systems. But, when it came to essential funding to boost the fortunes of transit here, Durham was essentially essentially shut out. We can only hope things will change now that we are part of a much bigger system. The hope has to be that, linked to Brampton, Burlington, Hamilton, Hamilton, Mississauga, Oakville, Toronto and York Region transit, Durham will get its fair share when it comes time to hand out the goodies. - It's important to remember each system will, remain inde-. pendent and operate on its own. 1 The role of the GTTA will be to co-ordinate between systems. BACKWARD GLANCE Wetting a line, 1980 Statesman file photo Cliff Coombcs came to the area to visit his sister at the opening of the trout fishing season in 1980. The other side of the transit coin is the hope that, in time, users will be able to easily link between Oshawa and Hamilton using a single fare card to make the trip. All points and systems along the way would be accessible to users which would make using transit more affordable and efficient. efficient. The growth of the GTA, combined combined with the bottlenecks already forming on our roads during rush hour, makes the development of a high-quality affordable transit . system essential. Most modem, world-class metropolitan metropolitan areas boast tremendous public transit systems: Think London, Paris, New York or Chicago. Chicago. These huge cities are able to greatly reduce the number of drivers coming into and out of . their borders by making transit cheap, easy and convenient to use. If the Greater Toronto Area, which now boasts more than 5 million people and is the fourth most powerful urban region in North America, wants to take that next big step on the way to becoming a world-renowned megalopolis, the GTTA is a good place to_ start. And Durham, unlike in other areas such as health and social spending where ■ it is usually an afterthought, has; to be a player in any plans for future. CLICK AND SAY Today's question: Do you think Canada shoulc continue to have troops in Afghanistan? Yes No Cast your vote online at infodurhamregEosi.com Last week's question: Will higher hydro rates change how you use electricity? No 39.1% Yes 60.9% Votes cast: 294 ; HAVE YOUR SAY Do you think we should bring our troops home from Afghanistan? dofighan.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR e-i Hydro costs and hydro wages, too high To the editor: ; Re: Residents should prepare for - hydro hike, April 9-- 1 : So, if historically governments of all political stripes shied away from ensuring Ontarians paid the actual cost of hydro, thus accu : mulating a debt, why are the executives always awarded outrageously outrageously high wage increases? Also, high severance packages in the past have been ridiculous and unnecessary. Perhaps if the increases do arrive, why not eliminate the tax? A product essential to everyday everyday life should never have been taxed in the first place. Genevieve Gaherty Bowmanville Cost of hydro boss too much To the editor: Re: Electricity rates to soar again, April 12. In the above item, it states that homeowners, including seniors, could face an increase to power bills of 15 to 20 per cent after May 1. On a TV news item Premier Dalton McGuinty said the increase will be necessary, so that our children and grandchildren grandchildren will not be saddled with the Hydro debt. Well, as I see it, in the operation operation of any business, and Hydro is a business, the major concern to operate efficiently in the sale of the product is to reduce costs. And to reduce costs you start at the top. In another recent news item, Tom Parkinson, head of Hydro 1, got a big pay increase* last year that brought his annual salary up to $1.56 million! On each monthly Hydro bill, we as homeowners, pay a debt-rcduc- mail letters to newsroom@durhaniregion.com tion charge on top of the hydro we use! ,What a joke! What do we do to get this changed? Who is in charge of granting a salary of that huge amount or is Hydro just able to set their own pay rates? What qualifications do they require for the jo.b that would, .warrant a salary of that size? , This is absolutely unbelievable! I am sure there are many more seniors like myself who would gladly take over this position for maybe $10,000 a year to supplement supplement our old age security, and this should and would reduce our hydro bills! Earl Brown Oshawa such as firefighters and paramedics, paramedics, cany a knife similar in function to be used when rope, heavy fabric or seatbelts need to be cut. Many of the Hero Army Surplus customers are hunters or work in police services, security and health care. Steve Smith Whitby COMRA's a great deal Chris Brone "Yeah, because the war is over nothing really, in my opinion it's only for media now." Seizure of knives a publicity stunt To the editor: Re: Police vow to crack down on sale of prohibited weapons, April 21. It seems like Jhe Durham Police are more interested in publicity stunts than dealing with crime. Their latest action in raiding Hero Anny Surplus in Oshawa is another example of an ever-increasing trend in blaming inanimate objects for increasing levels of crime. This raid, that was so well-publicized, occurred shortly after the police approached various municipal councils demanding a ban on toy.guns in a similar publicity exercise. I would also like to dispute Detective-Constable Steve Rhoden's ridiculous claim, that knives which can be opened with one hand arc designed only to hurt people. Knives which operate operate in that manner do so that they can be operated in a more practical practical manner in urgent situations. I'm sure many of Del.-Const. Rhoden's colleagues, as well as emergency response workers To the editor: Re: Region pours out water rescue rescue funding, April 21. Consider the important fact that COMRA and similar volunteer organizations are the deal of the century. If you designated say,, 10 full- time DRPS officers to replace the .. y ^ÈÊ 40 volunteers COMRA currently has on 24/7 staff, I would guess WÊ the cost to be something like $847,000 annually ($70k salary + 21 per cent cost of employ- m ment x 10 men and women). ,Sv-; COMKA's $40,000 request to the Region is a no-brainer - make it 50! Kevin Wadd Janet Dobbs "It's a tough question, but no. They are there for a reason,' they are soliders and in a wa> they are protecting the home front." E Jim Snow Oshawa LETTERS We welcome letters that include name, city of residence and phone numbers for verification. Writers are generally limited to 200 words and one submission submission in 30 days. We decline announcements, poetry, open . letters, consumer complaints, congratulations and thank you notes. The editor reserves the right to edit copy for length, style and clarity, The newspaper newspaper contacts only those people people whose submissions have ■ been chosen for publication. FAX: 905-579-1809; E-MAIL: Newsroom ©durhamregion. com. "Yes, they're just getting killed over there, and it's hot fair to them because they are fighting fighting with bombs and not guns." Where are all the local candidates? Typical slow start, but it would be nice to see a good race Wc'rc a few candidates shy of a full ticket in Clarington these days. Six-and-a-half months out from the Nov. 13 municipal election, election, there arc still some jobs for which there is nary a candidate. The many and varied school boards serving Clarington are still in need of trustee candidates as of filing this column, only one of six slots has a candidate. In the races for municipal conn- Jennifer Stone cil, if the election were held right now, only one spot - that of the mayor, where there are two candidates candidates signed up so far-- would not be an acclamation, Apparently, this is fairly typical. typical. September, says Clarington clerk Patti Barrie, is generally the busiest month for sign-ups. And at least one French-language French-language school board didn't have a candidate in place until the very •last minute last time, in 2003. So, it's too early to start thinking about what will happen, should no candidate come forward in the current candidate-less categories. categories. (That said, for those who are curious, here's vvliat happens: the board or council appoints someone to fill the vacant position.) position.) It would be nice to have a wide and varied slate of candidates to choose from in this election. It must be said that Clarington, as it has been governed for the last several years, is in exceptionally good shape. 'Economically, in terms of facilities and infrastructure, infrastructure, vision -- all ofthese matters stand in good stead, But that doesn't mean there isn't room for a little new blood here and there, for some new ideas to challenge and invigorate those experienced people who will, no doubt, be re-elected, In terms of the school boards, one can only hope the lone current candidate doesn't wind up being the single experienced Clarington voice at the table, Clarington, with its growth and other issues, must be well-represented, by people with strong voices, Certainly, Cathy Abraham can fill that role, but more willing candidates arc needed, Nominations for the municipal ticket don't close until Sept, 29 at 5 p.m. One needs only to go to the Clerk's Department at Clarington's Municipal Administrative Administrative Centre to fill out the appropriate paper work, make the appropriate declarations, and pay the fees which amount to $200 lor mayoral candidates and $100 for all others. And then, let the race begin. Reporter Jennifer Stone s column appears every other Wednesday P-mail jslonefOdurluunrcgion. com. Lizz Pye "Yes, I sure do because it's not our war, it's the States' war." The Canadian Statesman is one of the Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing group of newspapers. The Statesman is a member of the Bowmanville Clarington Board of Trade, the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, Commerce, Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Circulations Circulations Audit Board and the Ontario Press Council. The publisher reserves the right • to classify or refuse any advertisement. Credit for advertisement advertisement limited to space price error occupies. Editorial and Advertising content of the Canadian Statesman is copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction reproduction Is prohibited. ipena im?l <S NA OK