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¶ 6 -The Canadian Champion, Tueeday, Juras 8, 19OM * COMMENT This is why the rules are going to change 24 It's no >wonder numerous groups and individual s are fighting hard for stiffer penalties surrounding impaired driving causing deatb. - The recent sentencing of a drunk driver reported on the front page of duis newspapi is a prime exaniple of bow the current system is failing to serve justice. ibis is tbe case of a man witb a criminal bistory in wbicb bis drinking problem bas repeatedly landed bim. before the courts. This time, hie tossed aside another chance to change bis behaviour by driving drunk and killing a young woman who stili bad most of bier life abead. For that, be will only spend up to two years in prison as well as under- go random urine and saliva tests for alcohol 1after be gets out of jail. f" ( To a reasonably-thinking person, tbat's simply not rigbt. The sbort sen- tnce isn't a fitting punishment for taking an innocent person'ps life, espe- cilyunder these circurnstances. Wbile the accused bas already been banded several chances to mdf bis bebaviour, the victim won't ever get a second chance. Karen Smith ~ ~O UR READERS WRITE Why is there greater po verty in Halton Y +THE CAJVADL4N CHAMPION Box 248, 191 Main St. E., Tihé Camadiae Ciuw*ln, published every Tuesday and Friday Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 ai 191 Main St. E., Milon, Ont., LOT 4N9 (Box 248), Is oaa af Thte Melraiand Printing, Pubiishlng & Distribuling LWd. group of tub- Q7Q'),if ~urban companies wbicb Includes: Ajax 1 Pickering News (905)878 -2341W Advertiseî; Ailistan Herald/Courier; Barrie Advance; Bramptan Guardian; Bariingtan Post; City Parent; Callngwoad 1 Wasaga Editonial Fax: 878-4943 ConnectIon; East Yort Mirrar; Etabicake Geardian; Georgetown independenti Acton Free Press; Kingalan This Week; Lindsay Titis Advertising Fax: 876-2364 Weeit; Marltiarn Econamial & San; Midiand 1 Penelanguishene Classified: 875-3300 Mirror; Mississauga News; Newmarket I Aurara Era Banner; Nortumberland News; Northt Yorkt Mirrarr OakvlIe Beaver; Orillia Ian Oliver Publisher Taday; Oshtawa 1 Wititby I Claringlon 1 Part Perry Titis Week; Peterboraughr Titis Week; Richmond Hil I Titarhili I Vaaghtan Nel Oliver A.rsociate Publisher Liberal; Scarboraugh Minair; Uxbrldge I Staufftîle Tribune; Bl Begin General Manager Taday's Seniors. Rob ellyFditr Mverllsing la accepled an lte conditian titat, la the eveat of a Rob Klly Eatortypogiaphical enr, thal portion ai lte advertising space accu- Km-ean Crees Circulation Manager pied by lteé erioneoun item, lagelter witit a reasonabie aiiawance Tedi Cuea Office Manager fai signature, wilt att be citarged fai, bal lte balance af the adveriisemenl waii ba paid fai at lte applicable rate. Tite pubilsher TIMn Celes Production Manager reserves lte lgt ta calegarize advertlsements or dectine. Dear Editor: Recently I had thse oppoitunity to hear a speaker from Halton's Social Planning Council, who pre- sented somte distuaiing facta, and if they were ditlnsting to me, I hope they are even more disturbing to, Halton MIPP Ted Chudleigh. Did you know that in Halton, there are 11 food banks and they are in greater use each month, noît only by single parents with chil- dren, but increasingly by two par- ent families as well? Apparently, tetween 1992 and 1996 there bas been a 52 incoease incoease in those living below the poverty line in Halton. This was ahocking tomne as 1 know Halton includes some of the communities with thse highest per capita income in Canada- That certainly wouldn't include a family of four living on $23,000 or less - Statistics Canada's definition of poverty. If thse economy is boonning, taxes are being cut, few people are on Welfare and SO many more are working, why then is there greater poverty in Halton? Well, evidently many of these new jobs are only paying minimum wage - not a job I would like to have as a parent of three children. Many of these people are living lives of quiet desperation and when their childoen arrive in our equally- fumded school system, the support staff that used to, be there to help them are unable to, respond ade- quately because many of their posi- tions have been eut and those remaiing are expected to, handie enormous case loads. An increasing number of chil- dren are at risk in Halton because their parents are living below the poverty line They may barely have enough to eat or te in danger of homelessness tecause in Halton, the average rent for a three-ted- room apartment is more than $900. Our people and especially our children are our greatest resource and while it's important to balance thse budget and maintain a healthy such haste that we create increasing social inequality? Mary R..ve. Milton Bad move, says upset reader Dear ditor: Yotar front-page story (lune 1) about the Halton Regional Police Association's support of Halton MPP Ted Chudleigb is disquieting. That the police should cornte out in support of a particular politician two days befooe an election is, to say the least, unfortunate. Surely, police should refratin from taking part in political debate. I also have qualma about illus- trating this story with a photo of Mr. Chudleigh anad positioning it in the most prominent space in the newspaper. In my opinion, this is tantamount to advertising for him. Ken Lamb Milton Pud by Steve Nease