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v. 6 - Tha Canadian Champion, Fnday, Apnl 14, 2000 ~COMMENT 0 .1 Preparing for challenges is affordable price to pay 'I l'IOME. There's no joy m playang Chicken Lîttie in the msdst of an eco- nomic boom. So Regional staff members are nght to bargain that the sky could start falhng once the fiscal good Urnes fade That's why Halton's recommended 2000 budget may turn out to be the calm before the storm If approved aI Wednesday's regional council meeting, this budget wil mean the owner of a home assessed at $185,000 will pay about e $5 more in property taxes for Regional and police services. To achieve that, the Region's portion of the tax bilI has fallen for the sixth year in row. That helped mitigate the rising cost of police services. But how long cari that kind of balancing act be malntalned in the face of upcoming challenges, such as unclogging highway grid- lock, maintaining GO Transit and keeping up tIse downloaded Regional Roads 5 and 25 -- especially since soaring social assis- o + tance costs in the event of a future recession could by itself threaten to spiral tax increases into the double digits. Preparing for those challenges today is an affordable price to pay. ~ O UR READERS WRITE Thank±~ t~ ail th~ tNIB volunteera Chîdren are blessîngs so Iook out for them Dear~ Volupeer Wedc (M~it 94~isispo.s US à~flfl1BBtl I Waflled to~ketllis OppOr- umotis~*elLdftlsôspefsoosaUtin our coistmunity who laIte lime ouI of thelr bdty Uvea to volwstt2r hs v~rl~u5 caj$~citlea. Whisout hie support of volunteers. osyr agency slnd ouI clients would sssffer. Tise Canadian National Institule for theBlind (~ZNm) islswdofoaelsofoUr j current volunleera md le aiwayslooldn$ for ne'.v ones 10 nseet tise densnsd of our clients' needa. Someof lise volunteers who iselp us nrê frleitdly vi~itÔrsIshoppers, drivers on~.ffieeaselstèisLt. We5re always looldng for more volun- teersto lselp Witls friessdly vlsltlng aistI sisopnng Intlse Miasiasauga ares. We casn~ntly have four clients wsihing for malcises. Again thank youîo mIl of our volcan- leurs. Willsout you. we would iselost. Keep cap tise good work. Tracy Weutors, coordinator District Voluntr Sanies, CNIB Hafton/P.el THE CANADIAN CHAMPION Box.248 191 Main St E Tii. Canadian Champion pubiisiied enery 1nesday aid Fniday ai 191 Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 Main Si. t., Miliai, Oie., L9T 4919 <Bon 248), s one ni Tire Meiroard Prinileg, Pniiiishleg & Slsinlbaiing Lid Sronp ni sabarban cîmpanles ailicli leciades: AlanIPîclienInS Boas Adneeiisen, Allisein iienaldlCînnien, Barrie (905) 878-2341 AdvanceBaniy'S Day This Week, Bille, Enierprise, Brampion Guardiar, Shopping Neas, Ciiy Pareei. Ciiy il Yonk Sairdian, CniiingnaoodlWaiiga Coneecilen, tasi Pub Mirnor, hein Edilorial Fax: 8784943 Adnocainllnanhy Braies, Elehicoke Saîrdian, Fiamhorongh Pose. Folenen Ynaeg Senrgeieae ledepeedeeilACinn Fiee PeBîs, Harnela BasIrons Advertising Fax: 876-2364 TimesKiegslne This Week, Liedsay This Week, Markham Eciennisi & Sac MieiiardlPenelangnlsleefli Micron, MOu Shopping Boas, Mississanga Classified: 875-3300 Basnsas Times, Mlsslssoaga Boas, Napanee Guide. Nassagasepa Ideas, Neamarknl/Aarnra lea-Baneir, Bnrihnnberlaed Boas. Nenih Park Mienne. Ian Oliver Publisher Oakvlie Benne,, Sakeilie Ghnpplnn Nias, OlliSmers Mickey Nias, Onlilla Tnday SshaaalWhiibyICiMlnghiiiIPnO Penny ThiS Week, Seaen Soard Neil Oliver A.esneciaie Pubîsher Tribune, Piieniiannagh 7h15 Weeli. Plcloe Cnaniy CalMe, Bichmned fil Degla General Maeager MuiilTbnreblBNanghar Uberai, Scarhnnaagb Mimer, Sieniiniiie/Sebnldge Trlbani. Karen SmIBh Ediinr Adnenilsing s acceiiied ne 15e conduline nai. IrIse enini ni a ippa- geaphicai mme, ihai perilon Si lia adniriisieg space uccnpled by ihe erre- Steve CroiBer Cmecutaaiarno Mwiaager meas lien, iegaiiner ami a niasoriailie aiinaanoe me lignaina, aIS rai hi Ted Casas Office Manager chargd fer, bai lia balance niai adnerliseaBei ahI hi palM inn ai lia applicable raie, 75e pahllshîr resimees ai rîghi le caiegnebi idnerlise- Tuas Colis Pr<nductieai Manager espres ne êciieei. Dear Editor: To the boy who wantn 10 do oomething conStructive instead of destructive: Yes, the young should have a say in their town. Ail other groups do. But we need 10 do il in a civilized manner. The moSI important aspect of young people is Iheir educalion. This is a priorily in Iheir liven for nowand the future. SchoolS have been failing 10 do Ihis becaute of aIl the social pren- sures in Ihis life. Tlsene young, laI- ented and intelligent people have been given Iheir freedom b do what they want withoul tise conse- quencen on an individual basis. What has Milton got 10 offer for the youngenl who has so mucis 10 lears about their world but are being insîrucled on Ihe Tobacco Restraint Act in grade 7, which states clearly Ihe person haa 10 be 16 years old 10 omoke in a public place. But, 10 conîradict thiS law, the person has lobe 19 yearn of age 10 legally buy Iheru. PerhapS the ntudents have losI tise idea of how 10 enjoy them- selves wiîhout being a burden 10 nociety. AIl theSe progranna (sucis as D.A.R.E.) are instructive but are taking Ino mucis lime from Ihe aca- demic side of public schooling. Teaching aI lise grade 3 level about peer presnure, druga and smoking - - what is this teaching an eight- year-old? Thanks from Fred Johnson Dear Edltor: I wish 10 thank 111e Millon Chamber of Commerce and tise nominalor 0f tIse Lifetime Achievement Award. I also exproas gtalllude l~ ail my family Mmd fîlenda fortiseir suppottatsclcooporition. Fred Johnson Wlton iii .*1 The schooi needs 10 be more accessible to the parents. We need to caler to a balanced effort for the young, old and montly the working person that stnve 10 have a decent lifestyle. I would alno like 10 say the money from the gambling centres lu nothing compared to the social problems that thin town will have w face. Another one in 16-year-oldn can choose where 10 live - outaide the family unit even if they go 10 the streets. This freedom is given to a 16- year-old student. Why is il that this person cannot vole, buy cigarettes. buy liquor. cannot gamble and can- not drive a car but is given the free- dom of choice 10 place themnelves in a veiy dangerous and vuinerable Situation? We have 10 learn 10 balance our lives and lake greal care in our children'S lives becauoe each one is unique and a blessing. M. Taha Bronta Street Pud by Steve Nease