6 - The Canadian Champion, Friday, March 26, 2004 *Comment *The Canadian Champion 1 Main Si. E. Thre Canadien Champion, pubiished aenor Tuesday and Friday ai 191 t. 1-9l 4N9 Main Si. E. Milton, Oit., L9T 4N9 (Box 248), is ane of Tuma Metnoland Prnting, Publishing & Sîstibuing Lid. group af suhunhan bompanies whîcli 3 1 incluSes: Ajax/Pickering News Adoanfîser, Alision Herald/Courier, Barrae 8 -23 4 1 dvance, BaSter hoterprîse, Brampton Guanitian, Burlington Post, Buniîagton Shopping News, City Parent, Ciiy ai York Guardian., Collingasood/Waaaga Connecion, Easi York Mînnor, hoin Advocate/Couniny Rouies, hiobicaHe 905-878-4943 Gdan. Fiaanorougfl Revieaa, Farevar YoungGeogetown 905-876-2364 Times, Lindsay This Weeii, Markniain Ecanoroîst & Sun, Midiaoa/Peaeiaag- 90-85330 lhane Mirian, Milan Shappiag Nana, Missiauga Basiness Times, 958.-30 Miaassaaga Newa, Napanre Guide, Naaaagaweya News, NewmanixetAuroaa 905-878-5947 Ena-Barnen, Narthumberland News, Narth Yank Mînnan, Oakoîtte Beaven, Sakoitie Shopping News, Sideimena Hackiey News, Orîllia Taday, Publisher Oshawa/Whitby/Claiagian/Pot Penny This Week, Petenrboough This Week, Pecton Couaay Gaide, Richmond HiillThrrhillNaaghaa Lîhenal, Scarborough A.ioociaoe Pshlio/ier Mînnan, SCoCCiie/Uabridge Tribane. Odoertisiag as acceped n t he condiion Chai, rn the Calai oi a typa- Editor-îa C/aef gnaphical eran, Chat port0 io of te adveriising apace accapied by the enna- Maaaaging Editor neaus Ctem, CageCher wit a neasanaale alianance fan signature, nul rat ha changeS Car, but the balance ai the adveriisemeai miii 0e paiS ion ai the appli- ntdaertising Direaaor cahe raie. The pabiohen neservea Che righi Ca caiegorize adveriisemenis an aPoduction Manager dectne. isrbuion Manager Offic e M.anager Box 248, 19 Milton, Or (905) 87 Edlitorial Fax: Advertising Fax: Classifted: Circulation: Ian Oliver Neil Oliver Jitl Davis Karen Smith Wendy McNab Tim Coles Charlene Hall D Teri Casas Is it safe to eaul this end of regionalism? *Our Reade-rs Write In the years that $100 million went missing in an ostensible fight agamnst Quebec separatism, the Conservative voice was being hope- lessly splintered by a fierce regionalism. That officially ended with the birth of the Conservative Party of Canada. With Saturday's leadership vote, it rnay have effectively ended, too. Newly-crowned Conservative Party of Canada leader Stephen Harper was said to have walked mnto the race with western baggage. He walked out with a majority of votes in virtually every corner of Canada. Event those who don't hold Conservative values dear must be relieved that the newly-forged party can now stop turning its guns on each other and point them toward govemment accountability instead. The sponsorship scandal, the ever-ballooning gun registry and the patronage Prime Minister Paul Martin boldly promises to end are alI symptoms of a party allowed to mun without a watchdog in the shape of an effective opposition. With a leader now in place, the opposition can begmn domng its job- shining a very bright light on the current govemment, resurrecting a national Conservative voice and offering voters a long-waited choice. We can't see anything wrong with that. Patrick KeIIy's letter regardîng Miton'"s development right on the money: reader Dear Editor: Kudos to Patrick Kelly for articu- latimg so well what many of us old Miltonians feel about the rush of development that has occurred over the laoî few years in bis recent letter cntitled 'Rcader wonders how growtb bas benefitcd town'. Wben the proponed dcvelopmcnt of Milton was furst approvcd by counicil - against the wishes of many residents - wc wcre told that flhc end resuit would be beneficial to ail mnvolvcd, and that the quaint, small-town charmi that character- ized the town would remain intact. Well, it's been a few ycars now since tbc bouses began popping up, an maybe it's tinte toi take a good look and sec exactly wbat Milton bas becomne. lIn my opinion, wbat wc have is a town that is small in geographical size, but has aIl the trappinga of a larger urban arca. Wc bave a town whcrc you can't even grocery shop on the wieekends because the tbrcc stores we bave arc soi crammcd fuîl of people that il takes twice as long as il use to. Wc bave a town wbcrc trying to get down Main Street at 5 p.m. is like being in rusb-bour traffie, and oftcn corntes close to gridlock. Wc bave a town where urban sprawl is dominating flic landacape, and bouses arc bcing ercctcd faster than you cani blink. Wc bave a town that's sccing an increase in taxes witb a correspon- ding decrease in services, such as onow and garbage removal. Wc bave a town that seemns intent on setling off every single piece of available land as quickly as possi- ble, witb litile regard for the impact sucb devclopmcnt bas for the peo- pIe wbo live bere. lIn short, we have ail the problems of a large urban ares, with none of the benefits. It's for these reasons that so many of us scoffcd at town counucil wben tbey cxtolled the virtues of the new dcvelopments and the perks tbcy would bring - because we kncw what flic rade-off would be. -see READER on page 7 mYouj*ust can't beat a good David vs. Goliath clash Fve neyer made a secret of flic fact that I love my job. Wbile I've donc this gig fulI-time for almost seven years now, covering Milton sports contin- ues to be enjoyable, and in many cases downright exciting. 'Men there's flic rare occasion when it's even inspusing. Lengthy winning streaks and championabipa drives certainly bold sports enthusiasts' interest, but for me there's nothing quite like a good old- fashion David vs. Goliath sbowdown. David doesn't necessarily bave 10 corne out on top - junt as long as be stands talI and refuses tu mirl play out bis underdog role. That bappened in 1999 wben the Foundcr's Cup bost Milton Maverieka pulled off back-to- back upnets 10 reacb flic national finals. it bappencd last spring wben Bisbop Reding's boys baseball teain stunned Ontario's top-seeded Lester B3. Pearson Patriots in the Halton semnifi- naIs. Two weeks later BR's sofibaîl girls followed suit witb a monumental 9-8 semiùfinal comcback win over dcfcnding regional champion Georgetown. Most recently, il was Milton votîcyball ace Kirsty Goodearle wbo delivered a measure of inspiration - doing soi exactly two weeks ago aI the national college cbampionsbips in Toronto. Facing Canada's number one ranked Sherbrooke of Quebec in the semnifinals, Goodearle and flic bost Humber Hawks could have casily rolled over - and seemcd poised to do soi witb straigbt 25-12 defeats t0 stant the best- of-five match. But tbat's wben Goodearle said enougb. Almost singlc-bandedly preventing wbat moat in attendance figured was an inevitable cakewatk, she led Humber 10 back-to-back 25-23 wins - Up front giving il absolutely everytlaing she had in an epic comneback bid - before fmnaily losing flic tic- breaker 15-7. 'Me Milton ail-star was an easy pick for gamne MVP, and judging by spectator reaction was the overwbelming choice for most popular performer that night as well. Her efforts - whicb included 18 kilîs over flic last tbsec games - were wortby of any over-tbe-top foma of flattery imaginable. She also reaffirmed my theory that when played witb enougb SkI and intensity, just about any sport can be exciting. Hockey may be my gaine of choice, but on Ibis nigbt t wouldn't have wanted 10 be anywbere cIsc. Goodearle's Hawks would go on 10 play a raîber lacklustrc bronze-medal game against Calgary's Mount Royal Cougars the next night and finish fourth, but that couldn't take the sheen off an absolutely brilliant semnifinal showing againot flic top college volîcybaîl team in the country. Okay, s0 Ibis lime David didn't slay Goliath but be did give flic big man a serious beating, and eamned bis respect in the process. And aI the risk of sounding comny, sometimes tbat's just as impressive as actually winning. Way 10 go, Kirsty! Cie MiiCaa Carrîvian Championr is a Rcyclablie Priaoul 1 A, _: i