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f PAGE 6 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, October 8,2003 www.durtiamregion.com Tim Whittaker Publisher Joanne Burghardt Editor-in-Chief Tony Doyle Managing Editor Fred Eismont Director ot Advertising Eddie Kolodziejcak Classified Advertising Manager Kirk Bailey Distribution Manager Lillian Hook Office Manager Janice O'Neil Cheryl Haines Composing Managers Eljc Cmmbtmi Statesman i ■ Clarington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 ■October 8,2003 Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Phone 905-579-4400 Classifieds 905-576-9335 Distribution 905-579-4407 General Fax 905-579-2238 Newsroom Fax 905-579-1809 E-Mail newsroom@durhamregion.com 865 Farewell St., Oshawa ON L1H 7L5 Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 infodurhamregion.com EDITORIAL e-mail letters to new.sn>om@(l urliamregion.com AIDS walk setback may be a sign of the times Contributions to fight deadly disease down all over Canada Each fall millions of Canadians head out their doors and hit the pavement to raise money for all manner of great causes. Typically, various cancers earn the lion's share of charitable support, with the Terry Fox Run and Run for the Cure among the leading recipients. And there are other runs or walks, especially the AIDS Walk, that may just get lost in the shuffle, a victim of fund-raising fatigue. fatigue. At AIDS Committee Durham, where staff and volunteers work hard to raise funds and awareness to help the hundreds of people in this region who suffer from HIV/AIDS, organizers are trying to find answers for the dismal results of this year's walk. Typically 60 or so walkers take part in the fall event here in Durham. However, this year's event drew only 20 people and proceeds raised reached just $3,000, nearly $10,000 less than in previous years. For Peter Richtig, executive director of AIDS Committee Durham, there are a number of reasons for the drop-off in participation participation and money raised. Mr. Richtig worries there are simply simply too many fund-raising events lined up each fall and spring and that the AIDS walk takes a back seat to other more high- profile, more publicized charity events. Money raised at the local walk supports efforts in this community. community. But he's worried the national focus, of funds raised for AIDS, is now turned toward Africa. There the disease is an epidemic, far beyond the scale of the problem here, and although Mr. Richtig is concerned about the African AIDS problem, he doesn't want Canada's problem to become become lost in the shuffle. There have also been many advances made in the field of drug therapy for AIDS patients, some of whom have now been living for many years with the disease. Yet, living with AIDS is a far cry from being completely free of the disease or finding a cure for it. Mr. Richtig, who has been involved in AIDS prevention prevention for 13 years, says he has seen too many friends die from the disease and knows the battle to beat AIDS is a long way from being over. The federal government, which froze AIDS funding at $42 million in 1993, is long overdue to drastically increase that fund. The battle against AIDS is surely,.a three-pronged affair involving research to find a cure, education to liè'lp prevent people people from getting the disease and services for those who have HIV/AIDS. Publicity needs to focus on all three areas and funds are needed to make the war on AIDS winnable. OPINION c-mail letters to ncwsrooni@durhaniregioii.eom Fire prevention could wind up saving your life Plan ahead for disaster - check those alarms Are you enjoying fire prevention prevention week? Yes, it's a hotbed of excitement isn't it. It's taken on a different feeling for me this year, however, however, after I spoke to a fire- prevention inspector. The truth of how dangerous fire is was brought close to home. When Inspector Paul Hunt rattled off some alarming statistics, statistics, I was startled. There are people out there who don't even check their fire alarms on a regular basis to make sure they are in good condition and with fully charged batteries. Can you believe it? Well, you should. According According to the stats, half the people reading this are guilty of the crime of fire alarm negligence. Is it overstating it to call it a crime? No. According to Mr. Hunt's statistics, 95 per cent of homes in Ontario have detectors (how can even 5 per cent be so dumb?) and only 47 per cent of all of those detectors even work, the inspector says, Mr. Hunt said he does charge people if they are found to have no working fire alarms. Unfortunately, the charge is pretty low, involving a fine of just over a couple of hundred dollars, Not exactly a big deterrent, Still, it's good the law will punish someone for not adequately adequately protecting a home and more importantly the people who live there. The plan around our home this week is to look at all the fire-prevention literature we David Stell can get our hands on. We're going to plan an escape route and tutor both our five- and three-year-old about what to do in case of a fire. The lire department in Scu- gog, where we live, has all the literature but we've never held family meetings before to ensure ensure we are all fire conscious. In Oshawa and all other Durham Region area fire departments, departments, firefighters are also going out of their way to get valuable information into» the hands of residents. Unfortunately, Unfortunately, they can't be sure everyone is using and acting upon this important information. information. If you haven't planned an escape route for your family, get to work on that now. Look for fire-prevention week displays displays at local malls or call the lire department. A fire-prevention officer will be glad to talk to you. Mr. Hunt was sure glad to talk to me about fire prevention, One final note to leave you with; candle fires arc the only type of fire actually rising in occurrence. If you use candles» don't leave them burning when you are not around. If Mr. Hunt doesn't respond to another another fire caused by candles, it would sure make him happy. News editor David Stull's column column appears every second Wednesday. CLICK AND SA^ Today's question: What do you think of Dalton McGuinty's promise to first freeze and then reduce auto Insurance rates by 10 per cent? □ Drivers need a bigger reduction right away □ He should evaluate further before taking action □ It's the right move for now Cast your vote online at infodurhamregion.com Last week's question: Should school boards follow the federal government and consider relaxing rules against students found with small amounts of marijuana? □ No 76.7 per cent □ Yes 23.3 per cent Total votes: 318 HAVEYOUR SAY Question "How can the government get more people out to vote in elections?" LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Tiana Knox e-mail letters to newsroom@durhamregion.coni Cost of 407 will keep people off highway To the editor: I notice you are asking local candidates about the 407. It seems to be widely believed people might actually use the tollway. I think this is a misconception. misconception. I used the 407 only three times this year despite travelling travelling to work in Hamilton 90 times a year. In my last bill, it was proudly stated 287,000 trips are made, on average, each day on that highway. That seems like a large number. However, about 10 to 15 years ago, the Ontario government paid to count the number of vehicles using the 401 daily. That number was 640,000 vehicles vehicles per hour during the rush-hour period. Today, given a five-to-six-hour rush hour and 18 other hours of relatively relatively heavy use, it might amount to as much as 10 million trips on the 401 daily. The number using the 407 is a spit in the ocean. Why so few? It would cost me over $3,000 a year to use the 407 and someone using it 250 days a year, even just to the 400, likely pays $20 a day or $5,000 a year. Perhaps only the 7 per cent of the population population who make over $100,000 a year can afford that. Why don't I see more large trucks on the 407? Depending on the size of truck, they pay two or three times that of a passenger vehicle. They would have, ( to charge more to their customers to carry their freight because the huge toll comes directly out of the trucker's profits. Companies with trucks would have to charge higher product prices to pay for higher higher freight charges. If we genuinely genuinely need a highway across the top of Durham and Clar- ington, make it public. Robert Cleaveley Courtice Council must stay on top of all issues To the editor: Re: 'It's not our fault says Municipality,'Sept. 24. That front-page item in the Statesman is not an acceptable attitude for Claringston council council to lake. Yes, maybe it is a provincial provincial jurisdiction but as a property property taxpayer in Clarington my council belter be interested in my problems and not slough me off. Clarington council needs to stand up for the rights of all taxpayers in our jurisdiction. We do not collectively have the connections to approach provincial and federal concerns. concerns. If the right thing to do is to fight this provincial legislation then local council better jump in and fight for the people of Clarington. I am watching your, actions as all voters are. Art Rienstra Newtonville Election of Liberals reminiscent of NDP win To the editor: I have set my flag at half- staff in respect for Ontario; the voters elected change and the Liberals are in power. The last time change was elected we got the NDP and what a mess they left with a $93 billion debt. However, there may be a silver lining, it seems most times the Liberals are in power in Ontario we are likely to get a Conservative federal government government - there is some hope. Colin Kemp Port Perry -Letters to the Editor- 7b submit a letter, please include your name, address and daytime telephone number. Letters should be under 200 words. The editor reserves the right to edit for copy length and clarity. Fax: 905-579-1809, E-mail: newsroom@durharnregion.com "The parties should change their approach, they seem to be all the same. They 1 need to take stands that are different than the other parties." Joan Haring "If it was easier to get involved in the political process more people would vote." Jessica Arsenault "Make voting compulsory. If you don't vote, you pay a higher tax rate." Robert Ellies "On the provincial and federal levels, have fixed terms and make sure the elections elections don't come close together." TRUE GRIT ÔLL'Wt ^ M .. IWJUkMEKÎWILOWû I "SSkïd TOtUTS fctt OfiCfiP?.' M VMS I'M VbluNlU T roe m md OF BE By Tim Dollghan • wrtwUoitflhtir con «Elit (CniuiWim £>tnlrdmnn is one of the Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing group of newspapers. The Statesman is a ment' ber of the Bowmanvlllo Clarington Board of Trade, the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, Commerce, Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc,, Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Circulations Audit Board and the Ontario Ontario Press Council. The publisher reserves the right to classify or refuse any advertisement. Credit for advertisement limited to space price error occupies. .Editorial and Advertising content content of the Canadian Statesman is copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction Is prohibited. H^|ïl