S - The Canadian Champion. Frlday, August 31, 2001 SCOMMENT THE CWvAN vCHIPION Box 248, 191 Main St. E., The Canadian Champion, publisirsd every Tuesday and Friday at 191 Maie St. t., Miltoni, Ont., L9T 4N9 (Box 248), is une o Tire Metroland Milton, Ont. 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Tim Coles Production Manager Pire Mone Caoadlan Cianpoo tua Rcyeiabie Pneuce n Let's hope the siate ___________ will be wiped dlean OUR READERS WRITE Last week's announcement that teachers witb the Halton District School Board had corne to an arrangement with the board regarding extracurricular activities is a long-awaited, welcome bit of news for students. By being able to fr-ee Up more teacher time in the school day, it's expected more staff will have the timne and opportunity to resume after- school academic assistance, coaching duties and coordination of vari- ou s clubs. For the hundreds of Halton bigb school students who last year found themselves without many of the extracurriculars they had come to take for granted, it must seem like they've awakened from a nightmare. Last week's nearly unaninous acceptance of a contract arnendment wil give the public board's high school educators the time to volunteer for the sports and clubs they didn't have the previous year. While the vote doesn't guarantee ail teachers will be back to volun- tee r, it provides a beacon of hope that previously cancelled extracur- niculars will soon return to Halton schools. We hope students and teachers, tom apart over this divisive issue last year, can wipe the siate dlean and get back to forging the rewarding t relationship often realized simply by participating in these school teamns and clubs. JolIy old Scotty, Chartes MacFarlane, wiI be missed by those who knew hlm Dear Editor: An old man passedl away last week (Auguot 23). His naine was Charles MacFarlane, but everyone knew bim as Scotty. Old people die every day, but Scotty's story is different. He toucbed people. Scotty bad no biological family and yet lie was loved and cared for by a unique famnily - the ernploy- ees of a pub. Scotty lived at Allendale and would regularly make the rounds of tbe pubs of Milton. A drink bere, a taxi ride, another drink, another taxi ride, another drink mnd then borne to Allendale. But one pub on Scotty's rounds stands out, the Dickens. The owner/rnager Roger looked out for biai. The staff fed hum fried egg sandwiches or wbatever he wmnted mnd loved him as perbaps no one else did. Was he a trial? At tirnes. Was he loved? No doubt. Scotty would corne in, order a baîf pin ad sit. Many of the patrons would corne over for a chat, the wait staff would make sure lie was coinfortable and fed - for fi-e - and then get biai a taxi to bis next stop. Scotty is gone now but not for- gotten. He's alsornoumed. The staff of the 'pub with a beait' is planning a srnall mernorial for tis Milton character. Wbere else but in this remarkable town could you find a business with sucli a big beart? Anne Cunnlng Miton Do you have an opinion on an i"mu? $end us a loi Wr 1<> the oditor. Public just isn't ready to accept a 25 per cent raise Do MPPs deserve a 25 per cent raise? their constituents as best they can, rallying the cians as hogs lined up at the rnoney trougli. For their current $78,007 annual salary, MPPs support of other politicians to get the job done. A mucli more sedated approach to pay hikes spend six months of tbe year in the Legislature Spending time countmng their eamnings isn't in tbe would bave done wonders to improve the already doing what Bbey think, or are told by party lead- job description. falling perception of thse Tory leader. ers, is best for their constituents. Tbe rest of tbe There's no question that MPPs, wbo baven't Wbile tbe Harris government is known for its tirne is spent working frorn their constituency seen a pay maise in about 10 years and experi- y-ron ack-and-slash financial tactics, there seerns to offices and hearing voters conceros. enced a pay cut under the NDP leadership, be plenty to.go around wben it cornes to tbern- Interirn Integrity Commissioner Gregory deserve a maise. However tbe question remains, perspective selves. A maise is warranted, but wby sbould Evans announced this week MPPs will see a 3 bow mucb is appropriate? MPPs take 25 per cent when ail tbey offer provin- per cent maise every year until the next election In the spring, Premier Mike Harris announced a u cial employees is 2 per cent? Maybe Mr. Evans (likely 2003), witb a 25 per cent raise once the a proposed 42 per cent maise for botb bimself and should move the decirnal place a litlie to the left. winosers are announced. That pushes the annual bis feilow legisiative seat warmers. But public Wbat tbat did was take tie bnant of the fiack No matter wbo grants it, or how long it bas salary to $106,554. outcry and tbe possibility it could cost bim thse over thse mises off the shoulders of Mr. Harris - heem since t.bey saw a maise, the public isn't ready Mr. Evans' reasoning? Higher salaries are next election (no need to worry, Walkerton a weil orchestrated, if not completely transparent to accept figures as high as we're seeing. needed to atract quality politicians. already bas) convinced bim it may not be the best tactic. , Tbere's also tbe possibility that the pay bike The problerro witb that reasoning? Politics is way to approacli the topie. Giving yourself a maise is always a politically- will do more than attract worthy politicians. k like no otber service and sbould be more about nstead, tbe Harris govemment appointed a sensitive situation and the appointaient of Mr. leaves us more susceptible to spin doctoring - doing good than getting paid. mutually-acceptable integaity commissioner with Evans is understandable. However, that does smooth-talking types who are more after tbe politician's job is to.f44rs h o ft~eli44ptp nod.ugg to P*~ t ,_rs i onen f% >Y&W55'iBu5B1& ' ýau ua é.~fau cag t i; tOp,P$'pf.l!a.-, ,cs o heg