On Friday, Peter Pomeroy assured Halton‘s residents that the qwiality of drinking water from all regional water purification plants is of "the highest quality and is safe to drink." Halton water just fine for drinking Contrary to the controversy created by the recent provincial auditor‘s report, drinking water in Halton is completely safe says the regional chairman. Vince Suffoletta, Director of Plant Operations for the region, agreed wholeheartedly: "That‘s a fact. We honestly believe we don‘t have to take a back seat to anyone for water quality and quantity." / Auditor General Erik Peters said last week that almost oneâ€" quarter of the province‘s 490 _ WORLD WEEK includes more than 15 fun and educational activities designed to help people understand what life is like for people suffering from disease, discrimination, violence, bunger, and environmental devastation.. "I‘ve seen a lot of images in the news that disâ€" turb me â€" killings in Rwanda, destruction of Water Walk is part of a national observance of WORLD WEEK â€" a program created by Canadian photoâ€"journalist Chris Redner, who has travelled worldwide writing about and phoâ€" tographing the world‘s poor. Blakelock ‘water walk‘ to raise awareness of those in poverty bout 20 students from Blakelock ASecondary School will walk six kilometres through downtown Oakville on Fnday, carrying buckets of water on their heads in ‘The Water Walk‘. The walk starts at Country Style Donuts on Lakeshore Rd. W. and ends at Trafalgar Road. _ A Metroland Community Newspaper Blakelock Secondary School students Bryan Hey wood (left) and John Stanley get in a little pracuce for the school‘s Water Walk Frxday The walk is to raise awareness of the plight facâ€" ing the poor of the world. . . (Photo by Riziero Vertolli) water treatment plants have failed Ministry of Environment and Energy quality standards. What he did not say is that these plants are not located in the Golden Horseshoe or in any medium to large communities in Ontario. "We honestly believe we don‘t have to take a back seat to anyone for water quality and quantity." â€"~Vince Suffoletta "Canada‘s Best Community Newspaper" CCNA Better Newspapers Competition 1993 ‘"I feel great knowing that I am helping provide clean water for someone who has always had to walk for hours everyday to collect water from a polluted stream,". Stanley said. "We all are excited about the impact that we can have just by domg sometmng as simple as the Water Walk." _ Participants in WORLD WEEK raise funds to help people in developing countries overcome disâ€" ease, poverty, discrimination, and environmental degradation. Donations benefit Christian Children‘s Fund of Canada â€" an international relief and development agency providing emerâ€" geney relief and longâ€"term assistance to some of the world‘s poorest people. _ j Brazilian rainforest, and ethnic cleansing in Bosnia. I want to understand how these problems happen and what I can do about it," said John Stanley â€" an 18â€"yearâ€"old at Blakelock H.S. "That‘s why I joined WORLD WEEK." Pomeroy went on to state that all plants now operating with the region are in full compliance with provincial â€" certificates â€" of approval. He said Halton would never distribute water that does not meet its current high stanâ€" dards. Suffoletta â€" who said they would take immediate action if "there is even a hint something‘s not right" â€" explained Halton‘s two main purification facilities in Oakville and Burlington are lakeâ€" based systems. The two in the north serving Halton Hills, Georgetown and Acton are wellâ€" based. All are tested on a regular basis, he continued, and a close communication link is always maintained with the region‘s Medical Officer of Health (MOH) and the Ministry. Suffoletta emphasized that he is willing to speak to any local ratepayer group or other organizaâ€" tion on the matter or arrange tours of area facilities for interested parties. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1994 Sparling has been a member of regional council for three years (he was acclaimed for a second term this year), while Flynn was first elected to regional council in 1985. Sparling is a longâ€"time Tory who worked as Oakvilleâ€"South MPP Gary Carr‘s campaign manager in the last provincial election, and who unsucâ€" cessfully competed against Mulvale for the Oakvilleâ€"Milton Progressive Conservative nomination in the last federal election. Flynn represented the NDP in provincial and federal elections in the early 80‘s, but has not shied away from publicly criticizing the current NDP provincial government. As yet, no decision has been reached on whether the caucus meeting will be held. The election of the regional chairman is of such importance, that Mulvale sent a memo to councillors asking whether they should hold a rare private caucus meeting to discuss their options. "Any decisions would not be binding on Oakville councillors at the region," said Mulvale. If Oakville councillors chose to support one of their own, the two potenâ€" tial candidates, Sparling and Flynn, represent two opposites. The vote will be taken on Dec. 7th as the first item of business at the inaugural meeting of the new regional council. Candidates do not have to be regional council members. Besides the two Oakville councillors, other candidates who have been mentioned as considering the post are Burlington councillors Ralph Scholtens, Joyce Salvoline and Rob MacIssac, Milton Mayor Gord Krantz and defeated mayoralty candidate Doug Greenaway. In her acceptance speech on election night, Nov. 14th, Mulvale said she had been approached by two nonâ€"members of council who have expressed interest in the job. Although she would not reveal their identities, Mulvale later said they are not residents of Oakville. The regional chairman is currently selected by an open recorded vote of regional council â€" in past elections the vote was taken by secret ballot. The position carries a $71,226 salary. Jockeying for the top post of the region began in earnest by some in September when the current chairman Peter Pomeroy announced he would not be seeking another term. Pomeroy, the former Mayor of Halton Hills, is facing charges of politiâ€" cal corruption and the payment of his massive legal debts is a current centre of controversy. He had held the post for 10 years â€" the longest term in the 20â€"year history of Halton Region. "A lot of horses are considerâ€" ing entering the race, but my SEeNSE "syepuey sPARLING is there won‘t be as many going into the gate when it happens," said Oakville Mayor Ann Mulvale, who is not running for regional chairman. KEVIN FLYNN Local councillors going for Regional Chairman‘s post By ROD JERRED Oakville Beaver Staff Oakville councillor Kevin Flynn joins Stephen Sparling in contest to see who will win Halton‘s top political job Kanchana Sastri performed a classical Bharat Natyam dance during local Hindu celebrations of Diwali. Hundreds attended the Sunday celebration held at White Oaks Secondary School. (Photo by Riziero Vertolli) wo Oakville regional councillors have added their names to th growing list of candidates for Halton Regional Chairman. Ward 1 regional councillor Kevin Flynn and Ward 4 regional councillor Stephen Sparling are both considering a run for the regional chairman‘s post. Only time will tell whether they remain in the race when an open vote of regional council is taken Dec. 7th. (See ‘Chairman‘ page 2) PETERC. Wa oN'MBA,{:FPRE? PmmWAfxson 56 Pages 75 Cents (GST included) Fewer people are receiving UI cash The â€" Oakville â€" Canad Employment Centre assisted i the placement of 271 people i jobs during October. Employers i the manufacturing industr accounted for nearly oneâ€"fifth all of these new jobs. Th upswing in consumer confidenc is evident by the fact that ret: trade employers were responsibl for 18.5% of these new position The service sector,was respons: ble for 48.7 %of the job plac ments in October. In addition, the average num ber of weeks of benefit paid to al regular unemployment insuranc clients in the Oakvilleâ€"Milton are has been steadily decreasing ove the past few months and nowv stands at 13 weeks. A primary reason for the dro in active claims during Octob was the result of fewer claim filed by individuals employed i the education field. At the end of October, th number of people receivin; unemployment insurance i: Oakville and Milton was 3,494 a 9.5% drop from the previou month and 36.1% less than a ye ago. Over the last eight months, th average yearâ€"overâ€"year declin has been 23.4%. The number of people claim ing unemployment in the Oakvill and Milton area continues to drop Amount raised to date: $1,610,964 Percentage of total: 85% Target: $1,877,000 Paper Canadian Publication Mail Product Agreement #435â€"201 To Serve Your Real Estate Needs Bus: 844’5000 Res: 844‘9859 White Rose, Consumers Distributing, Toys R Us, Hamilton Automobile Club, Moores The Suit People, Walâ€"Mart, Pharma Plus, Overdrive Partial Delivery: Coupon Clipper, Sears, Lenscrafters, Mapleview Centre, Artafax Associate Broker SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS J 100% CGovernment Guaranteed Strip Coupons Mag.l.ring‘i)g 2004 *Rates Subject to Change fessesâ€" L0 13â€"18