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EDITORIAL = = Risky business Ontario’s New Democratic government plans to open Ontario’s first casino in the Windsor area next year. They’re apparently will- ing to take a gamble that all the usual social problems that accom- pany gambling won’t occur here. No drug problems, no prostitu- tion and no interference by organized crime. We think that’s quite a gamble. Even if the government is going to hold the reins on this, rather than private enterprise, the whole proposal is a bit scary. Granted the Windsor casino will be established as a pilot pro- ject. That’s something like telling the hospitals across the province that the accreditation committee is going to pay them a visit next «Wednesday. Of course, everything will run smoothly during the testing stage. Those that want gambling in Ontario won’t have their hand in the till while the government maintains a watchdog stance. The worrisome question is, “What happens when the govern- ment turns its attention to other things?” Things like unemploy- ment and the economy, for example. They’re both still out there and they’re both still in pretty rough shape (most likely the result of neglect). For those who think legalized gambling will help fill the provin- cial coffers, there are a few other things to consider. What about police costs, for example? It’s not unreasonable to expect that crime will increase in cities where gambling is allowed. And, we all know that Detroit, Windsor’s neighbor, isn’t exactly a model city when it comes to keeping the criminal elements in check. An opinion poll taken this past spring suggested that 53 per cent of 1,002 people surveyed didn’t approve of the government’s casi- no scheme, while 19 per cent were strongly in favor. Obviously, the whole idea deserves further aoa with more input coming from the general public and the The ntario public deserves to mes more about how the gov- ernment plans to regulate legalized gambling in this province. We cannot afford to go blindly forth into this kind of risky business. In other words, we cannot afford this gamble. Business community pro-active The following letter was sent to Halton North MPP Noel Duignan. A copy was sent to Halton Hills This Week for publication. Never before has the business community of Halton Hills been as pro-active on one issue as the pro- posed changes to the Ontario Labour Relations Act. We have tried to express our concerns and in cases our outrage about this legislation, for the most part we have been ignored by you and your Government. This has not damp- ened our resolve to make the public and your Government aware of our concems about this piece of legisla- tion. Enclosed you will find coupons that our members have sent to us by fax or letter to forward to you and Mr. McKenzie. It should be under- stood that the majority or our mem- bers are small or medium sized businesses that for the most part are not unionized. They fear for their future as governments as all levels want to control more and more the private sector. The OLRA is just another piece of legislation that will make it more difficult to do busi- ness in Ontario. In our submission to the Minister of Labour in February we stated our main concerns and made sugges- tions that could be incorporated into the new legislation as have many business organizations. We are not going to cover all these points once again but one main point should be addressed and that is the right of a secret ballot in the certification process. This would truly be reformist in nature and in our view protect the rights of both employees and employers in a much more progressive manner that the current legislation or the proposed legislation. Many of our members have writ- ten additional comments on the coupons or have sent letters to you or Mr. McKenzie we would urge you read them as they truly reflect the feeling of the small business sector of Halton Hills. In your recent “Riding Report” there were many references to the term “reformists government” and many of the social benefits that we enjoy in this province. it is equally important to remember that our economic prosperity is dependent on the private sector who are the generators of the wealth in this province. The Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce will continue to make the feelings of our members know to you and your Government. Yours truly, John Duncan Chairman Government Affairs Committee Hf [HIS WEEN Halton Hills This Week is published every Wednesday at 232 Guelph St,, Georgetown, Ont. L7G 4B1, and is printed in Oakville by Q.E. Web Printing. or services may PUBLISHER: Ken Bellamy eave Scott Kline REAL ESTATE MANAGER: Kathy Toth CARCI IRCULATION MANAGER: Marie Shadbolt |ODUCTION MANAGER: HALTON HILLS THIS WEE WEEKS IN 1S INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & apavellers PHONE: 873-2254 873-3918 That was then... The bank of Hamilton opened its first Halton County branch in 1875. The bank was located opposite the Photo courtesy of Esquesing Historical Society Presbyterian Church. Family Violence Grieving: Everyone has their own way By Jacie B. Palmer Death eventually parts us from those we love. Oh, we think about it but never really come to grips with the finality of it until we are forced to through circumstance. I don’t think it matters how old we become, each age offers so dad’s dog was hit by a bus. As I sat next to mum she cried - shed tears uncontrollably - sobbed. She asked how it was that she couldn’t shed a tear for her hus- band but couldn’t stop crying over this silly dog. Of course, she was finally allow- many wonderful that we long to enjoy life and to live a little longer. I remember a friend telling me that his father, although paralyzed for many years, never wanted to give up life. As a Christian I’ve always felt that death is a new beginning. I look forward to that time! However, for each of us death is final. An ending. Sometimes we don’t view death as a part of victimization and yet losing someone you love is a great atrocity. Each of us deals with that loss in a different way. Some of us cry and outwardly mourn for a period of time while others suppress their pain and hurt only to have it trig- gered by some future event. I remember very clearly the weekend my father was dying. I visited him at the hospital and he spoke gibberish in response to my inquiry as to how he was. Then, much to my surprise, clear as a bell, he said: “If I can’t talk, I'd rather be dead!” His life was filled with community service work - so I could empathize with his feel- ings. That was the last time I saw him. Two days later he was dead. During that two days, I prayed for God to take him if he could not ae his life in a full and normal Miia called me at 7:30 a.m. to tell me he’d died. She’d received the call during the night. In her usual stoic manner she handled all the arrangements and carried on with life. Suppression? Repression? Depression? I don’t know. I do know that a few months later my HELP US HELP OURSELVES ing herself to grieve. She felt guilty because she cried over the dog and not dad. I felt guilty that I'd prayed for dad to die. Mum never recovered from her loss. She never had a proper support system and didn’t know how to ask for help. She would never had admitted she was in nee We all grieve in our own way at a different pace. Sometimes, though, we don’t accept others’ behaviors because we expect them to react in stereotypical ways or in the way we pease we would in similar circumstan To different kinds of death we react differently. When you lose a child many people immediately sympathize - but quickly back 2 Losing a spouse seems to be the easiest for friends to deal with because they knew him/her and shared a part of that person. We all take heart that we’ve “lived a good life” and had some experiences. With the death of a. child people often feel uncomfort- able - particularly when the death is unexpected, crib death, for example. Reactions! The same holds true when a per- son has been murdered. Murder may be easier to deal with when the perpetrator is a stranger but if the perpetrator is a spouse or other relative we don’t know how to react - what to say or do to support those that remain. The sheer abhorrence of the act wrenches deep inside. Do you say: “I’m sorry. How can I help?” Do you hold your friend and tell that person that you love him/her? Or would you-be so horrified that you’d back away, do nothing and refuse to acknowledge the atrocity that has occurred? Most of us would like to back off - all with valid reasons, of course. If we could only take the time to put ourselves in the other person’s shoes we’d look at the cir- cumstances much differently. In those circumstances what would I want? A hug! A hug says, “I love you, I care about you, tell me what to do so I can help you.” Grieving is hard. It takes a long time to heal and fully recover. Most often, a victim needs an ear. Won’t you be that person. Listen with your heart. Listen without judging. Feel free to contact Jacie in confidence by directing letters to her attention at Halton Hills This Week. All correspondence will remain confidential. Jacie can be reached in person through the Distress Centre at 877-1211. Leave a message and Jacie will get back to you. If you are in cri- sis, call the Distress Centre or 911.