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6 - The Canadian Champion, Friday, February 25, 2000 SCOMMENT en ftetosnddla il. Councillor's absences N APPARENTLY have come.too often ~~WH Ward 3 Councillor Lieven Gevaert is probably a nice, well-inten- tioned man. When he says he's doing his best to keep up with issues \s , O "II4 I , affecting his Nassagaweya riding while working as a consultant ine ROo Israel, he probably is. ) Good intentions were certainly revealled when he saved taxpayer's ~ money by voluntarily eschewing his $1 1,684 annual stipend. And good intentions are lovely. But they don't have a vote on coun- cil. Neither does Mr. Gevaert when he's in a different country. According to a recently-released attendance report, Mr. Gevaert showed up for just 20 out of 47 meetings in 1999. And the situation isn't about to change soon, as Mr. Gevaert's Israel contract has been extended for another few months. That means he may be back in time to begin campaigning for the municipal elections in November. If Ile does, constituents should know that a vote for him on the ballot could mean not having a vote in counicil chambers about half the time. ....... Jt AI They should know that good intentions and good representation don't 5O % $ always go hand-in-hand. OU2kR READERS WRITE 1 wouild like to thaask thse goo4 Sart*aitan whoook thse tirrie to clcar ottide eand cf my driveway ad sev- ea other cn es e et Fébruary 14 at loeeitissi. It's very gocil toi kaolw tiat anc Sti bas neighsiours that wiIl beip one aisother in âimes cf accil like we have on George Strect, anti l'tri sure tisat it Was greatly appreciateil by ail tise boh ods. Once agaos, thanks. Michaeil . Waoeham Letters welcome The Canadian Champion wel- cornes letters to the editor. We reserve the right ta edit, revise, and reject letters. Letters must be signed and the address and the telephone num- ber cf the writer included. Mail letters ta: The Canadien Champion, Box 248, Milton, Ont., 19T 4N9, or leave themn ai aur office, 191 Main St. E. THE CANADL4N CHAMPION Box 248, 191 Main St. E., Tbm Canae Cheampion, publiished every TueSday and Fridas at 191 Main St. t., Milton, Ont., 191 4N9 (Boa 248), ls ont of The Metroland Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 Printing, Pulshmng & Distributlng LfW. groan of suhorban companteS efrch incltdes AjaxIPichering News Adertiser, Alliston HeraldlCourier, Barre (905) 878-234 1 Adanct, Barrys Bay This Wetk, Boite,, Eterprise, Brampton Guardian, Bunlirrgton Pot, Burlington Shopping Nees, City Parent, City of York Guardian, ColingwooltlWasaga Connectlnn, tast York Mirror, trio Editorial Fax: 878-4943 thdvocatelCountry Routes. 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Karen Smith Edinor Augothsing la accepteti on tht condition that. in tht eveot of a typo- graphicat emror, that portion of tht aduedtiSing space occupied hy tte erro- Steve Crooler Circulatioun Manager meous item, ftgther wfth a reasonabte aiiowance tor signatue, mili non bc Ter[ Cass Office Manager charged for. but tht balance of tht adoertitemtet il b paid for at tht applicable rate. Tht pubtisher reoerns tht right ta categoriot adoetise- Tino Colts Produtoni( Manager mente on dectire. We don'"t have to agree with you, councîllor Dear Editor: Re: Letter 'Seniors' needo ignored by five councillors' (February il). It was with seme disbelief and then growing anger that I read Councillor Rick Malboeuf s letter te the editer. once agsin, after net getting bis way at council, Mr. Maibeuf chose te attack bis coileagues and those ef the public wbe disagree witb himt threugb this paper. 1 believe The Champion sbouid charge for these letters, whicb are more political advertisements than letters te the editor. The root issue of hio letter is the proposed E.C. Dnsry development. However, 1 wish te focus on the misinformation contained in Mr. Maiboeuf's letter. He says "the report frem ESAC mentions the need for this type of housing" for seniors te be able te look after themnseives. The article in The Champion of Febnay 9 quotes tihe report as identifying the need for "affordability" and "accesuibility." ibis is stressed thmoughout the arti- cie. The article points eut that the report identifies 50 percent of Halton's seniors living on less than $20,000 per year and a further 15 per cent are beiow the poverty line. Affordable housing means pay- ments of $500 or Iess. Mr. Malboeuf, like the develop- er, is content se use the remaining 35 per cent as justification fer this developmient. 1 would àrgue that those 35 per cent aren't where Our priority lies when taiking about afferdable housing for our seniors. For the developer and Mr. Malboeuf te use the issue of seniors' housing te create 195 sin- gle-famnily dwellings and attack politicai fées is unacceptable. The developer can net prove that these units onili be for seniors only as he knows that the Charter of Rigbts will prohibit such a designa- tien of a housing subdivision. Further, the price of the units bas been rumnoured te be as bigh as $200,000. Does this meet the ESAC's urgent needo for "afford- able" and "accessible" senior accommodations? Mr. Malboeuf has made bis posi- tion clear this it's net wot fight- ing te Gave a few trees. In my opin- ion, it' s wortb fighsing for net oniy the trees, but also for what is right. Using our seniors te mask the reai design of this proposai and score politicai points is wreng. Mr. Malboeuf sbouid know that in a democracy, net sil of us have te agree wîth bis ideas. Sometimes, when you lose yeu have te be big enough te accept if -- in this case the will of counicil and many of the citizens of Milton. Sometimes the more the odds are ttacked against you the more you have te, be willing te stand up for what is rigbt. Many a Iosing fight has tumed into victery because the trtsth wins eut. This is such a fightL Olive Thuraton Syer Drive .Pud by Steve Nease