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The Times Advocate, 2005-08-03, Page 54 Exeter Times—Advocate Wednesday, August 3, 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 casts. 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 Make that change News that the United States is seriously considering an extra month of daylight time is leading Canada to ponder the same question. The U.S. originally planned to add an extra month at each end of the daylight period, although they now only plan to add one month, by starting it three weeks earlier in March and ending it one week later to the first Sunday in November. Because the two countries are so closely linked, Canada has no choice but to look seriously at remaining synchronized with the U.S. Refusing to do so would cause too many headaches with business transactions, airline and train schedules and, less importantly, televi- sion schedules. There are those who still don't even like the idea of pushing the clocks one hour ahead, never mind extend- ing the period, but the positives by far outweigh the neg- atives. Firstly and most obviously, starting daylight time three weeks earlier will help save electricity by extending day- light hours. In fact, this is the reason the U.S. is looking at making the change. In an age where Ontario's elec- tricity grid is stretched to the limit and the province con- sistently imports power from the U.S. and Quebec, Ontario definitely needs to curtail some of its use of elec- tricity. Secondly, extending daylight time makes those dreary winter months a bit brighter by adding an extra hour of darkness in the morning when people are sleeping and by adding an extra hour of daylight in the evenings. Put simply, it makes people happier and that isn't something that should be overlooked during Canada's brutal and depressing winters. But while daylight time makes things brighter for those driving home from work and coming home from school, those against daylight time counter that it's darker for those in the morning, especially kids going to school. The safety issue is a valid point and should be seriously looked at before making the switch. But people are already used to daylight time and extending it by one month isn't a huge change for people to adjust to. Plus, it's not as if it will be pitch black when kids are going to school — there will still be light. The U.S. wants to go ahead with the change in March 2007, giving Canada plenty of time to play catch up. Unfortunately, all 10 provinces will have to agree to go ahead and asking Canada's provinces to agree on any- thing is historically next to impossible. Following the U.S. on this issue is something Canada should do — not simply because the U.S. is doing it, but because it's a good idea. 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: $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. We'll start with Hans Island In an uncharacteristically bold move, the Canadian feds are flexing their feeble muscles of late over an obscure, football -field sized island between Ellesmere Island and Greenland. The island in question? Hans Island, a basically use- less chunk of rock stuck in the north Arctic that both Canada and Denmark are laying claim to. The argument is an old one, but has been rekindled due to Canada's desire to become more vigilant over its sovereignty in the north, as global warming increasingly has an effect on shipping and mining. In short, the remote north repre- sents a security nightmare for Canada and our government is finally trying to do something about it, hence the great Hans Island debate. In 1973, Canada and Denmark drew a border halfway between Ellesmere Island and Greenland and agreed to decide on sovereignty over Hans Island in the future, something that still hasn't happened. But Defence Minister Bill Graham recently visited Hans Island, raising the ire of those tem- peramental Danes, who claim the island is theirs, since it's closer to Greenland than to Ellesmere Island. Canada claims it's ours because the Arctic islands were discovered by the British, which became Canadian lands after Confederation. Both countries have hoisted their own flags on the island, much to the consternation and silent rage of the other. It's nothing short of amusing and entertaining to see two countries such as Canada and Denmark squab- bling over a worthless piece of frozen rock in the mid- dle of the Arctic. Although it's nice to see Canada defend its sovereignty against the imperialistic and overly -aggressive Danes, the argument is ridiculous. Of course, we know the whole situation will be solved in typical Canadian fashion - with a compromise. Canada and Denmark will each end up with half of Hans Island and both countries will claim victory. Predictably Canadian, we won't win or lose. But such a wishy-washy conclusion isn't good enough. I'm tired of compromises. Let's take the whole damn island just for kicks. Let's send a couple of our warships up there, surround the island, erect a giant Canadian flag, open up a Tim Hortons and see what SCOTT NIXON AND ANOTHER THING happens. Really, what will Denmark do? For once, let's just take an island, even if it's not really ours. We might as well take Greenland while we're at it. You can never have too much uninhabitable land. And once we have Hans Island and Greenland firmly in our grips, let's aim higher. Hans Island isn't much of a tourist spot, so I say Hawaii should be next on our list. The Yanks won't mind, and even if they do, what could they possibly do about it? Besides, Hawaii's way out in the middle of the ocean. No one would ever notice. Classified Rates Word ads: $11.00 for 20 words, 20¢ for each addition- al word+ GST. 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The Times -Advocate Team Publisher/Editor Jim Beckett ext. 109 ADVERTISING Deborah Schillemore ext. 112 REPORTERS Scott Nixon ext. 105 Pat Bolen ext. 113 Stephanie Mandziuk ext. 107 CUSTOMER SERVICE Sue Rollings ext. 101 Kim Hern ext. 102 COMPOSITION DEPARTMENT Manager Deb Lord ext. 114/103 Sharlene Young, ext 103 Heather Bilcke ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Christina Scott ext. 108 MargPertschy ext. 111 Heather Clarke