THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2011 • THE NEWS • WWW.HAMILTONNEWS.COM •
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THE NEWS The Dundas Star News (since 1883) and the Ancaster News, are published every Friday at 333 Arvin Avenue, Stoney Creek, Ontario, L8E 2M6, by Hamilton Community News, a division of Metroland Media Group Ltd, a subsidiary of Torstar Corp.
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ONTARIO PRESS COUNCIL The Dundas Star News and the Ancaster News are members of the Ontario Press Council, which considers complaints against member newspapers. Any complaint about news, opinions, advertising or conduct should first be taken to the newspaper. Unresolved complaints can be brought to: Ontario Press Council, 2 Carlton St. S, Suite 1706, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 1J3. COPYRIGHT The contents of this newspaper are protected by copyright and may be used only for personal noncommercial purposes. All other rights are reserved and commercial use is prohibited. To make any use of this material you must first obtain the permission of the owner of the copyright. For further information contact Debra Downey, Editor, at 333 Arvin Ave., Stoney Creek, ON. L9H 1B5 ADVERTISING POLICY Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate.The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.
YOUR REPRESENTATIVES CITY OF HAMILTON Mayor Bob Bratina
905-546-4200 bbratina@hamilton.ca Councillor Ward 12 Lloyd Ferguson 905-546-2704 lferguson@hamilton.ca Councillor Ward 13 Russ Powers 905-546-2714 rpowers@hamilton.ca Councillor Ward 1 Brian McHattie 905-546-2416 bmchattie@hamilton.ca ONTARIO MPP Ted McMeekin 905-690-6552 Queen’s Park office 416-325-1105 tmcmeekin.mpp@liberal.ola.org Premier Dalton McGuinty 416-325-7155 Dalton.McGuinty@premier.gov.on.ca CANADA MP David Sweet 905-627-9169 david@davidsweet.ca Prime Minister Stephen Harper 613-992-4211
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EDITORIAL
OPINION PAGE
Time to start anew Watching the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board in recent weeks, we can't help but wince as we witness the rift between elected officials and the public widen with each passing week. With the piling on of reasons for exempting Westmount from an accommodation review, chair Judith Bishop battling Parkview's principal at a public meeting and vice-chair Tim Simmons telling the Mountain high school review committee to stop questioning trustees' wisdom and get back to work, the board seems to be fumbling the ball at every turn. Add trustee-vs-trustee battles, questionable in-camera decisions and a general sense of arrogance, and it's no wonder the public is increasingly questioning if they are being properly served. It all began over a year ago with the start of the accommodation review committee (ARC) process, which requires engaging the public about which high schools need to close. Not everyone believes school boards listen to the public during such a review — there's a general mistrust of institutions and politicians that gets in the way of blind faith — but at least there was a chance the wisdom of a colTHE ISSUE lection of community members might be heard. Public’s lack of trust Starting out with a promover high school ise of total transparency, the closure process board has since exposed itself as hiding at least one OUR VIEW key fact from the start, coming up with an excuse for Board needs to find sheltering three schools from way to earn back the process rather than being public’s trust upfront with the reason. The board could have been forthright from the start, but chose to be opaque. Now, the public has lost faith in the review process. Take the special education, or vocational, schools for example. At the outset of the accommodation review committee (ARC) process, Mountain and Parkview secondary schools were included for their respective committees to examine. But early in the process, with the announcement by staff that special needs students will be integrated into regular schools, the board’s pre-determined intention to close Mountain and Parkview, regardless of the committee's recommendation, was excavated. In Westdale, parents are wary of the board's review of G.R. Allan, Dalewood and Prince Phillip elementary schools. They feel the fix is in for a new superschool at Dalewood as the city has already announced a plan to rebuild the recreation centre there. They see the review process as a farce, especially in light of the recent revelations regarding Westmount. In the ARC looking at schools in the lower city, there is a belief the money saved from shutting down area schools will be used to fund a new high school on the Mountain or in Glanbrook. And what about possibly redeveloping Westmount. No one believes the board has not thought about what to do with that school, which is ailing badly, after the review. It would be irresponsible if no one at the board has thought about how our tax dollars will be spent to fix up or replace the decaying building. If the board truly wants to restore the public's trust, it must make efforts to do so. It must go the extra mile and not worry about appearances or egos. For starters, it must capitulate on its heavy-fisted stance and restart the Mountain high school review, all cards in, and actually listen to what the public says during the process. Anything else is lip service to the board's claim of transparency. Trustees might argue they find themselves between a rock and a hard place, but they wedged themselves into that spot with obstinacy and by acting with impunity right from the start.
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TA L E S
FROM THE
CRYPT
Monuments of recession in South Carolina I just returned from a week-long vacation in some pretty good courses and paid $150 total. Santee, South Carolina. The area is located $200,000 in reach between Columbia and Charleston, and is well Speaking of golf, the sixth annual Hamilton known as an affordable golf destination. Community News-Mission Services Charity Golf I drove down with my dad and his wife. It’s the Tournament is slated for May 5 at Hidden Lake first lengthy driving excursion I’ve undertaken in Golf Club. a long time. Over the last five years, we have raised more The last time I drove more than 12 hours in than $170,000 to help Mission Services carry out one haul, I was part of a crew of high its crucial mandate to help the less school buddies heading to Fort Laudfortunate in our community. erdale, Fla., for some spring break fun. This year, if all goes according to The route took us through New plan, we hope to top the $200,000 York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virmark in total funds raised. This is a ginia, North Carolina, and finally, huge milestone for our tournament. South Carolina. It’s about a 13.5-hour Mission Services often uses the drive from Hamilton, travelling at or slogan – for just $3.11 – in soliciting near the speed limit. donations to help provide hot, nutriSantee is a small town – about 800 tious meals to the needy. people – located just off the I-95 in the If we can reach our goal of topsouth eastern part of South Carolina. ping the $200,000 mark this year, MARK CRIPPS It sits on the banks of Lake Marion, that translates into 64,308 meals proMANAGING EDITOR the state’s largest inland lake. The vided to the homeless and poor in man-made lake was created in 1940s as part of a our community. hydroelectric project. We are still looking for golfers, sponsors and It’s a beautiful area, but one that bears the prizes for our tournament. scars of recession. It’s also an area where you see If you can help in any way or want to enjoy a the stark contrast between rich and poor. great day of golf for a good cause, I encourage Lining many of the gated golf courses in the you to visit www.mission-services.com and folarea are gorgeous homes with immaculate land- low the tournament link. scaping. But travel outside these areas, and you It’s agencies like Mission Services that work will see many people living in old trailers or bro- on the front lines to tackle Hamilton’s poverty ken down homes. issues. One telling sign of the impact the recession I’ve always believed in the old Chinese had on the area is the outlet mall just off the main proverb that if you give a man a fish, you feed drag (Highway 6). Built to accommodate at least him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed 100 stores, there are only three retailers currently him for life. selling goods. At Mission Services, providing hot meals is One day, we took a trip to a golf course locat- just one aspect of a broader agenda to impact ed about 25 minutes north on the I-95. I counted poverty in our community. at least 10 abandoned hotel/motels along the This long-standing agency also provides shelroute. Some were in pretty good shape; others ter and services for abused women, addiction were run down. They sit like depressing monu- counselling, employment and training services, ments to the impact the recession had on South community outreach and much more. Carolina’s tourism industry. The wide-ranging impact Mission Services While the U.S. unemployment rate is 8.9 per has in our community is the main reason I cent, it’s 10.2 in South Carolina. approached them six years ago with the idea to As for the golf, the economic situation in the partner in a charity golf tournament. area worked to my favour. I played five rounds on Hope to see you out on May 5.
DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA, AN OPINION, OR A NEW PERSPECTIVE TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY? TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR. EMAIL YOUR SUBMISSION TO DDOWNEY@HAMILTONNEWS.COM.