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( \i PAGE 4 ♦ THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ July 6,2005 Tim Whittaker Publisher Joanne Burghardt Editor-In-Chief Chris Bovie Managing Editor Fred Eismont Director of Advertising Eddie Kolodziejcak Classified Advertising Manager Kirk Bailey Distribution Manager Lillian Hook Office Manager Janice O'Neil, Cheryl Haines Composing Managers Todd Blayone Interactive Media Manager Œïjc Canadian Statesman Opinion | JULY 6, 2005 durhamregion.com on Phone 905-579-4400» g 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 ncwsroom@durhamregion.com Smog carries a heavy cost for all of us ■SSeHHKBB»"®?): %-, Saflkl i Hot enough for ya? If. you're already sick of that annoying phrase, be prepared to hear it a lot more before we get a.let up. It would be one thing if it were just the heat, but it's also the humidity. Mostly, for the multitudes multitudes in Ontario who struggle to breathe, it's the smog. Smog days are piling up. We're already well past the number of smog days -- in an admittedly . cool and wet summer -- we had all of last year. We could certainly certainly use a little more of what we had last summer, if only to protect the health of those who can't bear the weather. The grim statistics rolled out by the Ontario Medical Associa- ■ lion suggest that the smog problem problem kills over 5,800 people in this province each year. And the OMA predicts that number could double within the next 20 years. Here in Durham, the information information is just as grim. The OMA estimates there will be 210 premature premature deaths from smog in 2005, with that number growing to 360 in 2026. Our overextended Durham hospitals are projected to get 690 visits attributable to smog in 2005 with that number climbing up to 970 by 2026,. Smog is expected to cost local health care providers as much as $23.32 million in 2005 and lost productivity from smog-related illness could total $17.4 million. Smog doesn't just make us sick, it also hits our health care system and hurts our economy -- right here in Durham. While energy conservation, the elimination of coal-fired electricity electricity plants, and other measures are needed, they are easier to promise promise than to implement. Just ' ask Premier Dalton McGuinly, who, just two years ago, promised to close Ontario's coal-fired plants by 2007'. Now, the premier, finds (no surprise) that Ontario desperately needs those plants to maintain the electricity electricity generation required to power all those air-conditioners we must run to deal with this heat. A little less heat would be a start. That's in Mother Nature's hands. We can turn off the lights and try to keep our air-conditioners air-conditioners low; avoid using aerosol sprays, oil-based paints and other chemical products; don't smoke or use the barbecue; stick to a moderate speed when driving and avoid idling. Governments, of course, will have to continue to work hard to reduce air pollution and to develop programs and incentives that induce businesses and industries industries to pollute less. CLICK AND SAY Today's question: •; Do you believe Live 8 will | have an impact on G8 leaders and make a difference in helping solve the crisis in Africa? Cast your vote online at infodurhamragion.com Last week's - question: With the extreme heat of late - and the Hydro One strike, are you more inclined to / conserve electricity? No 50.2% Yes 49.8% Votes cast: 207 "U'll HAVE YOUR SAY What is your favourite summer-time activity? LETTERS TO THE EDITOR e-mail letters to ncwsroom@diirliainrcgion.com e: j sr ar i jvu* M , .... v \' * Orono station workers, 1910 Photo supplied by Clarington Museum and Archives This group of men helped to build the Orono train station for the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway, c. 1910-11. The station is now gone, but Station Street in Orono is a reminder that the town was once served by a railway. There are still great people out there To the editor: ,...-.. k ;■ - T wanted to take this opportunity, opportunity, while the sense of panic and frustration is still fresh in debit card,'reward cards and family family pictures. While at the Oshawa Centre, I had purchased a magazine and sat down to read it while my wife was shopping at a card shop. <Instead of putting my S wallet in my pants pocket, I placed it beside me on the bench.and when.my wife was finished shopping,'we left. After many other stops and about two hours later, I realized that something was missing. ■ You guessed it, my wallet was gone. v- ; We inquired with the adjacent, businesses and, to our surprise; someone had turned my wallet intact over to one of the local merchants. To whoever committed this act. of kindness, I am forever thankful thankful to you for your'honesty! Willie Woo Newcastle Local business needs survival strategy to find endless articles and statistics statistics about China and how it is affecting the North American economy. Many companies in both Canada Canada and the US are being told they must reduce their prices to match those in China. Their other options are To lose business, cut wages and benefits r shut down. our governments, on all levels. Tom Crosmas Newcastle Thanks so much for helping Mom To the editor: You don't have to look far average of'less than $l and is heavily subsi- Ydized is useless. The number of lost jobs due to this China trend is predicted to grow rapidly over . the next 10 years. *' Some articles indicate that the number of lost jobs could exceed 250,000 in the auto industry alone.Other industries have lost, and will continue to lose, large numbers of jobs. What will happen happen to all these unemployed people, and how will we support them? What is our government doing ' to protect us? . China is said to be the third- largest importer of. oil, which possibly contributes to our increasing gas prices. They are buying up the world's raw materials and industry will . tell, you, that is driving up the cost of doing business here in North America. So now we have to match the China price while raw material prices go up. It doesn't take an expert to see North American businesses won't last long with this formula. There is essentially nothing we. can do locally to stop the growth of China. To me, it just doesn't seem logical logical for a local Manufacturer's Association to be hosting a seminar seminar on how to help local companies companies develop a "China Strategy". We need a "Survival Strategy"' not a "China Strategy", and we are going to need the support of To the editor: On Wednesday, June 29, at . . : E10 irv the'- morning at the :cofÉÉ| ..^ner^f Wilp|BW*$oi|S, IS Street r '"' Michelle Silva "I like vacationing at the cottage with my husband and two daughters/' ■ v 'X ^ in Oshawa, oür • mother fell on the road. 6» ^ To the two w o m e n who helped our mother g e t home and called a neighbour in to look after her until we got home, from the bottom bottom of hour hearts, we would like to say thank you very much. We wish that there were more people like you two around. Jim Morgan Jo Cunningham Courtice Dave Mayer "I enjoyed skateboarding until I broke my collarbone à month ago. Now, I enjoy relaxing by the pool." LETTERS We welcome letters that include name, city of residence and phone numbers for verification. Writers are generally limited to 200 words and one submission submission in 30 'days. We decline announcements, poetry, open letters, consumer complaints, congratulations and thank you notes. The editor reserves the right to edit copy for length, style and clarity. The newspaper newspaper contacts only those people people whose submissions have been chosen for publication. FAX: 905-579-1809; E-MAIL: Newsroom^durhamregion. com. Martin Schmahl "I like to bike uptown in Newcastle and get a Bloody Zit siushie and jump on my trampoline." ",'3 8 Two issues when it comes to Karla Sure, an error was made, but two wrongs don't make a right As I write this, lawyers for Karla Homolka arc in court, arguing the media should not be able to report on Canada's most notorious female killer's whereabouts whereabouts aller her 12-year prison term ended, It is absolutely true that the punishment in this particular case didn't fit the crime, A grave error in judgement was made more than a decade ago, and evidence that would have;, put Homolka away for much'longer much'longer wasn't brought to light until aller the controversial so-called ; Jennifer Stone 'Deal with the Devil' was made. Canadians have every right to cry foul on this one," but the fact of the matter is, it's too late to do anything more than be angry about it. The Section 810 restrictions placed on lier, which will help authorities better monitor lier movements and ensure she both undergo therapy and slay away from violent criminals, arc as much as are available now that tliis woman lias been released into society, having served her time and paid as much debt to society as the Crown required 12 » ,»yeai's ago. ' ' I have no sympathy for Karla Homolka. In fact, as a woman the same age as her, who, at the time of both the crimes and Homolka's arrest, lived in St. Catharines, 1 am particularly appalled by the horrific nature of her crimes, But, now that she's getting out of jail, she begins life as a member member of society, and one who lias reason to worry about lier safety, She's asked for a blanket ban on media coverage of where she lives and what she looks like, because she very rightly fears for her life, There arc people out there who believe they should deliver the type of justice the court system failed to employ, and they've not been particularly subtle in their threats, As is clear by the throngs of people gathered earlier this week at the Quebec prison just to catch a glimpse of her as she left prison, prison, she is the subject of morbid fascination, There may actually be someone out there who would be willing to make a name for him or herself herself by acting as vigilante. People feel they have the right to know where she lives as she re-enters society, and their concern concern is certainly legitimate, But equally legitimate arc Homolka's concerns that the threats of vigilante justice made against her arc for real, She is worried about her safety, I'm no fan of blanket bans on media coverage, but neither am I a fan of vigilante justice, and Homolka lias every reason to be concerned for her life, There are two different issues at play here: Homolka received far too short a sentence, given her role in Ibis most horrific of crimes, and now that she's been released into society, having 1 ' done her time, she has legitimate concern for lier well-being. The two issues need to be viewed separately, and the fact that our justice system screwed up 12 years ago doesn't make it OK for a now-released convict's safely to be jeopardized, If our justice system is aimed at rehabilitation, and the Section Section 810 requirements arc aimed at ensuring she does nothing to cause fear lor public safety, then the public needs to back off, Reporter Jennifer Slone '.v column appears every oilier Wednesday. E-mail jstone@durhamregion. cam. Troy Dillon "I like dirt-biking on my grandparents' farm in Orono." The Canadian Statesman is & one of the Metroland Printing, ■:£ Publishing and Distributing ' M group of newspapers. The ^ Statesman is a member of |j3 the Bowmanville Clarington Board of Trade, the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Com- fJ merce, Ontario Community Y'cj Newspaper Assoc., Cana- dian Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Circulations Circulations Audit Board and the Ontario Press Council. The publisher réserves the right to classify or refuse any advertisement, Credit for advertisement advertisement limited to space price error occupies. Editorial and Advertising content of the Canadian Statesman Is copyrighted. Unauthorized re production Is prohibited. jpcna0$ {♦gw