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OUR READERS WRITE The Canadien Champion, Tuesday, March 17, 1998 -7 Got a hot scoop? Cail the newsroom with Vour storv ideas -- 878-2341. is00 celLa21By alrîht ihe NrîtEsoNîIclusoîuîry ractîL4 Regona PoiceSevicsBarM11 d o, for0sameAisue (i.e. te importanc of having% respon, firtly b clarfying ho isboardwhen t apprved crrespndenc responsible for theRcompostion of the sent to thefreion to assist council wit remarksAof2some of or regional-represen-appointment process THR PI 9 LGS OF.. CK-S .5 e- -AGA from th commuity. Rgionalcounci midst1f2ail f thiseebateomosthfeour1 HARDIBALL L.BO IC ..UP-o40 ESN elect thre fro itsownPEnksand sYofAemaiing ounciLorshave7eenCuent mandated by the Police Services Act. t has responsibilîty for setting policy and the annual police budget and for determining policing priorities for the entire Region of Halton. For those who wish (and have tried) to applaud anyone for why the Police Services Board in Halton is ail maie and ail white, the prnvince and regional coun- cil deserve the credit -- a dubious distinc- tion in My opinion. As a member of regional council, Oakville's Councillor Keith Bird chaired the committee that selected the region's citizen appointee to the board. In response to the concems raised about the absence of women and minorities on the board, Mr. Bird maintains, "These are non-issues. I think we have gone beyond this. The whole issue blindsided me." Mr. Bird was flot blindsided. He was asleep at the switch. Even if the public can accept the beard is "it is a non-issue" or Mayor Krantz's equally absurd defence of "I'd resign first before I'd engage in reverse discrimination". But silence can be as dangerous as the excuses we have heard. By their silence, the remaining regional councillors have joined Mr. Bird and Mr. Krantz in giving people like Mr. Edgar of Glen Williams and is ilk a green light to publicly "bash" the most disadvantaged groups in our country. This is flot only tragic, it is shameful. It is embarrassing. It is an issue and the excuses and defences put forward to date and the silence of others on Council are making it a bigger issue! Why can't Regional Council accept responsibility for the fact it has made a mistake and take steps to ix it? CALANDBO ORAPIME OJ 71 Mcin tretE Mltn 76318 ~Just lita newt Only6.000 rl! Top of the line! Loadedi Only 18,000 km!! Bal. of GM Ail original. txcellent condi- CD player! Whiite. Stlc#1774 Leaher & CD. Green Sk#1606 warranly! Red. SL.#7300 lion! Green. Sk.#038 * 'al 16,995 sl 6995 saisa-'13,995 Sale $12,995 *a $2W; M$d ;o u$Wýaim19vL * 1995 FORD 1994 CHEV 1994 MC 1993 CADILLAC* * TURUS CL CORSICA SONOMA SUS .4X4 MIVLLE Wed cared for' Bg ger engine, par txcellent Cond! V6 A 10w liard btofnd 4x4! Loaded' Lunury! Dual pwr seals' Gond seat' Champagne Sth#3770 mileage! Red Sk.#1202 Popular mode!. Black. Stkl18 mileage White. Sk.#7750 Leaa ren7ae. Sa! sale $11,995 ~ GORUDS _A FAMIL Wendy Roberts Former chair, Halton Regional Police Services Board