HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-01-22, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2003.
Letter to the editor
Apology not good enough
THE EDITOR,
To err is human; to drive impaired
is criminal.
It is difficult not to have some
sympathy for the situation that Mr.
Campbell has created for himself,
given the impact that alcohol has
had in his immediate family.
However, his public apology and
promise to exercise better judgement
in the future, no matter how sincere,
do not justify his decision to remain
as premier.
While the law does not require
Mr. Campbell to resign, we would
urge him to do so, out of respect for
the leadership position he occupies
and in recognition of the seriousness
of his conduct. Mr. Campbell should
step down as premier until he has
dealt with all of the sanctions that
will result from his impending
impaired driving conviction in
Hawaii.
We are deeply troubled by the
attempts to portray Mr. Campbell’s
conduct as a private transgression
He not only committed what woulu
be a federal Criminal Code offence
in Canada, he put at risk every other
user of the road who was unlucky
enough to be in his path. His
conduct was very much public.
Nor is it appropriate to suggest
that this incident resulted from a
minor miscalculation in social
drinking. Contrary to what has been
suggested, Mr. Campbell would
have had to consume a very large
quantity of alcohol to have a blood-
alcohol concentration above the
criminal limit.
Despite 20 years of legislative
reforms and public education
campaigns, millions of Canadians
continue to drink and drive. The
latest survey suggests that an
average of over 23,000 trips are
made by impaired drivers each day
in Canada. By remaining in office,
Mr. Campbell reinforces the all too
prevalent attitude that impaired
driving is not a criminal offence, but
rather is just a transgression of
personal standards of proper
behaviour.
These attitudes and the drinking
and driving patterns that they
generate are not benign. Impaired
driving remains the number one
criminal cause of death in Canada,
claiming approximately three times
as many lives per year as homicide.
Moreover, the situation appears to
be getting worse, not better. In both
2000 and 2001, the percentage of
alcohol-related crash deaths
increased in Canada.
It is all too ironic that Mr.
Campbell's own government has
failed to enact recommended safety
measures that research indicates
would reduce impaired driving. His
government’s inaction stands in
sharp contrast to the positive
reforms that many provinces and
territories have introduced in the
past two years. In addition, despite
the opposition of provincial health
and addictions agencies, Mr.
Campbell's government has pushed
ahead on proposals to increase the
availability of alcohol in British
Columbia and decrease regulatory
controls.
Saying that he is sorry and
remaining in office is simply not
good enough. Only by resigning can
Mr. Campbell demonstrate that he
truly understands the gravity of his
conduct, that he takes responsibility
for his actions and that he is
committed to the standards that he
has demanded of his predec
essors.
He should lead by example and
send an unambiguous message that,
regardless of the person behind the
wheel, impaired driving is criminal,
dangerous and unacceptable.
Mr. Campbell's resignation would
be an essential first step in earning
the forgiveness that he has said he is
seeking.
Professor R. Solomon
Faculty of Law, UWO; and
National Director of Legal Policy,
MADD Canada
A. Murie
National Executive
Director, MADD Canada.
Efforts recognized
When members of the Brussels Agricultural Society
presented the annual awards earned from the fall fair, Grey
Central Public School student Yvonne DeWit received the
Jeanne Ireland Award. The award, presented by Bev
Palmer, goes to the student with the highest points in the
SChOOl Section. (Vicky Bremnerphoto)
Real estate values climbing
Continued from page 1
$381,500. The bulk of (hat
construction took place in Seaforth.
As more activity takes place in the
rural wards the real estate values
have continued to climb. According
to Huron East Treasurer Brad Knight
this has caused the tax burden to
shift from the urban to rural wards in
the municipality.
In a recent report to council
Knight pointed out that Grey,
McKillop and Tuckersmith wards
have seen increases in farmland
assessment from 15 to as much as 28
per cent. The increases in farmland
assessment mean that Grey ward has
overtaken Seaforth in the amount of
general taxation that it generates.
Residential assessment has gone
up by 11 per cent in Brussels
although the overall general tax rate
decreased.
The general tax rate does not
apply to such items as streetlights,
water and sewers, and waste
management, which are area rated to
the areas that benefit.
The Municipal Property
assessment Corporation is currently
working on an annual assessment
cycle which it hopes will eliminate
sudden large sifts in a property's
assessed value.
Country Fare
By Patricia Ham, Auburn School House
cup mark. Mix it very well and pour
over flour and lard mixture.
Combine quickly. Either use right
away, or divide into three portions
and freeze.
Hoping you will
enjoy and use some
of the recipes I will
be giving each
month. They have
all been tested by
me in m\ home,
and will come from
many sources. They are easy family
food that teenagers and parents will
enjoy.
1 have used this pie crust recipe for
years and truly have never been
unhappy with it. I like to put half the
flour and half the lard in the cuisinart
and blend until it looks like meal.
Don’t work it too long or it will be
tough. When all the flour and large
are blended, put in a big bowl.
Put the egg, salt and vinegar in a
cup. Add very cold water to the 1-
NEVER FAIL PIE PASTRY
7 (1.75L) cups pastry flour
1 lb. (500 g) lard
1 large egg
1 tsp. (5 mL) salt
1 tbsp. (15 mL) vinegar
CINNAMON TOAST
6 slices of toast, buttered
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
Combine dry ingredients. Sprinkle
and spread on toast.
Encourage young ones to try this.
They will love it!
The Citizen
2003
PHONE
BOOK
Serving
Auburn
Blyth
Brussels
Clinton
Goderich
Gorrie
Listowel
Wingham
The Citizen's New 2003
Telephone Directory Will Be
Available Soon!
It will have the newest listings in a convenient large type format. In one book
you have the listings that you would need three Bell Canada books to find.
Here is your chance to advertise in a product that stays around 365 days.
Reserve your space today call Alan or Cindy at 523-4792 or 887-9114
or fax us at 523-9140 or 887-9021. Deadline: Feb. 1, 2003.
If you have a new phone number, or if you have just moved into this area,
and your phone number is not included in the new Bell phone book,
please call 523-4792 or 887-9114 and we'll be sure to include your listing.