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6 stouffville suntribune thursday aug 26 2004 opinion publisher ian pr0udf00t telephone 9056402612 fax 9056408778 email jmasonymgcom website wwwyorkregioncom editorial voters losers if sorbara cant help with issues what good is an mpp if that elected representative cant go to battle for con stituents in the halls of queens park it appears some voters in the provin cial riding of vaughankingaurora are finding out their mpp who also happens to be ontarios finance minister says he cant take sides in a local issue involving hydro one greg sorbara a political veteran who has waged war for his constituents in the past now claims his hands are tied when it comes to the issue of mega power tow ers proposed for his riding by hydro one a provincially owned corporation as a cabinet minister my responsibil ity is to make sure there is a fair process and a fair hearing on the project mr sorbara said last friday if i were to take sides i would be in a conflict of interest that could not be recti- fiedthat sounds like a cop out surely mr sorbara doesnt mean he can never come to the aid of his con stituents when it comes to government agencies because he is in a position of power what is an mpp if he isnt the guy in your comer fighting to get what the majority of voters in has riding want if mr sorbara cant take sides simply because he is in cabinet then his con stituents should hope he loses his power ful position in the next cabinet shuffle they would be better off with a back bencher perhaps mr sorbara is being overly cautious after the opposition called for his resignation over conflictofinterest allegations earlier this year involving a company he once helped direct but that was much different surely mpps in cabinet are still allowed to take off the ministers hat and act as an effective mpp when it comes to local issues if not having your member in the governments inner circle is clearly a downfall not an advantage mr sorbara should clarify his position and tell constituents exacdy what he means by saying he cant take sides when it comes to issues involving government agencies if this remains his stance voters in vaughankingaurora may as well ignore him and go straight to the oppo sition for help there must be a politician out there somewhere willing to stick up for the little guy letters to the editor newcomers will determine future of quaint community re too much farmland growing houses aug 5 as long as farmers continue to sell their land as the population in and around major urban centres continues to grow and as long as politicians continue to approve new hous ing developments neither complaining nor wishful thinking will stop urban sprawl and its impact on surrounding communities the new housing projects surrounding stouffville will likely be beneficial to local merchants and businesses providing a new source of consumers and income base it will also provide a larger source of rev enue to the township in the form of taxation not just from the newcomers but from all of us more people translates into the need for more resources and services and we will all have to pay in the years to come it seems inevitable stouffville will change population growth means there will be more traffic congestion air pollution noise demand on existing natu ral resources and the list goes on only time will tell if stouffville can main tain its quaint and countrylike charm in spite of its growth much will depend on the type of people who will eventually move into those new the stouffville suntribune welcomes your letters all submissions must be less than 400 words and must include a daytime telephone number name and address the stouffville suntribune reserves the right to publish or not publish and to edit for clarity and space write letters to the editor34 civic ave po box 154 stouffville l4a 7z5 email jmasonyrngcom houses and the values and vision they bring with them to this lovely community tom wayne stouffville stouffville theatre great idea we are both young girls who want to be actresses we love to watch movies and plays but dont like to drive far and our parents dont like driving far either a theatre would liven up the downtown and convince more kids to dance and act schools could walk to the theatre for movies and plays seats could be reserved for birthday parties people need a theatre to entertain them during a rainy day we hope you all will vote to look at this great idea mackenzie moyer and marijke reesor stouffville i stouffville suntnbune a metroland community newspaper 34 civic ave 3rd floor stouffville ontario l4a7z5 phone 9056402612 fax9056408778 classified 18007433353 distribution 9052948244 website wwwyorkregioncom email jmasonymgcom membenontario community newspapers association canadian community newspapers association ontario press council editor in chief business manager distribution manager debora kelly robert lazurko barry black editor advertising director classified manager jim mason retail sales flyers nicole fletcher ann campbell reporters joan ransberry hannelore volpe advertising director classified general manager real estate events management york region printing retail sales manager gorrj paolucd bob dean steve kane director of production sales representative susan berry johnfuthey marketing partnerships managing director real estate debraweller production manager mikerogerson pam nichols shows manager office manager sales manager new business development distribution yrn6 events management vman cvneil dawna andrews stacey allen off the top with jim mason ex- olympian unimpressed with athens disgrace john pearce should be in athens this week instead the worldranked show jumper is at his ballantrae equestrian centre making travel arrangements for his next competition and prepar ing young horses and riders and hes not mincing words the olympic teams showing this year is disgraceful he said an olympian himself four years ago in sydney the 40yeafold owner of forestview farms isnt slamming the canadian athletes or even the administrators its the system more money is needed at all levels we need to encourage more sport in this country he said we can teach young people competitiveness integri ty and team spirit through it and at the upper level we need money too for athletes and management too show jumping in canada has needed better organization for the last eight years and it needs to be cor rected before we have international success again we have no chiefs and too many indians we need a chief the legendary ian millar is the only canadian jumping in athens thanks to a poor showing by a young team at the 2002 pan american games that was a crucial error said mr pearce who has been first or second in earn ings among canadians this year including three grand prix champi onships he competes twice as much in the united states as in canada now you can jump every weekend in the states he said and the money isnt as good here riding stateside also serves his horseselling business well dont get me wrong im very patriotic and i like riding for the national team he said im a veter an rider with a great horse yes i would have gone to athens but theres a new star horse champagne to prepare after a two- month break and two newer mounts to work and someones on the other line with information on a meet in the states jim mason is editor of the stouffville suntribune