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r- - 12-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, August 7, 2001 Provin cial1 funding will beef up Halton's RIDE program Hatton Regional Police recently receiveci $23,921 frorn Queen's Park to beef up local RIDE (Reduce In ared Dsiving Everywhere) initiatives. Last lbesday, Burington MPP Camn Jackson pre- sented the service with the cheque, which wilihelp cover the cost of ares RIDE spot checks and defray overtime or paid duty enforcement. "M2e govemnient continues to take steps that will "ae Ontario's ighways safer for Al road users," said Mr. Jackson. "MTe police and the government bave worked together to ensure that those who drink and drive receive the full penalty allowable under the law. It's ti me to, end the carnage on our roadways and ensure the safety of allicitizens." In two RIDE bltzes held inMay and lune of this year a total of 6,662 vehicles were stopped. result- ing in 49 roadside screening tests. Fmm these, 19 12-our suspensions andl105 wanngs were issued. Four iquor-related charges and 27 Hlighway Traffic Act were laid. Now in its eleventh year, is nestled on 82 acres of roling country HITHERFIELD is a private co-ed school for students from JK- Grade 8.* With small class sizes, fully quaified and caring staff, and a commitment to viewmng each child as an indivdual, Hitherfield offers a unique educational experience for your child. For an information package, please ad (905) 854-0890, leave a message and one wiUl be sent to you immediately. (Our premises are closed unil midd-August due to major con- struction.) iAmbulaflce donation decision is deferred Needs assessment to be conductedfirst By RICHARD VIVIAN The Champion Donations should be based on need rather tIssu on a first-come, first-serve basis, the Region's health and social serv- ices committee told Regional staff last Tuesday. Committee members deferred a recom- mendation to donate a soon-to-be-replaced ambulance from the Region's ambulance service division to the Oakville-Milton St. JoIsn's Ambulance Brigade. Where is greatest need? Staff were instructed to contact brigades in Burlington and Halton H1ilîs to deter- mine which brigade would benefit most from the donation. "Not to suggest that Oakville doesn't need titis vehicle and tIsat this isn't an appropriate issue, but I'm j ust wondering if tIse same opportunity shouldn't be present- ed to the other brigades?" questioned Burlinglon Councillor Rick Craven. The Oakville-Milton St. John's Ambulance Brigade approached staff with concemns about escalating costs in keeping its 1977 sud 1985 vehicles on tIse road. A staff report prepared for the meeting says the ambulance to be donated - a 1995 Dodge with 18 1,000 kilometres on it - would be more beneficial if kept in use by St. Johsn's Ambulance rather than auc- tioned off to recover a portion of the cost of, its replacement. Previous experience sug- gests tIse ambulance would provide a $2,500 to $3,500 retumn at auction, the report states. The Oakville-Milton St. John's Ambulance brigade operates volunteer first aid posts at about 100 community events each year and are listed as a resource in the Region's emnergency plan. Milton Councilor Richard Malboeuf said he voted to go ahead with thse donation because the Oakville-Milton brigade was the one that camne forward to express its concemns. "If you go up to three people and say .we've got an ambulance to give you - do you need i l?'al three people are gomng to say 'yes.' Now we're stock in thse position of having to make a decision," he said. "Oakville took thse initiative to come for- ward and say they need the ambulance- that's why I support this." Will be re-addressed Committee members are expected to re- address thse issue at next month's meeting, after staff confer with thse Burington and Halton His brigades. The ambulance is scheduled for replace- ment this fait. The Oakville-Milton St. John's Ambulance have also recently received support through the Ontario Trillium Foundation. t was announced July 26 thse organiza- tion will receive $107,600 over thse next three years to deliver training on first aid and life-saving skilts.