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PAGE A6THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, DECEMBER 19,2001 Editorial&Opinions Publisher - Tim Whittaker Editor-in-Chicf - Joanne Burghardt Managing Editor - Judi Bobbitt Advertising Manager - Brian G. Purdy Advertising - Lavernc Morrison, Christian-Ann Goulet Office - Junia Hodge, Nancy Pleasancc-Sturman Editorial - Brad Kelly, Jennifer Stone, Jacquic Mclnncs EDITORIAL e-mail letters to itewswom@ilarhamrcjtioa.eom Smoking bylaw process makes sense Regional plan offers most fairness for all The decision about whether to enact a smoking ban on bars, restaurants and bingo halls in Durham Region is still far from a reality. That's why the complaints by some business business owners about the process may be a little premature. The Regional health and social services committee, by just a narrow margin, has asked Durham's eight municipalities municipalities over the next month to discuss the possibility of a region-wide bylaw which would set the smoking standard across Durham. Only if a clear majority of the Region's eight municipalities agree that a region-wide solution is best, will public consultation on the bylaw take place. Even then, it's uncertain what kind of bylaw the Region will come up with. It's taken Durham a long time to catch up to many other parts of Ontario which have taken a more progressive stand on the smoking-in-public-places issue. Consider that a major city like Ottawa already has a full smoking ban in place. As does Waterloo, Barrie and Oakville. Other cities looking into full bans are Cornwall, Halton, Kingston and Thunder Bay. Even Toronto is phasing in a full bylaw as are GTA regions Peel and York. So Durham is only playing catch-up with a large percentage percentage of Ontario in at least exploring the possibility of a region-wide smoking policy. Clearly, Durham councillors have plenty of examples from which to choose in evaluating evaluating the effectiveness of smoking bans and how restaurants and bars have dealt with various bylaws. Surely they can speak to representatives in Ottawa, Waterloo, Barrie and Oakville to gauge the impact of the smoking bylaws in those jurisdictions. If a majority of municipalities choose to shun the regional regional route, it will still be up to them to regulate their own smoking bylaws. As Pickering Councillor Maurice Brenner Brenner indicates, however, Durham's smoking bylaws are the weakest in the GTA. That suggests we are out of touch when it comes to dealing with the dangers of seconcffhand smoke. Does it make sense for Pickering to have a smoking bylaw while Ajax has a different one? Would different smoking bylaws for Uxbridge, Brock and Scugog add up? Shouldn't Whitby, Oshawa and Clarington be on a level playing field when it comes to smoking legislation? Common Common sense would dictate that if it works for Halton, Peel, York and Toronto, shouldn't it work as well for Durham? It will be important for our regional and local councillors councillors to carefully study the smoking issue to come up with a sensible plan for Durham. LOOKING BACK WITH THE STATESMAN 75 YEARS AGO Dec. 23,1926 The Royal Theatre offered its annual free matinee to every public school child in Bowmanville and vicinity. The theatre offered 'The Last Frontier.' Also playing were Conrad Conrad Nagel and Claire Windsor in 'Tin Hats,' a comedy of the army of occupation in Germany and 'The Blue Boy,' a real treat of natural colours based on Sir Thomas Gainsborough's Gainsborough's famous painting. 50 YEARS AGO Dec. 20,1951 Santa Claus did a Scotch jig at the Goodyear Club's Christmas Christmas party. The recreation club, designed for employees' children under the age of 12, held its annual Christmas tree lighting with more than 600 children on hand to greet Santa. Santa was ushered into the hall to the skirl of bagpipes bagpipes and the beat of the drum and did an off-hand jig to the delight of the children. 25 YEARS AGO Dec. 22,1976 A report on the possibility of the Darlington power plant being built west of Bowmanville indicates the plant would cause additional traffic in the area in the 1980s. The report confirmed Hwy. 2 and a service road would need upgrading upgrading to accommodate the $3.5-billion plant. The report also suggested the majority of workers would reside in Oshawa. Information taken from the archives of The Canatlian Statesman Œfje Caitalrimt Statesman Former Publishers and Partners Rev. John M. Climie and W.R. Climic 1854-1878 M.A. James 1878-1935 • Norman S.I3. James 1919-1929 G. Elena James, 1929-1947 • Dr. George W. James 1919-1957 John M. James. 1957-1999 Produced by Mctroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Also Publishers of CLARINGTON THIS WEEK P.O. Box 190,62 King St. W„ Bowmanville, Ontario LIC 3K9 TEL: 905-623-3303 FAX: 905-623-6161 HOURS: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.M. E-mail: ncwsroom@durhamrcgion.com Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 www.dolighon.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR e-mail letters to newsroom@tlarhamrejtion.com Stay off the train tracks! To the editor: Have you ever noticed the train tracks around here? Well, just the other day 1 saw two kids with their skateboards on them. Do you know how dangerous that is? Trains can go over speeds of 130 km/h. If you get in the way of a train, you are likely to die. Some people people lose limbs and are extremely lucky to be alive. I just hope those kids didn't get hurt. If you see children or anyone else walking or playing on the tracks, call the police immediately immediately or tell them to get away from the tracks. So remember, don't be stupid. Stay away from the train tracks! Kevin Mordcn, Age 10 Bowmanville No fan of Jim Flaherty To the editor: So, 'compassionate' Jim Flaherty Flaherty wants to become Ontario premier. He claims to worry about needy families while he and his government cut welfare benefits to struggling single parents. He says he cares about working people people as Queen's Park takes us back to the 1890s by legislating a 60- hour work week. Mr. Flaherty frets publicly about health care while taking part in Ontario's biggest dismantling dismantling of our once-proud public health system. He champions tax breaks for unregulated private schools while students and teachers teachers watch public schools close and the quality of education go down the toilet. He advocates more tax breaks to the rich as he cuts services and piles up user fees for the majority majority in this province. Mr. Flaherty supports the ill-conceived downloading downloading of services to municipalities municipalities and my bank has just informed informed mé our bungalow's property property taxes will jump $650 next year. His government sold the Bruce Nuclear power plant for one-tenth of its value to off-shore pirates - now watch your energy costs go through the roof. They peddled Hwy. 407 and now Durham drivers and other commuters commuters get ripped off daily by an endless succession of toll hikes. The sorry list goes on and on. Tom Morris Gloves off in leadership battle Differences in candidates' views have emerged The Ontario Progressive Conservative Conservative party has been looking a bit like the Northern Alliance as it gets into the process of picking a new leader and premier to succeed succeed Mike Harris. Differences in viewpoint have emerged between the five candidates candidates that are many and deep and animosities revealed that are personal personal and bitter. Mr. Harris, who has never used a soft word to avoid a confrontation, confrontation, had encouraged the contenders to make it "an exciting exciting contest of ideas." But he must be surprised at the ferocity of their attacks on each other, unusual in a governing governing party which has to get back to its day-to-day job of running the province after a leader is chosen. The squabbling began even before any candidate had announced, announced, prompted by news former former deputy premier and finance minister Ernie Eves was considering considering returning from his well- paid job in big business to seek the leadership. That choice automatically automatically would make him the front-runner. Current deputy premier and finance minister Jim Flaherty, who would have been front-runner front-runner without Mr. Eves's entry, quickly called his predecessor "a spender," who had the luxury of governing when the economy and tax revenues kept growing and would not be as suited to today's tight economic times. Mr. Flaherty, perhaps trying to squelch an Eves candidacy, also portrayed himself as the only potential potential candidate who had had a successful, long-term career in the private sector, which usually goes down well with Tories, who have extra respect for those who say they "met a payroll." But Mr. Flaherty was merely a partner in a law firm, as Mr. Eves Eric Dowd At Queen s Park was for a shorter time, and none of the candidates, like Mr. Harris before them, would be in the running running for entrepreneur of the year. When Mr. Eves announced, he said he will not give up his private private job until he knows whether he has won the premiership. Mr. Flaherty, who gives new meaning to the term 'Fighting Irish,' suggested suggested Mr. Eves is unwilling to commit himself fully to politics and might even have a conflict of interest, working for the private sector while running for premier (who can make decisions from which business could gain.) Mr. Eves retorted Mr. Flaherty's Flaherty's argument was silly, because as a recently retired minister he is barred from lobbying and it was laughable Mr. Flaherty, as both a lawyer and former attorney general, general, would not know this. Mr. Eves also took a substantive substantive slap at a high-profile Flaherty Flaherty policy, saying in providing tax credits to parents who send children children to private schools lie should insist they teach the province's core curriculum. This would please critics including including Education Minister Janet Eckcr, who has had trouble defending defending Mr. Flaherty's plan and is a key Eves supporter. Health Minister Tony Clement, the youngest candidate at 40, look a run at Mr. Eves and Environment Minister Elizabeth Wilmcr, in their mid-fifties like the retiring Mr. Harris, by calling for a "new generation of leader ship" and pointing out the Tories have dominated by consistently bringing in younger leaders. Mr. Eves replied he did not feel old enough to be Mr. Clement's father. father. Mr. Eves and Ms. Witmer indicated they would be to the left of Mr. Harris, with Mr. Eves saying he is pragmatic and Ms. Witmer wanting to build bridges to and nurture pride and enthusiasm enthusiasm among teachers and nurses. Mr. Flaherty ripped back at the two by saying they are suggesting suggesting a path that looks inviting and easy, but would lead to higher higher government spending and taxes, which are anathema to many Tories. Mr. Clement said under these more centrist candidates the party would be in danger of losing its conservative principles, abandoning abandoning its roots and trying to be something it is not. Labour Minister Chris Stock- well put down three rivals almost in one breath. He said a Flaherty proposal to abolish waiting lists for cancer treatment in five years "is fine, but how is be going to abolish them?" Mr. Stockwell said Ms. Wit- mer's promise of reconciliation with teachers and nurses "sounds good, but how would she do it? Nurses will need more than a big hug to satisfy them - they want answers." Mr. Stockwell also said he docs not know what Mr. Eves means when lie calls himself "a fiscal conservative with a large social conscience," a common claim of politicians wanting to seem all things to all people. The Tory contenders arc raising raising a lot of questions including how they managed to stick together together until now and how united they will be when the leadership race is over. Jane McDonald Staff Writer jmcilonuldït ditrluimiv^ion. cant This special gift went straight to my heart An early Christmas gift has me in a thankful mood, if only I knew who to thank. The anonymous gift made my feet warm and restored my flagging energy. energy. No, it wasn't a Scgway scooter or warm slippers. I was given the 'gift of life' last week and I'd like to thank the donors of those two units of blood, whoever they arc. It was all so easy if not a little time-consuming. But I'm not complaining complaining when I think of the possible consequences. My family doctor spoke to the emergency physician on duly at Lak- eridge Health Oshawa and soon staff began the matching of my blood type. After wearing military identification disks (more popularly known by the US term, 'dog tags') every time 1 went overseas, I knew 1 was 'Type O Positive.' Such vital information - along with my name, service number and religious affiliation - was clearly etched in the metal disk I wore around my neck all those years. But being the professionals they are at the busy hospital, hospital, they conducted the required testing. Each unit of blood takes up to two hours to drain from its transparent plastic pouch through winding tubing into a vein. A clear solution is administered administered between units so as to cleanse the hematologic palate, no doubt. In any event, it worked and I am grateful. grateful. The Canadian Blood Service's theme this holiday season is 'Sometimes 'Sometimes the best gifts come in small packages.' CBS's national campaign began Nov. 13 and runs until Dec. 31 to meet the demand for blood by injured injured travellers on icy roads, or to treat the traumas associated with winter winter activities. A bit of research into my first experience experience as a recipient of a blood. ■ transfusion (I have been a donor); 1 comes up with the startling fact that' ; only about three per cent of eligible"' Canadians give blood. The current ! CBS campaign goal is to collect ! 105.000 units of whole blood. The ; long-range goal of the not-for-profit • charitable organization is to add ! 160.000 donors to its list of regulars ; by the year 2005. CBS estimates it; will require one million units by then '■ to meet patient needs. • ; So go ahead, give the best gift you ' can this year. Call l-8S8-2-DONATE; : (1-888-236-6283). And thank you! very much to those red-blooded Canar ; dians whose time and generosity • found their way to me. 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