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6 Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, October 18, 2006 OPINION Province recognizes flaws in laws Generally speaking, the rules of law are in place to ensure the public's safety. However, the Ontario government this week is taking action on two fronts to amend existing legislation after determining current laws are not protecting the public as well as once thought. On Monday, the provincial government announced it is planning changes to the Liquor Licence Act-- changes that were prompted by attacks on women whose drinks had been spiked with date-rape drugs. Currently, no one in a drinking establishment is allowed to carry their drink with them into a washroom. However, in the wake of several attacks on women who had left their drinks unattended and had knockout substances secretly slipped into those drinks, Gerry Phillips, Minister of Government Services, announced patrons will no longer have to leave their drinks while visiting the washroom. While this simple change, which will be introduced tomorrow (Thursday), will not take affect for several months, it is a step towards protecting the public. The new law is not mandatory, but it is anticipated most bars will apply for the liquor licence change, which will come without additional costs. The second, and more significant legislative change, concerns Ontario's seatbelt law. In the wake of Saturday's horrifying crash in Caledon in which four people died, Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield introduced legislation Monday that will make it mandatory that each person in a vehicle must wear a seatbelt. Unbelieveably the existing legislation does not make it illegal for people to ride in a vehicle that doesn't have enough seatbelts. Saturday's crash, which involved a minivan and tractor-trailer, saw 10 people riding in the minivan which was equipped with only seven seatbelts. The new "one-person, one-seatbelt" should receive speedy passage and close a loophole that should have been closed long ago-- a loophole that may have resulted in the needless deaths of four people. www.independentfreepress.com Phone: 905-873-0301 Fax: 905-873-0398 Steve Nease STAFF DIRECTORY Publisher Ken Nugent Advertising director Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager Nancy Geissler (distribution@independentfreepress.com) ADVERTISING Retail Sales: Jennifer Spencer (jspencer@independentfreepress.com) Adam Spinney (aspinney@independentfreepress.com) Brendan Louth (blouth@independentfreepress.com) Andrew Key (akey@independentfreepress.com) Michelle Wan (features@independentfreepress.com) Real estate: Sue Spizziri (realestate@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds: Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) ACCOUNTING Rose Marie Gauthier, Jennifer Christie, Michelle Wimmer EDITORIAL Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@independentfreepress.com) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@independentfreepress.com) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@independentfreepress.com) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@independentfreepress.com) PRODUCTION: Mary Lou Foreman, Kevin Powell, Shelli Harrison, Dolores Black, Debbie MacDougall LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Resident appalled by right to life protest Dear editor, Re: Right to life demonstration. As I was driving around our beautiful town on a recent Sunday afternoon, I was approaching the intersection of Mountainview Road and Maple Avenue. Along all sides of the road were people holding signs reading "Abortion Kills" and "Adoption is the right way"-- I could not believe my eyes. Even younger children were holding signs, obviously on the advice of their parents. When my husband got home from fishing, I told him about what I saw and how horrible I felt-- and he said he saw the same thing in Oakville. I was wondering how these people can be against pro-choice and a woman's right to choose? These people must have never been in the position of being a rape victim and/or never knew a child who had been beaten or been sexually molested by someone in their adoptive family. Everyone is different and what you believe might not be right for others. Think about that next time. S. Harris, Georgetown Something bugging you? Send us a letter! Letters to the editor must include an address and daytime telephone number. Unsigned letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 200 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1 E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Town congratulated for holding march Dear editor, Re: Recent Welcoming Diversity March. Good for you, citizens of Georgetown, for showing your support of the growing diversity that makes up this community. I attended the POSSE youth project's Welcoming Diversity March as a representative from the Halton Organization for Pride and Education (HOPE) and together with the North Halton Cultural Awareness Council the Halton Multicultural Council, the Halton Caribbean Association and the Métis Women's Circle, we celebrated Georgetown's diversity and raised the United Nations flag and the Rainbow Pride flag. What a truly positive and welcoming response we received from you as we marched up Main Street. Congratulations to the POSSE youth who worked diligently organizing and running the event and for bringing the message of equality and human rights for all people to the forefront of our minds. The message, that no matter what someone's sexual orientation, gender identity, race, colour or faith is, we are all humans and we all need to treat each together with respect and kindness, was most certainly heard and celebrated. I commend the youth for their courage and fearlessness for taking on these issues in such a public way. What a great day for Georgetown. Though the United Nations flag or the Rainbow flag might not ever grace the local town hall flagpoles, nonetheless they have now been raised in Georgetown and will remain in our all hearts and minds and will serve as a constant reminder of human rights and respect and will now represent and acknowledge the diversity of Georgetown. Marcus Logan Executive Director, HOPE Community's support of new leash-free zone is greatly appreciated Dear editor, The long-awaited opening of the Cedarvale Leash-Free Zone on September 24, was a resounding success and Halton Hills Dog Owners Group (HH-DOG) would like to thank the Recreation and Parks Department (Warren Harris, Rakesh Mistry, Gerald Dieleman), Mayor Rick Bonnette, councillors, and staff of The Independent & Free Press for their kind and generous support of our efforts to open a second leashfree zone in Halton Hills. We greatly appreciate all the individuals and organizations who took time out of their weekend to come to the opening day and make a presentation, or set up a booth. Not to be overlooked are the dog owners who attended the opening festivities, and HHDOG members, both old and new. The happy dogs currently using the leash-free zone echo our sincere thanks. Sandra Hall, HH-DOG THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS The Independent & Free Press is published every Wednesday and Friday at 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown Ont., L7G 4B1. It is one of several newspapers published by Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonable allowance for signature will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the acceptable rate. In the event of typographical error advertising goods or services at wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell which may be withdrawn at any time. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. 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