vPC leadership hopeftil Prentice says future of Par ty Iooks biight Candidate visits Milton last week By STEPHANIE THIESSEN The Champion Jim Prentice says he thinks Milton residents are no different j from other Canadians in that they want the Liberals out of power, but are havmng their votmng influ- ence drastically minimized as somne support the Canadian Alliance and others opt for the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party. The PC leadership candidate was at the Ramada lmn Wednesday to introduce hlm- self to Miltonjans and share bis ideas, hop- ing to convince them he has what it takes to lead a party and possibly a country. Mr. Prentice is one of seven PC candi- dates hopmng to replace Joe Clark as the party's leader at the June conventièn. I-is key message? The future for the PC party looks bright - that is, if the party can be reunited and pantner in some way with the Canadian Alliance. "Eveiywhere I go, Canadians say we have a fine nation, a proud nation, but it's badly govemed. We have to draw the Conservative party back together and forn a govemment,- said Mr. Prentice, 46. In the November 2000 federal eleciion. Liberal MP for the Halton riding, Juian Reed. was elected with 47 per cent of votes. is office told The Champion. According to Mr. Prentice, this doesn't show strnng Liberal support in Milton. "*Havent we ail had cnough of the Lîberals in this country?" Mr. Prentice asked. -We hase an obligation to our country t0 stand up and do something about this." It's important for the Conservative and Jim Prentice Alliance parties to sit down, talk, and find solutions 10 lthe current split in rigitt wing votes, he said, adding that almost ail of the beliefs the îwo parties have are lte same. In the 2002 by-election, Mr. Prentice said he decided 001 10 mun againat Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper after becoming the party's nominated candidate in Calgary Southwest for lte 2002 by-elec- lion. He decided 10 shlow Mr Harper 10 lake a seat in Parliament. instead. 'Afier some soul-searching. 1 decided the principled thing 10 do was 10001t contest the by-elecion' Mr. Prentice said in a pro- file distributed ai the meeting. He explained that's one of the wavs he bas shown - through actions. not simply %vords - tbat the PC and Alliance parties should bc working together rather tban competmng. Mr. Prentice gress up in northèm Ontario and currently lives in Calgary, Alla.. where he works as a lawyer and small business- man with intereats in retail and real estate. He served as the PC Party's national treas- urer from 1991 to 1995. Mr. Prentice said he's optimaistic about the future of the PC party. "I see bright days ahead. Mark my words, as fragmented as the party now seems, this is the beginning of laying the foundation of a new Conservative party." Meetings like this are an ideal way for con- stituents to become informed, said Don McGiil, president of the local PC riding association. 'It's a good idea for constituents to meet (Mr. Prentice) and hear some of bis ideas," Mr. McGill sad. Unity within the PC party is something Mr. Prentice said be believes strongly in - and Mr. McGilI said Mr. Prentice could very well be the one 10 bring that about. -This man can generate a cohesiveness within the party. This guy can put a group of people together to forn a majonity vote." James Snow - who was a Conservative MPP representing Milton from 1967 10 1985 and the Minister of Transportation from 1975 to 1985 - antended the meet- ing, and said he was "quite impressed" with Mr. Prentice. He echoed Mr. McGill's sentiments, viewing Mr. Prentice as a uni- fier. I tbink he has the ability t0 pull people together. Unless a leader is able 10 pull tbings together with the Alliance Party, the Liberals will be in power forever.." mhe Canadian Champion, Tuesday, March il, 2003-7 If yalu w! tress breaking news, at (905) 878-234 1. If office i3 closed, leave a message- Saturday, Nlarch 11" 1IIam - 4pm English & Western RIdIng Lessons fer Children & Aduits /m4 4~4ha-te! L ed 5 - I s.of 524Der Ra MitnonDeryRa 0-1-33 vDLONI FAUOS LE Meeting discusses plans. for Oakville shelter, but none in place for Milton By JASON MISNER The Champion The facî ltaIttere are no plans 10 build a homeleas shelter in Mfilton coupled with a brewing snow storm likely explains why no one attended a public meeting last Tuesday nigit. The public meeting was the first of four being held in escit regional municipality 10 update residents on te shelter proposal in Oakviile. Regional Chair Joyce Savoline said "unless sometiting directly affects them" a majority of people don't typically gel involved in an issue. Site also said a winter sîorm tat nigitt migitt have caused tomte not to make tite drive fronm elsewhere around the region to hear te update. Regional councillors endorsed te final report of te Emergency Housing Advisory Group in January. The group was formed last year to pro- vide thte Region of I-lton, te Salvation Army and te Town of Oakville with crile- ria for locating and operating a sheller. According 10 lite Eergency Housing Advisoiy Gsoup's report, a single, 20) b 25-bed facility is being recommended at first. The facility could then later be expanded to a maximum of 40) beds. Construction of the shelter could begin by te end of tite year. The group's report addressed specific emergency housing issues like community need, location criteria, housing operations, safety and security, te planning proces and public consultation. Ils final report focuses on Oakville, which has no permanent emergency shel- ter, and recommends as mandatory lte spe- cifc criteria for locating, operating and communicating with te public about emergency itousing. Residents ideally wiil be aliowed to0 day a maximum of 30 days, but may be able to stay longer based on extenuating circumn- stances. Tite costs of the shelter aren't known because te site has yet 10 be chosen, said Adelina Urbanksi, the Region's commis- sioner of social and community services. The Region is in tite middle of deciding witether il should buy land 10 build a sitel- ter or refurbisit an exisling facility, site sai. 1547 Main St. ELIIILTON Huge Special Seleclion', POLYESTER/ÇOTTON PRINTS 11 5cm wvide, assorted designs. Our Reg. 598mNOWV2.00 m Special Selection! BROADCLOTH Il15cm wide. Polyester/canton, assorted colours. Our Reg. 398 m NOW 2.00 m Special Selection' INTERFACING Assorted types. lndividually prioed. 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