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The Canadian Statesman 'WteAoUvt, Bowmanville, Saturday, February 13,1993 5 Tobacco Addictions Could ROMA Objects to Gaming Last Forever for Teenagers For too many teenagers in Ontario, smoking is a/ready a habit they can't break. "I'd like to stop smoking now, but I can't - it's an addiction," one young man recently told the Ministry of Health. The teen knew he could be hooked on nicotine for the rest of his life. That's why the government proposes proposes legislation that would make it much more difficult for teens and pre- teens to ever start the habit. The law would raise the legal age for tobacco purchase to 19 from 18, require retailers to check identification identification and ,post signs on their premises. It also calls for adult supervision of cigarette vending machines. For some young people, smoking is a way of showing how grown up they are. Not all think that way, though. Many see it as a waste of money and harmful to their health. As one said: "It's disgusting, especially the cost." However, young people often try to beat the high cost by buying so- called "kiddie packs" - small packages containing only five or 15 cigarettes. The government proposes to ban the sale of these small packs altogether. altogether. "In terms of health," as one teen said, "someone who smokes will have respiratory disease before someone who doesn't." ■ In fact more than 13,000 Ontarians die each year from tobacco-related respiratory and heart diseases, cancer and stroke. Those 13,000 deaths could be prevented. prevented. That's why smoking is Ontario's Ontario's number one health problem. It's a problem the province is determined determined to tackle - not only with legislation, legislation, but with public education and community programs, too. But teens are often exposed to second-hand second-hand smoke in public places. Not only can this hurt their health, it can also reinforce their impression that smoking is part of being an adult and leave them thinking that more people smoke than actually do. Many, however, just don't like breathing other people's smoke. As one young woman put it: "It's okay not being able to smoke in the workplace workplace because otherwise it's not fair to non-smokers..." She realized that in enclosed places, places, everyone breathes the same air and if that air is smoke-filled, it affects smokers and non-smokers alike. With that in mind, government wants to set minimum provincial standards standards to reduce smoking. These include include banning the practice in such places as elevators, retail stores, banks GIC and transit shelters. The aim is to cut tobacco use in half by the year 2000. Teenagers can and do stop smoking smoking when they fully understand the hazards. As one young man who quit said, "We used to think it was cool to smoke, but now we don't." Others like him said "cigarettes are just not necessary" and believe smoking smoking makes them look "trashy and dirty." dirty." Although smoking rates have dropped in recent years, close to 20 per cent of Ontario's teens will smoke. Through its tobacco strategy, the Ministry of Health hopes to reduce that to just 10 per cent by the year. 2000. In the long run, it will mean far fewer deaths from tobacco use, because because if you still don't smoke by the time you're past your teen years, you'll probably never start. jobsOntario Commits $1.5 Billion for Transit Project Near Toronto jobsOntario will provide a $ 1.5- billion commitment to speed up the design and construction of five rapid transit projects in the Greater Toronto Area, Premier Bob Rae announced today today at York city hall. An additional $500 million in funding will come from municipal governments. The private sector is also expected to contribute up to $500 million. The projects will create about 14,000 jobs by 1996 and up to 50,000 direct and indirect jobs by the time they are completed in 10 years. "This commitment means that we can get on with building these vital transit projects," the premier said. "We are investing for die future and benefiting from job creation now." Premier, Rae described the investment investment partnership of municipalities and the private sector with the provincial government as essential to the completion completion of these strategic projects. Private Private sector participation will be achieved through the Ontario Transportation Transportation Capital Corporation. "This is a new approach to the funding and the delivery of public services services which means that these projects can start sooner, thereby helping to kick start the local economy," the premier premier said. The projects are: • extending the Scarborough rapid transit line to Sheppard Avenue; • building the Sheppard subway from Yonge Street to Don Mills Road; • extending the Spadina subway line from Sheppard Avenue to York University; • building the Eglinton West subway subway line from the Spadina subway line to the new York City Centre; and • constructing the first phase of the Mississauga Transitway, including high occupancy vehicle/bus lanes and selected stations. The Rural Ontario Municipal Association Association (ROMA) at its annual meeting meeting in Toronto February 9 voted unanimously unanimously to enter into immediate negotiations with the Ontario Government Government to eliminate the devastating impact impact on rural communities resulting from its present and future gaming initiatives. initiatives. The'resolution, brought forward by Tosorontio Township in Simcoe County drew a number of speakers. Most prominent was Roger George, president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). "A proliferation of casinos may bring short-term benefits to the government," government," Mr. George told the 600 ROMA delegates, "but they will bring long-term misery and increased welfare welfare rolls to mral Ontario." Mr. George cited the 50,000 jobs dependent on Ontario's equine industry, industry, many of which would be in jeopardy jeopardy if the NDP government continues with its present gaming position. "Many of these jobs are held by rural residents whose skills are not readily transferable to other employment," he said. Mr. George also outlined the importance importance of the racing industry to the farmers of Ontario who earn $350 million a year through the sale of hay, grain and straw to race tracks and horse farms. This figure represents close to six percent of the annual gross farm sales in the province. Dr Glen Brown, chairman of the Ontario Agriculture and Horse Racing Coalition (OAHRC), of which OFA is * If you would prefer to pick up your '2 / Vee&e*ulen. at our office, copies are available each Friday at noon. Please direct all enquiries to 62: King Street West Bowmanville 623-3303 a member, said he was delighted with the response of the ROMA delegates to the resolution. "The people who will come to Ontario Ontario to gamble won't be tourists, they won't be hunters or fisherman or even ardent shoppers. They will leave their few hundred dollars on the casino floor and nothing in the pockets of the local communities," he said. Mr. George stated that "this gaming gaming initiative is just one more example of a government that is concentrating on urban centres at the expense of rural rural municipalities. It's not just the farmers and the equine workers who will suffer, but the machinery dealers, the feed mills and even the local hardware hardware store. "This government is blinded by the glitter of windfall dollars and is paying paying scant attention to its impact on those who live and make their livelihood livelihood on the concession roads of rural Ontario." The OAHRC represents nine horse racing, breeding and agricultural organizations organizations with a combined membership membership of over 43,000. Discussion Group Available for Men One of life's greatest transitions remains remains virtually ignored by society. The Family Education Resource Centre of Durham House is offering an eight session session discussion group for men who" are expecting the birth of a child or already already have a child at home. In this innovative group, members will be encouraged to share the triumphs triumphs and tribulations of fatherhood, to assist each other, and to learn positive positive strategies for coping with the expectations expectations placed on them in today's changing times. The group will be held at the Durham Durham House 1521 Simcoe St. N., East, Oshawa from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. starting Monday, February 22, 1993. Thé cost is $48.00 per person. For more information information or to register for this study group please call the Centre at 579- 2021.. THE CLASSIFIEDS ARE -- y^- You can buy or sell just about anything with the Statesman Classifieds! To trade, buy or sell call 623-3303 The Canadian Statesman * Fifth year rate *1.Rates are effective as of February 8, 1993 and are subject to change without notice. *2.The Raté Booster will be converted for a minimum term equal to the remainder of the Rate Booster's . investment term. Rate Booster investments are non- redeemable prior to maturity. RSP ELIG National Trust Helping you secure your future 68 King St. E. (Veltri Complex), Bowmanville Telephone 623-2504 We are pleased to announce the opening of the Medicine Chest Pharmacy 98 King St. West Bowmanville Telephone 697-DRUG (3784) Servicing the Scugog Professional Building, Church Street Medical Clinic, and area. We w èlcome your registration