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Page 4 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc, Wednesday, June 16, 1999 Ilje Canabian Statesman Former Publishers and Partners Rev. John M. Climie and W. R. Climie 1854 -1878 M. A. James, 1878 - 1935 • Norman S. B. James, 1919 -1929 G. Elena James, 1929 -1947 • Dr. George VV. James, 1919 -1957 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited Also Publishers of The ClnriugtonlCourtice Independent P.O. Box 190,62 King St. W., Bowmanvillc, Ontario L1C 3K9 Tel: 905-623-3303 HOURS: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Fax: 905-623-6161 Internet - statesman@ocna.org Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 For 145 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher - John M. James Assoc. Publisher - Rick James Plant Manager - Rick Patterson Ad. Manager - Brian G. Purdy Editor - Peter Parrott Production Supervisor - Ralph Rozerna, Tim Bowers, Kevin Britton, Suzanne Christie, Sharon Cole, Roy Gray, Laurens Kaldeway, Steve Kraayvanger, Barb Patterson, Sean Pickard, Tyler Sellick, Jim Snoek, James Stephenson, Vance Sutherland, Matt Syer, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Editorial Terry Davey, Laverne Morrison Brad Kelly, Jennifer Stone, Michelle Wyton Office Supervisor-Angela Luscher, Junia ITodge, Grace McGregor, Nancy Pleasance-Sturman, Marilyn Rutherford, Michele Rutherford Harsher Laws for i Drinking and Driving Laws should reflect the feelings of the people they lire meant to protect. That's the explanation given by Durham Member èf Parliament Alex Shepherd as to why impaired driving driving laws were changed last week. Z According to Shepherd, people across Canada have been demanding a tougher legislative stance on drinking drinking and driving. • And they got one. ; The new law introduces a three strike rule. Anyone Jvho is found guilty of drinking and driving a third time will receive a lifetime ban from driving. As well, the fine for first-time offenders has been doubled to $600. The maximum license suspension for anyone caught driving while under suspension is tip to five years, from two. : Though politicians had discussed introducing a maximum life sentence for drinking and driving causing causing death, they didn't go that far. Instead, the maximum maximum is now 14 years in prison. ;• Shepherd said the idea of imposing a life sentence for drunk driving causing death just didn't sit well with a number of MPs. Shepherd used the example that dmg traffickers don't receive life sentences, even though the dope they push may in fact kill many people. people. But the law requires people to take responsibility for their own actions. Those who use drugs and are caught are forced to be accountable. Likewise, those who drive drunk and kill someone should be held accountable. The act of drinking and driving, given the current social climate and the availability of alternate alternate forms of transportation for those who chose to imbibe, is an action for which there is a choice. The question of intent often arises when a person kills someone while driving drunk. Though it is highly highly unlikely anyone would intentionally go out, get drunk, and decide to injure someone with their car, the person has committed an act for which he or she, at least while sober, knows thé possible consequences. ; Thanks to serious educational campaigns by anti- drinking-and-driving organizations and others, everyone everyone knows driving while drunk driving can have dire consequences. No one is surprised to learn alcohol affects reaction time and decreases motor, and motoring, motoring, skills. No one is surprised to learn alcohol and car keys can be a lethal combination. But, equally unsurprising is the fact that some people people are going to continue to drive while drunk, no matter matter what deterrents are put in place. So, though the new law perhaps doesn't go far enough to put an end to drinking and driving, at least if does increase sentences somewhat. And maybe those increased sentences will keep at least a few repeat offenders off the road, however briefly. And maybe, for now, in spite of public sentiment, that's as much protection as we are going to get. Letter to the Editor Important that Child Poverty is Addressed Dear Mr. Parrott: The government of Premier Harris has been given another mandate. Many of us arc now enjoying enjoying economic prosperity, but many others arc not, particularly the 21% of children children who live in families that arc poor. They did not get to vote in the election. * It has been said that the rising economic tide lifts all boats; however, it has not lifted poor children. Child poverty in the rest of Canada has fallen 11.1%, but increased 6.3% in Ontario - Ontario, the economic economic engine of Canada, Increases in productivity and profits do not automatically automatically provide everyone with greater prosperity, Now that the restructuring restructuring is over and most of the new ways of doing government government business are in place, it is important that child poverty is addressed. Poverty among children can harm up to I in 5 children (20%) permanently, so that they are permanently disabled disabled to some degree. These children grow up to be disabled disabled members of the workforce workforce and consume lax dollars dollars and sick benefits for services they need, because they were deprived as chil dren. There arc clear economic costs for allowing child poverty. If they arc not paid today, they will be paid tomorrow through a less effective and trained workforce workforce and/or costs for social control (police, jails, psychiatric psychiatric hospitals) and costs of rehabilitation (hospitals, community services, income maintenance). In order to reduce these costs for tomorrow, we recommend recommend to the government that there be more child care spaces, more affordable housing, increased child benefits for poor children, better maternity benefits, proper funding for special education, requiring benefits benefits for part-time employees and increasing funding for children with special needs to at least the provincial average, Children, our future employees and leaders, only thrive in a considerate society, society, Starving them now is only short-term gain for long-term costs, We all need to ensure that Premier Harris and his government lead the way for our future prosperity. Yours truly, Reverend Dr. M. Russell, Chair m-m-55()2 ENFORCING- THE BtcycLE HELMET LAW PROVES 10 BE MORE DIFFICULT THAN EXPECTED. Letter to the Editor Paper Baq Puzzle Successful Dear Mr Parrott: • On behalf of the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington, I would like to thank you for your assistance in the promotion promotion of the Curriculum Connections pARTncrs "Paper Bag Puzzle" Project. We were very pleased with the response from students, teachers and the public in this worthwhile Earth Week project. project. Classes received, on average, 50% of their bags back, with St. Elizabeth scoring scoring the highest. The project was successful in that it allowed children and teachers to work for common good with members of their community. We wish to thank you and your staff, as well as Graham's IGA and the Bowmanvillc Lions Club for their involvement and look forward to continued community community pARTncrship connections. connections. Sincerely, Anna Luckai Educational Consultant, Curriculum Connections and pARTners Programs Visual Arts Centre of Clarington Letters to the Editor Province Needs Smoking Prevention Program Dear Editor; Do any of the three political parties care about the tobacco issue? Every day we see, parents dri ven to distraction by their teens and pre-teens smoking. Doctors constantly confront confront a wide range of lethal yet entirely preventable preventable diseases caused by tobacco use. Every year, Queen's Park loses nearly $4 billion billion in health care costs, lost income and productivity. productivity. Every dollar of this loss is preventable. preventable. Yet none of the political parties seem willing to confront the issue in this campaign. On April 23, Health Minister Elizabeth Witmcr responded to an expert report on the tobacco problem by proniising to sue the industry in the U.S. courts, to provide additional additional stop-smoking services, and to spend an additional $10 million this year on the problem. problem. The Minister's response was not what we had hoped for: she took no action on taxes, on smoke-free workplaces, or on tobacco marketing marketing and promotion. The reaction from the two opposition parties, which can be described :in one word was equally troubling: silence. , The tobacco problem, both in human and financial terms, is entirely preventable. As the political parties compete to be the strongest defender of health care, there is no better place to start than with a strong preventative Dear Editor; Once lapon a time, the Optimist Club of Newcastle Village had a very good idea. They decided to put on a Canada Day Celebration, with a fireworks display for the community. The main criteria was not admission charge (this event was to be accessible to ALL members members of tile community) and as much free stuff for the k ids as we could get. The first couple of years: were very successful. However, as health care strategy based on tobacco control. The province will be richer, and the population population healthier as a result. Yours very truly, Sheri Cotton Development Coordinator, The Lung Association Durham Area the crowds grew, so did our budget. Soon, it became evident that if we were to continue with a better show (or even maintain) we would need financial help from other sources. It was not intended to be a fundraiser, but worst case scenario was to break even. We are a small club with limited funds and a loss only hurts our other programs. To give an example, our first year budget Continued on page 5 Where are the Fireworks? Thoughts Unlimited : by Rick James Back to School On Monday and Tuesday this week, I headed back to school. I was invited to take part in a business course a't St. Stephen's Secondary School that gives students an opportunity to develop a business plan and sell their ideas to their classmates. Teacher Kiley McDaniel asked me and several other local entrepreneurs to sit in and help judge the presentations and offer any advice that might help the students sec their dreams come true. I really enjoyed the two days and would have enjoyed taking part in the remaining presentations if my schedule had not already been set for the remainder of the week. In the two days I did participate, participate, I heard great plans for a motorcycle repair.shop, a CD music store, a bar and restaurant, and a massage therapy clinic. The thing I like most about the course is that it gives students a real opportunity to develop a business plan that can receive scrutiny scrutiny from peers and entrepreneurs before actually attempting it in the real world. It's a great training ground for anyone starting a business business and should be a mandatory course for anyone, student or not, who wants to open a business. How good is the course.? At least one studeni. has taken his school project and already turned it into a real business making and selling Muskoka chairs. I was really impressed with his enthusiasm and entrepreneurial talent. Too often I've seen people start a business with a great idea but very poor planning. As the saying goes, "Fail to plan, plan to fail." The course at St. Stephen's prepared students for the hazards of opening a business and even includes role playing between employees and employers. I was really impressed with the course and coinimend the teachers teachers and student involved in it. I only wish there was; a similar course offered back in the 70s when I was in high school. No Returned Calls While on the subject of business practices, one trend I am seeing more frequently is the tendency for suppliers and customers to not return calls, "Dali, okay Rick, maybe they just don't want to talk to you!" No, I don't think it's that. 1 think it's becoming m rude and common common practice for people to not return calls and use it as an indication indication of not being interested in whatever we're buying or selling, I've spoken to other business people wlm've noticed the same thing even from their best suppliers and customer. 1 ',, They agree that not returning calls is becoming an accepted form of saying, "No, I'm not interested." Unfortunately, it sends all kinds of strange signals to the caller about whether the contact should be pursued, is the customer or vendor upset, or did lie or she even get the message? It seems to be a trend that is being strengthened through the use of voice mail. I deal with lots of customers and suppliers that will not answer their phones, preferring to let the answering machine take the call so the person can return it at a more convenient time. That's fine, but what happens when you have two people practising the same habit? They'll never talk to each other. When competition is so tight for sales and customer service is the most important commodity for most consumers, I find it odd that such a poor business practice seems to be growing. Perhaps it's a function of limited time and busy schedules, but I suspect it's more likely a case of complacency brought on by sophisticated voice mail systems. When I want to check to sec what is the best way to service customers, customers, I always check with my all time favourite customer service driven company, Disney. When I dialed, the phone, it was answered within two rings and I was greeted with, "Thank you for calling the Wall Disney Company, how may I help you." Okay, so what if it was Mickey Mouse, at least he was able to answer my questions without punching a whole bunch of keys. Which is why I respect those business that still have a human being answering their phone lines. With everyone short on time, there's no greater slap in the face for customers than to be told that staff members arc too busy to talk to you. Whoa, What's This!!! •I just received a fax from the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce notifying me of a public meeting to discuss the Region of Durham's plan to introduce development charges on all new business and industry construction, The Chamber's notice reads.,. "We have just received the final details of a proposed public meeting and time is short. The Region of Durham is proposing to introduce a $3.67 per sq. ft, charge for Non-Rcsidential Development. The Chamber feels the by-law will have a deep negative impact on the future development of the greater Oshawa area, and in particular, particular, the downtown cores." The meeting is set for today, Wednesday, June 16th at 10:00 tun. This is significant and could really jeopardize any plans small and large businesses have for expansion, For example, a small 2,000 square foot addition would cost an additional $8,000, 1 realize this notice is probably too late for most people, but you can always contact your Regional Councillors to voice your opposition opposition to such a charge. Watch this one closely, This could he very expensive.