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Home My WebLink AboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-12-18, Page 44o Aly a •, a s per 1 2 13 opinion www.lakeshoreadvance.com rilieshore Advance PUBLISHED WEEKLY P.O.BOX 1195 58 Ontario St., North Grand Bend ON NOM 1TO phone: 519-238-5383 fax: 519-238-5131 email: Iakeshore.advance@sunmedia.ca SUN MEDIA A Quebecor Media Company NEIL CLIFFORD PublIsher/Advertising Manager nell.cfftord@sunmedia.ca LYNDA HILLMAN-RAPLEY Editor Iakeshore.advance@sunmedla.ca MARK STEPHEN Advertising Sales mark.stephenesunmedia.ca KATHY YOUNG Typesetting/Classitleds Iakeshore.adsesunmedia.ca www.Iakeshoreadvance.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES ADVANCE: Regular $42.00 ($40.00 + 2 GST) Two year $78.00 (74.30 t 3.72) Publications Mall Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO LAKESHORE ADVANCE CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT P.O.Box 1195 58 Ontario St. North Grand Bend ON NOM 1TO For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns: phone: 519-238-5383 e-mail: Iakeshore.advanceasunmedia ca Changes of address, orders for subscriptions, and undeliverable copies (retum postage guaranteed) are to be sunt to Lakeshore Advance at the address Indicated here. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertise- ment will be paid at the applicable rates. We acknowledge the• financial support ref the Government of Canada through the• Canadian Pet -hulk -al Fund (CPP) for our Publishing nctivIUrs. Canad' Aocn1 Member et the Canadian Community Newspaper Acwx iatkn and the Ontario CmumrnityNmaspip rsAMsociatkn letters to the editor Reader responds to YMCA contract lit': YMCA Contract -,Suncor Wellness Centre 1 have contacted Mayor Weber and Councillor Bonesteel regarding my con- cerns re the recent discussions on the operation of the Forest Wellness Centre operated by the YMCA. 'I he report given to Council by Admin- istration clearly indicates an Ai job being done and recommends contiinuance by this body to administer the Centre. I encourage people to get a copy of Brent Kittmer's excellent report in which he goes in depth into the story of the YMCA involvement. 'Ihe YMCA has been able to provide since the beginning of olx'1 ation of the Centre affordable, wellness programming for all residents of Lambton Shores. At that time NO other agency showed an interest in stepping forward to provide a quality of life "wellness centre" where people could come, get advice and per- sonally design programs to help them deal with specific health and wellness issues and improve the quality of their lives. It was intended to be a not for profit business model. The YMCA recently reached out to partner with the (rand Bend Optimist to offer youth centre services. Being it regional type government we cannot expect our Council to provide the saine Targe facility in each community. We are most fortunate to have the Legacy Centre in'Ihedforl, the main street and beach enhancement in (rand Bend , the Grand Bend I iealth Centre and the Shores Centre in Forest. All are within easy access to I,ttnlbton Shores residents, offering affordable pro- grams, should they get off their duffs and avail themselves of these facilities and their programs. • 'the report by staff clearly indicates the many pluses we have had with our rela- tionship with the YMCA. it appears now having seen the ~access of this partnership private enterprise wishes to step in and operate this program. Will private enterprise provide the sante affordable programming and pr) - vide an Access Policy for low income resi- dents or will we find fees increase to pm - vide high profits to the exclusion of those who benefit most from these programs. We have an organization providing an exceptional service, a financially viable operation which meets the findings of the Master Ilan related to pIY)vi(iing afforda- ble and accessible recreational services. "if it is not broke, don't Rims with it:' Respectfully submitted William Billington Reader looking for a council that can work together lb the Editor, While taking a seat in the gallery for the Decembers 5th i,iunbton Shores Council sleeting one councillor loudly asked rhe if he could wish someone who lived south of Port Franks a "Merry Christmas." I think he meant some one who lived south of the Zoo.1 replied indicating that it was not a problem for nee and he could dc) what he pleased. i lowever,1 was somewhat surprised that he realized that there were citizens of l,iunbton Shores who proudly do live south of Port Franks. So with great enthusiasm he wished me a "Merry (;hristmas': Little did 1 realize that dur- ing the meeting a different Christmas spirit would be demonstrated by some councillors. After the Walkerton tragedy resulting from contaminated drinking water; the Province enacted onerous regulations and responsibilities related to the pro- viding of safe drinking water to municipalities by municipal councils. In fact council numbers can now be held personally liable (fines and even jail) if found responsible for a repetition of any Walkerton type disaster. As a result many Ontario municipalities, including 1,innbton Shores, contracted out water and wastewater services to OMI or other qualified and certified private compa- nies. D.C.S. Report 157-2013 recom- mended that the council continue to contract out the services and to begin negotiations for implementation of a new contract starting )anualy 1, 2015. In the discussion that was at tinges nasty, with voices raised one council number immediately requested that a certain individual be hired as the negotiator. One wanted the council to consider delivering these services locally. One questioned whether or not the expertise was available locally. CONTINUED > PAGE 8 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Lakeshore Advance welcomes letters to the editor. Letter's must include the writer's full name, address, daytime phone number and signature (for verifica- tion. Anonymous letters will not be published. We reserve the right to edit all edi- torial submissions including letters for clarification, style and length. tetters must be signed and be in good taste and follow the laws of libel and slander-. Tis the season to be wary The risks of being a party host 'Ihe holiday season is a special time of year. Families and friends gather, gifts art' exchanged, greetings are given. We all worry about our waist- lines as we flitter from Darty to party eating deca- dent food and drinking holiday cocktails. You may even he planning a holiday party or social gathering of your own, !laving family and friends in your holm' is a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays, but if you are planning on doing so, you should he aware of the legal risks. What happens if one of your guests gets impaired and drives away? V if that guest is involved in a car crash and an '- innocent person is hurt?'Ihe answer is you could get steed. In 2006, the Supreme Court of Canada decided it case called Childs v 1)esorint'atlx. 11) that ('ase, it couple hosted a party in their home on New Year's lave. 'Ihe party was "Bring Your Own Booze" or "IWOB'; One of their guests drank 12 beers, got in his car and drove horse (hunk. On the way, he smashed into another cal; killing one passenger and seriously injuring three others, including a teenage girl who was lt'Inlered it paraplegic. in this case, the party hosts were not found lia- ble by the Supreme Court of Canada. Ihe party hosts had not seen their guest (bink those 12 beers and (lid not know that he was intoxicated. They made the party BYOB and, therefore, only served one glass of champagne. '1he outcome could have been very different, however, if the party hosts had taken a more active role in gen in8 the guest intoxicated or if the party hosts knew that the guest wits intoxicated when ire left the party. Where innocent people are harmed, the courts will always look to hold at -fault persons liable. Impaired (hiving is a reckless act.'1host' who decide to drive drunk should be held responsible and liable for their own actions. However, the focus could shift to a party host if his/her con tic( creates or contributes to the risk of-inlpahr( Ing, 1f you are planning it holiday party this st a son; your must be mindful of these risks. Some tips to ensure your conduct does not attract liability include not serving alcohol to you! guests, collecting all guests' keys at the outset of the party, (laving it designate(! driver, purchasing taxi cab vouchers or planning for overnight guests. So, as you enjoy a drink with your friends and family this holiday season, please remember to protect your guests and the public at large from the risks of impaired driving. Exposure to law- suits as a party host is largely within your control! I.Inlre Shepley and Azin Sainani al't' lau'vers with Oatk'y, Vig,nond one of Ontario's leading personal injury law firms. They eon be reached at 1.888.662.2,1BI or on the web at wwwoalleyvig- mond.com/