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6 -Tise Canadian Champion, Tueaday, March 30, 2004 * Coment It's a vanilla budget Finance Minister Ralph Goodale deiiv- ered bis ftrst federal budget iast Tuesday aftemnoon, a document tbat's sure to be remcmbered for one tbing -its biand- ness. If tbe budget was a tiavour tl would bave been vanilla. If it bad iscen a play tl wnsrtd bave iseen a one-man show about tbc many purposes of tint. Tbis budget was boring - imes 10. Goodale opted to forgo tax cuts or, sur- prisingiy, expensive spending goodies. Considering tbe fact a federal election is expected tbis year, it was downrigbt stu- pefying ste Liberais didn't choose so buy voters witb a taxpayer-friendly budget. Obviously, some Liberal deep thinkers managed to, correctly realize titat offer- ing up tax breaks and spending some of tise enormous surplus wouid be seen by Canadians as biatant vote buying and a feebie attempt to wasb away tise smneii of tise sponsorsisip scandai. In mentioning tise sponsorsbip scandai, the finance minister tried to convince Canadians tbe Liserais bave taken steps to watcb every dollar Ottawa spends tbrougb a series of interniai audits, department comptrolters and a comptrot- ter-general. In otber words, "forget about bow we wasted billions for tbe past 10 years, we've learned our lesson." Sony, titat's asking ton tnucb. Wbile be cbose nos to, offer ant "elec- lion budget," Goodale alto didn't give Canadians a budget tisas improved bealts care, tbe envirnnmens or cities. Uit biggest new initiative in tbis budg- et was a $913 million investment ini "1communities" acrots tbe nation. However, tbis feeble bit of funding wiii do litie to assist ailing cities sucis as Toronto in dealing witb its major prob- lems. Major casb infusions are needed, but Goodale decided to allocate an arnounst of casb tisat will serve as littie more tban a Band-Aid. Shtakespeare perhaps could bave summed up titis Liberal budget best: 'Twas mucb ado about notising. * Our Readers Write Addlng fluoride to town's water w!!! do Reader says she questions if fluorîdation mor ham tan oo, says chiropractor of Milton ls drinking water is a wise move Dear Editor: I've read in Tise Champion recently that the water fluonidation issue bas raised its unwanted itead yet again. How many times do ste people of Milton neeti to tumn titis titing down? Perhtaps tise healtis officiais at Halton Region have too mucis time on their banda. In my opinion, public iseaitis autiton- ties will be hard-pressed to prove titat adding titis chemnical. to our water will do even a pasticle of good. Having raised tr childoen in Milton - ail of wisose teetit are as good or bet- ter titan otisers 1 know fr-om neigitbowmig municipalities, - I wouid like to tee tome facts on tise benefits of fluonidated water. t do know tisat it's of nu benefit to those past tise age of 12, so - as far as L'on concemned - pulting it into our drinldng water is tantamnounit to mass medicatios. Whso needs toi be contuming more chemicats? Isn't our air, food and water suspect etsougis? Dr David PhIlIpe», ohlropMrac Dear Editor: Titis lester is about ste proposed fluoridation of Muston's water - an issue we sitoutd ail be concemed about. Lt would be gond if our cbildren could bave teetit wititout cavities. Some peuple tink tat adding flu- onide to tise public water supply is a way tu acitieve titis, but is titis real- ly ste Set way? As t understand, if fluoride is added to ste water, only a tiny but ail of us will have su drink it, Satite in it, use is for laundry and otiter itouseitold uses. 1 was told Sy someone wito works as a Toronto water treasment site tisas fluoride is itigitty corrosive and thisa tise sisovels used to add ilt so water disintegrate quickly and mnust Se replaced frequently. No douit tise corrosion continues ail strougt ste systemn and into tise water pipes in our htomes. Perisaps it wouid be more effi- amount will be ingestediby ciildren cient to, provide fluoride pis for parents wito want 50 add it te, tiseir cbildren's diet. tt's aiready added to almost every brand of tootispaste. And if you cisoose tootbpaste witbout fluoride, be prepared to pay about $5 a tube for it. isas secons strange wben tootispaste witb fluoride cnsts as lit- ttc as 67 cents a tube. t ask, wby sitoutd we bave to bave fluoride added to, our drinking water? Grace Munnings Miliside Drive *The Canadian Champion Box 248, t9t Maien St. E., Mitton, Ont. L9T 4N9 (905) 878-2341 Editorial Fax: 905-878-4943 Advertising Fax: 905-876-2364 Classified: 905-875-3300 Circulation: 905-878-5947 Ian Oliver Publisher Neil Oliver Associate Pubhisher Jili Davis Editor-s-Chief Karen Smith Maoagiog Editor Wendy McNab Adsernisiog Director Tim Coles Prodacion Manager Charlene Hall Distribsuon Maoager Teri Caosas Office Manager Tha Canadien Champion, pstlished every Tuesday ani Frday ai 191 writer in Main Gi. t., Milton, Ont., LgT 4N9 (Box 248), is une of The Metroturd Printirg, Putlioti & Dtlsibiuting Lia. group of suturtan comparses whict erhc irciostes: AjalPickeriot Boas Advertiser, allision Herald/Courier, Barrie sac .l Advance, Boter tntersnise, arampton Goardiar, Burtington Posi, Burtirtor tSpping Bows, City Parent, City of Yors Guardian, CollingwoodNdasaga Conneciior, tari Yorts Mirrsn, trio Adsocate/Courtt Rouies, ticoke Guatian, Famtorougt Reniew, Foreser Yourg, teorgetown lrdniierdertltscton Free Press, Haton Business imes, Huronia Business P u d imes, Lindsay This Week, Murintam toromisi & tun, Miiard/Peretuot- sishere Mirror, Mmmo Shopping Noas. 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Letters con 6e faxed to (905) 878-4943, e-mailed to miltoned@halton- sm, or dropped off at 191 Main St. E. by Steve Nease The Miton Canaoiar Chamspion is a %ecyclable Pmoduci The Cai and reje( .0