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Chemical companies used to routinely dump toxic waste onto the ground or into the water, and we ended up in crisis with the water at places like Love Canal, NY; Hinâ€" kle, CA; and Elmira, Ont. Arsenic and DTD used to be common pestiâ€" cides until governments discovered the problems they were creating Wmmdhgthehhrchfiedi- tion of the Waterloo Chronicle I was surprised by comments from Sharon Woodley about "Smart Growth" and recent decisions made by and banned them. Pesticides are now being linked to certain health problems, and although public education seems like a good choice, it has consistentâ€" ly failed to change habits. So we may as well be safe and ban the cosâ€" eing a libertarian at heart I Bwish governments could have fewer laws and people could be persuaded to do the right thing. Unfortunately people do what they want even if it is detrimental to themselves, others or the environâ€" ment; and governments must act to protect people and the environâ€" ment we live in. have had mixed feelings about Ithc war in Iraq and until now I have tossed and turned trying to sort out my views. On the one hand 1 support the protesters that the invasion is invalid without UN approval and, in the next minute 1 am convinced that Iraq could not be allowed to stick up its finger at the UN and its resolution concernâ€" ing the banned weapons it has been apparently been hiding. _ In my view the protesters and the supporters have made their point to the result that the citizens of Canada are split 50â€"50 on the In order to restore the long recâ€" ognized image of Canada as a Delegations were out of order at regional council meeting Environment minister must protect our water supply It‘s time for Canada to stand up and be counted You said it Unlike Ms. Woodley, I was at the QUESTION DO YOU THINK WATERLOO HAS A LAME DUCK CITY COUNCIL? that gave the soâ€"called "brilliant preâ€" sentation why the Westmount Road extension is no longer a good idea." These citizens were out of order Communities in Livingston County, MI have laws prohibiting softeners being hooked into the sewer system and now Santa Clariâ€" ta, CA has enacted a law that on March 25 prohibits the installation of selfâ€"generating water softeners. Most of California is expected to have similar laws by the summer. You would think that with a world wide fresh water shortage, even though 70 per cent of the planet is covered by oceans (salt water), it would be easy to convince people that putting salt into the water is not a wise choice without resorting to legal avenues. But this seems to be impossible. and 1 appailed by the council Tees repied ty meo of the acegations regional council meeting on March 19 We have a high level of sodium chloride in a number of our wells in the region and research has linked the problem to water softeners in various parts of the U.S. Ontario Water Resources Act, "Every peacemaker and humanitarian country, it is time for us to recogâ€" nize two important things. One, the war is on for better or worse and further protests are no longer meaningful and, two, an incredible amount of humanitarian support will now be required to help the citiâ€" zens of Iraq recover from this ordeal for which they had little or no makâ€" The Chretien government must now pledge Canada to get behind in a significant way, with food, mediâ€" cine and all the other necessities of life for the people of Iraq. Money, resources and people must now be committed to place us in the posiâ€" tion of healers for these people metic use of these products. Under section 30 (1) of the "I have a real problem with city council as a whole. I don‘t think they make a lot of decisions on the whole. But I don‘t think that‘s something "I think they should fire everybody." COMMENT more than one time that evening, and 1 thought that council was more than patient when these presenters went over the alloted fiveâ€"minute time limit. Ms. P haim thk one delegation: tuk cages Neither the supporters nor protestâ€" ers can disagree with this initiative and this will help â€" belatedly, to restore the image of Canada as a standâ€"upâ€"andâ€"beâ€"counted member of the international community. person that discharges or causes or permits the discharge of any materâ€" ial of any kind into or in any waters or on any shore or bank thereof or into or in any place that may impair the quality of any waters is guilty of an offence." The fines are extremely high and it would be hard to argue that the 200 million Ib. of water softâ€" ening salt that the Region of Waterâ€" loo residents dump into the water does not impair the quality of our fresh water. Water quality can only be deterâ€" mined in a lab, and the fact of the matter is that if your water utility delivered the quality of water to resâ€" idents that a softener does they would face large fines. The Ministry of the Environment must act and do its job and protect our water supply, because enforcing laws works and education is a waste of time and money. Chretien must now accept this role so that we Canadians can now rise above dissent and make a meaningful and muchâ€"needed conâ€" tribution to the welfare of the warâ€" ravaged citizens of Iraq. To shirk this opportunity and responsibility, Canada will be forevâ€" er remembered as the pious counâ€" try that shirked its role in time of Continued on page 10 "I‘ve got mixed feelâ€" ings.They‘ve had a lot to deal with, but I‘m disappointed how they handled the Rink in the Park. I think they‘ll settle it in time to make a decision." "I think so â€" clear the whole lot out. Give them a benediction and show them the door." Ron Pope in the future if Canada does not support American military objectives. In other words, the United States might get so angry at Canada that it would slap punitive duties on our softwood lurmber and steel, or even refuse entry to Canadian citizens who were born overseas. Of course, the U.S. is already doing all of those things. Perhaps Canada should consider itself lucky that it didn‘t receive the tongueâ€"lashing given to Mexico (which refused to support the U.S. as a member of the United Nations Security Council). Tony Garza, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, asked rhetorically, "Will Amgerican attitudes be placated by halfâ€"steps or threeâ€"quarter steps? I kind of doubt it." Another U.S. diplomat was quoted as saying that Mexico‘s stance could "stir up feelings" against Mexicans living in the U.S. Did Mexicans "want to stir the fires of jingoism during a war?" he wondered. York University political scientist James Laxer told NOW Magâ€" azine that Cellucci‘s rosy view of past Canadaâ€"U.S. relations was entirely a work of fiction. "There‘s been a lot of talk from various people about the possibility of American retaliation against us for the position we‘ve taken on Iraq. Frankly, when it comes to the economy, I just think that‘s scare talk. In a number of areas where we have problems with the U.S., like softwood lumber, they haven‘t been doing us any favours anyway. I hear (the American ambassador to Canada) Paul Cellucci say in a whining way that Americans are very disappointed with Canada, that if Canada were facing some threat there would be no debate and the U.S. would immediately come to our assistance. I would like someone to find for me one example in the past 200 years when theU,&.whcnnm«:tlyhltsownlmnndhtememt.mr came to the assistance of Canada. The argument that the U.S. has been a great neighbour to us when we have been threatened is just total nonsense. The Americans have pushed for the advantage in every single dispute they‘ve ever had with us." A ccording to Paul Cellucci, U.S. Ambassador to Canada, "a lot f people in Washington are disappointed and upset" with Canada over its failure to report for duty in Iraq. It was later revealed that Cellucci‘s remarks were made on the direct instructions of Condoleezza Rice, who Bush once described as his "foreign policy tutor." An unnamed American official told The Globe and Mail that "this statement came right from the top." * Ontario Premier Emnie Eves wrote an open letter to Cellucci saying that he "share(s) your expression of disapâ€" pointment in the response of the Canaâ€" dian government. We believe it is important to support our American neighbours to the south, as you have been our allies and our friends for many decades now. So, should we care that the Bush administration is disapâ€" pointed in our government (despite the disturbing fact that, as Cellucci acknowledged, "Canada will provide more support for this war in Iraq indirectly than most of those 46 countries that are fully supporting us.")? Certainly, there has been no shortage of Canadians lining up to support Ambassador Cellucci‘s remarks, and even take them a step further. Consider the following: _ â€" e * The Alliance also posted signs in the lobby of the House of Commons bearing an American flag and the words "I stand with President George W. Bush." Alliance MPs are reportedly requestâ€" ing additional signs to post in their ridings. *The National Post called for an end to "the slew of juvenile antiâ€"U.S. posturing issued from within (the Liberal) party" and argued that Prime Minister Chretien was living in "a lost age" (one in which multilateral institutions still have influence). * Alberta Premier Ralph Klein issued a statement indicating that "Albertans deplore war. But we also value freedom and security â€" freedom for people to live their lives as they wish, and freeâ€" dom from terrorism and from weapons of mass destruction. I wish to express my thanks to the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries * Former Ontario premier Mike Harris appeared with Eves and Harper at a proâ€"war rally and waived an American flag. "We need to let the Americans know and disassociate ourselves from the actions of the federal government and from some of the antiâ€" American sentiment that‘s been expressed," he later told a meetâ€" ing of the right wing Fraser Institute. How refreshing to know that, should the United States ever decide to exercise its Manifest Destiny, that there already exists a Fifth Column in Canada who will welcome them with open * Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper asked during Question Period: "Why does the prime minister fail to grasp that his stance is deeply injurious to our national interests?" _ â€" who have committed themselves to achieving these goals." mmrart.;LHem;n'ed.fmcxrampkflm'secufityMflruumpy_ndc' With friends like these... Still, there may be reason to be concerned about Cellucci‘s PIATKOWSK