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Editorial Exercise your right There's simply no excuse for not voting in Canada's next federal election -- just 13 days away. Sadly, too many of our country's eligible voters choose to sit on the sideline while our country's fate is decided. Those who can't be bothered to vote deserve the leadership they receive and automatically forfeit the right to complain about the job being done in Ottawa. Bloody wars have been, and continue to be, waged to secure the democratic right to choose who governs a nation. Why then do so many Canadians opt not to become involved? Preparation for voting day is neither complicated nor timeconsuming. Everything today's voter needs to make an educated decision is available on-line, by phone or by attending an all-candidates' meeting. Elections Canada (www.elections.ca-- 1-800-463-6868) is an excellent place for the first-time voter to gather information about parties, riding boundaries and even voter data from previous federal elections. Locally, several all-candidates meetings are being held prior to decision day. These allow voters to find out where candidates stand on the issues. Think you're ready to vote? Have you received Elections Canada's mailed out confirmation that your name has been included on the registered voters' list for the upcoming election? Have you read the section of the card detailing the dates and location for advance polls in your area should you be unable to vote on Jan. 23? Still need a reason to vote? Today, many regions of the world deny their citizens the right to choose their government. In Canada, we are fortunate to be able to elect our leaders. Why would anyone want to leave that for someone else to decide? Letters to the editor.... Not all Vehicle Licence Offices are bad Dear editor, It was unfortunate to see our local paper follow in the same footsteps taken by the Toronto papers regard-ing the Auditors' Report and the Ministry of Transportation's Private Issuers (Dec. 14 editorial). With one broad stroke of the brush, all of the Vehicle Licence Offices were branded as incompetent and full of illegal activity, even though the report itself clearly identifies that only nine of the offices (out of 280) account for most of the missing and/or stolen valuable documents. As an operator of several offices throughout Ontario since 1994 (Thornhill, Burlington, Kanata, Woodstock) it has been my pleasure to serve the public in a professional, courteous, and above all, legal manner. All of my employees have been required to provide current police checks and are trained to use the MTO database to ensure that every piece of stock issued to them is accounted for at all times. Steps are taken to ensure that our stock as well as all documents received from the public are secure at all times. My offices have become part of the communities in which they serve. They sponsor hockey teams,soccer teams, have helped collect toys for underprivileged children at Christmas time and have even offered rewards to have people come forward with information regarding certain crimes. This year we were pleased to be a major sponsor, along with the Toronto Raptors' Foundation, of the first annual Ruth's Chris Steakhouse Golf Tournament in support of the Peel Children's Aid Society. Earlier in the year we were a sponsor at the Kieran Thompson Charity Golf Tournament, which supports urology research at Sick Kids'. Not all offices are bad. Some even contribute to their communities while still adhering to all MTO policies and procedures. In addition, I, and scores more private issuers, have let the Ministry know through our association, OMVLIA, that we completely support the Ministry's efforts to shut down any rogue offices. It's unfortunate that, like everything else, a few bad apples are the ones that get the most attention. Alex Soler, Georgetown Prank could have been deadly Dear editor, Recently my husband was driving along Eighth Line around 8:45 p.m. when his car hit a huge snowball that had been rolled out purposely onto the road. The weather had frozen it so much more making it more like a boulder. Thank God he is okay because the size of the snowball went beyond the height of our car. He actually thought the person driving ahead of him was intoxicated because they swerved into the oncoming traffic but made it back in time. My husband had no choice, but to hit the snowball. The impact to our vehicle was considerable and resulted in almost $2,500 damage. The impact it made on him was even more. The what ifs started. Especially, what if we were in the car, the kids, the oncoming traffic, the reaction... Hopefully someone reads this letter and remembers seeing or knowing whoever did this practical joke. The bill is irrelevant (even though the timing isn't great) but LIVES, not only ours, my husband, the people ahead of him or the people in the oncoming traffic could have been lost or seriously injured. Even on my way home two days later there were still the remnants of the snowball. Yep, Frosty got creamed, but thank goodness no real lives were taken. Samantha Dixon, Georgetown