The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-09-12, Page 144 Times—Advocate Wednesday, September 12, 2007 zkocna =CNA TIMES ADVOCATE Editorial Opinion 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. Canada Jim Beckett — Publisher Deb Lord — Production Manager Scott Nixon — Editor .F CNA 2007 BLUE RIBBON /\ Si ft The Times -Advocate is owned by Metroland Media Group Ltd. Metroland 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Media Group Ltd. Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • 519-235-1331 Doug Rowe -General Manager, Southwestern Ontario Division EDITORIAL Dominant performance ell, that wasn't very dramatic, was it? The so-called sequel to the classic Canada - Russia 1972 Summit Series ended Sunday night without a heroic last minute Paul Henderson - style goal, but instead with a relatively easy 6-1 Canadian victory over Russia. Canada, in stark con- trast to the legendary 1972 series, ended the eight game series undefeated, notching up an impressive seven wins and one tie. And unlike the gut -wrenching, nervous moments in 1972, the outcome of the series was never in question and there were no moments of, "They're better than us." The Russians were simply outplayed, outcoached and out -classed in every aspect of the game. In truth, this series never had a chance of offering up the dramatics of the original series — for one, that series was what we considered our best against their best, even though Bobby Hull (then in the World Hockey Association) wasn't allowed to play and Bobby Orr's wonky knee kept him from hitting the ice. This series featured junior hockey players, lessening the stakes. We didn't know much about Soviet hockey in 1972 and merely assumed we would roll over our oppo- nents. The fact the series took place at the height of the Cold War only added to the us -versus -them aspect of the times, where symbolically the series was held up as not only who was the better hockey nation, but whose way of life was better. It may sound silly now, but that was how we felt. In 2007, that's all gone — the Cold War is but a memory and Russian hockey players have been playing in North America for nearly 20 years. There is no mys- tique anymore. We know what type of hockey the Russians play and, while nothing beats a Canada - Russia hockey game, there are those who would sug- gest a Canada -U.S. game now offers more dramatics. We're also not so insecure about our game anymore. After stumbling badly in the late 1990s with Olympic and World Cup losses and wondering if other hockey nations had overtaken us, Canada has been dominant in the hockey world. We didn't even panic when Canada's men's hockey team failed in the 2006 Olympics. Can't win them all, was our attitude. And lately, we have almost been winning them all. Through this country's dominance at the World Junior tournaments, World Championships and the lat- est tournament against Russia, we have no reason but to call ourselves the greatest hockey nation in the world. The toxic election race begins You couldn't make this up even if you wanted to our provincial political leaders are toxic. You already suspected as much? Well, suspicions were proven correct over the weekend when tests were released showing Progressive Conservative leader John Tory, Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty and New Democratic Party leader Howard Hampton have higher -than -average pollutant levels in their bodies. I don't recall reading anything about the B.S. lev- els in their systems, but given the fact the election race officially kicked off Monday, one can assume those levels are elevated, too, and will only get worse over the next month. Tests on the three leaders show Tory has 44 toxins in his blood, with Hampton (42) and McGuinty (41) close behind. According to the report the toxins found in the leaders' blood are linked to cancer, respiratory ill- nesses, nervous system damage and other health problems. This study could serve as yet another wake-up call that not only are we polluting our planet, we're polluting ourselves. Maybe these tests will motivate the leaders to give more of a focus on the environment. We all have toxins in our blood, although for some reason Tory, Hampton and McGuinty have more toxins than the average in the study by a Toronto- based group called Environmental Defence. No one came out and said it, but I wonder if Tory is ahead in the toxins race because he spent much of last week with his foot in his mouth. Before the election race even began, he was already on the defensive, coming under fire for comments he made stating that it would be OK for faith -based schools receiving public funding by a Progressive Conservative government to teach creationism as well as evolution. That gaff could turn out to be a serious error on Tory's part and he's been under criticism since announcing his government would provide funding to private religious schools if they join the public system, hire accredited teachers and teach the provincial curriculum. Tory later did damage control concerning his cre- ationism comments, but the damage could be per- manent. His first mistake was in opening the Pandora's box that is educational funding and religion — it makes more sense to have one public board rather than have a series of faith -based schools receiving public funds. Like abortion and gay marriage, religion in schools is a divisive issue and Tory may have placed himself on the losing side of the argu- ment concerning education funding. Not a good way to start an election race. But the Tories have plenty of ways to fire back at the Liberals — the controversial health tax, for example, something many Ontario voters still haven't forgiven McGuinty for after he promised not to raise taxes during the last election campaign; and the broken Liberal promise to shut down Ontario's coal-fired generating plants by 2007 (speaking of toxins). We could be in for a fun race — the aforemen- tioned controversies happened before the race offi- cially kicked off. Now that the race has started, let the mudslinging begin. SCOTT NIXON AND ANOTHER THING About the Times -Advocate 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: $42+GST Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $75+GST One year rate for addresses outside Canada:$160+GST Call 519-235-1331 to order a subscription. Classified Rates Word ads: $12 for 20 words, 20(t for each additional word+ GST. Notices (births, announcements, coming events, memoriams, cards of thanks): $15 + 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 message) or toll-free at 1-888-270-1602. Deadline: Fri. 2 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 Jim Beckett ext. 109 ADVERTISING Deborah Schillemore ext. 112 EDITOR Scott Nixon ext. 105 REPORTERS Pat Bolen ext. 113 Nina Van Lieshout ext. 107 CUSTOMER SERVICE Sue Rollings ext. 101 Jennifer Skonieczny ext. 102 PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT Manager Deb Lord ext 103/114 Nikki Cyr .ext. 103 Kelly Gackstetter ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 MargPertschy ext. 108 Heather Clarke ext. 111