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New laws passed to protect consumers THE HERALD OUTLOOK Saturday October Page From the ministry of consumer and commercial relations It pays to shop smart and that means learning about new laws passed this year to protect con sumers experts say In keeping with their theme Shop Smart It Pays organizers of Consumer Week are promoting shopper education Oct 23 to 28 throughout the province Through a multimedia campaign Con sumer Minister Gregory Sorbara will be encouraging Ontario residents to learn about their rights and responsibilities in the marketplace Special activities will also include programs in schools and a Consumer Educator of the Year competition In the year since Consumer Week was last held many new rules and regulations have been passed Mr Sorbara says The legislation addresses such issues as fitness club contracts car repairs and propane refrigerator safety How many people know they can now cancel a fitness club con tract at no cost if they do so within five days of signing asks Marilyn Gurevsky a head con sumer advisor with the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Com mercial Relations Weve developed a lot of new pro tections but youve got to know how to make them work for you The Prepaid Services Act is of major importance she says This is the one that deals with fitness health and dance clubs as well as other similar organizations that take payments up front for future services The new law makes joining one of these clubs less risky and I strongly suggest that anyone thinking of signing up for this sort of thing get details about their rights from the ministry first Briefly the act protects con sumers signing contracts for or more with clubs involved in health fitness modelling diet talent martial arts sports and dance ac tivities Some highlights provide for- a fiveday coolingoff period during which time contracts can be cancelled a limit on the duration of con tracts to a maximum of one year and the option of making mon thly payments If you arent familiar with this new piece of legislation you a car it would be a good idea 0 get a fact sheet from the now says Ms Gurev- Its always easier to insist hings are done by the book from he start rather than trying to un tangle a mess of mistakes later Another new regulation of vital importance particularly to cot tagers prohibits the sale of pro pane refrigerators that do not vent directly outdoors This was adopted due to concerns about the number of fatalities linked to malfunctioning propane fridges every year Ms says Although they wont be fully ap proved until next year new regula tions governing funeral and cemetery services have also been developed by The proposed legislation would prohibit phone and doortodoor solicitations for cemetery lots ser vices and supplies It also sets out specific information that must be included in contracts for such pur- Information about Ontarios con sumer legislation old and new is available from the ministrys in formation centre at 555 Yonge Street Toronto Ont M7A 2H6 or toll free at Ontario residents with an area code may call the number collect- The TTYTDD line for the hear ingspeech impaired is 416 Does our opinion count Are we moving towards an era of more responsive and sensitive power or a Big Brother society where infor mation is concentrated in the hands of newage manipulators In the fourth and final program of TVOntarios Vista A Matter Opinion Monday November at pm journal Peter at where public opinion is headed how marketers and politicians will re spond and what will happen in poli tics personal freedom and technol ogy By evolution of pres ent opinions experts believe they can accurately predict what our attitudes arc going to be later Changing atti tudes to key issues in society during the past 20 years will be highlighted in cluding the roles of women labor unions religion and an aging popula tion Pollsters will offer views and representatives of various advocacy groups will agree Follow ing the discussions offers his own insights on opinion measurement and calls us to action as he discusses our role as citizens of democratic society Vista A Matter of Opinion host Peter Trueman and guest experts will examine the business of public opinion polls look- For Ail Your Fine China Silver Crystal Giltware 227 MAIN ST MILTON 8780050 MOLLY MAID Your Dependable Home Cleaning Service Specializing in House Cleaning Far Particular People Light pug touted Uniformed Pi undid CALL US FOR A ESTIMATE or Hairstyling Needs Haircire for Mi CALL ANGELINA 853-4312- Animal health technicians help look after your pet LISLE Association or Animal Health Technicians If you have been to a doctors of fice most likely you know the pro fessional names of the employees there Likewise with a dentist you recognize the receptionist the den tal hygienist the dental assistant and of course the dentist Would you be able to do the same at a veterinarians office Many people will know the receptionist and the veterinarian but lets take a closer look There are some other impor tant people on the medical team they are called animal health technicianstechnologists A HT commonly called veterinary assistants These pro fessionals do many tasks in the clinic to help make your visit there a pleasant one for you and your pet First lets establish what an animal health technician is An AHT is a professional trained in the nursing care and handling of animals routine laboratory and clinical procedures and knowledgeable in basic principles of normal and abnormal life pro cesses An animal health techni cians education provides him or her with the theory and practical skills essential to work with the veterinarian as part of a profes sional veterinary medical team The basic core curriculum of the animal health technicialtechnologist programs will provide the with the knowledge and training to perform the following functions maintain animal husbandry collect samples blood urine feces etc perform various laboratory procedures hematology clinical chemistry bacteriology urinalysis parasitology etc restrain and handle animals sterile prepara tion of surgical patient surgical site and equipment assist in surgical procedures administer and monitor anesthetics perform preventative medical techniques administer medications and treatments on the prescription of the attending veterinarian dental prophylaxis expose and develop radiographs nutritional manage ment perform necropsy public education and perform business procedures Various job opportunities available to the animal health technician include but are not restricted to large and small animal veterinary practices research facilities teaching governmental establishments zoological parks pharmaceutical sales clinical management humane societies and livestock health management The animal health technology course began in the fall of 1967 at Ridgetown College of Agricultural Technology In the summer of under the direction of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food this course was moved to Central i a College of Agricultural Technology Huron Park Since then animal health techni ciantechnologist programs have been offered at the following col leges of applied arts and technology in Ontario St Clair College Windsor St Lawrence College Kingston and Seneca Col lege King City However due to the low number of graduate AHTs- many RESHAPE FAST With BODY WRAP No Shots No Creams No Effort No Steim No Silt Minerals No Perspiring No Appointments Amiable MonWed I Fri between 9 Dcusivey Centre GEORGETOWNS GENERAL STORE boo HALLOWEEN MAKEUP ON SALE NOW See Poo 1 10 Main St S give us Georgetown A call L7G3E4 veterinarians have been forced to hire lay staff to fill these positions in their practices Lay staff are generally haphazardly trained by the veterinarian to perform the practical aspects however they lack the knowledge of normal and abnormal life processes that an education would provide them with It is of great concern to many people that their animals be ex amined and cared for by qualified veterinary medical professionals After all you would expect your medical doctor to have qualified registered nurses on staff so why wouldnt you expect your veterinarian to have an animal health technician on his So next time youtake your pet to a veterinary clinic make sure thai there is an animal health tecHffi- on staff to ensure that it receives the knowledgeable and qualified care it deserves If you have any questions or con cerns just ask the AHT at your veterinary clinic They are most always enthusiastic and willing to answer your questions Sisters argue Police laid charges of assault following a domestic assault at an Acton residence last Wednes day afternoon A 22yearold Ac ton woman allegedly got involved in an argument with her sister and struck her in the head and arm with a knife The victim wasnt seriously hurt police say A Nov 27 court date has been scheduled in connection with the incident DrK Beware Fad Diets Fad diets are characterized pri marily by a daily food intake that fails to meet the bodys nutritional needs Many times their food lists come from only one food group at the exclusion of the others Fad diets also produce excessive weight loss that is constituted mostly of water At Diet we recommend that your current diet program or any program you may be considering by asking the follow ing questions Does the diet meet all of the bodys nutritional needs Is it made up of fresh foods available at the local grocery Does it provide an adequate volume and variety of familiar foods If the answer to any of these questions is no you may be looking at a fad or at least question able program Business Number 8772900 Home Number 8530780 SB Mill St Georgetown Personal Consultation By Appointment Osborne Decor FREE SHOPATHOME SERVICE Introducing CustomMade Furniture Drapes Bedspreads