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6 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, Match 9, 2004 *Comment Perception vs. reality A commun public perception ns that politicians, as a wbole, are a bunch of no- good-niks who fali somewbere on tbc lik- abiiity scale between people wbo kick dogr and Osama bin Luaden. The truth un, many politicians are bard workers, puîting in long bours simply to, make their cnmmuniîy a better place. However, in recent days we bave seen several canes wbere perception us realiîy and vice-versa. Case in point #l: Ontario Finance Minister Greg Sorbara, a bigwig in tbe Liberal Party, leamed back in December that a company be directed up until September wan under investigation by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), an agency he ovcrsaw as finance rmister. Instead of stepping down as finance min- inter (as he sbould bave), transferring responsibility of the OSC to another min- istry or even tclling bis boss, Premier Dalton McGuinty, of the investigation, Sorbara kcpt muru about the investigation until the story broke. To make. matters worse, McGuinty us stauncbiy defending Sorbara. Wbere's the credibility bere? Case in point #2: Former Toronto Police Services Board Chair Norm Gardner takes 5,700 rounds of police ammunition -paid for by the taxpayers of course -for bis own use and seen notbing wrong witb bis actions. Case in point #3: Wbile not tecbnicaily a politician, but one wbo knows bow to play the political game and was a former aide to ex-PM Jean Chretien, former VIA Rail cbair Jeau Pelletier offers the worst example. If it wann't bad enougb be oversaw one of tbe Crown corporations invoived in the sponsorsbip scandai, Pelletier exacerbat- ed the situation by degrading whistie- biower Myriaru Bedard as a "pitiful sin- gle mother a cruel, unjustttied com- ment by an officiai entrusted witb mil- lions of public dollars. Tbankfuiiy, be was quickiy fu-ed. Public officiais bave bad better wceks, but somcetbing tell us we baven't beard tbc lant of horror stories like these. *Our Readers Write Iflp nomied for abused woman: rgad Annual Mayor-'s Christian Prayer Breakfajr-«st I'sa wriig with Ow hope dma soSw- ont in Milton cmu help a woenan in neoit. l'u writiitg ont behalf of a wousau who's curreutly living at the local wousen's sheller. This womnia bas been toit that as of torriotow (Matcsh 10), sh.ea momlouer live ai the*hter. She ust either lnoose to itove loi another shekter or find ber own place teolivre. Aflert leavipg bebin an abusive rela- -insi twe riewpths ago, dm oms bas mnaged tu nd enipioyusem in Miknwic*a ewoVîbe able te keep sanhas ee cms IiBB s«Suwhere aise toi live intM". Ahter losing everything she hainl leaneing ber honne behluit, Bhe only thiug she bas left is ber dog. Irm asking senne in Milton witb an euNpty basetueut apatlet or rooin for rent Ébat wifl allow a dog to reaeh ouit sud help Ibis wina get ber lifé bock ou If you ecu help aud show what grma Joamn at (905) 878-5040. I hope that somecone mading dbus eau help awomnan lnoet. *The Canadian Cha'f6,mpioni Box 248, 191 Maan St. E., Tihe Canadien Champion, published every Tuesday and Friday ai 191 Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 Main St. E., Milton, Ont., LOT 4N9 (Bna 248), is ona of Thre Metroland 34 rinting, Publishing & Distributing LUIi. grnup ai subarban campanien mmi includen: Afas/Piciening News Advertise, Allisian Henald/Caurie, Barre (905) 8 7 8 2 3 4 Altuance, Boatan Enienprise, Bnampton Guandian, Bunlingian Post, Bunlingian Shopping Newn, City Panent City ai Yorki Guandian, CallingwaadlWasaga Editorial Fax: 905-8784943 Cannectian, East Yare Minnar, Brin Adancaielçnuntry Rautes, Etabicake Guandian, Flambemnugir Reajew, Farever Young, Georgetown Adveetising Fax: 905-876-2364 IndependentActan Fiee Pness, iafon Business Times, Hunaniia Business 'imes, Lindsay Thtis Week, Marudiam Bcannmist & Sun, Midland/Peneiang- Classified: 905-875-3300 uisiteneMirroanMiton Shpping News, Mississauga Business imes Circulation: 905-878-5947 Era-Banner, Noritumberland News, Noirth York MinorOakiinUe Beaver, Ian Oliver Publisher Onitawa/Whitby/Claringtoni/Pnrt Perry This WeekPeterborough This Week, Pician Caanty Guida, Richmond liillfThonniiNaugiian Libenal, Ocarbannugit NeiI Oliver Associate Publisher Mirran, Staattuille/Oebridge Tribune. Ji11 Davis Editor-in-Chief Advertising la accepted an titi condition titn in thre enent ni a typn- Karen aaith anagin Edit r apical errai. that portin ai tire adveriisinig space nccupied by the erna- Kare Smih M nagig Edtornanas item, ingethen nith a neasanable alloanne for signature, wiii aur be Wendy McNab Advert,sing Director charged for, but ltae balance ni the advertisement wilI ire naîid for ai thre appli- table raie. Thre publislien rasernes the aigit ta caiegannze advenisements nr Tim Coles Production Manager decline. Chariene Hall Distribution Manager Teri Casas Office Manager i% Milton Caeadien Champin s a Renyclabla Piadaat n was another major success, says organîzer Dear Editor: I'd like to thank The Champion for tbc Fcbruary 13 announcement article cntitied 'Coren guent speak- er', giving Milton advanced notice of tbe second annuai Milton Mayor's Christian Prayer Breakfast. As in thc case of Bbe farat annuai event, Bbc second annual Milton Mayor's Cbristian Prayer Breakfast was another wonderfui succens - biggcr and better than we bad boped for. Thnis ycar more Bban 240 peuple braved Bbc eariy Fcbrua-y moming weathcr to come to Rattlesoake Point Golf Club to enjoy a great breakfast and be challenget by Michael Coren. More Bban 240 peuple on a Friday moming in remarkable, and more than 240 before 7 a.m. in even more astounding. Werner DeFilia and bis staff at Rattiennake Point did a rcmarkablc job once again. Guents present inciudcd Haiton MIPP Ted Cbudieigh, neyerai town councillors, clccted nehool t-ustees, superintendents, principais, Beach- ers and adminintraturs froru boBb Bbc Halton Cathoiic Sehool Board and Bbc Haiton District Sebool Board, and of course, our illustrioun Mayor Gord Krantz. Mr. Krantz, truc Bu forti as Bbc honourary cbair, grcctcd and casligbtcncd us in bis own inim- itable way. Mr. Coren, truc Bu bis biiiing, gave a pruvucative kcynotc address. Peuple were truiy movcd by bis challenge Bu Bbc cumanunity of Milton. This annuai event - wiBb more tban 200 peuple iast year and 240 Bbis year - wiil bopefuiiy continue Bu grow cacb year and maintain its roic as a major Milton event. Thank you Bu TIhe Champion for giving Miltonians advanced notice of Bbc affair and Bbcn having a reporter attend tbc procccdings. Thank you for making thc commu- nity aware of such events. Bill MacKlnnon, organizer Milton Mayor'. Chriatian Prayer Breakast Pud by Steve Nease I I