The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

COMEN ONTARIO Prison privatization j ust flot appropriate When it cornes to the complex area of corrections, jaîl pnivatizatîon isn't one of Ontario Premier Mike Harris' better ideas. Correctional officer and Ontario Public Service Employees Union repre- sentative Mike Dakroub makes a case against pnivatizing provincial jails in a story elsewhere in this newspaper. While we're not entirely convinced that community safety and staff secu- rity would be at risk under jail privatization -- as Mr. Dakroub maintains - we have to agree that the ideajust isn't appropriate. The bottom line is corrections isn't something that should be left to pri- vate enterprise. Due to the nature of the beast, it's better left as a govem- ment responsibility in wbicb tbere's more opportunity for checks and bal- ances. The government bas already taken measures to save money in corrections by creating 'supejails' -- like the one Milton wîll soon see open its doors. Let's not make the mistake of going overboard wîtb cost-saving mea- sures, as it appears we've already done in allowîng our health care system t to fall below acceptable standards. Let's remember what makes this coun- try stand out above the rest. O UR READERS WRITE Speak Up before it's too fate T*ýHE CANADIAN CHAMPION Box 248, 191 Mais Si. E. The Candin Champion, publnsired every Tuesday and Friday ai l9t Main Si. E., Milton, Ont., LgT 4N9 (Box 248), is ona of Thre Metroland Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 Printing, Pablisimng & Distribting LI. group of subanitan companles ntnicir ~ includes: Ajax(Pickernn News AdofiriSef, Allision HeraldlCounier, Bannie (Qfl5'i 7I -2 34 1 Adoance. Barrys Bay This Week, Bolier Enterpnise, Brampton Guarian, Bantingion Post, Bantingion Shopping aNs, City Parent, City of York Suardijan, CollingwnodlWasaia Conrection, East Yank Mirro, tnin Editorial Fax: 878-4943 Advocaie/Coantry Routes, Etobicoke Soandian, Plamborough Post. Fonever Young, Geongeton lndependentActon Free Press, ilaronia Basiness Advertising Fax: 876-2364 Times, Kingston This Week, Lindsay Tis Week, Markiram Ecoromist b San, Midland/Penetanguistrere Mirron, Milon Stiopping News, Mossissauaa Classified: 875-3300 Business Times, Mississaoia Nens, Napanee Saide. Nassagaea Ns, Newmanlcetiaurora Era-Baoner, Norumberland Nens. North Yarir Mirror, Ian Oliver Pulsher Sakoilta ieaven, Oakolie Shopping tNens. Simens Hockey News. Oiitia Tontay, israwaWiltbylClarington/Port Penny This Wenb, Owen Sound Neil Oliver As.rociate Publisher Tibune, Peterboroughr Thins Week, Picton Couniy Guide, Richimond Bill Begin Geeeeral Manager iiillllinornnilli/auiiran Liberal, Scarborougir Minnon. Stouttoille/Oebnidge Tribune. Karen Smith EdiOoir Adorrtising ix acceptrd on tire condition that, in thre ruent ai a typo- Stev Crzier Cirulaton anagrinainiical enmor, tirat portion ot tire advertising space occupied by tire enro- Stev Croier ircuatien Maagerreni item, togeriren nitir a neasonable allonance ton sinature, nul noi ire Tern Casas Office Manager ctnanied ion, but tire balance of tire adoertisement wiii ire paîd ton aitie applicable rate. The publisir resemves tire rîgirt to categonine adoontise- Tim Coles Preadaciion Manager ments or niecine Dear Editor: We are extremely concemned about the rapid lois of prime agricultural lands wîthin the Greater Toronto Area (OTA) and in particular the region of Halton.- We are constantly reminded as we drive through the countiyside of the aignificant number of farm properties being developed and the amount of prime agricultural land eiher up7 for sale or about to be sold for future urban development. According to a recent impact study conducted by the Regional Municipalitiea of Durham, York, Peel and Halton, the lando within the GTA continue to create a prime agri- cultural area and qualify as pant of the 5 per cent of the Canadian land mass that is designated as Claoo i land. At present, GTA farmo have a high productivîty, good land and good land acceso. This trend of disappearing farm- land and must be stopped and plan- ning for urban services should be done more comprehensively to avoid pressure on prime agricultural land. Once this resource is gone there ix no recourse. Has anyone realized the long-terni implications for these van- iohing lands? 'Me agricultural industiy must con- tinue 10 grow and adapt to new tech- nology and that can only happen if the land base is protected and main- Waned. Where will your food comne from when the land is under concrete and asphalt? Food ix essential t0 everyone. What can you do 10 ensure that Ontario grown food wil always be available? We ail need to becomne more aware of this loss of land. If you are concerned about this issue, contact Halton MP Julian Reed and Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh before it's too late. Karen Geary and Jean Anderson Limehouse Women's Instituts Letters welcome The Canadian Champion welcomes lettera ta the editor. We reserve the right ta edit, revuse, and relect letters. Lattera must be signed and the address and the tele- phone number of the writer included. Mail lelters ta: The Canadian Champion Box 248, Milton, Ont. 19T 4N9 or leave themn at our office, 191 Main St. E., or Fax ta 878- 4943. Pbud by Steve Nease __:m-