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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-10-05, Page 44 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, October 5, 2005 =CNA Editorial Opinion TIMES ADVOCATE PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511 We acknowledge the Financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs. Jim Beckett Publisher and Editor Deb Lord Production Manager &Published by Metroland Printing, rt Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Metroland 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIAL New program a plus Aplan by the province to require at least 20 minutes of physical activity each day (in addition to physical education classes) by elementary school students is a positive development. The plan is a promise made by Dalton McGuinty in 2003, when he stated 25 per cent of children are overweight and not active enough. That number is shameful. Video games, televi- sion and the Internet has made it too easy for children (and adults) to lead sedentary lives. The result? Obesity and the poor health that comes with it. While the idea to increase physical activity is good on paper, the government needs to ensure schools have sufficient funding. Also, what part of the school day gets cut in place of the physical activity? The problem of child obesity and inactivity isn't a new thing, but children of prior generations did- n't come home from school to sit in front of their computers for hours every night surfing the 'Net or chatting on MSN. The move to increase physical activity in school comes on the heels of the province's ban on junk food and unhealthy drinks from school vending machines, another good idea. While there's no way of stopping students from eating junk and turning into couch potatoes when they get home, schools are at least trying to ensure that isn't the case during school hours. And if parents get on board and promote healthy lifestyles at home, even better. A Toss Dr. Philip Chan's decision to close his family practice at the end of the month and move to Vancouver is a significant loss to the local medical community. While South Huron was already officially med- ically underserviced, the situation is even worse with Chan's departure. A local medical recruitment committee has been busy trying to bring doctors to the area. Unfortunately, competition is fierce as communi- ties across the country find themselves short of doctors. Recruiting a doctor to a rural area can be challenging as large cities offer attractive incentive plans to draw in new doctors. Here's hoping the local team finds a physician (or three) to commit to the area soon. Chan, popu- lar among his patients, won't be easy to replace. About the Times -Advocate CBC and NHL get back to it It must just be a coincidence — the CBC announced Monday morning it had reached a tentative deal with its employees to end the seven -week lockout mere days before the lucrative "Hockey Night In Canada" season is to start. At press time, it wasn't clear when CBC employees would return to work, but you can bet the farm the Corporation will do everything it can to ensure this week's hockey games get on the air without a hitch. Last year's NHL lockout, you see, hit CBC hard. Canada's love for this game is a cash cow for the CBC and, indeed, the network has come to rely on the high ratings and advertising rev- enues it receives each year. The NHL lockout cost the CBC millions and cynics and spinners maintain the CBC locked out its employees as a way to make that money back. The timing of the end of the lockout only makes that theory more believable. But whatever the reason, I'll be glad to have CBC back — life just isn't the same without Peter Mansbridge's chrome dome and Rex Murphy's bizarre pontifications. And speaking of hockey, it remains to be seen whether or not fans will punish the NHL for last year's lockout, although it seems obvious that in Canada arenas will continue to be full or near full and television ratings will be as high as ever. South of the border, though, could be another story. With a horrible television deal and ratings lower than poker, champi- onship bowling and goat racing, hockey interest in the United States was plummeting even before the lockout. After more than a year with no hockey, things have surely only gotten worse. I remember reading about a poll during the NHL lock- out — New Yorkers were asked if they had heard the NHL had locked out its players. Not only did most people not know, half of the respondents didn't even know what the NHL was. And this was New York City, not Phoenix or Nashville. This doesn't bode well. Some NHL arenas in the U.S. might be half empty this year, but not in the Great White North. While most Canadians sided with the owners during the lockout, the players were all but forgiven as soon as a deal was reached. Now let's get on with the games. Worst driver As a rule, I hate reality TV shows and I refuse to watch them. But I have to admit I'm intrigued by the Discovery Channel's "Canada's Worst Driver," which debuted this week. I'm interested in the show because I'm assum- ing the winner will be an Exeter resident. The show features drivers who go too fast, too slow, who play "bumper tag" and who generally just don't watch where they're going. In Exeter, you mostly see the slow drivers — you know, the person who thinks the speed limit on Main Street is 30 km/h. Or here's another favourite if mine — drivers who think the Sanders/William intersec- tion is a four-way stop. I've got news for you, it's not. If you come to an intersection and there's no stop sign, you're allowed to keep on driving. You don't have to stop in bewilderment and try to figure out what to do while the rest of us waste our lives sitting behind you. Just a tip. SCOTT NIXON AND ANOTHER THING Address & Office Hours Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Holidays. Contact Us By Phone or Fax Classified ad & subscription sales (519) 235-1331 24-hour automated attendant (519) 235-1336 Fax number for all departments (519) 235-0766 Subscription Rates One year rate for addresses in Canada: $38+GST Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $70+GST One year rate for addresses outside Canada: $130 Call (519) 235-1331 to order a subscription. Classified Rates Word ads: $11.00 for 20 words, 20¢ for each addition- al word+ GST. Notices (births, deaths, announcements, coming events, memoriams, cards of thanks): $15.00 + GST for up to 50 words, All ads must be pre -paid. The classified ad deadline is Monday at 10 a.m. Display Advertising To place a display ad, (519) 235-1331 weekdays 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. or evenings (519) 235-1336 (leave mes- sage) or toll-free at 1-888-270-1602. Deadline: Fri. 4 p m. E-mail Us Web site: www.southhuron.com TA e-mail addresses consist of the person's first initial and last name followed by @southhuron.com. For example, Jim Beckett's e-mail address is <jbeck- ett@southhuron.com> Our general e-mail address is ads@southhuron.com. The Times -Advocate Team Publisher/Editor Jim Beckett ext. 109 ADVERTISING Deborah Schillemore ext. 112 REPORTERS Scott Nixon ext. 105 Pat Bolen ext. 113 Nina Van Lieshout ext. 107 CUSTOMER SERVICE Sue Rollings ext. 101 Kim Hern ext. 102 COMPOSITION DEPARTMENT Manager Deb Lord ext. 114/103 Heather Bilcke ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Christina Scott ext. 108 Marg Pertschy ext. 111 Heather Clarke