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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2007-04-11, Page 4Page 4 April 11, 2007 • The Huron Expositor Editorial Opinion Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK 1WO Auto sector needs to think green The mayors of southwestern Ontario municipali- ties that rely on the automotive sector for jobs met last week and blasted the federal government for its so-called SUV tax. The recent federal budget . not only had some incentives for people who bought "green" cars, it also included a punitive tax on gas -guzzler • . The federal budget included a rewa for new "green" car buyers of up to $2,000. • tawa is also adding up to $4,000 in tax on new vehicles with fuel usage rated at 13 litres or more per 100 kilo- metres. You can see why the mayors are upset. The North American automakers are flagging and so is the manufacturing sector. The last thing their local economies need is another reason not to buy cars. While this new rebate and tax have auto sector mayors concerned, many environmentalists think the federal and provincial governments aren't going nearly far enough. Ontario is set to unveil a $200 -million plan on cli- mate change within weeks, and environmentalists want it to contain California -style emissions stan- dards and strict regulatory changes. The World Wildlife Fund says greenhouse gas emissions from large vehicles in Ontario have increased over 120 per cent since 1990. Drivers contribute more to the province's overall green- house gas emissions than any other form of indus- try. Provinces like Quebec, Nova Scotia and British Columbia are poised to impose strict vehicle emis- sions standards and since Ontario contributes 28 per cent of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions, we should follow suit. The World Wildlife Fund says harsher taxes just drive up the price of a vehicle. Those addicted to their SUVs will simply pay the extra money, and our air will be none the better. Very strict emissions standards would force North American automakers to start building more efficient, less polluting models — something they should have been working on anyway. So rather than complain to their MPs, maybe mayors should plan a meeting with auto -makers and auto -parts makers and tell them to get with the program. The answer to the auto sector woes lies within. Green is the way to go right now. Tell that to the research and development departments — sooner rather than later. Stratford Beacon Herald Looking clearly at a fuzzy matter of resistance Call me vain or self- deluded but I have been fighting the inevitable for several years now. Over the past few years, the eyes of all my sewing needles have shrunk so much that I'm no longer able to thread them. And, it's been some time by Susan Hundertmark since my arms were long enough to hold the printed word the proper length from my eyes so that I am able to read it with ease. I remember quite clearly that day 20 -plus years ago when my mother came home - filled with indignation - that she needed glasses. "He says I'm getting old," she moaned about her visit with the optometrist. And, while my optometrist was never so rude, I have come to the same milestone - passed it in fact a few years ago regardless of the fact that I'm not accepting it too graceful- ly. Instead of having my first prescription filled, I went out and bought a pair of the "cheater" glasses you can buy at the grocery store - using them furtively and self-consious- ly - and inevitably forgetting them when I need them the most. As a journalist who reads all day every day, it's only the computer and its ability to mag- nify documents that has allowed my vanity to prevail this far. I'm not certain about the source of my resistance to this very common change that happens to everyone sooner or later. In fact, I have friends who couldn't wait to get glasses because they are all so colourful and fashion- able, a pair can be had to match every outfit. Usually, I'm all for aging gracefully. I have not yet succumbed to the societal pressure to dye my hair no matter how the grey begins to become more than an accent to my usually brown hair. And, while I love my yoga workouts, I am usually quite comfortable in my 46 -year-old self - achieving a 20-year-old's belly -baring figure is not the motivation behind any exer- cise I do. If anything, I'm appreciating some of the benefits of aging eyes. Sort of like candlelight, a little bit of fuzzy vision only helps gloss over the possible imperfections in the mirror each morning that younger eyes might not forgive so easily. But, after my last eye exam, I am finally buying a pair of reading glasses. There are still too many good books to read and projects to complete to resist any longer. non Wye by David Lacey I hate barbecue season. 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