Media is not under attack after charges over budget leak THE HERALD June IMS Page 11 On The Hill With Garth Turner it was quite a week around this place I was sit ting in a committee meeting in the Parliament buildings last Monday night when an news release was put in front of me saying Global TV reporter Doug Small and four others would be charged with criminal offences As you know since then meres been a huge controversy about whether a reporter should be pro secuted for accepting and publicizing a secret government publication in this case one about the budget Does the police action mean freedom of the press is under at tack Are politicians trying to gag reporters who embarrass them Is Ottawa out to put a big chill on the media For years I was a journalist and wrote what I wanted I was often critical of the government of politicians and even federal budgets I also from time to time received brown envelopes with government secrets inside Because of that background Ive found myself facing the TV cameras and microphones outside the House of Commons Reporters want to know if I think the charge against Small was okay First I dont think reporters have more rights than other peo ple so If the cops charged everybody who had the budget stuff then Small should be charg ed too He knew full well what he had the night before Mike Wilson was to deliver the budget and that be some kind of fallout But having said that freedom of the press is important to protect Politicians need reporters looking over their shoulders asking ques tions demanding answers and bei tough with decisions Our system needs checks and balances and the media plays an important role giving us that I dont think quite honestly that anybodys trying to scare the press this action against Small Maybe the RCMP went too far but bow as I mentioned could the police pick and choose who to charge here Ive been telling reporters that Im concerned about the action and will not ultimately support any attempt to gag the press Thats one step too close to state control for this guy This week the minister of public works comes before the commit tee Among other things I want to know why he plans on spending SI million this year on new statues for Parliament Hill Again how is this helping Canadians struggling with tax hikes How is this fair I cant change a lot of stupid decisions made around here but I can raise my voice and will con tinue to do so there are ex amples of government waste or questionable spending you are aware of then please let me know Give Ottawa a dose of what it really needs Common sense The House of Commons commit tee that I chair took a swing at the GovernorGeneral over the last few days and Id like to tell you why That part of the government will spend million this year which is 20 per cent more than last year Given the mood of austerity and restraint around the country with military base closings VIA rail cutbacks and higher taxes kind of signal is this sending to Is it fair that expensive flows at Hall when were all asked to give up more to help pay Canadas debts I dont think so And thats why there was some tough questioning of the GovernorGeneral s staff before our committee Do we need to have the travel allowance in creased by a full Do we need to spend another to establish in Ottawa an office to do heraldry designing coats of arms Frankly this kind of- spending bothers me Im not against the GovernorGeneral or the monar chy or our traditions but I just dont accept the lavish trend going on here Its a time to make every tax dollar count and to be totally fair Nurses needed for Easter Seal The Easter Seal Society urgent ly needs registered nurses to work with physically disabled children aged at residential summer camps from midJune to lateAugust One camp has no nurses four others are understaffed and it is less than two months until the season is due to start The Easter Seal camps are located near Ktrkland Lake Perth Collingwood London and Port Nursing salaries are negotiable depending on ex perience full board is provided for the duration of the camping season and travel costs and from camp will be reimbursed Applicants must have a current Ontario Registration and a minimum of one years recent clinical experience Nurses who intend to specialize in paediatnc rehabilitative or public health nursing will find the Easter Seal camping program a- valuable career experience For further details call Anne The Easter Seal Society 250 Drive suite 200 Don Mills Ontario 4318377 ext or toll free As I write this Im preparing to travel back home dig out my rub ber boots and then to Bolton for the first of three Pick- days we have planned Its a small way of marking En vironment Week a time we should all think hard about the kind of world well leave for the next generation I have invited people to come out in Bolton and later in Burlington and Georgetown just to bend over and pick up polluting trash and litter I most of us are vitally about protecting the en vironment I dont know how many will find the time to come out or what impact the weather and the SkyDome opening will have but let me say in advance that I sincerely thank everybody whos helped me on this issue It just doesnt matter what we accomplish in this world if the world itself is sick The communities we belong to are living examples of all thats worth protecting When Dorothy and I get back to the farm tonight thegift of nature will be there for us Tomorrow morning well do a little repaying Tire flattened Police say someone flattened the tire of a vehicle parked on Main Streel in Glen Williams dur ing the late afternoon of May Property damaged is valued at Clothing RTI Fashions For Toe Young At Heart 115 ST S GEORGETOWN Across From Knox Owed 8732851 APPLE WINDSHIELD REPAIRS Hindi AN Claim P i4fr 8779896 These Stores Have The Convenient Hours To Serve You SHOP LTD St Clair Ice Cream Cones MARKET PUCE Variety Office target OPEN 24 HOURS 7 DAYS I TO I MOVIE 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