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6 - The Canadien Champion, Frlday, January 22, 1999 + OPINION Box 248, 191 Main St. E., Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 (905) 878-2341 Editorial Fax: 878-4943 Advertising Fax: 876-2364 Classified: 875-3300 Ian Oliver Publisher Neil Oliver Bill Begin Rob Kelly Karen Cross TerI Casas Tim Coleu A.uociate Pablisher General Manager Editor Circulation Manager Office Manager Production Manager The Canadien Champion, publlshed every Tuesday and Saturday af 191 Main St. E., Milton, Ont., L9T 4N9 (Box 248), Is one of The Metroland Printlng, Publishlng & Olatributing Ltd. group of suburban companies which includes: Ajax / Pickering News Advertiser; Allistnn Herald/Courier; Barrie Advance; Brampton Guardian; Burlington Post; City Parent; Collingwood / Wunuga Connection; tuat Ynrk Mirror; Etobicoke Guardian; Georgetown Independent/ Actan Free Press; Kingston Tis Woek; Lindsay This Week; Markhum Econamint & Sun; Midland I Pene- tangaishene Mirror; MIssissauga News; Newmarket / Aarora tra Banner; Northumberland News; North York Mirrar; Gakville Beaver; Oritla Today; Oshawa I Whitby / Clarlotton I Part Perty ibis Week; Peterborought ibis Week; Richmond Hilil Thornhiill Vaughtan Liberal; Scarboroagft Mirror; Uxbridge IStouffville Tribune: Taday's Seniors. Advertising is accepted on the contition that, In the event of a typographical error, that portion of the advertising space ac- pied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonoble atlowunce for signature, wlll not be charged for, but tht balance of the advertisement ai be paid for ut tht applicable rate. The publisher reserves tht right ta categorize advertinements or decline. Legacy of bittemessi will haunt RC system The dispute that separates parties in Catholic high school bargaining is threatening to leave lasting, perhaps indelible, marks. Students are fed up, and so are parents, who have formed a citizen's group with the express purpose of ending the bargaining impasse. The organization apparently has no political affiliation. Now we hear administrators within the Catholic systemn are worried that parents and students will vote with their feet, and boit the Catholie educational system. How unfortunate it has corne to this. In the face of an unblinking standoif, Catholic education in Halton may be severely compromnised as the best and the brightest leave it. They would do this to make certain that they receive at least the saine quality of education as their competitors -- the other students seeking places in universities and colleges across the province.. Because the two warring parties in this dispute, the local Catholic board and its teachers, have been unable to resolve their differences, lasting structural damnage may be done to Catholic education. Even now, there is evidence that the scant goodwill remaining among parents and students is rapidly evaporating, as is their patience. If the issue is resolved soon, relief will be tempered by lasting resentment over opportunity and time lost. That is what the prevailing rancor has caused, and bitterness will be its legacy. One can only hope both parties are able to live comfortably with that, secure in the knowledge that they tried their best to avoid what has become a sad, ugly situation. OUR~ READERS WRITE Reader applauds work of Kelly, Scherer Dear Editor: I do flot promote gambling. I love our umaîl town newspaper and enjoy our local politicu, municipal and regional. I arn a member of ueveral orders and service clubs in this regionai municipality and cannot give ail my time to each ai one time. I have read of a certain foui odour in the air that I find the nom. Politica wili always have it. Groupa like the Milton Ratepayers Asuociation (of which inm a non-active member) are made up of the local taxpayers. I applaud Pat Kelly and Paul Scherer for their efforts to, keep this community up to date on what I refer to as the 'anake in the grass' issues. The federal govemment has just again done it to us, with the increase in empioyment taxes that wasn't properly announced. Provincial, regional and munici- pal governmentu are flot exempt. That in the whole purpose of these amall local associations, even if they are supported by a lot of non-active members on a shoestring budget. Government has in the past few years and will into the next millennium feel the sting of the taxpayera' whip. Accountability for actions and words are paid for ut election time. Even that has flot always proven successful for the taxpayer. If governing councils did more decision- making in view and earshot of the public and flot behind closed doora, the public wouid be better served. Walter A. Trattord Milton Imight as well brng in a dozen or so cats Pheeeeew. Stinks in my office. Like a litter of incontinent cats camped out for a month. So I am told. This from a woman who loves cats. You know the type. Has cat calendars and cat doo-dads on her desk. Overali animal lover, but kitties top filt. Don't much care about cats one way or the other myself. Neyer had a cat calendar. Do have one with seantily clad women holding construc- tion tools at building sites. Husband of lady who worlcs here gives me new copy every year. He is in the concrete business. Women in photos are flot realiy in construc- tion. Otherwise I would be in it too, instead of sitting around in the kitty-musk rarefied air of my now compromised office. Decided to take pseudo, construction women calendar home. Politically incorrect for office, much like current occupant. However, too expensive for parent corporation to, get rid of lat- ter. Ditching former makes latter look-more sen- sitive. Appearance is everything, especially when lying. Have strange bugs in office too. They set up household in the wall, apparently. One just land- ed on my arm. Big brown thinga with red stripes on wings. Only come out as weather warms up. Welcome infestation during Januaay. Freak thaw is here. Suppoued to be 9 Celsius by Saturday. Bugs will be positively sunbathing in office, if they can stand the smell. Reason office stinks is because rug got soaked in successive flooda over last week or so. Now it's mouldy. Eavestroughs froze, snow piled up on roof, water deluged into basement, where Politically Incorrect resides. Similar atonies al over town. Somewhat unnerving, though. Electrical panel and hydro meter are behind false wall in samne office. Water dripping in from that area. No dan- ger at this time, says friendly viaiting electrician contacted by paranoid editor. Hired crew of guys to dlean off roof Tuesday. Rather, pestered people in Oakville head office to do that. Contractor charged a bit more than $800 to get rid of snow and ice. Took a couple Rob' Kelly of hosars with five men. Contractor could easily bill $2.000 a day if busy. Roofing may be good fallback position for chiropractors and comn- modities traders if things get slow. Another woman reporter who works here came in office when carpet was soaked. Did a little dance, stamping feet to make water splash. Like Shania Twain in that video. Ever-alert editor said, "You look like Shania Twain in that video." 'That's an insuit," replied mriffed visitor. She is big country music follower, but of the harder edge. Committed fan of Steve Earle, ex-heroin junkie, Dylanesque, dark side bluesy composer. Thinks Shania Twain is a bimbo. Personally, would flot kick Shania Twain out of construction calendar photo shoot. Don't mind seeing her splash around during music video, either. Better than watching Steve Earle mope through a song any day, no matter how tai- ented people uays he is. Quick notes of thanka: To Anne and John Courtney, who sent me a battery operated bock de-icer after that last column, which mentioned something about frozen car doors amid a jumble of other rambling. To colleagues in Oakville and Milton, who actually worked quickiy in attempta to stem the local flooding problemn, and paid significantly to do that. To the person who retumned my mispiaced headphones at the gym recently. Now I can watch certain women gyrate around on the Country Music Channtel while'putting in tread- milI miles - and at least pretend to be listening. .~1 T$PWco compPm4es Fi61T RACK' Smoking causes impotence Health Canada