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i | } ) \ CL. E Eo] "i S 3 fs DO -- x BO ia 1X IG fr --. 6 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, June 5, 2001 "Scugog"s Community Newspaper of Choice" PUBLISHER, GEN MGR ... Don Macleod MANAGING EDITOR . Jeff Mitchell OFFICE MANAGER . . . Gayle Stapley ADVERTISING MGR . . .Deb McEachern PRODUCTION MGR . . .Pam Hickey REPORTER ....... . . .. Chris Hall PHONE (905) 985-7383 FAX (905) 985-3708 E-MAIL: editorial@portperrystar.com advertising@portperrystar.com Member Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc. pro i:l DORT PERRY STAR --" PE -- Publications Mail Registration No. 07881 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) towards our mailing costs Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Company Limited, 188 Mary Street - Port Perry, Ontario - LL 187 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 1 Year - $37.45 (includes GST) EDITORIAL POLICY: Opinions expressed by columnists, contributors and letter writers are not necessanly those of The Port Perry Star. Letters must be signed and the telephone number (which will not be published) included. Requests that a name be withheld will be honou brought to the editor's attention. We reserve eri to edit or refuse publication of any material submitted. ADVERTISING POLICY: The publisher is not liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The publisher is not hable subsequent issue or the refund of any monies paid for the advertisement. All daims of ero in publication must be made by Wednesday, noon, prior to the next week's publication, ok if not made, will not be considered. No daim will be allowed for more than one insertion. Member Canadian Community a CNA Newspaper Association Six Months - $19.79 (includes GST) ~ Trudy Empringham, Daryle Wright, Arlene Cheel, Foreign 1 Year - $96.30 (includes GST) freelance Wiiters- Heather McCrae, John B McClelland, Rik Davie red only if there 1s a compelling reason 10 do so. Errors will be corrected if BUSINESS OFFICE: Judy Ashby, Kathy Dudley, Janet Rankin, Lesley West ADVERTISING: Ginni Todd, Cindy Jobin, Gall Morse, Sandra Spiers, Linda Clarke, Lisa Monk, Janet Archer, Malcolm Lennox PRODUCTION: Robert Taylor, Richard Drew for other errors or omissions in connection wath any advertisement in any Editorial Comment There's no place for poison What a lot of huffing and puffing there is going on over smoking these days. In Toronto, smokers are up in arms once again, as anti-smoking laws are introduced that are aimed at causing them to curb their habit in restaurants and bowling alleys and such. They raise that hackneyed old argument about having their rights infringed upon, and howl, as best they can, what with their wheezing and all, that the rest of us - those who don't smoke, and don't wish to inhale the poisonous fumes of those who do - are a bunch of tyrannical monsters who would deny them their simplest of pleasures. | The poor, set-upon smokers insist, between coughing fits, that they're being stigmatized and outcast, a wretched bunch of smelly addicts on the rubbish-strewn sidewalks. My. It does stir the emotions, doesn't it? Well, here's hoping that municipalities keep right on pressing ahead with anti-smoking legislation, and makirig the rules tougher, until it's all but impossible to smoke in areas where people congregate or traverse. And yes, we include bars and pubs in that equation too; there are some of us who'd like to step out for a pint and be able to stay more than half an hour without being nauseated by plumes of exhaled smoke, who wish to gather and socialize without having our lungs assaulted and our clothes rendered foul by the fumes. You see, smokers, it works both ways: folks who don't want to be subjected to smoke have rights, too. If your answer to that is to say, "Hey, just stay away!", we'll be glad to raise a glass and wish you the same pleasant journey when you're told to butt out, or get out. Smoking kills. It's as simple as that. And it affects not just the smoker, but every man, woman, and child around him, too. And that's why tough anti-smoking laws are not only correct, but necessary. 7 a FA Gg oN WELL CREW, T THINK T'S TIME WE VOTED OURSELVES A RAISE! ENS A Oe he LAN . Tei; = RADDA PorT PERRY STAR LET TERS To the Editor: Iam very concerned with the incomplete story when it comes to the Harris government tax incen- tive for private or independent schools that has been presented by numerous politicians and mem- bers of the OSSTF. My choice was to send my son to a private school from Grades | through 8 and my daughter from Grades | through 6, at a tremen- dous financial sacrifice. The total cost of education in a private school is covered by the tuition and donations, and not one penny is received from any level of gov- ernment to cover the costs. We who make the decision to fund our own education for our children in a Christian school sys- tem can not direct our tax dollars to the school of our choice. We pay twice. Don't you think it is fair to start with a $500 tax credit the first year to those who choose to make the financial commitment and save the school boards about $6,800 by not sending your child to their system? The tax rebate is The other side of the debate almost the same as a charitable donation, but is restricted for five years until it reaches the maximum credit of $3,500. This is not a threat to the public system, since they receive our tax dollars already. We choose to send our children to a Christian school for the values and faith teachings that will mold their lives in the direction that is right. It is time that Ontario give some form of financial assistance to the other schools systems like all the other provinces in Canada, and it is time that the politicians and OSSTF gave all the facts on the issue so that the parents can arrive at their own opinion on this new legislation that is long overdue. It unfortunately is too late, my two children are too old for me to see any form of tax credit (one is 23 and the other is 17) but I chose to make the financial commitment at the time and sent them to a Christian school regardless. Larry G. Davidson, Port Perry