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6 11esuhtnbunerntiaocix20y7 suntnbune 6290 main sl stouflviileonl4alg7 wwwyoriaegioncom publisher iahproudfoot editor m chief debora kelly business manager robert lazurko director interactive media technology john futhey director advertising york region printing distribution general manager barry black bob dean director circulation systems lynn pashko editorial growth strategy referendum key regional issue you ought to feel relieved controversy over funding faithbased schools has been diffused by progressive conservative leader johntorysassuranceanymovetofundfaith schools will be put to a free vote of mpps we would hope mr torys move clears the way for voters to look at the other important issues rr york region the issue affecting all of us is rapid massive growth something the provincial government has a tremendous influence over both in controlling it and lessening its impact growth is a phenomenon that taxes all the services governments offer it affects the quality of our health care if there are too many people for the size of our hospitals or number of family doctors or specialists practicing here we experience it firsthand growth affects our dairy com mute there are more cars on our already clogged roads drastically slowing the drive meaning parents spend more time away from their families buy less healthy take out meals after the rush home with latch key kids being baby sat by the oldest sibling and the tv set or video game console growth affects the quality of our chil drens education with students in portables or bused to distant schools growth puts pressure on our recreation services when hockey rinks and playing fields cannot meet demand growth can even impact the social fabric of our communities when new residents move in and bring with them new tradi tions interests and demands that may clash with those who moved here before them thats why it is important for voters to look at which party is responsive to this one overarching issue the elephant in the room that it should be impossible for the parties to overlook studies show york has fallen far behind in the level of funding it receives per cap ita the liberals sare promising massive improvements to public transit includ ing subway expansion to help deal with gridlock they have also invested heavily in hospital expansion and a new regional can cer centre but the party is also mandating growth in york region and intensification in highdensity areas without any promise of sustained funds to help this happen progressive conservatives are promising catchup funding for highgrowth areas like the 905 to improve health care the party also pledges to work with municipal govern ments to meet the demands growth puts on them by tying funding directly to growth an approach many in york region advocate whether your main concern is health care gridlock education or some other issue you should consider which party is respon sive to the special needs of communities undergoing rapid growth well ill certainly vote to stay in canada letters to the editor duct tape would win election for tory instead of faithbased funding to win the upcoming election pc leader john tory needed but one piece of apparatus duct tape strategically placed it would have guaranteed his partys victory over the deceitful liberals under premier dalton mcguinty there are few issues that would allow mr tory to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory but with out doubt public funding of faithbased schools is definitely one agree or not it would appear the current faith- based education system has failed them both mr mcguinty seems to be unaware of the excel lent advice found in psalm 34 verse 13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit and it is extremely unfortunate mr torys lack of familiarity with verse 3 of psalm 141 set a guard o lord over my mouth keep watch over the door of my lips has cost him and his party this election johnalden whitchurchstouffville wanna race go to the track we hear so much about street racing these and the tragic consequence it can create if teenagers or adults want to race cars so badly let them race on proper tracks since they probably cannot afford it this might deter them from racing andrew johnstone stouffville what will ontario party leaders do to lessen hardships on seniors ctv asked individuals to email questions to ask during the debate of party leaders in the ontar io election the following question was sent in but was never aired and thus never answered prior to the last election senior citizens could look forward to an education tax rebate no health tax charges assistance with chiropractic and physical ther apy expenses we are not interested in alternative suggestions or reasons why others should benefit from our losses what does each leader intend to do to correct these financial burdens that affect seniors enjoy- ment of their later years dalton mcguinty john tory and howard hampton now is your opportunity to address this concern of a senior citizen george gorringe stouffville off the top with jim mason confessions of a greenbin converting hockeyfight lover i havent been to confession in 50 years it might help if i was roman catho lic and if i was of such persuasion there would be a list not too lengthy just your normal north american males regrets and apologies for public consumption i reveal the following im sorry im not doing more with my green been im trying but theres so much to learn its like the first day of kindergarten some paper goes in the blue boxes others the green bin still others the garbage im a work in progress dont toss me out sorry neighours i have taken the neighbourhood back streets of north stouffville to escape the traffic signals of main street unlike some of my brethren i dont ignore stop signs speed limits and pedestrians i wish i had videotaped a fight between philadelphia flyer prospect steve downie and stouffvilles caletana- ka and not just because of mr downies bigtime runin with nhl justice last week the punchup a middleweight clas sic during stouffville spirit training camp five years ago was one of the most even and lengthy hockey fights ive seen a pier 6 brawl on ice if youre into such things remember the old rock em sock em robots toy and youre close for trivia buffs cale is playing at the university of alabama in huntsvule mr downie is sitting out 20 games for jump ing another player last week i have used too many thousand grocery store plastic bags in my lifetime enough to have a landfill site named in my honour but before you sick david suzuki on me i am repenting and hauling canvas bags to and from the groceterias of main street jim mason is editor of the sun- tribune letters policy the suntribune welcomes your letters all submissions must be less than 400 words and must include a daytime telephone number name and address the suntribune reserves the right to publish or not publish and to edit for clarity and space letters to the editor the suntribune 6290 main st stouffville on l4aig7 jmasjmeyrmgjcjyri editorial editor jim mason jmasonyrmgcom interacttve media marketing advertising manager dawna andrews dandnrwsyrmgcom advertising retail manager staceyallen sallenyrmgcom classified manager ann campbell acampbcllyrmgcom assistant classified manager bonnie rondeau brondeauymtgcom production team leader sherry day sdayyrmgcom fdsi crcuttxxtt anmbomj ccab editorial 9056402612 fax9056408778 advertising 9056402612 classified 18007433353 fax9056408778 distribution 9056402612 suntnbune a york region media group community newspaper the suntribune published every thursday and saturday is a division of the metroland media group ltd a whollyowned subsidiary of torstar corporation metroland is comprised of 100 community publications across ontario the york region newspaper group includes the liberal serving richmond hill and thomhill vaughan citizen the erabanner newmarketaurora markham economist sun georgina advocate york region 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