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Huron Expositor, 2005-04-13, Page 88 - THE HURON EXPOSITOR, April 13, 2005 News MP outraged by allegations. Steckle worries that all Liberal MPs are being painted as criminals at Gomery inquest By Cheryl Heath News -Record Editor Paul Steckle wants constituents to know he is not a crook. The Huron -Bruce MP says he is outraged by the media's painting of all Liberal MPs with the crooked brush in light of the revelations being made in the ongoing Gomery Inquiry into the so- called Sponsorship Scandal wherein some Quebec -based advertising firms were allegedly paid great sums of cash in return for little or no actual work. "This is a serious issue, there is no doubt about it," says Steckle, adding, however, that it is important to avoid knee-jerk reactions and instead wait until the inquiry is completed before taking action. Steckle points to past media melees that ended up revealing little, if any, wrongdoing, including the recent scandal involving Immigration Minister Judy Sgro who, allegedly, dangled the possibility of citizenship to a businessowner in exchange for free pizza and help on her election campaign. In the end, it seems the businessman's allegations were unfounded. The Huron - Bruce MP also points to the so- called multi- billion dollar HRDC "boondoggle" wherein then HRDC Minister Jane Stewart was under intense media scrutiny. Following an investigation, Canadians learned that about $80,000 had been improperly spent and not $1 billion. "That ($80K) wouldn't buy the coffee for the investigation," he quips, noting inquiries tend to cost millions of dollars, too. Ultimately, says Steckle, it seems the Opposition parties are hounding the Liberals with the hope of drawing blood. "People are feeding on this frenzy right now," says Steckle, adding it will be unfortunate if a spring election is called given that the public's mood seems to suggest few people are anxious to head back to the polls given they were just there in 2004. Steckle, who acknowledges that he has yet to read the reams of copy being published in relation to the Gomery Inquiry, says he does take it personally when Opposition members and the media unfairly malign all Liberal Party members. "My reputation is tarnished because of this issue," he says, adding it is "not fair to be classified with the crooks." And, says Steckle, it is somewhat frustrating to watch the circus surrounding the Gomery Inquiry given that the preponderance of allegations were known about before the last election. He adds the reality for a vast majority of Liberal MPs is they are not familiar with many aspects of the sponsorship scandal itself. "We don't know any more than you," he says. Steckle adds that despite assertions to the contrary, he does not believe the Conservative party, under the leadership of Steven Harper, will force an election as they have been threatening to do by voting against the proposed federal budget. "I think the Conservatives realize there isn't an appetite for an election," he says. As of press time Tuesday, the Bloc Quebecois was threatening to call for a non- confidence vote on the minority government. CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY SOCIETE CANADIENNE DU CANCER County council under pressure to reduce proposed 18 per cent increase By Tim Cumming Signal -Star Editor Huron County Council has yet to pass its 2005 budget, which currently includes an 18 per cent increase but which could be reduced at an upcoming meeting of the Committee of the Whole. Coun. Jim Fergusson (Bluewater) said a municipal `report card' recommended by council is overdue and would help councillors when they make budgetary decisions. Coun. Bernie MacLellan (Huron East) countered that "we certainly need information" but the municipal report card wouldn't necessarily give the kind of information needed to trim the budget. MacLellan said he was not sure what services the people of Huron County are willing to see cut. A motion was carried that the budget outlihe those programs that are mandated by the province and those which are discretionary by the county. A farm organization letter urged the county not to bring in a large tax increase this year as farmers are being hard-hit by closed borders and depressed commodity prices. Past Huron County wardens, along with officials from area municipalities, attended the April 7 meeting of Huron County Council in Goderich. April is Cancer Awareness Month YOUR DOLLARS MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Every April, the Canadian Cancer Society's door-to-door campaign takes place across Canada. Thousandsof volunteers hit the streets during Daffodil Month, knocking on doors to collect funds to support the work of the Society. Please welcome your Canadian Cancer Society volunteers when they knock at your door this April! ONTARIO CANCER STATISTICS Cancer is primarily a disease of older Canadians. Among men, 75% of new cancer cases. and 82% of deaths due to cancer occur among those who are at least 60 years old. Among women 63% of new cases and 78% of cancer deaths occur among those who are at least 60 years old. In 2004, the most frequently diagnosed cancers continue to be breast cancer for women and prostate cancer for men. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women. Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of premature death due to cancer. Overall, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the sec- ond leading cause of death from cancer. An estimated 54,700 new cases of cancer and 25,000 deaths from can- cer will occur in Ontario in 2004. In 2004, an estimated 1,600 men will die of prostate cancer and another 8,000 will be diagnosed with the disease in Ontario. In 2004, an estimated 2,000 women will die of breast cancer and another 7,900 women will be diagnosed with the disease in Ontario. In 2004, an estimated 6,400 people will die of lung cancer and another 7,500 people will be diagnosed with the disease in Ontario. In 2004, an estimated 3,000 people will die of colorectal cancer and another 7,300 people will be diagnosed with the disease in Ontario. The above findings are drawn from the 2004 Canadian Cancer Statistics. These statis- tics are compiled through a collaboration of information provided by the Canadian Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute of Canada, Statistics Canada, Health Canada, provincial/territorial cancer registries and university -based researchers. 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