The Times Advocate, 2005-05-04, Page 44
Exeter Times–Advocate
Wednesday, May 4, 2005
=CNA
Editorial Opinion
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EDITORIAL
Applauding
the Legion
The Exeter Legion's 75th anniversary cele-
brations act as a reminder of all the great
things Legions do across the country.
Mentioning all the positive contributions a
Legion makes to its community would take more
space than is allowed here, but suffice to say it's
important we keep our Legions alive and thriving.
In addition to ensuring younger generations
remember and honour those who gave their lives
for freedom, Legions raise funds for hospitals,
schools and veterans. Through the Legion's
Remembrance Day literary and poster contests,
literacy, art and history are promoted in elemen-
tary schools.
Unfortunately, as time takes its toll, it has
become harder for Canadian Legions to maintain
membership although, as Exeter Legion president
Ron Helm stated during last weekend's 75th
anniversary, new members are still signing up —
three new members were recently inducted in the
Exeter Legion.
More of these types of people are needed to keep
Legions alive.
What's impressive about the members is the
incredible amount of time and energy they spend
volunteering for their various branches. Helm cal-
culated that the 23 past presidents of the Exeter
Legion still alive have given a total of 800 years of
service to the Legion. This type of dedication is as
admirable as it is rare.
Hats off to the Exeter Legion for a great 75
years. Let's make sure the future is just as bright.
Breathing easier
The provincial government has started to make
good on its promise to shut down Ontario's five
pollution -spewing coal-fired generating plants by
2007. The Lakeview plant in Mississauga shut
down over the weekend, snuffing out its massive
and disgusting smoke stacks.
Closing Lakeview, the largest source of air pollu-
tion in the Toronto area, is the equivalent of tak-
ing 500,000 cars off the road, Premier Dalton
McGuinty said last week.
This is significant. While shutting down all five
of the plants won't solve this province's air pollu-
tion woes, it's a start. Now what's needed is more
investment by the provincial and federal govern-
ments into green energies such as wind and solar
power. We lag far behind other First World
nations in this department and have to get our act
together.
But at least we're moving in the right direction.
About the Times -Advocate
SIGNS
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TIMETO
FORCE AN
LELECTiON..,
ANOTHER
LIBERAL
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Protecting our environment
A chlorine spill from the property of an Exeter
business killed thousands of fish (at least 17 dif-
ferent species) along a three mile stretch of the
Ausable River April 18. Initially the media was
told nature would take its course and the fish
would be consumed by predators. Four
days later a cleanup was underway to
remove the biggest fish and bury them
in the river's flood plain.
When word first got out about the spill,
I encountered comments from a small
contingent claiming, "It's no big deal."
From what I witnessed firsthand, it was
a big deal and this small contingent was
speaking before knowing all the facts.
By the time Chris Hutt, senior environ-
mental officer with the Ministry of the
Environment, began his investigation
April 19, the extent of the damage was
becoming very clear. Hutt said this envi-
ronmental disaster was no different from any
other. Farmers are investigated for manure
spills, companies are investigated for chemical
spills and even a small-town business can't be
absolved of responsibility when a situation of this
magnitude occurs.
Gary MacLean, of Macleans Home Hardware,
deserves credit for co-operating with authorities
from the get go. The various agencies that
stepped in had to consider a number of things
like the effects of the spill on water quality, fish
stocks, fish habitat and humans.
The cleanup may be over, but the real
work has just begun. MacLean has been
asked by the Ministry of the Environment
to contract the services of the ABCA to con-
duct an impact assessment remediation
study. Basically it's a game plan for deal-
ing with the aftermath of the spill.
Government ministries will review the plan
before it's implemented. Finally, a report
with conclusions and recommendations will
STEPHANIE
MANDZIUK
CONSIDER
THIS!
have to be produced. And while all of this
is going on, the Ministry of the
Environment is continuing its own investi-
gation.
We are all stewards of the environment
and we must do what we can to protect it.
Hopefully we'll never see another chlorine spill in
the Ausable River and if we do, perhaps some
won't be quick to pass judgment that, "It's no big
deal."
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