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-.&-The OLamadlin, Champion, -TisesiyaAugmt 9,2ooS Scomment Good luck no accident There's no doubt divine intervention had a hand in last Tuesday'n miraculous survival of 297 passengers and t12 crew members of the ill-fated Air France air- liner at Pearson International Airport. but critical emergency planning and response arc anoong the nmain reasons for the happy cnding to this incredible story. The Toronto crash was the tirst in the t4 year history of the Airbus A340 air- craft, but, by most accounts. the extraor- dinary actions of the flight crew, Greater Toronto Airport Authority emergency services and the passengers themnselves prevented it from becoming a-tragedy. 'Me incident is simply mind-boggling. Under harrowing circumnstances, 309 people managed to, exit a bumning airplane in under Iwo minutes with many racing through a wooded ravine to the relative nafety of Canada'n busiest highway. Even more remarkable svas the fact few passengers suffered more than cutn and scrapes. Airport cmnergency services arrived on the scene less than a minute after the crash to assist passengers and begin hos- ing down the buming airliner. tn recent years air travel regulations across North America and Europe have been tightened in an effort to reduce the risks to passengers caugbt up in acci- dents. Among the changes was the so-called -golden rule" in wbicb every passenger on a commercial airliner must be able to exil a plane within 90 seconds of an inci- dent. The time limit was lowered during the 1980s and flight crews were put tbrough more intensive training designed to help them cope with extreme circumstances. Emergency ligbting is now standard along cabin floors and ceilings, while seats and other fumnisbings are made from, fire-r-etardant materials. Last Tuesday's accident is the reason mock disasters are held, training guide- fines are tougbened and regulations con- stantly cbanged. Those factors, along with a lot of luck, are the reasons wby no one died in Iast Tuesday's crash. *Our Readers Write Stronac*-s prychange questionable Srearing rival politîcal party does nothing Duer it- I'm wriling in response to Halton NF Qar Carr's recent letter regarding Bel"nd Stonach. Of course be would tink Ms Stroach macle the right decision to cross thse floor and jomn the IÀberas - be is a Luberal. In my opinion, she jumnped sbip and "od out. Ai she did, I believe, is bargain ber vote for a better position withfin a party. If she was an concerned with ail ie nome chaging and combining of patiea, why wouln't she leave atthiat tinse? 1 for oase will be watching ber riding veiy closef y ait Ille next election. This wiIl shw me wbether thse people were votmng due to thse issues she was standing for or on the party platformn. In my opinion, tbe latter was probably the case. Ourla Brown Benrnd gobulvard The Canadian Champion Box 248, t75 Main St. E. lin Oliver Publisher Milton, Ont. L9T 3Z3 elOie soatPtbsh- (905) 878-2341 Wendy McNab Advertsn Direc Editorial Fax: 905-878-4943 Karen Smith Maniaging Ednear Advertising Fax: 905-876-2364 Tim Coles Poduéction Manager Classified: 905-875-3300 Charlemie Hall Circulation Manager Circulation: 905-878-5947 Teri Casas Office Manager The Canadien Champion, published evety Tuesday and Friday at 875 Main St. E. Milton. Ont. [9T 3Z3 ffox 248), s ontof thet Metroland Printing. Publistngt & Disttnttating Ltd. community newspapets. Advertising is ai-eepted an the conaition finat, in the eaetnt ot a tvtbagrapttical errr tttat potion ot the advertising space accuied by the erroneoas item. togethet with a neasotable alwance tan signature, will tnt be changed ton, bat the balancentf tne adaentisement wil be paid tan an the applicable rate, The pablishen tesenves the tîght ta categatite adaentistmetts an dcine. CCAB Aeidited RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY A-,-e Ontario Cammunity ?N Catadiani Cnmmiinity M'6p Sultaiban Nnwspapens àl m Nespnatets Association CCNA Newspapens Association MM - ot Amenîca THE CANADIAN CHAMPION IS A PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: ~* (~4f~ * WLCOME% ~ AGON, Halo Heaitb a JAa'adTSCIN UTD OF MUTON ATHENA "1~ .adsThe Oakife t in IbVILiU Showcase M on GALA Milton ~ Awrd The MitnCndeChminiaccal rut out snowcase own partys snortcomings Dear Editor: This letter is in response to Halton MP Gary Carr's recent fenter defending Befinda Stronach's dcci- sion to join bis federal Liberaf s. The problem witb politics, as f see it, je tbe ovcrwbelming need for one party to, defend its sbortcom- ings by mal igning another party. In my opinion, Mr. Carr's fenter did notbing more than regurgitate Liberaf opinions in the press froru the past few inonths. The trutb in this wbof e debaucb- ery is fairf y transparent. Wben an individual decides that tbey want to join a pot iticaf party doiVt tbey research what the party's core values are, wbat its platform is and its potentiaf goafls as the gov- emment of the day? SadI y, f befieve most Caisadians form an opinion of a party and cast their ballots based solef y on bead- fines in the media. Ms Stronacb's explanation as to wby she crossed the floor in the House of Commons doesn't wasb witb me either. As a former Conservative and big name on the Canadian business scienie, she was in a position to shape the party's direction. With bard work and determination she coufd bave stayed on to contribute to the future of the Conservatives. However, f tbink once she font the Conservative leadership race ber interest in the party was lost as wef f. This gave ber a very strong appear- ance of a spoifed brat not getting wbat she wanted. Prime Mini ster Paul Martin awarding this woman a cabinet position must surely irk foyal. long- termn Liberat backbenchers. This action smelf s of pofiticat grand- standing and possibfle influence peddling. Crossing the House of Commons floor is one tbing, but being awarded a cabinet position for doing so is most centainfy another. In my opinion, the Liberal Party needs members f ike Mr. Carr to trumpet its party's values and accompfisbments, not smear other parties. The fanter does tnotbing but if fustrate the fack of positive points about the Liberats. John Gorny Milton Letters welcome The Champion welcomes letters ta the edîtor. We reserve the right ta edît, revise andi reject letters. Letters must be signeti andi the atidress and telephone number of the wrîter includeti. Letters can be e-mailed ta mtltoned@haltonsearch.com, faxed ta (905) 878-4943 or droppeti off at 875 Main St. E. Pud by Steve Nease . -1