Lakeshore Advance, 2012-05-23, Page 7Wednesday, June 1, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 3
Relaxed restrictions Last stretch for St. Anne's
kick in today
"And if the people, organizers and
municipalities don't want to do any of
chis, they don't have to." Ontario Attorney
ieneral Chris Bentley
QMI A®en y
Ontario has changed its
alcohol laws in a move the
McGuinty Government says
will create jobs and
strengthen the economy.
Announced early Friday, the
relaxed restrictions will kick
in June 1. The new rules will
allow for drinking outside of
beer tents at festivals and
events. "Local communities
are free to customize the
events to their needs," said a
government news release.
Other changes
Include:
• Restaurant and bar
servers can carry drinks on
public sidewalks to licensed
areas such as patios.
• Special events such as
weddings or charity fundraisers
can serve alcohol for an
extra hour until 2 a.m.
• All -Inclusive vacation
packages can now be
sold in Ontario.
• Business owners can give
a complimentary drink to
customers to celebrate a special
occasion like an anniversary.
• Street festivals can allow
people to leave their bar or
restaurant with a drink in hand,
providing specified conditions
are met to ensure public safety
• Boat tours can begin
serving alcohol before the
boat leaves the dock
• Businesses, such as spas
and art galleries, that are not
mainly in the food and alcohol
business will be able to apply
for an SOP to serve alcohol
during a special event
Ontario Attorney General
Chris Bentley emphasized
Friday that it will be up to
cal communities if they
ant to loosen controls.
"It's not one size fits all,"
said Bentley. "And if the peo-
ple, organizers and munici-
palities don't want to do any
of this, they don't have to."
What the province is doing
is giving Ontarians what they
want - more flexibility, he
said.
"We are giving bar and res-
taurant owners a little bit of
additional flexibility. We are
giving some organizers of
special occasions some addi-
tional flexibility. We are
enhancing, strengthening
security and enforcement and
we are saying to everybody
you can enjoy flexibility but
you have to obey the law and
we'll be there if you don't"
Q: What about street par-
ties? Sidewalk barbecues?
Road hockey games with
beerT at the curb?
Again, not likely. "I don't
think we're looking at that,"
Ontario Attorney General
Chris Bentley said. People
can ask, but ... Again, police
and the city would have to
approve of any new or tempo-
rary liquor licence.
Q Wouldn't expanded
licences, allowing people to
walk around beyond tents
with alcohol, lead to more
underage drinking?
Bentley says he doesn't
think so. "The ones who dis-
pense the alcohol will be
doing it in the same way,
requiring the same proof," he
said. While any event would
have the flexibility to allow
wandering, there's more con-
trol at public events.
Q Could a busy strip in a
place like Grand Bend or
Port Stanley get a summer
alcohol licence?
They'd have to apply, but
with input from police and
decide what works. Despite
the additional flexibility
under the vile changes, locals
would still have to decide
what approach works best.
Q The Liberal government
says the changes are all
about Job -creation. For
whom?
By allowing resorts and
hotels to offer all-inclusive
packages, Ontario could open
up all sorts of new tourism
possibilities, the government
says. Forget Cancun: Soon,
you might be able to enjoy
pre -paid drinks at an up -
north lodge.
Mlkenna Lane
Lakeshore Advance
Students have been thankful for this
past week as the May Crazies are
beginning to calm down, and stu-
dents are entering the last stretch of
the 2010-2011 school year. Although
students have recently been scram-
bling to complete all of their QA'I"s to
their full potential, they have also
done an excellent job of staying true
to their many commitments to St.
Anne's demonstrating this years
theme of to "Be Inclusive and
Included".
This past week St. Anne's theme
was displayed as the athletic depart-
ment worked together within their
teams to be successful. St. Anne's is
especially proud of the Girls Rugby
'Team as their skilled and enthusiastic
coach, Mr. Clancy led his team to their
fourth consecutive victory of making
it OFSAA. Congratulations to all of
our Track and Field athletes who also
competed at OFSAA this past week.
This past weekend our grade twelve
students had an opportunity to dress
up and have fun as prom finally
arrived! The theme for this year's
prone was "Seaside Serenade" and on
behalf of St. Anne's we would like to
thank Ms. Fraser and her team of
grade twelve students who organized
such a great night! All of our Gradu-
ates and their families are invited to
our Graduation Mass on Sunday, June
5th at 2:00 p.m. A reception will fol-
low and then all guests will be treated
to a coffee house where many of our
graduates will showcase their talents.
Lyme disease horrid, says sufferer
Chip Martin
QM! Agency
"It's a horrid disease," said Christine
Heller, a 38 -year-old mother of two from
Corunna who contracted Lyme disease
about five years ago.
"It's destroyed my life," she said of the
virus she thinks she contracted right in
Corunna, where "ticks are everywhere"
Misdiagnosed at first because it is
rarely seen by doctors, she said she is still
being treated in Michigan for her
symptoms that keep her from working.
"Fatigue is a huge part of it," she said,
but she also suffers from muscle and
joint pain, intermittent vision and
hearing problems, skin and bladder
control issues as well as heart problems.
"Lyme disease changes every day," she
said, noting symptoms come and go
without warning.
She wants others to take precautions
outdoors to inspect for the poppy -seed -
sized deer ticks that cling to clothing and
then bite. Early diagnosis and treatment
with antibiotics can help, she said.
She has joined groups for Lyme dis-
ease sufferers and suggests information
can be obtained from the Lyme Disease
Association of Ontario (www.lymeon-
tario.org)and the Canadian Lyme Feder-
ations (www.canlyme.com).
LET'S MAKE CANCER HISTORY Caoadiaa
Cancer
For Information about cancer, society
services or to make a donation 1.888.939.3333 e www.cancer.ca
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