6 - The Canadian Champion. Friday, Match 16, 200 1 <CUMMLN Sehool staff shouldn't have to pay for checks Docs anyonc cisc think the Province is gong overboard in mnaking an cstiniated 2(X),(X) teachcrs and other school eimployees pay for mandatory criminal background checks on themseIves beginning this September? We applaud Mike Harris' govemýment for wanting to create a safer and more secure environment in which our eildren can learn, but question whether making school employees foot the bill is absolutely necessary. Phyllis Benedict, head of the Elementary Teacher's Federation of Ontario, argues she knows of no case where a teacher charged with misconduct had a criminal record befote being hired. Therefore, it seems unfair to expect employees with spotless records toi pay the cost of proving themselves. By its own admission, the Province recognizes "the vast majority of teachers and school staff have eamned and deserve the respect of their students." Why then are these same professionals expected to, buy the respect of Education Minister Janet Ecker at an estimated cost of $25 to $40 per check? O UR READERS WRITE Volunteers made situation a lot easier We could lose something preclous here Dear Editor: Recently t undeirwent five weeks of daily radiation treatnents for brealst can- cer as the Hamiton Regional Cancer Centre. I would like to acknowledge peuple wbo I dùin don't get enougb thanks or recognition: The volunteer drivers, for thse Canadian Cancer Society - Jacques, Peter, Bob, Bd, Gilbert and Uinda. These peuple pieked m et my bouse, waited for nie ba" home. Tbank you for maldng ation at lot casier. A special thanks an we Drap off letters at The Champion office, 191 A fax to 878-4943 or e-mail to miltoned@haltons THE CANADL4NCH Dear Editor: eup every dlay In light of recent new project me and drove developments in town, iUs diseon- certing toi envision what will surely a stessfl siu- hacome a declining lifestyle for res- a stttafl ~~ idents of Milton. The latesî 'icing on the cake' is the announced plan Il for arrangtng ,by CN to locate an inter-modal ter- minal in a rural corner of our com- Pst Prie. muniiy. At issue isn't only the proj- Wilson DrIVOe c itscîf but also how it transpired. From a purely risklreturn trade- off, the supposed hanefits accrued ain St. E., 1ci this town will assuredly bc earch.com. eclipsed by the downside. This will înclude increased truck traffic and the associated perils, namely noise and air pollution and risk of traffic accidenta through increased con- gIa.T estion. To alleviate prescrnt infra- 11I.JI structure limitations, rural roada will have to ha widened ai the expense of green space. Box 248, 191 Main St. E., Tbe Cuaaaa Champon, poiSoerl evers Tuesrlan FidaPmy ai 191 e Main il. E., Miton. Ont., L9 4N9 (Rox 248), is one of The Metsoland ceps of sens Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 Prn5ng, PubisIong & Dislnibuusng LUI. gnoup oflsuturancomprîmes;whoch may haveI includes A4axIPickerrng News Ainentisen. Ahlision Herldlounie', Barie Advance, Barnys Bay This Week. Boften Enlenpinse. Brampton suandian, moisit rural (905)8 7 8 -2 3 4 1.E Burlinglon Post, Buolneglon Shopping Niews, City Panent. City oi Yor reserved fo Suardian, Collingwood/Wasaga Conneciion, East York Miros, trio EditrialFax:878-943 Advocaîe/Countny Roules, Ilo5icoke Suandian, Fiambonougs Posl, Foreven EditrialFax:878-943 Young. Georgetown IndepenolinlActon Free Press, Halon Business Times. Adverisin Fax:876-3 64 Huonia Business Times, Kingston This Week, Lindsay This Aeeli. Manisam u #su crîsîg ax:87 -23 4 cononist & SuMiianriiPenetanguishene Mmirrt Milton Shopping Neus, Classified: 875-3-300) Nassaouwesa lNeus. NewmarleVAunora Ina-Rannen, Nonthumbenland liews, Nomsh Yonk Mrrnor. Sakoile Beaven. Qakuilie Shopping Neus. Sidrimers I 1 . N Ian Oliver Publisher Hockey Neus, Silia Today. OssawafitNiytlafintoruiPnrt Penny This Week, Peterborougih TiSs Wnnk. PictOr County Guide, Richmondl Neil tiis r rareiii 1 I'idlli ihar HIi/rhorniILVaiighal Liberul, ScrhrorOiîgh Minium, Stoutllei/linhridge I lchendi NicNalb ,i/,iiiig'fîniîi'ir Adistîîoîmqs uuuepncn on the conitîior 1111 in the euelni uf anypo- Kare Sntth fll",ofupl"rl ertor thuI portion or the arlvefiiir spacn ocîmupicil by tic erro- huron an hargeih !01 bu lh baIO i îI 'o ,, 1 .1!ou r 1111e pfo ih. apidS du AeTh, p1' se,1 'e umiîîSe'1h l tc alrpudOculIOio rpi Teri (usýas 'lui iss' Caiaanu Chouiipoil 5ra Oniyodee PnmiilîCl ible growth, Miltonians been led 10 expeci thal development would ha r residential and recre- ation projects. Now with a trans- portation corridor clearly in our sights what's instead sure to follow is industrial development as well as big box stores. We have been led down tic garden path if we'rc to believe that open space wilIl win the day over rampant commerce. There's also no guarantce that the adjilional jobs a.ssociated wiîh this terminal will even be granted 10 locals. It's difficuil to foresee a pos- itive multiplier impact on the town's economy when netted out against these cosis. tn short, it's a perceptibly no-win enterprise that han accelerated past the proposai stage and now is, in essence, a donc deal. lt's another shining example of our elected rep- resentatives being anleep at thc switch where the interesis of thc ordinary constituents arc con- cemned. Doesn't an issue of this stature deserve a public forum for people to assess the long-term impact before thc decision is made? If Ibis is the ramrod approach to future with increasing regulariîy, then wc'rc going to lose somethîng precious in Milton. Wc're going to lose what's bess for ils prescrnt and future residents - a quality of life that's superisrr 10 the suburban sprawl that surrounds us. 1 would like to think thal people arc attract- cd to ibis Iown because is tmuly something special. But bc forewarned. With the prevalent open-door attitude to unchecked devclopmenî as seen with the CN decision, we're send- ing Uic message that Milton can be 'bought oui'. And with this will dis- appear a mix that blends the hast of urban and rural. When long-urne residents start 'selling oui' in increasing numbers, perhaps only then will Uic message get across. Perhaps the approach to this new growth will ha re-cxamined. 'Men again. given Uic recent track record of our representatives, likely not. Paul and Doris Baldassari Hesiop Road by Steve Nease 1ii.ý 01ti', jecoo, fini (,ole, /',. i