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PAGE 4THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, June 4,2003 www.durhamregion.com Tim Whittaker Publisher Joanne Burghardt Editor-in-Chief Chris Bovie Managing Editor Judi Bobbitt Regional Editor Fred Eismont Director of Advertising Eddie Kolodziejcak Classified Advertising Manager Kirk Bailey Distribution Manager Lillian Hook Office Manager Barb Harrison Composing Manager Clarington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 Œïjc Cmmbtmi Statesman 0 0 June 4, 2003 Metxoland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Phone 905-579-440C Classifieds 905-576-9335 Distribution 905-579-4407 General Fax 905-579-2235 Newsroom Fax 905-579-1805 E-Mail newsroom@durbamregion.com 865 Farewell St., Oshawa ON L1H 7L5 Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 infodurhamregioii.com EDITORIAL e-mail tellers to ncwsrooinOdurhamregion.com Divisive Tory leadership battle does party no good A fter a decade of misery, misery, the federal Progressive Progressive Conservatives had a chance to do something right this past weekend. Unfortunately for the party and for Canadians hungry to find a right-wing alternative to the governing Liberals, the Tories stumbled and bumbled their way through a convention convention that leaves them weaker than when the weekend began. New leader Peter MacKay starts off crippled by infighting infighting among his leadership rivals rivals and by his decision to cut an odious deal with rival David Orchard that would see the Tories review the free trade agreement. The irony is unmistakable: On the same weekend the party honoured the legacy of its most celebrated celebrated (and reviled) leader of the past four decades, Brian Mulroney, it seemed to discredit discredit Mr. Mulroney's self- proclaimed greatest achievement: achievement: a free trade deal with the United States. Imagine the political capital capital Paul Martin, the odds-on favourite to replace outgoing Prime Minister Jean Chretien, can make in a debate with Mr. MacKay over the Orchard agreement. Consider the constant constant criticisms the Liberals have faced from Tories over the past few years about the poor relationship the feds have had with the United States. How can the Tories look like anything but hypocrites hypocrites when they are now going to do a full-scale review review of the deal that most closely connects Canada and the United States, a deal which their own party won an election on and negotiated? The nasty four-ballot war also did nothing to bring the Tories an inch closer to uniting uniting with the Canadian Alliance. Alliance. Those members of the Alliance who were observers at the Toronto convention left shaking their heads in confusion confusion at how a party so low in the polls and with so few members of Parliament could be left so divided. The attempt attempt by a number of Tory leadership contenders to play cute over a united right approach approach to the next election will not build any bridges between between the Conservatives and the Alliance. It all but ensures a split vote in ridings across the country that will allow the Liberals to, for the fourth election in a row, easily win the lion's share of the seats. Many hardly even knew the Tories were having a federal federal leadership race these past few months since, with the Iraq war, the SAKS outbreak, and any other number of issues, issues, the campaign flew way under the radar. The PCs had a chance to wind up their campaign on a high note with a fresh new leadership face and hope for the future. Their failure to do so leaves Canadians with little to' look forward to in the next election. OPINION e-mail letters to ncwsroom@(lurhamregion.com Summer fun takes on a whole new flavour this year I t used to be a lot of fun to be a kid, especially in the summer. But you have to wonder if, after all the necessary precautions precautions taken before going outside outside these days, it's still as much fun. First, there's the whole sun issue. It used to be widely believed believed a well-tanned child was a sign of a healthy youngster who had enjoyed plenty of outdoor summer activities. activities. Now, a well- tanned child only proves the parent didn't slather them up with highly protective protective sunscreen, or, with older children, strictly enforce its use. The health risks of sending a kid outside outside unprotected from the sun, we now know, far outweigh the fact that use of sunscreen is often a recipe for a sticky, sandy, uncomfortable mess for a child just enjoying a little little time on the beach. There are lots of other ways to help mitigate the health risks from the sun, too - avoid prime mid-day sun limes, wear protective clothing clothing and hats, slay in the shade, But it's a lot to think about in what used to be the carefree days of summer. Still, no one can ignore the potential risks, and taking a little time now to ensure sun safety could potentially help ensure a child's future health. Jennifer Stone Staff Writer And who doesn't have time for that? Then, just as sun stops being an issue, the mosquitoes mosquitoes come out. And while mosquito bites used to just be an itchy, uncomfortable nuisance, nuisance, now there's the whole West Nile virus situation to consider. Every mosquito bite this year is going to be looked at as a potential harbinger of the relatively new disease. So, out comes the bug repellent, repellent, long sleeves and pants - just the scent and outfit every kid loves to wear on a hot summer evening. The other option is to just slay inside - hut who wants to do that? There's plenty of opportunity to par- lake in indoor fun during the long, cold months of winter. winter. Summer as a kid used to he fun - no school, no responsibility, just the summer uniform of shorts, a T-shirt and a hike. But there arc a whole lot of new things to consider these days. Then again, this is an adult's perspective, and what we remember is much different different from what this generation of kids will grow up with. Let's hope kids just see sun safety and hug protection as part of their 'normal,' and that it doesn't in any way detract from them having a good time during their break from school. (AMMAN www.dolighan.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR e-mail letters to newsroomtakl urliamrenion.com Donate to local Humane Society To the editor: As president of the Humane Society of Durham Region, it has come to my attention the Toronto Humane Society has hired people to canvass for funds door to door throughout Durham Region. We are in no way affiliated with the Toronto Humane Society. Society. Any money which is given to Toronto stays in Toronto. We do not receive any financial assistance assistance or otherwise from them! The Humane Society of Durham Region covers an area from Ajax/Prckcring in the west to Newcastle in the cast to Tho- rah Island in the north. We have worked closely With Oshawa Animal Services, Clarington Animal Control and Brock Township helping to place animals animals when we have space available. available. Many of our residents have been abused and abandoned abandoned or given up because of death, illness, and moves or separation. Last year, we adopted out over 850 animals into new and loving homes. We do not euthanize euthanize for length of stay. We receive receive no government funding for what we do and exist solely through adoptions, fund-raising events and donations from the public. The OSPCA in Newmarket, which is the head of all humaitc societies in Ontario and of which we are an affiliate, has made it clear in the bylaws it does not approve of solicitation outside of one's own area. The Toronto Humane Society is responsible responsible for Toronto and has 1 million people to solicit there - it doesn't need Durham Region money as well. We do! We have so many animals animals here in Durham that need your support. If you have any questions, give us a call at 905-433-2022 or 905-433-3965 or come to the shelter and meet us. Fred, our three-legged, insulin-dependent shelter cat, would be happy to show you around. Please, if you want to help the animals, we ask you to support support your local humane society! Karin Martens President Humane Society of Durham Region OPINION CLICK AND SA^ Today's question: Should the Province call a public inquiry into the circumstances circumstances surrounding the latest latest outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome? □ Yes □ No Cast your vote online at infodurhamregiojji.com Last week's question: Are you worried about the latest latest round of severe acute respiratory respiratory syndrome (SARS) reports? reports? □ About the same 39.8% □ Less concerned 33.3% □ More than last time 26.9% Votes cast: 93 HAVE YOUR SAY Question Are you concerned concerned about the latest outbreak of SARS? Johnny Seto "Yes, it's somewhat scary and we should all be concerned." concerned." Sarah Kraayvanger "Yes, not for me but for my child and the elders of my family." / Gary Hanewich "Yes. It makes a lot of people feel uncomfort able, including me." e-mail letters to iiewsr<)oni(s>(lurlmnirej;ion.com Push for Ernie Eves comes all the way from N.B. G ot a call a few days ago asking me to vote for Ernie Eves - all the way from New Brunswick. The caller was not an excited Maritimer informing that the east coast is buzzing over the Ontario Progressive Conservative premier's premier's accomplishments, nor an expatriate Ontarian letting letting it be known who he would vote for if he could. The caller, obviously youthful, introduced herself by her first name and said she was phoning phoning "on behalf of Ernie Eves and your local candidate, Charis Kelso," the Tory running running in the Toronto riding riding of St. Paul's. She said Mr. Eves's policies include allowing allowing homeowners to deduct part of their mortgage interest interest payments from taxes and "no more teachers' strikes" and asked if I would vote for him when the election is called. When told there are concerns whether Mr. Eves will keep promises, because he has backed off several, including.one to sell the Province's electricity transmission transmission network, she said she knew nothing about that. Asked what other polieies Premier Eves has, she started to read from his platform. 'The Road Ahead'. To other questions, she said she was phoning from Miramiehi and was a student employed employed by an organization she identified, after turning to someone someone to confirm, as 'Responsive Marketing Group.' This raises embarrassing questions lor the Tories. Parlies normally use volunteers, often party members, to phone voters seeking support, and the Tories over the years have been able to count on more than their share of them. Voters called at their homes and asked to support a candidate envisage they are being called from a bustling campaign campaign office not far away, packed with public-spirited public-spirited volunteers, working enthusiastically enthusiastically to elect the person of their choice. Voters picture them, young and old, giving up leisure lime, tirelessly tirelessly thumbing through phone books and repealing repealing information out of the goodness of their hearts, and the mere fact so many go to so much trouble is some testimony their candidate has merit. But the Tories now have people people calling voters from a thousand thousand kilometres away who have never set eyes on the candidate or riding. They know nothing about his or her record and policies except except for a few brief notes handed them on a sheet of paper - and they are paid for doing it. The Tories under Mr. Eves anil his predecessor, Mike I larris, have fallen far behind the Liberals Liberals in polls over the past three years and now seem also to have fallen so far behind in attracting volunteers they have to pay people people in another province to do their calling, The Tories constantly say they arc heller at creating jobs in On tario. If they have to hire people to canvass for votes, surely they should hire them so it provides jobs in Ontario, not a thousand kilometres away, or are they hiring hiring far away hoping the news will never get out? The Tories, who receive huge donations from business, have ample funds to pay outsiders to keep the phones busy day and night. They tend to deride demonstrations demonstrations that quickly come together together for left-wing causes as renl-a-crowd, although there is no evidence anyone is paid. Now, however, the Tories arc resorting to renl-a-canvasscr. This is not the only Tory tactic that seems contrived. Their caller made it clear they will campaign particularly on promises to make mortgage interest payments tax- deductible and ban teachers' strikes. But making mortgage interest interest tax-deductible was never discussed by Mr. Eves until it suddenly hurst forth in his election election platform. Banning teachers from striking striking also was not contemplated by Mr. Eves and in recent comments he opposed a ban. This suggests these two policies policies and some others he is promising were dreamed up solely solely because his surveys have shown they can win votes in an election and are just as contrived and artificial as rcnl-a-canvasser. The Tories also presumably have people canvassing us from New Brunswick because costs there are lower - soon they may be seeking our votes from Taiwan. Taiwan. i'or decades, Eric Dowd has been covcrini; provincial politics as a freelance columnist based ont of Queen's Park, Darrin Mills "No. I work in Toronto and I don't see people with masks. I believe it's confined to the hospitals." The Cnimbimt Statesman is one of the Metroland Printing, Printing, Publishing and Distributing Distributing group of newspapers. The Statesman is a member of the Bowmanville Clarington Board of Trade, the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Circulations Audit Board and the Ontario Press Council. The publisher reserves the right to classify or refuse any advertisement. advertisement. Credit for advertisement advertisement limited to space price error occupies, Editorial and Advertising content of the Canadian Statesman Is copyrighted. copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction reproduction Is prohibited. itPcna imü Eric Dowd Queen's Park