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E gaff-Tribune The Sun-Nbune welcomes your let- ters. All submissions must be less than 400 words and must include a daylime telephone number, name and address The SunTribune reserves the right to publish or not publish and to edlt for clar- lty and space. Letters to the Edltov, The Sun-Tribune 6290 Mel» St. StoufMllo. GM LM «:1 Sun, GeOIglna Advocate, York Region Business Times. North of the City, yorkregioncom and York Region Printing. is comprised of 100 community publications across Ontano. The York Region Newspapet Group also includes The Uberal, serving Richmond Hm and Thomhill. Vaughan CitizenJhe Eta-Banner (Newmarket/Aurora). Markham Economist York Region Media Group community newspapers The Sun-Tribune. published every Thursday and Saturday. is a divan of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a vmollyowned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. Metroland )muonOyrmg.com Classified: 1-800 cmadarlaneOyrm gcom lETTERS POLICY Carrie MacFarIane Dawna Andrews cnormanébyrmgoom mbanullleOyrmgcom Bonnie Ronde brondaauOyrmg.oom Carolyn Norman Disnummon Adverddng Pnonucnon Anvmmsmc Retail Manager Mike Banuille MEDIA Fax Eononm Editor Jim Mason jmasonOyr-mg‘com DISTRIBUTION 905-640-2612 ADVERTISING 905-640-2612 icd: 1-800-743-3353 EDITORIAL 05640-2612 905-640-8778 905-640-8778 Based on results from other coun- tn'es, one thing the status of women committee should be recommending is a switch to a proportional representa- tion system. Our govemrnents need to determine why women and minority groups are less represented in the political process by asking them directly, then take action on the most common answers. Endorsing proportional representa- tion system doesn't mean candidates should be elected simply because of their gender or colour of their skin. Skills, experience and capabilities are still important qualifications. As of 2003, the top 10 nations in the world in terms of female representation in government used proportional repre- sentation systems. Canada ranked 36th and is down to 46th today â€" behind both Afghanistan and Iraq. In these systems, parties win seats based on the popular vote, rather than individual riding results. Each party pro- duces a candidates list and the number of candidates from the list who get seats is based on how much of the popular vote the party receives. Women for Fair Voting is one group advocating for electoral reform to increase female representation in gov- ernment. It says proportional represen- tation electoral systems result in more women getting elected. But it’s the electoral process itself that may be keeping many women and members of visible minorities from get- ting elected. Why/.1 Are there systemic barriers keeping women and visible minorities out of government or are they simply less interested in politics? Newmarket-Aurora MP Lois Brown is tackling the issue as a member of the federal committee for the status of women, whose goals include promot- ing women in leadership and democra- cy. It's important to create an awareness of or get girls involved in politics early, Ms Brown said. This isn't just a problem in federal politics. In Ontario, women won 30 of the 107 seats in the last provincial elec- tion and visible minorities currently have just 11 seats. In municipal politics, just 23 per cent of mayors and council- lors across the country are women. Visible minorities account for 16 per cent of Canada's population, but the Public Policy Forum identifies just 7.8 per cent of MPs as non-white. Women make up more than half of Canada's population, yet less than a quarter of our MPs are females. Our governments look nothing like our country. Editorial Women, minorities deserve better , fllflfille . . Sun-'Ii'Ibun 6290 Main St Stouflville, 0N. MA 167 wwwwmmncom PUBLISHER Ian Prou Several friends have reported a pack of coyotes in the regional forest between Ninth Line and Hwy. 48 dur- ing the past year. Last summer. we saw two coyotes in the. York Regional Forest between Ken- nedy Road and Warden Avenue. The animal in the photograph may have been one of those two. Re: Wild side, photograph, March 11. It is nice to see the wildlife Elizabeth Johnston caught on camera near the Aurora Road and railway tracks is well and thriving in our forests. Protect pets from coyotes I have fliree words for Chery! Parker: stay in Uxbridge. If and when the Township of Uxbridge decides to build a new arena, it won’t need architects or consultants. I'm sure Ms Parker and Ms Kovac could design the perfect arena. Bottom line, if you are seated on either side of any rink and the play is along the boards in front of you, there is no way you can see the puck Denise Kovac’s commexits are very similar. Did she arrive after the first period or go t_o the Stoufiville Arena by mistake? Cheryl Parker of Uxbridge said she could only see three quarters of a game at the Stoufi‘ville Clippers Sports Com- plex. Res §toufiililleis new ar.ena no win- mfig 20' atzdthfiifli'tgezy b What do you think of these issues or pressed, letter to the editor by Denise others? E-mail letters to the editor to Kovrqf. Feb. 27. i I O ‘ ‘ jmason@yrmg.com __.l n_ul,,,, ,r-- I Clipper complex critics should build perfect n’nk - in Uxbn'dge A pack Of coyotes was roaming Letters to the'Edjtor GERRY MCGUCKW ’Momentous occasion’ missed MOM' ' - -GRANDPA'5 SPECML STOUFFVILLE LIFTCHAlR THREW H|M AT THE WALL AGAIN ! less This momentous occasion barely created a ripple in the media, let alone a splash. No pictures, not even a word in the Toronto Star. No mention that night on the CBC national news. Little or no coverage to be seen or heard anywhere of this announcement in New York by the Canadian government. On March 11, Canada finally announced its ratification of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, a historic moment if there ever was one. It would be wise to keep your pets on a good leash or under close control while in these areas. With the coming of spring. coyotes love to add to their diet of squinels and mice. A word of warning to those wlio use these forests or live near them: small cats and dogs are a coyote’s delightful dinner. through Ballantrae Golf and Country Club in the middle of the night, letting out‘their howl last January. PUBLISHER Ian Proudfoot Mdently, it has left Canada speech- HAVE YOUR SAY, ST BUFFVILLE :Ii'i ROSS CAISTER STOUFFVILLE SAL AMENTA STOUFFVILLE Voters fget to decidé in Oct. 25's elegtion 1 it's really important. And how many council hope- fuls have attended council and committee meetings before throwing their hat in the ring? It's a good question when a candidate lands on your doorstep this fall. [1m Mason is editor bf The Sun- THbune. We know few care about munic- ipal politics unless council is open- ing a nuclear plant or strip club in their back yard. Thus, the rows of empty seats at most meetings. It's easy to slam a council deci- sion or eviscerate a councillor from the two minutes of wisdom you picked up from one of your crénles at Country Style or Tim Hortons this morning. Perhaps we should keep atten- dance flgures for taxpayers and candidates, too? Didn't they? I recall a flustered and freshly elected councillor in the 19903 asking me if I knew council sometimes met during the day. Yes, i did. He didn't. Granted, some councillors have day jobs, making it some- times awkward answering to two bosses. Then again, they knew this when they ran for office. In the last 3-1/2 years, council- lors have turned in a wide array of attendarice. Some numbers were on the verge of shocking. Which brings us to reporter Sandra Bolan's story in last Thurs- day's Sun-Tribune on attendance by the mayor and councillors who make up town council. Sure, most of us have used a sick day or two during the years. And vacation time is there to be blown through to recharge the batteries and reconnect with family. There's a rule, written or other- wise, that reads after accepting a job_we shoyldphow up regularly. Especially if we waxit to'get pa'id anq continue t9 be employed. Bum)- m Cum Debora Kelly 305mm Robert Lazurko Taking attendance for all of us Off The Top with Iim Mason Dmscmn, Amnmsmo, Dln'ummou Nicole Fletcher DIRECIDR, Drum-Ions Barry Black