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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2005-10-12, Page 6Page 6 October 12, 2005 • The Huron Expositor SEAFORTH 527-0120 EXETER 235-2121 www.teamvincent.com Oil Fired Furnace Repairs & Service • Annual Service • Comprehensive inspections • Full Installations • 24 hour emergency service Paratchek's Maintenance 52.7-0772 Cell 274-5491 "Servicing our community for 27 years." to attend these area churches Opinion Seeing old friends makes Oktoberfest `wunderbar From Page 5 bumping into another face from the past. Some from high school, but even more from pre-school. At a time when I'm transitioning into a semi-independent adult, it really feels good to reminisce with those from the past, just so I can reassure myself I'm not as old as I some- times have to act. Just for those couple of hours, nothing else matters except catching up with old acquain- tances and having a good time. When I think back to Oktoberfest I don't think about the beer, or the delicious beer nuts, or even how many times and how fast I perfected dancing to the chicken song. I think about all the people, who for the most part I had forgotten about, that I was now swinging around with, arms locked together. The person who I ignored, and ignored me all throughout high school is asking me how my new job is going, and I wonder about theirs. I've been to many bars, and this sort of thing doesn't happen there, so if you get the chance next year, take the one hour drive and visit one of Kitchener's 17 festival halls for a night you'll be sure to look back on. Something's special about Oktoberfest, which truly makes it wunderbar. Proposed Adoption Disclosure Bill goes too far, says reader To the Editor, Making Ontario's adoption records more accessible is an admirable endeavour, espe- cially now that the stigma attached to adop- tion, has greatly diminished. However, Bill 183, the proposed Adoption Disclosure Bill for Ontario, is going too far. It blatantly disregards the fact that many adoptees and birth parents have lived their lives, relying in good faith, on assurances of privacy they were given years ago. This bill gives unqualified retroactive access to adoption records to all adoptees once they turn 18 and to all birth parents once an adoptee has turned 19. While a more open and accessible system is desirable for many adoptees and birth parents, the proposed bill does not recognize the rights of those who wish to retain their anonymity or control over the use of their identifying information. Assurances of confidentiality and privacy given to birth mothers in the past are about to be declared null'and void if this bill pass- es. The proponents of this bill also refuse to recognize that some adoptees wish to keep their personally -identifying information con- fidential. Bill 183 offers no choice. Every other jurisdiction in Canada, other than Ontario, offers, at minimum, a disclo- sure veto. Recently, the governments of British Columbia, Alberta, and Newfoundland passed retroactive Adoption Disclosure Bills with automatic Disclosure Vefoes which include opportunity for an option- al written statement that may include any informa- Looking Glass 4 Main `:t.. Seaforth 527-1783 + )cer Mu�cl risc Oikcp c #.1!!f Thcr.t'v" ,i +Ear Candling 4Rr(k( Jenneler McCbnchey rr.rtt.ie f (jilt 1 ernh;atei Available tion that he/she may wish to disclose, such as medical information. They also include rescind options should an individual wish to allow disclosure or contact at a later time. It is apparent that the Ontario provincial government does not respect the privacy rights of their citizens. Bill 183 offers only a contact veto. Disclosure of identifying information will happen whether the individual likes it or not. However, if an individual wishes not to be contacted by the adoptee/birth parent, then he/she may appear before a tribunal. This is where the individual must convince a panel of strangers that he/she has good reason to be left alone. - According to Marilyn Churley, a proponent of the Bill and long time activist for open adoption records, there will be a list of rea- sons that will be used to determine whether or not an individual's plea for privacy is acceptable. Even the adoptee's or birth parent's rea- sons for keeping personal information confi- dential, are not considered to be private in this Bill. If you believe that Ontario's adoption records should be more accessible while ensuring individuals' rights of privacy and confidentiality with an automatic, Disclosure Veto option, I ask that you visit, www.disclosureveto.ca and fill out the online or printable petition and see about other ways in which you can let the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Community and Social Services know that you value privacy rights in this province. Thank you. Joy Cheskes Stratford, ON St. Thomas Anglican Church A Congregation of the Parish of The Hoy Spirit Jarvis St. Seaforth Rector. The Rev'd Sue Malpus. M Div St. James Roman Catholic Church Welcomes you Parish Office 527-1522 14 Victoria Street, Seaforth SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16TM 527-0142 Worship at 9:30 Weekend Masses: Sat 5:15 pm • EVERYONE WELCOME Sun. 11:00 am Parish Council - Sat. Oct. 15 at 11 a.m. Fr. Chris Gillespie Bethel Bible Church Egmondville An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth 527-0982 United Church Sunday School - 9:45 a.m. Sun., Oct., 16th . Sunday Worship - 11:00 a.m. Worship 11:00 a.m. YOUTH ACTIVITIES Wed. 7 p.m. 10:00 a.m. Sunday School B&G CLUB - Wed. 7 p.m. YOUTH DROP IN CENTRE Turkey Supper Wed. 26'^ Wed. OctO StevePastoral Hildebrand anister Open Fri. 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. Lay n Training EVERYONE WELCOME NORTHSIDE UNITED CHURCH First Presbyterian 54 Goderich St. W Church Rev. John Gould Goderich St. W., Seaforth Sunday, October 16th Rev. Henry Huberts Worship 11 a.m. Sunday, October 16`. 141"Anniversary Service Guest Minister Rev. Susan Woodhouse Worship at 11:15 a.m. Sunday School & Nursery during worship Adult & Teen Bible Sunday School & Nursery Provided Discussion 9:30 a.m. Opinion Seeing old friends makes Oktoberfest `wunderbar From Page 5 bumping into another face from the past. Some from high school, but even more from pre-school. At a time when I'm transitioning into a semi-independent adult, it really feels good to reminisce with those from the past, just so I can reassure myself I'm not as old as I some- times have to act. Just for those couple of hours, nothing else matters except catching up with old acquain- tances and having a good time. When I think back to Oktoberfest I don't think about the beer, or the delicious beer nuts, or even how many times and how fast I perfected dancing to the chicken song. I think about all the people, who for the most part I had forgotten about, that I was now swinging around with, arms locked together. The person who I ignored, and ignored me all throughout high school is asking me how my new job is going, and I wonder about theirs. I've been to many bars, and this sort of thing doesn't happen there, so if you get the chance next year, take the one hour drive and visit one of Kitchener's 17 festival halls for a night you'll be sure to look back on. Something's special about Oktoberfest, which truly makes it wunderbar. Proposed Adoption Disclosure Bill goes too far, says reader To the Editor, Making Ontario's adoption records more accessible is an admirable endeavour, espe- cially now that the stigma attached to adop- tion, has greatly diminished. However, Bill 183, the proposed Adoption Disclosure Bill for Ontario, is going too far. It blatantly disregards the fact that many adoptees and birth parents have lived their lives, relying in good faith, on assurances of privacy they were given years ago. This bill gives unqualified retroactive access to adoption records to all adoptees once they turn 18 and to all birth parents once an adoptee has turned 19. While a more open and accessible system is desirable for many adoptees and birth parents, the proposed bill does not recognize the rights of those who wish to retain their anonymity or control over the use of their identifying information. Assurances of confidentiality and privacy given to birth mothers in the past are about to be declared null'and void if this bill pass- es. The proponents of this bill also refuse to recognize that some adoptees wish to keep their personally -identifying information con- fidential. Bill 183 offers no choice. Every other jurisdiction in Canada, other than Ontario, offers, at minimum, a disclo- sure veto. Recently, the governments of British Columbia, Alberta, and Newfoundland passed retroactive Adoption Disclosure Bills with automatic Disclosure Vefoes which include opportunity for an option- al written statement that may include any informa- Looking Glass 4 Main `:t.. Seaforth 527-1783 + )cer Mu�cl risc Oikcp c #.1!!f Thcr.t'v" ,i +Ear Candling 4Rr(k( Jenneler McCbnchey rr.rtt.ie f (jilt 1 ernh;atei Available tion that he/she may wish to disclose, such as medical information. They also include rescind options should an individual wish to allow disclosure or contact at a later time. It is apparent that the Ontario provincial government does not respect the privacy rights of their citizens. Bill 183 offers only a contact veto. Disclosure of identifying information will happen whether the individual likes it or not. However, if an individual wishes not to be contacted by the adoptee/birth parent, then he/she may appear before a tribunal. This is where the individual must convince a panel of strangers that he/she has good reason to be left alone. - According to Marilyn Churley, a proponent of the Bill and long time activist for open adoption records, there will be a list of rea- sons that will be used to determine whether or not an individual's plea for privacy is acceptable. Even the adoptee's or birth parent's rea- sons for keeping personal information confi- dential, are not considered to be private in this Bill. If you believe that Ontario's adoption records should be more accessible while ensuring individuals' rights of privacy and confidentiality with an automatic, Disclosure Veto option, I ask that you visit, www.disclosureveto.ca and fill out the online or printable petition and see about other ways in which you can let the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Community and Social Services know that you value privacy rights in this province. Thank you. Joy Cheskes Stratford, ON