lU MAIN ST. ,Il ,I 2 MITd 876-4785 A Metroland Community Newspaper Vol. 139 No. 81 Friday, December 18, 1998 28 Pages 750 (GST included) t Parents vent anger at meeting By KIM ARNOT Special to The Champion Provincial officiaIs have refused to be dragged into the middle of an ongoing labour dispute between the Halton Catholic District Schooi Board and its high school teachers. With negotiations between teachers and the board deadlocked, board Chair Jim Sherlock and director of education Fred Sweeney met with the chair of the provin- cial Education Relations Commission (ERC) earlier this week. The commission, which studies school board labor disputes, has the power to rec- ommend back-to-work legislation if it believes students are in jeopardy of losing their school year. TIhe board argued that time is running out for students to make up classes missed in September and October, when teachers refused to instruct an extra scheduled class, as well as lessons lost to student protests and a shortage of supply teachers. e STALEMATE on page 18 Woman, 79, robbed An elderly Ontario Street woman was the victim of a thief who stole her money-filled Chrstmas cards as she sat signing them at Miton Mail. The 79-year-old woman placed $100 bis in two cards and put them beside her on a bench she was sitting on outside Zellers last Friday at 3:20 p.m., said Dot. Sgt. Jackie Gordon of Halton Regional Police. After signing other cards, she went to collect the two she left beside her, but they were gone. Anyone with information can contact police at 878-5511, ext. 2444. %127 Dr. Jo-Ann McKinnon 875-1322 z - Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Hapmpy holîdays, Holly HoIIy Gordon, 3, checks out smorn f the colourful Chrstmas poinsettias currently on dlsplay at Crawford Country Gardons. Group credibility questioned, councillor, Kelly trade barbs By KAREN SMITH The Champion A local councillor questions the credibility of the three-year-old Milton Ratepayers' Association, saying he doesn't believe the organization really oepresents Milton taxpayers. In a three-page letter to the community newspaper, Councillor John Challinor said bard questions need to be asked about executive member Pat Kelly and the "so-called Milton Ratepayers' Association." At thse samne time, two executive members of the association who disagree with most of the criticism question the appropriateness of the long-time public official's suggestion, through a letter to a Champion reporter, that tIhe newspaper probe the group. "It's inappropriate that he doesn't have the courtesy to address me personally on the subject," Mr. Kelly said. "If he's got something to ask, why doesn't he ask it himself?" Mr. Challinor, a former Champion editor, said he came to the newspaper with his concemrs because he's '.using the same forum they do to criticize Milton council." His questions surround whether the ratepayers' group funictions as a proper association -- by holding regular meetings - and whether it makes decisions with the support of members. He makes mention of significant issues, such as the -see BOILS on page 5 Te holiddy secson is here, dnd G Up OB'Swe hope yours runs smoothly from Gednng Up BOBe the front end to the bdck.., for the A TO,*&ed i to hes 0 n Holiciysgret hohdd iwtt ,.~ ~ ~x ~ 6 Pat Kelly 6-