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6-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday May 20, 1997 SCOMMENT B HE 24,19 ainA IAN CHMPO Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 (905) 878-2341 Fax: 876-2364 Classified: 875-3300 Ian Oliver Publisher Neil Oliver Assnnuonte Publisher David Bos Geniertil Mainnager Rab Kelly Edinn>r Karen Huisman Cùrnuuinn Maunager Teri Casas Offin'e Managi~er Tim Coles Prndui-tini Moannager The Canadien Champion, publistitd tice wetkly at 191 Main St. E. Milton. Ont.. L9T 4NE9 (Boa 248), is one ot The Metnnland Pninting. Publishing & Disnibuting Lnd. gnnup un subunban cnmpa- nias whist h cludasý Ajaa / Pickering News Aduannîsan: AllAnnon Hanald/Cnuntn,; Barrie Aduanca, Bnampton Guandian: nunlingtn Pnst, City Panent. Cullingwood / Wasaga Connaction. Eant Ynnk Mitani, tbicoke Guandian, Gnnrgntown Indepnndtnt/ Acton Frnn Press; Kingston This Wnnk. Lindsay Thtis Waak: Mankham tconnmist & Sun, Midland / Ptnetanguisinn Mînnon: Mssissauga News; Nawmanknî / Aunora Ena tannai: Northnumberland News: North York Mînnun. Q akuilla tauan Oniltia Tuday; Oshawa / Whit5y / Ctaningto / Port Panîy This Wenk. Petanborough This Waak. Richmond Hîi / Thonnhili I Vaughan Lîhenal. Scantnnough Minnun, Uatnîdge I SIonIIuîiIa Tribuna, Today's Senions. AduaOtising is accaptnd on tua condition Sdli. oha tuant ofta typoSaphical nanan, Ointl portion oftheO aduentising soaca occupitd by the nîtontous tem. togatOan wiiO a anasonabta altowanca tor signature, wiII nttae changad Ion, Sut tOn balance unione adunotisemant wîiI Sa paîd toi an Ihe applicabla late TSa oublishan nastauts tha nîght to calegorize aduantîsamants or dectîne. A wise retreat Halton Region's bid to back out of Milton's chiorine dispute was, as Mayor Gord Krantz pointed out, at the very least ili- timed. Halton's move was endorsed at the committee level but derailed at full counicil, no doubt after some strenuous lobbying by Milton counicillors. Halton's blunder was a classie example of how the appear- ance of an action can be at least as damaging, if not more so, than the action itself. The rationale was obviously to illustrate that regional offi- ciais had gone to bat for Milton in every way possible. Since they could do littie more, the publicity attached to formally withdrawing from the controversy was to be a parting shot at provincial bureaucratic obstinacy. But such an action was an error in judgment for a number of reasons. First, it obviously alienated Milton politicians - witness the about-face at Halton Region within a week, when full counicil voted 12-8 to continue backing Milton's bid to stop dosing local water with chlorine. That was undoubtedly thanks to Milton's strong behind the scenes displeasure. Second, Milton politicians are peevish when it cornes to Halton already, given the snub to local politicians over water negotiations with Peel Region. Mr. Krantz badly wanted to rep- resent Milton in those talks. He didn't get to do so. Instead two Oakvîlle regional counicillors and Joyce Savoline, Halton's regional chair, will carry the bail. So now is not the time to further annoy or embarrass Milton representatives by bailing out on a cause that is politically explosive in this area. As well, while local MP Ted Chudleigh bas been tuming up the heat at Queen's Park, and a petition to banish chlorine is making the rounds in Milton, it could only have been seen as an insensitive move, perhaps even an insult, if Halton had chosen to quit the field now. There aren't any particularly strong omens indicating Milton will win the chlorine fight no matter how much local animosity is generated. Those who favour chlorination, including regional health officiais and provincial bureaucrats, point to what they see as possible health risks if chlorination is stopped, and poten- tial legal exposure as well should someone contract a serious infection traced toi non-chlorinated water. On top of that, an entrenched and seemingly immovable set of regulations surrounds chlorination, at the provincial level. To change themn would mean at the very least gaining an exemp- tion to those ruies, or altering the rules themselves. It may well be that the will of the people in Milton is not to be served on the chiorine issue. Time will tell, but meanwhile local political representatives - at Halton Region as well as Milton council - must be sensitive to the fact that the situation is fluid, and Milton's adversaries should not be presented with any developments they could view as advantageous. One such develoî'mellt would be a weakening of resolve at Halton Region, or, equally damaging, the perception of faltering. Rob Kelly Pages of the Past One YearAgo From the July 3, 1996 issue In an unprecedcnted move, the Milton District Hospital board of directors agreed toi psy a local obStetrician for his on-caîl services. The hospital board agreed 10 pay Dr. Sushil Suppal, Milton's only obsietrician, $50,000 minus the amount of money he expected 10 receive from the provincial government lu help fund the cost of his mal- practice insurance. The provincial government's Bill 26 had threaîened toi cul off subsidies toi doctors for the high insurance. But after much protest from doctors, Premier Mike Hanris announced that subsidies would be provided for obstetricians. n Afler 33 years in the Halton public school sysîem, Chuck McDonald was retiring. Mr. McDonsld had been principal at Milton's E.W. Foster School since 1990 and had been principal ai numerous Burlinglon achools since he began teaching in 1963. -The Milton and District Horticultural Society was preparing to bring back a popular event among Milton resi- dents. Back by popular demand was the organization's Garden Competition, an event thai had not been held since 1989. Since then the group had been busy gari prestige outside the immediate ares. It received an award from the Ontario Horticultural Association and ils work at Town Hall had been fcatured in a book. The contest would award 28 prizes 10 gardeners in Milton as weIl as the surrounding communities. Pud 115NEW 5LEEPER YOU 1BSY BOUGf4T "A IZ IMON114S- ~etet51O Mro ,EN EVENI 6 Miel. 2 0 Yea rs Ago From the July 6, 1977 issue -Transport officiaIs from the Ontario and federal gov- ernments were scheduled 10 meet in the upcoming weeks 10 iron out a cost sharing progrsm for the expansion of GO Train service 10 Milton snd Sîreetsville. Dr. Frank Philbrook, Liberal MP for Halton, was optimistic about the situation. He said the provincial governmeni was 'ready 10 gel cracking" and aIl that was needed was the expected commilment from the federal government. 5 0 Yea rs Ago From the July 3, 1947 issue - Afler 25 years uf butchering meat in Milton, Robert J. Armstrong was retiring on accounit of ill health. Mr. Armstrong hsd operated Milton's West-end Meai Market since 1942 when he took over from Gordon McLellan who went off lu war. Mr. Armstrong was 10 leave the butchcr shop in the capable banda of bis assistant Ross Holmes. - Provincial police bsd tu discipline a pair of ycsung hoodlums who commiîîed acta of vandalism in the Campbellville ares. The îwo juveniles were connccted wiîh the removal of the roof of s boat bouse belonging Inn the Milton Fishing Club. Three boats were also submcrged in the wster and another waa set adrift. Constable Lemon apprebended and warned them it would not be îolerated. by Steve Nease SMURFS?