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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-09-20, Page 7THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2000. PAGE 7. Steckle calls election a method of recall Their leader As Paul Steckle, MP for Huron- Bruce accepted the nomination as the riding’s election, Liberal federal candidate for the next general election, his supporters responded with a standing ova­ tion. Continued from page 1 I can live up to what people think I can deliver.” He noted that elected officials come into the job with a feeling of confidence that they can make a dif­ ference. “When we find some of those issues are difficult to support it’s hard to know what to do.” While some believe that polling constituents is an effective way of dealing with this, Steckle said that there is a recall method. “It’s called an election. These are the times when you hear what people are say­ ing, at meetings, on the streets.” •Issues, he said, do not always come to a favourable conclusion for constituents, “but I’m only one member,” he said. Steckle took time to thank his staff for their work in helping him to be successful in Ottawa, then talked briefly about his seven years as MP. Though the deficit has been elimi­ nated, Steckle feels that the ’sizeable surplus” should be used to pay down the debt, a view which he maintains is shared by the majority of repre­ sentatives. “The consensus is that it is time that we as a country gave an account of the money and pay back some of the debt.” Along with that, he said, has to come tax reduction. With regards to health care, Steckle echoed the sentiments of another saying that money for this is “never enough, but is going a long way to being enough.” If the government can show Canadians that they are getting the “biggest bang for their buck” then Canadians will respond. “I believe the responsibility of good government is safe streets, an economy in which people wish to invest and a commitment to agricul­ ture. When a nation cannot feed itself and chooses not to do so, that country is in jeopardy.” Though unable to pin-point when a general election might be called, Steckle said he expects to be on the campaign trail within the next 18 months. As to who will be the opposition, Steckle said that he believes Stockwell Day will “prove a worthy opponent.” For that reason he said they need to look at the message coming from the Alliance Party. “When I see the wealthy taxed at the same level as middle class that is an inequality as far as I’m con­ cerned.” Also, Steckle said, he feels certain powers should stay with the federal government. “There are great challenges ahead for us as we go back with new lead­ ers. Canadians need to hold govern­ ment accountable. Don’t apologize when you come to me to say that this is the direction we need to be going.” “I take this responsibility to the people of Huron Bruce seriously.” Letter to the editor Fire chief responds to writer’s concerns THE EDITOR, I am writing in response to the Letter to the Editor that appeared recently in The Citizen regarding injuries during sports events at the Blyth ballpark. Firstly, the issue did go to council and the emergency numbers are to be posted at these sites, so in the event there are emergencies in the future the correct calls can be made. But •further to this the writer of this letter does not appear to know the emer­ gency numbers for the village in which they reside. This should be a wake-up call for all of us. Get to know your emergency numbers - don’t wait for an emergency to be Car Seat Safety Information REAR FACING: birth to 9 - 10 kg. (20 lbs. or up to 66 cm. (26 in.) or according to manufacturer’s instructions. • Car seat must face the rear of the car in the back seat. Never place car seat in the front seat where there is a passenger air bag. • Adjust harness straps and buckles until snug (only one finger fitting between harness and child's body). • Use shoulder and/or lap belt to fast car seat. • Use locking clip of required (see locking clip section). FORWARD FACING: 9-10 kg (20 lbs.) to 18 kg. (40 lbs.) and up to 101 cm. (40 in.) or according to manufacturer’s instructions. • Place car seat in forward facing position in the back seat. • Use shoulder and/or lap belt to fasten car seat. • Use locking clip if required (see locking clip section). • Install’anchor bolt.to the frame of the car. • Attach tether strap to anchor bolt to prevent car seat from being thrown forward in a collision. Not using a tether strap can result in a fine and 2 demerit points. • Tether and harness straps must be doubled- back through strap slides to prevent slipping. BOOSTERS: 18 kg. (40 lbs.) to 27 kg. (60 lbs.) or when the middle of Locking Clip their ears are above the top of the car seat. • Use booster seat in the back seat. • Adjustable lap belt firmly over the hips and pelvis. • Use locking clip if required (see locking clip section). • When the middle of the ears are above the top of the vehicle seat, use shoulder and/or lap belt without the booster. Lap Belt Lap Belt Buckle LOCKING CLIP • Use locking clip if indicated by car owner’s manual. • To prevent loosening of the seat belt, tighten the shoulder and/or lap belt and place locking clip 1/2" (12.7 mm) from latch plate. • Replacement locking clips are sold separately. looking them up. Having said that, 911 is now in place and should resolve that but the caller must still know the location number (house number or 911 num­ ber) and road or street number. Secondly, the writer says that first aid equipment and supplies should be available at the park when an inci­ dent like this happens. Who will maintain and use this equipment? If they want this equipment and sup­ plies on hand they had better hire the trained personnel to work with it. A patient with a potential back or neck injury should only be handled by properly trained personnel - except in cases where the patient is in immediate danger of further injury and there is no other choice. In this case if the umpire demand­ ed that the patient with a possible back or neck injury be moved off the ball field so the game could contin­ ue, he/she had better get their priori­ ties straight. Lastly, the letter indicated that members of the fire department were sitting in the stands and did nothing. This is untrue. Members of the Blyth Fire Department, who are a’l trained medical first responders, were at the park, but in other areas and were unaware of the incident until the fire department was called. Had they been made aware they would have Car seat info available from health unit Continued from page 1 the child has outgrown the car seat. To pick up some important infor­ mation on protecting children, attend the safety session at the firehall, at the north end of Brussels, just off County Rd. 12, Brussels Line. Information can also be obtained from the Health Unit at 482-3416. given .the necessary assistance and the Fire Department First Response team would have been notified immediately and responded. I stress that untrained personnel should not be handling people who may have potential back or neck injuries. The people who live in the village or in any area should know how to contact emergency services at all times and should know loca­ tion numbers etc. to get emergency services to the proper location as quickly as possible. We have a good ambulance serv­ ice in Huron County, but because an ambulance must respond from Clinton, Goderich, Wingham or Seaforth for the Blyth area, the Blyth Fire Department has undertaken to respond as medical first responders to assist in the minutes prior to the ambulance arriving. The system works if people use it properly. Yours sincerely, Paul Josling Fire Chief Blyth & District Fire Department Max is away, and we’re having a sale! 50 50 CHILDREN UNDER 12 YEARS SHOULD BE IN THE BACK SEAT • Shoulder belt must be placed across the chest. Lap belt should be worn low and snug over the hip and pelvic area. • Never place shoulder bell under the arm or behind the back. paRTicipatTion U. www.partijpacfion.com % Toys* Off < * excludes RadioShack Toys % Selected oh Giftware Check it out! Sept. 20-26 only! » OLDFIELD ft?: PRO HARDWARE & RadioShack Turnberry St., Brussels 887-6851