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

PAGE 4 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, June 5, 2002 4? Editorial&Opinions FOR 146 YEARS, OUR FIRST CONCERN HAS BEEN OUR COMMUNITY Publisher - Tim Whittaker Editor-in-chief - Joanne Rurghardt Managing Editor - Chris Bovic Regional Editor - Judi Bobbitt Advertising Manager - Fred Eismont Circulation Manager - Kirk Bailey Composing Manager - Barb Harrison' Office Manager - Lillian Hook El) e Canadian Statesman Former Publishers and Partners Rev. John M. Climic and W.R. Climic 1854-1878 M.A. James 1878-1935 • Norman S.B. James 1919-1929 G. Elena James, 1929-1947 • Dr. George XV. James 1919-1957 John M. James, 1957-1999 Produced by Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Also Publishers of CLAR1NGTON THIS WEEK P.O. Box 481, 865 Farewell St., Oshawa, Ontario LI H 7L5 TEL: 905-579-4400 FAX: 905-579-2238 E-mail: newsroom@durhamrcgion.com Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 DROP OFFICE: James Publishing, 66 King St. W„ Bowmanvillc, 8:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays e-mail letters in iiewsivom@tliirlianiregion.etim Liberal fuss hurts the country Leadership issue must be resolved The Paul Martin dismissal/resignation was actually a long time coming. For years now, even going back before the November November 2000 election, Mr. Martin's and Prime Minister Jean Chretien's supporters have not seen eye-to-eye. Mr. Martin has eagerly waited in the wings for.the PM to decide to call it a day, while Mr. Chretien, who takes personal credit for winning winning three straight majorities, feels it is his decision alone when he retires. It was a stalemate that would produce no real winners, only losers. The question becomes, what will Mr. Martin's removal from cabinet mean to the federal government and opposition? The larger issue is how Mr. Martin's cabinet leaving will impact impact the country. For nearly a decade, Mr. Martin was the ideal No. 2 man to Mr. Chretien. He spoke with class and dignity, had no skeletons in his closet, and showed his ability by helping eliminate the deficit, marshalling huge tax breaks for citizens and businesses and leaving the economy in much better shape than he found it. To businessmen and financial leaders in government and out, whether in Canada or outside, Mr. Marlin was the face of the Canadian government, not Mr. Chretien. Mr. Martin's sudden departure is a major blow to Canada on the international international stage. It only diminishes us around the world. For Mr. Chretien, the decision is puzzling. He can't help but see Mr. Martin as his successor - really, it's not a matter of will Mr. Martin be prime minister but when. It now seems clear Mr. Chretien intends to lead the Liberals, whether they like it or not, into a fourth federal election in two years' time. Fighting a battle against Mr. Marlin while trying to deal with the Canadian Alliance, Bloc, PCs and NDP would seem a tall order indeed. The Martin fiasco also falls hot on the heels of the firing of Defence Minister Art Eggleton, the resignation of Brian Tobin, and a lacklustre loss of two byelections in seats in Windsor - and-' Newfoundland the Liberals-had helcLjfor decades. The polls shovva serious, los§ of confidence i(f the Liberals and suggest for the first time in years (lie Alliance is starting to make progress. Mr. Chretien is hypocritical if he blames Mr. Martin for wanting a chance to lead. The PM has only to look to 1986 when, frustrated at losing the Liberal party leadership to John Turner in 1984, he quit and then worked to push the leader out. Mr. Chretien won the leadership in 1990 beating... Mr. Martin. Certainly, Mr. Martin, who has served his leader for 12 years, has been much more loyal than Mr. Chretien ever was to Mr. Turner. Obviously, that's lost on Mr. Chretien, who may now be writing his own grim epitaph as PM. It's clear only the Liberals can beat themselves but infighting takes the focus off the important work ministers must do for us. CLARINGTQN COMMENTS Clarington police are introducing a village constable program program to make the service more visible in the community. Question: Do you think higher visibility will help deter crime? Kiah Marlowe "Yes. It's good to have more police. It scares people. people. There will he less gang violence. There will be less fighting." Kyle Riggs "1 always see police around here. People see a cop and they get scared. It makes a big difference." Lori Cronk "I think it will definitely make a difference if a policeman policeman is walking around, I work late shifts and come home late and sue a lot of youth hanging around. If a cop is visible there is less crime going to he done, even just for little things. I would feel safer, definitely. Kathy 1 truce "I think it would help, It brings them closer to the people they're trying to develop develop a relationship with, particularly young people. Other communities have Inal some success with it. Probably visibility is half the bailie." ' e-mail letters la iiewsnwm@tliirltamregioii.com Marina decision 'absurd' To the editor: Is the Harbour Commission crazy?-Do they have nothing to do? Y T ■ Their plan to close the marina marina is absurd! Leechate from the old dump? Baloney! I grew up in south Oshawa and used to play throughout the area. There are far worse areas of pollution in town. • How old is the old dump? What was dumped there? By whom? What is "leeching" from the site? The Harbour Commission has, throughout its history, been nothing but a dumping ground for political hacks and has done nothing but obstruct the development of one of the finest small boat harbours in Ontario. Pardon my passion, but the citizens of Oshawa should do all in their power to wrest con- Eves wants trol of the harbour from this group. Robert Kreasul Courtice Medical system a cause for concern To the editor: Never in my lifetime did I ever think I would write a letter like this. I am 76 years old. I lost the best doctor one could ever hope to have to Lakeridge Health Corporation. Since that time some months ago 1 thought 1 had a doctor. I was in his office 12 to 15 minutes. minutes. He was on his computer putting down prescriptions that I have been, taking. Trying to be as nice as I could be 1 told him about my attack of diverticulitis that I had just gotten over, having been through an operation for it sev- to show he eral years ago and asked for a referral to the surgeon. His answer answer is, you're 75 years old, what do you want another operation operation for? He does not know me. Rude and ignorant are the only nice words I can use here for this so-called doctor. One day he may find himself in the same position and I hope 'he gets treated in the same manner. manner. In the meantime, I go to Urgent Care when necessary and yes, they have been good to me. Try to find a doctor: that's a laugh. I am not alone in this mess, but I get the feeling that we, at our age, should lie down and die. If something is not done soon, that's what it will come to. Never did I think our country, country, which I love so much, would think so little of its people people to get into such a sad state of affairs. Too bad we are not all sports players who get beds and the best of treatment within ours. Rose-Marie Knapp Oshawa 's no Harris Premier Ernie Eves is trying to show he is a moderate and gentle guy at heart - but will anyone believe him? In only a few weeks in his job, the Progressive Conservative Conservative premier has moved quickly attempting to demonstrate lie is different from the far-right policies policies and confrontational style of his predecessor, Mike Harris. Mr. Evcs's actions have included included launching a review of Mr. Harris's decision to privatize privatize the giant hydro transmission system, although lie still has not ruled out selling it, and providing providing protection for hydro consumers consumers who sign up for service. Mr. Eves conceded pay deals Mr. Harris allowed senior hydro staff were loo generous and considerately considerately agreed to base his law to protect drinking water on a New Democrat Ml'P's draft bill Mr. I larris had left to wither and die. Mr. Eves promised friendlier relations with the Liberal federal federal government, which Mr, Harris Harris could barely speak to politely. politely. Mr. Eves agreed to a request eye treatment he covered by medicare to which Mr. Harris had remained blind. I le rebuked a minister who said insensitively insensitively no one should expect shelters for the homeless to he as comfortable comfortable as Holiday Inns, a remark remark that reminded of Mr. Harris, Harris, who once scoffed many live on the streets by choice. Most reversals hear Mr. Hvcs's stamp, lie pushed changes when ministers hesitated, hesitated, as, for example, when liner- Eriq Dowd At Queen s Park gy Minister Chris Stockwcll insisted insisted the Province should pay bar bills lie and his staff ran up while working late in the labour ministry. Mr Eves said the right thing would be to reimburse taxpayers, and they did. Mr. Eves has started talking to unions and others to whom Mr. Harris would not give the time of day and does not sneer at their leaders, who are elected like himself, as "union bosses," as Mr. Harris did until his last day. Mr. Eves, who faces an election election probably next year, claims he always has been a pragmatist and close to the political centre. I le says he is a cross between Mr. Harris and William Davis, the moderate Tory premier from 1971-85. No premier in memory taking taking over an existing government has changed policies or lone as much as Mr. lives appears to he doing, so there is no precedent as to how his extraordinary rebirth rebirth will he seen by voters. Hut Mr. Hvcs's changes will appeal to some. Hard-line riglit- wingers who idolized Mr. I larris will feel Mr. lives has gone soft on them, but feel closer to him than to Liberals and New Democrats Democrats and support him with slightly diminished enthusiasm. Some not committed ideologically ideologically to any party, who liked Mr. Harris for his tax cuts but were starting to feel he went too far in cutting services and antagonizing, antagonizing, will find the type of changes Mr. Eves has been making enough incentive for them to vote Tory again. This already worries the Liberals, Liberals, who would have preferred to keep the political centre to themselves and fight the election election against a Tory right-winger like Mr. Evcs's chief rival for leader, Jim Flaherty. Many voters will not pass judgment until they sec how far Mr. Evcs's moderate approach will go. lie has not indicated for instance instance whether he will change Mr. Harris's laws that weakened labour in disputes with business, or restore cuts Mr, Harris made in welfare benefits or increase the minimum wage Mr. Harris never raised in seven years. But Mr. Eves's shift to moderation moderation also carries some risks. A little over a year ago he was Mr. Harris's deputy premier, happily implementing his far- right policies without the slightest slightest dissent. His abrupt change now makes him look as if he has no convictions or principles, which is what his rivals suggested in the leadership campaign. A lot of voters will conclude Mr, Eves is changing his mind merely to win votes, which is not the way it premier wants to he pictured going into an election. election. Jacquie Mclnnes Staff Writer jmcinncsftf (htrhamrcgion.com Policing comes of age Those old enough to remember the 50s, an era we like to nostalgically reflect reflect on as a time of Andy Griffith innocence, innocence, might remember the beat cop as a visible part of the community. The village or community constable was someone known by all. That included included the kids who wouldn't want to be caught getting into mischief by the local officer, who could recognize a face, or even the back of a head, from several paces. The local cop was someone who knew the community's needs and problems problems and responded with more than just arrests. Times changed. Needs, perhaps, changed too and a new way of policing came into fashion. Law enforcement took precedence over community service service and became something done from a cruiser using the latest technology. Response Response times, tickets issued and arrests became the criterion for judging effectiveness. effectiveness. Offices were centralized with little presence in communities. Most of us, aside from persistent lawbreakers, would be hard pressed to name one of our local officers. This system definitely has its merits. Few would argue with a quick response when a burglar is inside our house or local thugs are beating our child. But as Inspector Tom Cameron points out, the system on its own perpetuates a type of policing where "everyone has responsibility responsibility for everything and nobody has responsibility for anything." Police can make a quick response to emergency situations but have no ownership for the community beyond responding to the acute situation. In the past couple of years, Clarington Clarington has moved to re-introduce a more people-friendly police system. Both Clarington Mayor John Mutton and Insp. Cameron have been vocal lobbyists for community-based policing. Two new village constables are about to be hired for Bowmanvillc and Courtice in addition addition to a new rural beat officer for the hamlets. They will add to the constable already in Newcastle, an individual who currently patrols the village addressing problems by drawing on his knowledge of the community's resources, strengths and weaknesses in addition to providing emergency response. His effectiveness may be hard to quantify because if the job is done right, less arrests will be necessary. necessary. Also in Clarington, an officer has been dedicated to area high schools, and another to elementary schools while plans arc on the books for new community community sub-stations, located closer to the people being served. While even officers themselves have been debating the merits of the two types of policing methods for years, the reality is it isn't an cithcr-or issue. We need both response-driven policing and community community cops along with a myriad of other strategics to meet the needs of an increasingly increasingly complex world. Under a new three-year plan introduced this week - by Insp. Cameron and strongly endorsed by council, Clarington is getting just that. THE CANADIAN STATESMAN is one of the Metroland Printing, Publishing Publishing and Distributing group of newspapers. The Statesman is a member of the Bowmanvillc Clarington Clarington Board of Trade, the Greater Oshawa Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Circulations Audit Board and the Ontario Press Council. The publisher reserves the right to classify or refuse any advertisement. Credit for advertisement limited to space price error occupies. Editorial and Advertising content of the Canadian Canadian Statesman is copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited, prohibited, The Canadian Statesman welcomes letters to the editor, All letters should be typed or neatly hand-written, 151) words. Each letter must include the name, mailing address and daytime telephone number of the writer, The editor reserves the right to edit copy for style, length and content. Wo regret regret that due to the volume of letters, not all will be printed, Pax letters to 9(15-579-1809 or emailed to news- rooniK/'dui hainrcgion.com A°cna NA one |na