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PAGE 8 â€" WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1994 lanlndSandanird’leanwan extremely important issue to rest. I am referring to his discussion in the Waterloo Chronicle, February 9, 1994, on the protection given to sex offenders, specifiâ€" cally related to the Waterloo County Board of Educaâ€" tion. Sexual molestation of children, a most heinous act of criminal behavior, is not to be taken lightly, such as in the particular case where this Kitchener high school teacher continues to be employed by an institution that is supposed to provide,â€" as one of its main objectives, a fairly safeâ€"and comfortable atmosâ€" phere in which students can achieve their academic they have removed him from the classroom setting, they are in a sense condoning his actions by retaining him as an employee. I also feel that the repeated telling of this particular case affirms the need for mandatory and more severe sentencing of people who inflict such pain on children. If an individual robs a bank and is caught and found guilty, he or she is sure to receive a jail term. If an individual molests children, he or she is less likely to spend time in jail and more likely to receive a much shorter sentence if any at all. I ask you, the members of society, what crime inflicts more pain and loss? Money or the loss of innocence, the loss of faith in peoâ€" ple, the inability to trust other individuals and to function in life with a strong sense of selfâ€"esteem and self confidence? The Tist of injuries from sexual molestation is endless, however, the judicial system deems such crimes as less serious than the replaceâ€" able loss of money. Most of the sentences, if any, received by molesters of children resemble nothing but a slap on the hand. Practise what we preach I do agree, though, that if an individual steals, he or she deserves some form of punishment but if we as a society expect our future, the children of today, to believe us when we tell them that they are precious and irreplaceable, we must practise what we preach. I believe one necessary and long overdue place to start is for our "democratic" judicial system| to adopt a "Zero Tolerance Policy", specifically related to crimes of sexâ€" ual abuse, not only against adults but more imporâ€" tantly against our future. Colonial Acres Plaza 746â€"5456 I 373 Bridge St. W. _ we Deliver e Mon, â€" Fri. 9:.30 a.m. â€" 9:00 p.m. Sat. 9:30 a.m. â€" 6:00 p.m. ‘ Sun. 12:00 p.m. â€" 5:00 p.m. King St. N. & the Conestoga Parkway Whether you are looking for that perfect added touch for your home or a gift for any occasion, 1.C. FRowers has it all. C@NESTOGA MALL BEAUTIFUL! Cc@®NESTGGA MALL tz 5500‘/'1464 it Attending council meeting was an ‘interesting‘ experience On February 7, I attended the evening‘s local city On February 7, I attended the evening‘s local city council meeting .to see what exactly happens in our city government. It was an interesting night. The majority of the councillors were well spoken and acted in a responsible manner. Ken Seiling, the chair for the regional municipal government;â€"attended the meeting and gave an interâ€" esting report as to how regional government, in coopâ€" eration with the province and other regions, is reviewing the role of the local and regional governâ€" ments. & It became apparent however, that one of the local councillors, Billâ€"Butler, had some difficulty with Mr. Seiling‘s report. At one point, Mr. Butler said that 99 per cent of the time the local city council does not receive any report from the regional government‘s activities. At this point in time, one of the three Waterloo councillors that is a member of the regional council â€" Joan McKinnon â€" stressed quite clearly (as did his honor Mr. Turnbull) that this was indeed not the case. The regional government reports to the local city council on all of its meetings on a regular basis. It made me wonder whether Mr. Butler reads his inforâ€" mation package or is even aware of its distribution. Most of the councillors were well versed on the evening‘s agenda and the meeting ran rather smoothly. I am concerned however, that such a misâ€" communication could take place. I would recommend that more citizens of Waterloo should take the time to come out and listen to what their elected officials have to say. I am sure that they would agree with me that for the most part, we are The Waterloo Chronicle welcomes letters to the editor. They should be signed with name, address and phone number and will be verified for accuracy. No unsigned letters will be published . The Chronicle reserves the right to edit. SUPERIOR MEMORIALS 528 Victoria St. N., Kitchener (Beside Weston Bakeries) 745â€"6136 LARGE INDOOR SHOWROOMS YOUR MEMORiAL SHOULD BE ORDERED NOW For Spring Installation Union Gas Limited ("Union‘) has filed an application with the Ontario Energy Board (the Boud")fi;_‘@tipproval of a municipal franchise !grqu{qt‘fgr the _kr‘lght to construct and erate works to supply gas, and the right to. to mcipllity shown above. The tppliauon msr’udcr gll: provisions of section 9 of the Mum’pl Franchises Act, R.S.0. 1990, c. M.55, and is made to replace an expired franchise agreement with this municipality. The application will be considered at a public hearing. y ‘The Board has been asked to declare and direct that the assent of the municipal electors to the proposed franchise byâ€"laws is not Copies of Union‘s application are available for inspection at the Board, at Union‘s head office, and at the office of the Clerk of the municipality (addresses below). > If you Wish to Intervene If you wish to intervene (i.e. actively participate) in the hearing, you must file an answer within 14 days of publication of this Notice. The answer must be delivered or mailed by registered mail to the Board Secretary and to counsel for Union, at the addresses below. The answer must set out your name, your address, the way in which the application(s) affects you, and your reasons for wanting to participate in the hearing. If you wish to participate in the hearing in the French language, your answer must state this. All intervenors will receive notice of the time and place of the hearing. Intervenor Funding How to see Union‘s Application You have the right as an intervenor to apply to the Board for advance funding to assist you or your group to participate in the hearing. Section 7(1) of the Intervenor Funding Project Act provides as follows: Intervenor funding may be awarded only in relation to issues: (a) which, in the opinion of the funding panel, affect a significant segment of the public; and (b) which, in the option of the funding panel, affect the public interest and not just private interests. Any person seeking advance intervenor funding shall file with the Board a written notice containing a clear statement that the person requires intervenor funding. This notice must be delivered, together with your answer described above. Following the Board‘s determination of intervenor status, qmm forms for intervenor funding will be distributed by the ‘Secretary to those persons seeking it. The applications will be required to address further criteria set out in section 7 of the Intervenor Funding Project Act. All applications for intervenor funding will be considered at a later date. If you Wish to Comment ; If you wish, you may comment on Union‘s application without becoming a formal intervenor. Comments may be made by writing a letter totthoardSeamdefiydcmvm and any relevant information. All such letters will become part of the public record in the proceeding, and copies will be provided to Union Gas. Alternatively, you may write to the Board Secretary to advise that you wish to comment at the hearing, in which case you will later be notified of the time and place for the hearing. If you wish to comment at the hearing in the French language, your letter must state this. s Important IF YOU DO NOT FILE AN ANSWER OR INDICATE TO THE BOARD SECRETARY THAT YOU WISH TO COMMENT AT THE HEARING, THE BOARD MAY PROCEED IN YOUR ABSENCE AND YOU WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO ANY FURTHER NOTICE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS. DATED at Toronto, January 7, 1994. / Procedural Orders Procedural orders as to how these matters will proceed may be issued by the Board from time to time, and copies of any procedural orders will be sent to all intervenors. f Addresses Ontario Energy Board P.0. Box 2319 2300 Yonge Street, 26th Floor Toronto, (%nlano M4P 164 Att: Mr. Lionel A. Forestier ,__ Board Scc:elhfy The Board accepts collect calls at (416) 481â€"1967 Union Gas Limited Box 2001 50 Keil Drive Notth Chatham, Ontario NFM SM1 Att: Mr. D.R. (Dan) Jones Municipal Franchises A tom an expired pality. The applicatio A. Forestier, Board Secretary City Clerk The City of Waterloo P.O. Box 337 100 Regina Street South Waterloo, Ontario