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Region gets provincial cash to fight smoking Halton Region is receiving a funding boost from the Province to enhance its tobacco control activities. The Ministry of Health and LongTerm Care has allocated more than $85,000 to the Health Department, with the largest portion of the money to be used for tobacco enforcement and educational activities. This will include: · Implementing the posting of convictions of tobacco retailers on the health department's Web site · Hosting a seminar for tobacco retailers to raise awareness about the impact of changes in provincial legislation and local activities · Continuing to carry out enforcement and compliance checks based on a frequency of one per quarter (year) for each tobacco retailer · Implementing a quarterly newsletter for tobacco retailers outlining changes to provincial legislation and local activities. The money will also go toward hiring temporary staff to help carry out the tobacco control initiatives. Dance-a-thons planned Approximately 220 children in the Halton Hills area will be taking part in dance-a-thons this week and next in support of the YMCA's Spirit of Giving Campaign. YMCA members from the preschool, Kindergarten and school age programs will raise funds through pledges based on their participation in the event. Local dance-a-thons will be held at St. Brigid's School Child Care Centre March 29 and at Harrison, Holy Cross, St. Catherine of Alexandria, George Kennedy and Silver Creek elementary schools March 31.