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ti-The Canadian Champion «ru esday May 13, 1997 1 I ~LIKE1-MIS NeNpL.p T_ 2l' -OfS NK? 1 MrRPcr TH CNAIN HAiP1N UIL?>» oùUûbNM . Box 48, 191 Main Si. E., Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 (905) 878-2341 Fax: 876-2364 Classified: 875-3300 Ian Oliver Publisher Neil Oliver A.nsocieate Publisher Rob Kelly Editor Karen Huisman Circulation Manager Teri Canas Office Manager Tim Cotes Production Manager Tine Canaa Champion, published twice weeniy an 191 Main Stn E.. Milton, Ont., LgT 4N9 (Bex 248), is une ni The Meinelanni Pninning, Publeiing & Distibuin Lii. gneup ni eubunban cempa- nies which incledes: Ajau 1 Picknening News Adenisen; Ailisien iienad/Cunien, Bannie Aduance; Bnampton Guandian; Bunlingtn Pesi, CiiY Panent Ceiiingweud i Wasana Cennecnîen: East Yenrk Minnen: Enebicuke Guandian: Geengetone lndependeniJ Acnun Fnee Pness: Kingsnon This Week; Lindsay This Week: Mankbam Ecenemisn & bue: Miiand / Penenannuishene Mienne: Mississauta News; Newmainen / Aunera Ena Banen Norihumbnenland News, Nth Venin Mienne: Oakuilie Beaven: beillia Teday; Oshiawa / Whftiiy / Ciarinnen / Poni Penny ibis Ween: Peterbereugh Thnis Week. Ricimnneil 1 Theniît / Vaughnan Uiberal. Scaninenauge Mineen. Uxbinenge 1 Sinuitenlle Tnibue; Teday's teniors. Aduertising is accepini un nue condition tuai, in the eneni ni a tipegnapilca ennun, mhai porteoni ofiie ailuenisien space eccupieni by the errneuus innm. negeniner wiih a neasonibe alenwance tee signatune, null nen inn chungen fon, bei nue balance ef ihn aduennisemeni nîli be pou ifor ai Ted Lindsay AdvertisinManae the upplicable raie. The publisher esenves the rgh eo catege nee n, gradenisemenis or decline. A delicate balancing act There probably wereq't too many sympathetic faces in the crowd as Haiton North MPP Ted Chudleigh performed an ago- nizing and delicate balancing act at the Optimist Centre last week. One veteran political observer thought Mr. Chudleigh blew iby flot teliing the crowd that he would back them against Q ueen's Park if Milton District Hospital is radically altered or closed. > That in truth would likely be expecting too much from Mr. Chudleigh, who is after ail a member of the government. Premier Mike Hanris would undoubtedly take a dim view of any MPP who told people in his constituency he would buck Cabinet on this highly controversial issue. Mr. Harris'is after ail the person who created the Health Services Restructuning Commission. That commission is said to operate at arm's length from the governiment, but it's mandate is clear. Lt is to cut costs wherever deemed practical. On top of that, Mr. Harrs is a man who does flot appear dis- posed to tolerating dissension in the ranks. Witness the recent demotions of mavericks. So Mr. Chudleigh, as a member of the govemrment, cannot really go against the Health Care Restructuring Commission's i mandate to score political points at home with angry, worried constituents. To his credit, he did not. e He told the crowd that the process was necessary, would be good for the province in the end, and was regrettable from the human perspective. That was really ail he could say. There is no question many people are going to be angry, resentful and hurt if there are big changes at Milton District Hospital. As has been said before, there are many, many hardworking, caring individuals working at and associated with the hospital. We know no more than anyone else about what will happen in Milton. Lt is probably unlikely the institution will be closed, just as it is probably unlikely it wîll remain exactly as it is now. The Optimist Centre meeting organized last week by a union group at the hospital, offered little in terms of useful insight on that question. However, to some extent it did show us that Mr. Chudleigh is willing to stick to his guns, unpopular as that may be. Lt also showed us how deeply people care about the future of Mifton District Hospital - approximately 350 turned out. Unfortunately, it also illustrated that there is a federal elec- tion going on. Reform's Rick Malboeuf didn't put up any signs outside the Optimist Centre but both the Liberals and the Tories did. That was probably a mistake. Although ail the federal can- didates were invited to the meeting, a bit more decorum would have been in order on this one issue. Lt smacked of political opportunism, waving signs around (figuratively) while people filed in worried about their jobs and their health care. 0 f course the members of these parties take their politics seriously and believe in their respective causes. But that was a littie over the top. -Rob Kelly Pages of the Past O ne YearAgo From the May 15, 1996 issue oThe Town of Milton was whacked with a 22.4 per cent increase on its municipal insurance plan for 1996. The rate hike came courtesy of the Frank Cowan Company, the municipal insurance firm used by Milton. AI Forbes, a Cowan Company representative, explained that premium increases were averaging 20 to0 25 per cent across Canada and that his company was working directly with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to make changes in the Municipal Act that would limiùt liabiliîy for local govemn- ments. Town officials, however, agreed to investigate a tendering process for the upcoming year to see if they could gel a better insurance deal. - Nearly four years of legal battling ended wben the Town of Milton agreed to a settlement with Jim Scott, a local compost farmner. The agreement allowed Mr. Scott to continue with his large-scale composting as long as the fol- lowing conditions were met - that Mr. Scott receive a certificate of approval from the Ministry of the Environment, that landscaping improvements be made to keep the composting operation out of view, that the size of the operation be limited and an end be brought 10 aIl legal proceedings. Neighbouring renidents complained vigorouely, though, utating the agreement did little to combat the noxious odours emitted from the compost farm. - Alex Luychx, 13, of Milton was soaring off to the Lego National Championships at Ontario Place. Hie 'Galactic Explorer' waa chosen from a field of thousandu to qualify hlm for the national lego building challenge. Alex was one of box finalosts from acrose the country. 20 Years Ago' From the May 18, 1977 issue -ProposaIs for a new town square were being drawn up by Milton staffers. The square would be a green space in the centre of town on land next to Town Hall on'Main Street. The site adjacent to Town Hall, formerly a Sunoco station, had recently been purchased by council. Preliminary plans called for the demolition of the gaa sta- tion, extensive landscaping and the construction of a umaîl parking lot ai the rear. 50 Years Ago From the May 15, 1947 issue A small tire at the Milton Inn waa brought under con- trol quickly, but not without giving quite a scare. A blazing matress was first noticed by Viola Gervas, an employee who smelled smoke as she waa working. The tire was put oui with a pail of water and only damaged the bed and a few articles of clothing. *Trafalgar Townuhip council took îwo steps toward healing its ailing road condition. It decided to appoint a road uuperintendant and purchased a fave-acre plot of land on Concession 5 in Nelson for une au a gravel pit. Pud by Steve Nease