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Page’4 —.Halton Hills This Week, Saturday, February 6, 1993" ~— Editorial . 2 2 Butting in on butting out An attempt by the Region of Halton to take over exclusive authority for enacting tobacco smoking by-laws for the region’s four municipalities was defeated at regional council Wednesday. While no one around the table denied that health costs in Canada would be much lower if more Canadians would butt out, the debate raised some interesting comments on the role of municipal governments in making their own decisions about measures which will impact on their electorate. The region is recognized as the board of health in Halton, but many regional council representatives argued that input from each municipality would be needed before a region-wide by-law could go into effect. While it was recommended that comments be received from each of the area municipalities (Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills), some councillors felt there wasn’t enough time allotted for public comment. It was suggested in the recommendation that comments from the municipalities be received before March 1. It was also clear during the debate that some council members felt that the region was butting in where it shouldn’t and that establishing guidelines to regulate smoking in public places should be a local responsibility. Mayor Russ Miller told council that he’s “getting tired” of tak- ing the flak locally for decisions made at the Region. Miller was no doubt referring to the recent attempt to enact region-wide Market Value Assessment in Halton. A groundswell of public opinion in Oakville and Halton Hills delayed the propos- al which is now being studied by a citizen’s committee looking at alternate forms of property tax assessment for the Region. Or, perhaps, he was thinking of regional council’s recent unani- mous decision to discontinue funding of three transfer stations in Halton, including the Leferink Transfer Station in Georgetown. The impact of that decision is still being felt by more than 3,000 rural households in Halton Hills. An angry group of ratepayers has already confronted town council criticizing them for not ensuring that public input was received before the region took a step which left many of them without a convenient location to bring their rural garbage, cost-free. While smoking should be curtailed in public places as much as possible, it’s clear that proposed regulations governing smoking” require ample time for public comment. That’s best received at the local level. Readers' writes “4 Visible minority criminals given special treatment Dear Editor: During the past few years, certain visible minority groups have been complaining about the way the police have been handling them, and our vote-hungry politicians are adding to the problem by agreeing with them. They have severely cur- tailed long-established police prac- tice which maintained a safe and relatively crime-free country since at least the start of this century. i ing of criminals is allowed to continue, the situation is bound to deteriorate, placing the honest citizens in ever-increasing dan; sion boards seems to be that it is all right for visible minorities to com- mit various crimes, no matter how severe but those little darlings must not be hurt. This policy not only hurts the older Canadian families but helps to brand decent immigrants as undesirables and increase racial intolerance. Furthermore, many of se criminals are living on immi- gration grants or welfare. We just don’t need them. They should be dealt with swiftly and firmly, then depot ted. One thing that I find absolutely amazing — I have yet to hear one politician or police board member point out the fact that if these peo- ple were not committing crimes, there could be no racial tensions with the police. Rod Pinkney, Georgetown i ae Historic train station The 138-year old Georgetown GO station is an historically significant building which incorporates the last surviving station constructed by Sir Casimir Gzowski for the Grand Trunk Railway. The station, owned by VIA/CN Rail, will continue to be operated by its owners after GO moves to its new facilities in the distant future. See story page 6. Lifelong protection through immunization Contrary to what many adults think, the need for immunization against tetanus and diphtheria does not end with the booster that is given between the ages of 14 and 16. In fact, adults should receive boosters of tetanus and diphtheria vaccine at ten year intervals. This way the protection acquired through childhood immunization against these potentially fatal dis- eases is maintaine One commonly held misconcep- tion is that tetanus shots are only required if an individual sustains a deep cut or a puncture wound. Another misconception is that the disease diphtheria, rampant in the 1920’s, has been totally eradicated. Both these are untrue. In an effort to maintain the high- est level of protection against both tetanus and diphtheria amongst Ontarians, the Ministry of Health is promoting the use of a combined tetanus-diphtheria vaccine when vaccination is indicated. This means that a trip to an emer- gency room or a doctor’s office for treatment of a deep cut or puncture wound would not result in a tetanus alone. Rather, if revaccination is required, the individual will be given a combined tetanus-diphthe- tia shot. The single vaccines that protect against one or the other of the two diseases are no longer available through the Health Ministry-funded vaccine program. For those individ- uals who have a medical reason (such as an allergy) why they should not be vaccinated against either diphtheria or tetanus, single vaccines will be available on a doc- tor’s prescription through a regular pharmacy. Individuals who hold “ cofiscious objections to one or the other vaccine may obtain single vaccines in the same way. In both cases, the cost for the vaccine will be the individual’s responsibility. The cost of the combined vaccine will continue to be covered by the Ministry-funded program. It is important for all individuals to know whether or not they are protected against these two poten- tially fatal, yet preventable dis- eases. If you are uncertain of your _own protection, contact your on doctor. It may be time to have booster. For more information about this and about Health Department Community Clinics throughout Halton, call the Halton Regional Health Department at 825-6060 and ask for the Communicable Diseases Program or Health Line Halton. New mom sings the praises of Georgetown Memorial Hospital The following letter, sent to Hospital Executive Director John Oliver, was submitted to Halton Hills This Week for publication. Dear John: I recently received expert care at your hospital and would like to compliment you and your staff on the excellent service you provide. I had the privilege of delivering my fourth baby there in November. As with my other three, my baby and I received warm attention from your wonderful O.B. staff. I noticed lots of it Thankfully, the one thing that had not changed was the hard- working and good-natured staff in your maternity ward. In the past four months I have taken two parents and one child to your emergency department, with one resulting in a stay in your med- ical ward. Again, I experienced efficiency and caring beyond my expectations. There are lots of good reasons to live in our town and I consider Georgetown Hospital to be one of them! C i iP since my last stay — fresh decor, shelves for flowers, self-adjusting beds and new window blinds, to name a few. em! on being the captain of a well run ship. Sincerely Lois Fraser For Pete's Sake by Roe O00! HERE'S A Good one! 64% WeeKs?/ 1 ZP a - ) Now _, THAT'LL REMWID 21 mé oF THE TIME WHAT CI me oF SHE'D No! pu7 17 Back! / o gw si GY *ROE* ee His WEEK Halton Hills This Week, Weekend Edition, is pub- lished every Saturday at 232 Guelph St., , Ont. L7G 481, and is printed in Oakville by Q.E. Web Printing. ng is merely an offer to sel INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED. PHONE: 873-2254 — FAX:873-3918