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PAGE A4 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, March 31,2004 Tim Whittaker Publisher Joanne Burghardt Editor-in-Chief Chris Bovie Managing Editor Fred Eismont Director of Advertising Eddie Koiodziejcak Classified Advertising Manager Kirk Bailey Distribution Manager Lillian hook Olfice Manager Janice O'Neil Cheryl Haines Composing Managers Clarington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 www.durhamregion.com Ujc Cmtabmn Statesman 0 0 Phone 905-579-4400 Classifieds 905-576-9335 Distribution 905-579-4407 General Fax 905-579-2238. Newsroom Fax 905-579-1809. E-Mail newsroom@durhamregion.com 865 Farewell St., Oshav/a ON L1H 7L5 Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 March 31,2004 Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. infodurhamregion.com EDITORIAL e-mail letters to newsrooni@durliamrcgion.com University funding must be increased Since Ontario is Canada's economic and industrial engine, you would expect the Province to lead the way in funding universities. universities. Not so. In fact, Ontario ranks 10th and last in Canada in funding per student for universities. The rest of Canada averages $8,275 per student in operating grants. Ontario is well back at just $6,000 per student, a situation that, despite some recent help from the federal government, leaves students debt-ridden and universities unable to provide the services needed for academic academic success. Make no mistake: Ontario's universities face bitter competition competition for the best and brightest students, whether it be from the rest of Canada or institutes of higher learning in the United States. Public universities in the U.S. receive, on average, 40 per cent more per student than Ontario Ontario universities. The funding lag at Ontario universities goes back a decade when the decision was made to make students pay a higher percentage percentage of overall university costs. Ontario students are now at a clear disadvantage and the Province must make up some of that difference. Healthy universities that are not in a constant fund-raising scramble are necessary to ensure Ontario remains a leader in Canada and throughout the world. More student funding ensures ensures more students are able to afford to attend university. It also allows universities to retain the ' top .instructors and researchers, thereby ensuring the quality of learning and scholarship ranks among the best in the world. A better educated workforce keeps Ontario's businesses, industries, industries, health-care facilities and elementary schools stocked with the highest achievers who can work together to ensure success success for this province. Premier Dalton McGuinty campaigned last fall on a choose-change platform. A key element in the McGuinty plan was the assurance that our universities universities and students would have the funding they need to achieve success. As the Minister of Finance conducts meetings across the province to talk about the real needs of Ontarians, he must look closely at the funding gap Ontario universities and students students face. While the gap cannot be closed in any single budget, the Liberals must work to ensure Ontario leads the way in funding by the end of this government's mandate. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR e-mail letters to iicwsroom@durlmmrcgion.com OPINION e-mail letters to iicwsroom@durhamregion.com neration Y usé Shelley Jordan Staff writer J Young people in the 10- 25- yèar-old category seem to be oblivious of their power. Often labelled Generation Y, their population population is 83 per cent of the size of the Baby Boomer generation (37-59), and three times larger than Generation X (26-36). Raised by the generation that were first to witness political candidates marketed on television like fast food, Ys tend to be cynical. The point was illustrated recently by youths from Bow- manville High School on a recent trip to visit Mayor John Mutton. Students of David Rempel's Grade 10 civics class met with the mayor to discuss concerns. Mayor Mutton Mutton suggested the students students send e-mails to his office for consideration. And while these students participated in the project; they never expected their letters to be . taken seriously. Many said they thought the mayor would just crumple the pages and throw them in the trash, because they came from teenagers. Instead, five of the letters became became part of the council agenda, and were sent to departments to be reviewed so an appropriate response could be sent out. This largest generation since the boom can lake an active role in politics. Even those not yet old enough to vote can move political political mountains. Some of the greatest revolutions revolutions of the 20th century came as a result of youth movements. Baby Boomers fought against racism in the 1960s, taking their fight into later decades as they graduated into adulthood and assumed assumed positions of authority. The sexual revolution began in the 1960s when the majority of boomers were in their teens and twenties. This created a market for birth control and helped foster the women's liberation movement of the 1970s. That's why this decade offers Generation Generation Y the chance to use its- power like its Boomer forbears did in decades past. The ministry of education has come up with a few ideas to aim our young in the right direction. Civics classes ask students to explore their beliefs and apply them to politics at all levels, while community service hours are an opportunity for students students to experience a sense of satisfaction in helping others. In 10 years, Generation. Y will be rearing its own children and caring for a large elderly population. As Baby Boomers retire, Generation Y members will inherit inherit senior level jobs. Some will enter politics and the world will be moulded in their image.The mountains they choose to move will be based on these experiences, experiences, It's important they learn to wield it with integrity. Reporter Shelley Jordan's column appears every other Wednesday. Glacier defends water test, distiller To the editor: Re: 'Water pressure high in Durham,' March 10. Due to the press recently released released in This Week newspapers, newspapers, Glacier feels it is necessary necessary and only,fair for-the .readf ;; ers 'fb IiêarThéir side of the story', and back it up with facts. Glacier's head office . was very disappointed in the onesided onesided article and felt it was irresponsibly irresponsibly written and totally unfair to the Oshawa dealer who is trying to help people not hurt them. Glacier has many satisfied customers -- both with their distillers as well as the service they have received. In conversation conversation with reporter Carly Foster, Foster, I stated that Glacier has a 30-day refund policy. This is the policy of our location in' Newmarket. Each location is independently owned, and has the right to set his/her own re- *turn policy. • Glacier has never purposely portrayed it was representing Durham Region. While booking booking appointments, we state "Glacier Water Treatment Systems Systems is conducting free water testing in the Durham Region." Since some people misunderstood misunderstood and thought we were affiliated affiliated with the Region of Durham, we have excluded that from our dialogue. At no time did we misrepresent misrepresent ourselves; on the contrary, we were telling the people we were from Glacier. Secondly, let's set the record straight about the testing we conduct: We do a TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) reading by taking a sample of the person's tap water. This reading tells us how many parts per million (PPM) of total dissolved solids are present in their water. We then do a precipitator test, which also shows the degree of TDS present in their water by ■ • the amount of mineral/metal oxides produced in the water sample. The tap water will turn a blackish-green while the Glacier distilled water stays perfectly clear. We then show the people a copy of the water quality report taken in the first quarter of 2003 by the Region of Durham. Unfortunately, the report is a .. year old but is the latest available available on the'. Region's Web site • » Wvÿvf.région.durham.on.ca. We point out the detectable results of arsenic, eppper, lead, nitrates and chlorine to name some, and discuss the potential health risks associated with these contaminants, including heart disease, cancer, high- blood pressure, kidney disease and many other ailments. We realize the Region of Durham is supplying water that does not exceed provincial standards for TDS and they are doing a good job staying below these guidelines, but how much arsenic or chlorine is safe and how much of these contaminants contaminants do you want your family to consume? It would be nice if the xyater coming from our taps and from some bottled water was in fact pure, but that is not the case. •People have a right to know what they are consuming and companies like Glacier have a right to be able to market their products, especially when they have such long-term benefits as ours does. The government cannot afford afford to deliver contaminant-free water to your house, and that is why we are offering to our customers customers an opportunity to eliminate eliminate any of these health risks by installing a Glacier to extract all these contaminants. We at Glacier acknowledge the fact that some of our sales people are overly enthusiastic during their appointments, but they are just showing passion for something they believe in. It is scary when you tell people people about the health risks from different types of contaminants found in tap water because most people are unaware of this, and after they- are made TRUE GRIT MSKT' jrrjl :■ 'Sr 1 ;- "■ ■Vv'V'.Y'/ .'V" ' [. JU ' • • v-Q i-- By Tim Dolighan ■9fyW; ...ONBNVOE K© TO PUT to mx. CLICK AND SAY Today's question: Do you think Durham has a problem with litter? □ We're better than most □ About the same as others ■ □ We're the pits Cast your vote online at infodurhamre9ion.c0m Last week's question: How would you rate the Liberals' first budget under Prime Minister Paul Martin? □ Adequate 24.5% □ Excellent 56.4% □ Missed important funding needs 19.1% Vbfes cast: 1070 aware qf these facts they become become very concerned. Just as we at Glacier are! Philip Bourjeaurd, President Glacier Water Treatment Systems Send vandals to work in Third World i M fc ï 'J tf-< To the editor: My house was vandalized the night of Friday, March 26, by a group of youths. They broke down the wooden railing leading leading up to my front door. They also broke into a newspaper newspaper box,- took out the papers and scattered them down the street. 1 They were drunk arid the street was littered with broken beer bottles. These incidents lower the tone and property values in the area and will be reflected in the insurance rates on these properties. properties. It is sad so much damage can be caused by such incidents. To help rectify the problems caused by these events, I am in •the process of communicating with Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant and federal Minister of Justice Irwin Cotier to request a change in the sentencing sentencing guidelines for delinquent delinquent youths. What I will be proposing is that community service be included included in these guidelines. These guidelines should be consistent with Canada's foreign foreign policy goals. One goal is to aid in the economic recovery of such nations as Afghanistan, Angola, and Cambodia. Crucial to these countries is the removal removal of land mines. Our youth's educational assets would be a definite benefit to these countries. Therefore in sentencing youths, a judge should have the discretion of volunteering an offender to help his fellow man by removing removing land mines in these countries. countries. John Wells Courticc HAVE YOUR SAY Question: Should the' Province do away with vehicle ■ emissions testing? Warren Wright; "For vehicles: over IQ - years, they i should still, test. ; Anything ■ else than 1 that, no." < Ron Richards "Yes. Most; cars now are newer models.' Testing isn't' required on a three-year- old unit.", Joanne Hall "No,- because I> think our. environment is in trouble,- and I think 1 it is important to" stay on topi ' of it." * Sarah Dodoo "I don't" think so,' because of the pollution., problems. It, helps the ; health and safety of! children I) breathing;! the air."" eCfjc Caimtiian Statesman is one of the Metroland Printing, Pub-f lishing and Distributing group ;•! of newspapers. The Statesman;!! is a member of the Bow- v manville Clarington Board of f Trade, the Greater Oshawa •;! Chamber of Commerce, On- !;! tario Community Newspaper v Assoc., Canadian Community v Newspaper Assoc., Canadian !!; Circulations Audit Board and v the Ontario Press Council. The;;! publisher reserves the right to x classify or refuse any adver- x tisement, Credit for advertise- x ment limited to space price error occupies. Editorial and !;; Advertising content of the !;; Canadian Statesman is copy- > righted. Unauthorized repro- !>; duction is prohibited. y