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Staying in Touch John O'Toole What are Your Views on Cell Phones in Cars? My Private Member's Bill on cell phone safety could become law before the end of the current session if it receives continued support from my colleagues in the Legislature and from the public. If passed, Bill 49 would ban the use of hand-held cell phones in cars, although hands-free devices would be permitted. The penalty would likely be similar to the penalty for driving without seatbelts -- - $110 and two demerit points. The proposed legislation allows the use of hand-held cell phones to report emergencies emergencies such as an accident or dangerous driving conditions. Naturally, I am pleased that the Legislature has seen fit to give this Bill second reading. But, there is more work ahead. Now that the Bill is going to a committee of the Legislature for further discussion, I would appreciate your help. What are your views on the use of cell phones in vehicles? What is you experience? Have you seen examples of dangerous driving caused by the use of a car phone? Or, perhaps you feel the cell phone bill is too restrictive? Please let me know your views and I will certainly ensure they become part of the debate. Do not hesitate hesitate to write my Constituency Office or call 1-800-661-2433/ 697-1501. (e-mail: john_otoole@ontla.ola.org) While Bill 49 is not a total ban on cell phones, I believe it strikes a balance between government government intervention and the broader issue of public safety and our responsibility to keep our highways safe. The Bill also raises awareness about the larger issue of driver distrac- Northcutt Elliott Funeral Home THOUGHTFULNESS, SERVICE & CONCERN A Family Owned Business, Offering: Traditional Funeral Services Pre-arranged & Prepaid Services - Cremation Arrangements Alternatives to Traditional Funerals. - Out of Town Shipping CORY KUIPERS - PRESIDENT 53 Division Street 905-623-5668 Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 2Z8 OFF STREET PARKING Newcastle Lions Club would like to thank all the participants in our Eighth Annual Walk for Dog Guides. "Walk Your Best Friend for Someone Who Needs One" With your generous support approximately $17,500.00 was sent to The Lions Foundation of Canada in Oakville to assist in the training and support support of guide dogs for the visually impaired, hearing impaired and special needs. Thanks to the businesses that support our flyer each year. Their support helps cover our expenses to operate operate the walk. 100% of the pledges are sent to Lions Foundation of Canada. Thank you to our corporate and local spi Ralston Purina - Canada Bank of Montreal McNamee & Associates McDonald's Restaurant Goodyear Canada Information Management Systems Pet Valu Newcastle Veterinary Clinic Sutton Group - Masoud Vatandoust Property Valuators Durham Farmers' Co-Op Money Concepts Newcastle Golf Course Mike's Place Newcastle IGA Welcome Feeds Reid's Dairy Square Boy Pizza Cooper Fuels Algoma Orchards North Shore Radio Club Newcastle Village Card & Gift EVERYONE PARTICIPATED SO "IIICY W ILL NEVER WALK ALONE" Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, October 23,2002 TOM COX PHOTO Puff-ball mushrooms like this one found locally by Bill Bickle are abundant at this time of the year. Distress Centre volunteers needed tions. While it is already illegal illegal to drive while distracted, this legislation, if approved by the House, gives our police clearer authority to charge anyone using a cell phone irresponsibly. irresponsibly. A 1997 University of Toronto study, led by Donald Redelmeier, found that a driver driver using a cell phone is four times more likely to be in a collision than a non-user. It is my understanding that 22 countries, including Australia, Japan, Israel, Brazil and Portugal, have restricted the use of cell phones in vehicles. A law similar to my cell phone bill went into effect in New York State earlier this year. What we must decide is whether cell phone legislation belongs in Ontario. Central Ontario Women's Institutes Receive $24,000 Culture Minister David Tsubouchi announced that the Central Ontario Women's Institutes will receive $24,000 to create public awareness of the Institutes' activities in the community and to support development of a membership strategy. The grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation was presented at a conférence honouring the Institutes' 100th anniversary. The Central Ontario organization includes 1,000 members in 72 individual individual Institutes, many of which are from communities here in Durham Riding. Women's Institutes are to be commended commended for building healthy communities. communities. Public Information Centre on Highway 407 EA Terms of Reference The Ministry of Transportation, in partnership with Ontario SuperBuild Corporation and in consultation consultation with municipalities, is hosting public meetings on the terms of reference for the Highway 407 East Completion Environmental Assessment. The first series of Public Information Sessions takes place this month, with dates, locations and times published in our local newspapers. There are Public Information Centres on these dates: Thursday, October 24th (Kahn Auction Barns, Pickering); Monday, October 28th (Heydenshore Pavilion, Whitby); Tuesday, October 29th (General Sikorski Hall, Oshawa); and Wednesday, October 30 (Solina Community Community Hall, Clarington). Each Centre is open from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. This is an opportunity to seek further information and have your say. More sessions The next two-part training workshop to become a volunteer volunteer helpline worker with Distress Centre Durham's 24- hour telephone helpline will be: Sunday, Nov. 17 and Sunday, November 24. To be eligible for traiining, you must be 18 years or older and complete a telephone screening interview and a face- to-face regisgtration meeting. You must be able to commit 16 hours per month, including one overnight shift from our central central Oshawa location. We carefully select empa- thetic, non-judgemental, will take place as the EA process continues. Please call my constituency office at 1- 800-661-2433/ 697-1501 or e- mail me at john_otoole@ontla.ola.org if you would like to be on our contact list for Hwy 407 issues. Proposed Legislation Protects Roadside Emergency Workers The Ontario Government introduced legislation last week that, if passed, would better protect police, firefighters firefighters and emergency workers stopped on the shoulder of the province's highways in the course of their duties. It responsible individuals and provide intensive training in active listening, crisis intervention intervention and suicide prevention techniques which are of benefit personally and professionally, not just on the phone lines. If you are interested in joi- ining a vibrant team of volunteers volunteers and staff dedicated to helping callers throughout Durham Region, call us now at 905-723-4461 for an application. application. Training registration is limited limited so please have completed applications submitted as early as possible. requires motorists to slow down and, if possible, move to another lane. The proposed amendment to the Highway Traffic Act calls for traffic approaching emergency vehicles stopped on highways with their red emergency lights activated to slow to a reasonable speed. If there is more than one lane of traffic in the same direction, drivers would be required to move into another lane if traffic traffic flow permits.This legislation legislation will help prevent tragedies among emergency workers bygiving them more protection from traffic while they are Continued page 8 A Qhjfeutem Political Party? Hear from Christian Heritage Party Executive Director, Thomas Sabourin, from Sorel, Quebec. Come see what we're about Friday, October 25th at 8:00 p.m., Orono Town Hall Call 905-363-4256 (or more information