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I: Despite widespread warnings that e 1994 R.I.D.E. campaign officially j‘cked off last weekend, Halton police tabbed four impaired drivers between 'xtra funding megggfigmmgfiquIDE patrols in Halton ;. nesmmmflié Visit Sears Oakville Place According to Sgt. Tom Chapman, police checkpoints stopped a total of 2,030 vehicles in Halton during that Dec. lst-Sth‘ Mon. - Fri. 9:30 am - 9:30 pm Sat. 8:30 am - 11:30 pm Sun. 11:00 am - 6:00 pm . Expéct morefromgSeozrs SEARS time period. Sixteen roadside tests were administered while five 12-hour suspensions and the four impaired/over 80 mgs charges were laid. Chapman. “I’d be more pleased if we didn’t get anyone.” This year additional funding from the Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services allowed Perfectly located on; blpc} north 3f Lukeshorc between ’m quite pleased,” said Sgt. ExpECITfibrefrom Sears l5eaxl Elizabeth Streets, Downtown Burlington (905) 637-0963 SEA/RS. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Purchase the Canadian Living Christmas book for just $14.99 Sears Oakville will donate $1.00 to the O.T.M.H. Childrens Ward. We have ,3 g_ift {pr giyipg. This year additional funding from the Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services allowed Halton officers to actually begin this dress shirts A Christmas gift he reoliy needs... made of easy-core polyester-cotton in a selection of colours and prints. year’s R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) program during the last week of November. Sgt. Chapman explained that those who may consider drinking and driv- ing should think again: the extra money and manpower will enable police to put officers on the street over Kids can see Santa at Cablenet taping Once again Cablenet lS hosting its Santa and the Kidsilixilesrhnxi/sinJ tickets are still available for the tapings on Dec. 14th at 6 p. m. and 7 p. m andDec 15 at6p..m The Dec. 14th 6 pm. taping will be shown on Saturday, Dec. 17th at‘ 11:30 am. and Tuesday, Dec. 20th at 6 pm. and the Dec. 14th 7 pm. tap-'3'. ing will air Saturday, Dec. 17th at 1 p In and Wednesday, Dec 21st at 6 p. m The Dec. 15th taping will air Saturday, Dec. 17th at 3:30 p m. and, Thursday, Dec. 22nd at 6 p m Tickets are $3 each arid can be reserved by calling Edith at 333-5522,. ext. 7614. Plan has far-reaching economic implications; (Continued from page 1) disabled, seniors, children) equally despite their specific requirements. Again on paper, a person in need of care in the rural north should have the same access as someone in Toronto. In reality, the unique strengths and powers of the indi- vidual agencies now in place may be disregarded and eventually lost for good. “What we got was a highly inflexible template,” said Sullivan, who believes that, given the diver- sity of the province, one fixed framework will fail. “This one model would not survive either Opposition parties.” and above usual patrols whose sole. task will be to get impaired motorists; off the street. The media he added have a particularly important part to play. Z‘Once it hits the news, peoplel‘ begin to smarten up,” said Sgt: Chapman. . ~ According to the MPP, almost ‘ every aspect of the new agencies‘ - from funding to to the services they' provide- will be controlled by the‘ government. They cannot set their 7 budget, create the content of their , volunteer programs or refer special _ needs clients to outside agencies. Even committee members must be, approved by the Ministry. “What do any of these things have to do with enhancing the kind: of care people need?” asked.‘ Sullivan, who also wondered who; will want to sit on a board with no' decision-making power. . Under this monopoly on paid and volunteer care, the future of both kinds of workers would be left . in limbo. The transition to building' a new system from scratch will be high, including severance packages for paid workers, new equipment, ’ recruitment and training plus lease“ buy- o-uts of buildings cars and equipment. Given this dire see-j, nario, what commitment is Sullivan prepared to give if the Liberals assume power next year? c, Sullivan promised local agencies to flexibility to offer a mix of ser- vices and the opportunity to deter: mine their design for the hes} access. What works in Thunder Bay won’t necessarily wash in ‘Halton, she said. Local boards;i Sullivan continued, will have the: power to make decisions that are appropriate to their individual com- munities. Under a money-driven program? such as the MSA’s with limited: funding, Halton Helping Hands: executive director Anne Fairfield‘ said communities may have to just MPP says service 3 will be very slow 3 take what they’re given. Worse, she w, warned, the major issue may not be 3 the quality of service but that some ; services may not be available at all. (Continued from page 1) account is the fact that people give their time for a host of elusive reaâ€" sons ranging from the mission, hisâ€" tory and reputation of a group in a given community to personal feel- ings and past experiences with the agency. In addition, Sullivan said she dis- agrees with the government’s expectation that people will contin- ue to raise funds for the new multi- service agencies (MSA’s). ' “There will be an enormous loss of capital and operating dollars,” she said. One speaker said individuals enjoy a certain “comfort level” when dealing with local volunteers as opposed to government employ- ees. The fear, he said, is that a lack of healthy competition will turn cur- rently dedicated workers into gov- ernment drones that don’t have to meet the standards of a well~ respected agency. What will become of agencies’ volunteers and the quality of care offered by; “generic” workers once MSA’s are in place? Sullivan disagreed, maintaining that caring workers will do their best regardless. Another speaker took exception to that, saying work- ers will resent being told they have to be unionized and where they will work and be expected to be happy. Mary Ellen Frederick, executive- director of the Oakville Red Cross, wondered what will happen to the “spirit of volunteerism?” and expressed fear about the financial implications of the new system. After all, she said, even salaried employees volunteer countless hours that are not budgeted. This kind of “caring spirit” which motih vates people and drives the currenli system may be lost. :1 Sullivan struck an ominou chord, however, when she said peo ple can in fact expect somethin; from the new legislation. In answer to that, a regional employee stood up and said he’ put his workers up against those from the private sector any time. “The only gnarantee in the bill i the guarantee you will be put on ‘ waiting list,” she said. December 7. 1994