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6 - The Canadien Champion, Tuesday, May 15, 2001 <COMMENT lviKr iuir 1iiuuisv '.'umvruiN Make informed choice HEALTH APELM on immunization issue PooRE NWAGON4 Whether to immunize a child is one of the most important deci- sions parents can make regarding the health of their offspning. For many parents, the decision is difficuit. Some feel uncertain about which risk is greater. Parents asked themselves, are the affects of vaccines riskier than the diseases they prevent? This is National Immunization Week and we encourage parents to make an informed decision on the issue. Health officials maintain regular immunization is a child's best shot at health as polio, diphtheria, mumps and measies stili exist and continue to cause disease and death elsewhere in the world. And we have to agree. For many years Canadians haven't feit the impact of these dis- eases, and that can be attributed to immunization. But travel and immigration can import the diseases, leaving any - one who isn't immunized at risk of exposure. Yes, there can be serious side effects to vaccines, but they re rare. Whichever decision you make on the issue, please be sure you carefully weigh the pros and cons. --O UR REA4DERS WRITE SIt appears there's stîli much work to. be done., Mr. Chudleîgh (The following lener was addressed to Halton MPP Ted Chudleiglo and a copy wasflled with The Champion.) Dear Editor: If memory serves correctly, when you made your decision to become 'part of the solution" by way of joining the tcam for "common sense" in government, it was because you wished to make a différence. Albeit, I'm stili a Harris and Cbudleigb fan, bowever, it appears there's stili much to be done. My significant other and 1 just retumned from Cuba where we found courtesy in traffic, no graffiti, no drug problems, sparkling clean streets and beaches. Even in Havana we wcren't accosted by anyone begging, (try going o a downtown Toronto theatre some night), even though the pop- ulation seemo poor. 1 use Bhc word "seems"' as tbey're a joyaux buncb wbo miss no opportunity ta be of service ta the visitor. Back to Canada and inta the fray, instant aggresxiveness and mudeness met us in an ail too familiar smnog-filled environment. Off tbe plane and grab a paper to lind that teacbers don't teach, police don't police, graffiti is Bhe vemacular of an idle youtb, crime is rampant and drugs are ta be bad everywbere. Our doctors, if you can find one, don't answer phone cails, don't make bouse cails, but can be found in Bbe centre *THE CANADIAN CHAMPION Box 248, 191 Main St. E., Te Coahdian Champion, pubistred every luesday and Frday at 191 Main St. E., Milton, Ont., L9T 4N9 (Box 248), ix one of The Metroland Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 Prnting, Publistting & Dstxibutnrg Ltd. group of suburban conrpanies sttich inlujdes AjaidPickenîng News Adertser, Alliston Herald/Courier, Barrie ~ 341 .Avance, Barrys Bay This Weete, Bolten Enterprise, Brampton Guariian. (905)8 7 8 -3 4 1 Bulington Post, Burington Shopping News, City Parent. City of York Guardiaan, Collingwood/Wasaga Cxnnectixn, Exst hork Mirror, rin Edioril Fx: 78-943 Adocae/Couitry Routes.Etobicoe Guardian FlarnborougtrPost, Forexer Huronia Business Tmes, KigstonnThis Weeli, Lndsay This Week, Markham tiuvertising Fax: 876-2364 Ecxnxmist & Son, Midarii/Penetanguishene Mirror, Mton Shopping News, Mississauga Business Times, Mssssauga News, Napaxex Guide, Classified: 875-3300 Nassagaweya News, Newmarket/Aurora tra-Banner, Northumberland News, North York Mîror, Ookville Beaxer, Oakuiie Shopping News, Oidtimers lian Oliver Publisher Hockey News, Oril/a Today. Oshawa/Whitby/Ciarington/Purt Prry This Week, Peterborough This Week, Pctor County Guide, Rchmond Neil Oliver Ase.eeiauee' Pub/lise.e/c Hî/ThorniltNaughan Liberai, Scarborsugh Mirror. Stouttville/UxIbridge Trib une. Wcndy McNab AdIu'ceeing Maunauger Advertîiiig s aiiepted unîthe cundition tsar, inite 5e neît ut a typu- graphîcal errer, tsar prtîout the aîtertisirg space uccupixit Sy the erru- Karen Smith 1deia neous item, together wth a reasonabte alluwance for signature, wil rut 5e Steve Crozier CirculateionîMatnauger chargeit ton. hut the balance ot the aduetisement wilt 5e paît nor i he appli- ca/le rate. The publîsher eserues the nght ru categorize aduertîsements ne Teri Casas 0)/lu-e Meenugelr dectîne Tim Coles ProndieuinManager The Mito Canadian Champion in a Recyciatrie Produxt of several offices - eacb crammed witb a waiting patient on an assembly line. Did I miss tbe nurses? Well, like tbe teachers, "it's about better service and care," sa my friend wbo badly needs an aperatian ta save bis life is re-scbeduled for another week andj a baîf because it's time ta work ta rule. Recently 1 bad a $20.000 painting stolen. The police, wben tbey tinally gat around ta us, reported: "Yes, we believe we know wbo did it, but we're toa busy ta go ta Hamilton and give tbem a polygrapb test." Now, I knaw wbere I can find a police persan quite quickly. They are, in pairs. Tbey are, in pairs, bebînd the cburcb on Derry Road or the tire depauiments or accupying a pletbora of coffee sbops araund and out of town. Oh, and lest I forget, the insurance, you ask? Well, after twa years of stalling, deny- ing, and being unavailable, tbey finally found a gallery that would appraixe Bbc lost piece at $600 and tbat's wbat tbey offered. Our roads bave become a war zone. Have you tricd ta do tbc posted limit anywbere laBly? If you bave I'm surc you'll ague that you're lucky ta bave survivcd Bbc expe- rience. Yau know, Ted, we take great pride in not beitîg Americans, bowever, you don't tind tbix kind of bigbway bebaviaur in tbc United States. Zero tolerance. You know going ta Cuba was a lot like retumning ta tbc '50s for me. No francbises. Courtesy. A good educational and medical systero. Inexpensive transportation. My son juxt retumned from Bali and Singapore. Same tbing. No crime, no drugs, kind cour- eaux people and gas ix 15 cents/litre. As you know, Ted, I ron a small business in Milton, a business that in Bbc '90s cost me my bouse and ail my savings. We bave survived but mucb of tbc dificulty, as I sec it, rests witb govemment. The GST when it came in cut my sales by 50 per cent. Govemnment - municipal, regional, provincial and federal - ail wanting a licc of a very meager pie. For us, because of something called per- ceived value, Bbc taxes (sales added), become part of Bbc asking price and tbere- fore end up eating my profit and coming out af my own pocket. Oh Canada, woundcd and blccding, wc are thee. Peter D. Haight Main Street Have an opinion on a local issue? Have your say. Write a letter to the editor. Fax to 878- 4943. Pud by Steve Nease