The Canadian Champion, Fnrday Apnil 2, 1999 - 3 Town officiais off to PhilippineS *-soS at mail with By IRENE GENTIE Fhe Champion Tomorrow, the mayor, the Town's CAO and the head of the Milton Chamber of Commerce wilI enter a world of heat, humid- ity and neigh- bourly rela- tions. Except in this 4 case, the neighbour is almost a day-long plane ride away. While Milton res- idents enjoy the Easter weekend, Gord Krantz Mayor Gord Krangz, Town CAO Mario Belvedere and Chamber of Commerce general manager Sandy Martin wiII be buckling gheir seat beits to embark on an aid initiative to Santa Maria, Philippines. The trio wîll land at an airport in Manila before driving to Santa Maria - popula- tion 100,000. The two-week jaunt comes courtesy of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities and Canadian Industry Development Agency (CIDA). The ides is to aid developing nations by partnering them with industnialized areas. A council resolution sgreed to Milton's participation in the initiative, making it one of 40 Canadian communities to take part. "The main purpose is to assist these countries," said Mr. Krantz. "For the most part it wilI be a fact-finding mission.'* Though haîf a world swsy, there are similarities between Santa Maria and Milton, said Mr. Krarnz. "The geography is appaieîslly iliuch [lie same," he said. "There's s large . rural and agricultur- ai component as welI as an urban ares." One difference, noted Ms Martin, it Sandy Martin visible poverty. 'lFil be coming back very appreciative of what we have got. I don't have any doubts that we'll find il difficult to deal with the poerty." Fmom the moment the Milton contingent touch down , they'Il be tsking notes on everything from water purification to wsste management, ssid Mr. Krantz. They'll then bring their observations home with them to be tumed into a staff report. After that, it wiIl be time for action. "We might have an engineer we csn tend down for a month to help with s water purification system, or we might send down tome computerization," pre- dicted Mr. Krantz. He alto didn't rule out thai Santa Maria may have s thing or two to teach Milton. If so, they can mention it when repreten- tatives of the town make their own visit go Milton this summer. Ail costs for the project, other (han time, are paid for by the CIDA. To prepare for the trip, the Milton trio have slresdy undergone a four-day training session. They have alto been wsrned about health risks involved. "There are precautions," laughed Mr. Krantz. "We' ve hsd aIl our vaccines and shots. I'm tsldng malaria pilla already." Ms Martin said the Millîuît irot pi- wilI take a wait aiîdsee approachi as to what kind of help (bey can offer the Philippine town. "We'rc going down with s really open mind, not hav- ing a derinite ides of whst their needs are going to be. I think it will be a matter of working with the people and develop- ing a protocol." Maria Belvedlere Involvement in the progrant is s fairly long-term commitruent that she hopes will help bring Santa Mariastome economic gain. "If you offer tome assistance that is sus- tainable over the long terru, you're build- ing an opportunity for (hem," she said. Viable trade relations with G7 nations is essential (o the economic survival of developing countries, she sdded. The trio will returu to Milton April 17. I IIIIII MM B M B petition tomorrow Save Ouîr Source (SOS), made up of a group of people fighting to protect tse (own's well-baaed water stapply, will look (o beef up a petition list before tIse Wednesday, Apr. 14 joint meeting of Halton Region's planning and pub- lic works and adminîistration and finance committees. Members will solicit signa- tures Saturday at Milton MaIl frôm 10 a.m. (o 4 p.m. While a proposai to keep lake. wa(er out of existing Lii!I. We behe residents' supply was recent- ly announced - and will be further discussed at the mgeet- ing - SOS spokesperson Carol Gustafson saîd the group will continue their campaign andattend the meeting as an insurance measure. "*We don't want to leave anyftiing to chance because it stili bas (o be approved by Halton counicil, although the plan does seein genuine," ase said. lite III F e1 A I Patented Flavorizer System replaces messy lava rocks of ordinary gas grills while virtual- ly eliminating flare-ups. 'PLATffNUMTM 2200 PUB3LIC NOTICE WANTED DY THE HALTON REGIONAL POUCE SERVICE - PUBUC INPUJT The Halton Regional Police Service is presendly undergoing a revient to determine multi-year polic- ing resource requirements. Yrty mperant to the review is publie input, For tItis reason the consultants will be holding a stries of PUBLIC MEETINGS to discuss issues of effectiveness and efficiency within ste Service and how the Halton Regional Police Service cas best meet the safety and security needs of the Region. Members of tht public are invited ta attend tht meetings at any ose of the foliowitg locatins.Ait meetings wili lit from 7:00pm until 9:OOpm. *Apr 6ini diOurPtgton ut tielamleyt4hed Cainnins Centre Pre-Schual Rnum 1996 isabashi Way *Apnil 7 in Milin tai the Haten Regioa Pelice Service Sttis 490 ChM Dr. (Cammity Reent) *Aprin Oie Diude ut dt Hdmt Regianul Polie Service Heodquartems 1151 Orote Rd. (Cumiuity tuent) For further information please contact Mr. Keith Taylor of the Consulting firm Pernnaie aed Talyor t (905) 825-4747 ext 4723