4 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, February 23, 1999 Police looking edgy over M P.- consulted as discussions about how local govemment changes continue. "We know the Halton police service as it is now provides an excellent level of service at a reasonable price," said Mr. LaCourse, though he favours hiring more officers. He said the association has concerns with anything that may affect officer or public safety. "Any major change in policing contains that possibility, in our view." The White Paper calls for a stronger City of Burlington, while dismantling Halton Region in favour of a cooperative services board. The document is soon to-be discussed with officials at Halton Region and its area municipalities, Milton, Oakville and Halton Hills. vamp Halton proposal to re By PAUL MITCHISON Special to The Champion The Halton Regional Police Service is on alert over a proposal to scrap regional govemment. Police Chief Ean Algar was at Burlington City Hall recently, concemed about the implications on policing contained in a few vague lines within Burlington's new White Paper on Governance. Following the meeting, however, he declined to comment, saying only he was there because he's interested in new proposals for governance of Halton Region. "I'm just in the process of leaming." But Paul LaCourse, administretor of the Halton Regional Police Association, who was there with Chief Algar, said his members don't want Halton to be absorbed into a larger Greater Toronto police service. They also don't want to see the Halton service fragmented into local police departments and want to be Chief DRIVE CLEAN TEST & REPAIR LPPROVED FACILITY We are pleased to announce that Brian's Auto and our technicians have become a Drive Clean Accredited Test and Repair Facility. We are proud to note that not only did our technicians pass all examinations but did so at the Top of The Class! As always to best serve your needs we have installed the latest ... "STATE OF THE ART FLUSHMOUNT INGROUND DYNAMOMETER / No ramps or obstructions. / High volume capability gets / 750 sq. ft. bay dedicated solely to Drive Clean testing. Very little is said in the document about what would happen to the Halton Regional Police Service. But it does call for a "stronger connection with the local council", meaning for instance Milton, rather than Halton. It also seems to advocate dismantling of the present Halton Regional Police Services Board, made up of both politicians and civilian appointees. Instead, the report sug- gests the new Cooperative Services Board would "oversee protection to persons and property, including crime response. Burlington city manager Tim Dobbie acknowledged to his council recently that the report is vague on policing. In fact, he knows having police answer to city council is in violation of current Police Act legis- lation - but he thinks that could change. "We're looking at gover- nance options long-term, not just an Algar sbort-term." Mr. Dobbie also told his council he's not suggesting the formation of a smaller police department that would serve only Burlington. With a service like policing, larger is more cost-efficient than smaller. But Mr. Dobbie said there is room for improvement in areas such as communicating council's concerns more directly to police regarding matters such as traf- fic enforcement. Burlington Councillor John Taylor said he was con- cemed the White Paper seems to advocate changes to policing that contravene the Police Services Act. And he said he's "absolutely opposed" to anything that might lead to Halton being absorbed into a Greater Toronto Area police department. "That would be too big, too powerful, and absolutely frightening."