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mi[C a j school board's A ~ - A Metroland Community Newspaper Vol. 142 No. 97 Tuesday, February 19, 2002 44 Pages Protect Your Investient speda n resdentla andrurloperte ;Auto 'umine. »S5 Main St. E. Sý - goum lm $ 1.00 (GST mncluded) Photo by GRAHAM PAINE ,/Future Olymipian Nlne-yer-old Leurs Hoff alreedy heu the look afian Olympie ski champion wtth a toque, glaises and e blg amite, even though she's a beginner on the stops. The young skier enjoyed the brlght sunshine and grenit sktlng Sundey momtng ut Gieni Eden's bunny siope. Scott Early Funeral Home ~ 'personal and caring service"> w I 21 James St., Milton *Large Seating Capacity *Children's Activity Area *Reception Room A Afer-care Services * Cremation * Ample off-ss'reet parking " Prepaid Funerals * Pre-arranged Funerals 905-878-2669 M 4-wo sides butt heads as smoking ban issue debated by committee By RICHARD VIVIAN The Champion Smokers moved a step dloser to the door last week when the Milton Smoking Bylaw Review Committee (SBRC) gathered for die first time. "We met essentially just ta isear tise con- cemns (of local businesses) and ta get peo- ple tisinking about isow we want to do tisis," saiti Councillor Rick Malbocuf, wiso repre- sents town coundcil on tise conrunittee. "As far as 1'mi concemeti, it cames down ta tise cisoice between 100 per cent smoke- free or designated smoking roins. Are tisey (restaurant/bar owners) prepareti ta make tisat investment witis tise knowledge tisat two, tisree years frram now, tise Province coulti decide that designateti smoking roins don't work any more?" Town counicil passeti a motion last fail indicating its intention ta implemrent 100 per cent smoke-free public places by May 3 1. ise SBRC was establisiset ta mitigate tisat procets and form a recammendation ta town counicil regarding tise strictness aftie bylaw - expected to reacis coundcil Marcis 25. Committee members - wisici include representativea from restaurants and bars, Mohsawk Raceway, Royal Canadian Legion, Milton Cisamber of Commerce, Halton Region Health Department, Bingo Country andi Town coundcil - will meet again next week in an attemps ta torm a consensus opinion. Wisile tise healtis department ia re-enforc- ing its cali for a complete ban on public butts, business and charitable intereats want ta take a dloser look at designateti smoking roims. "Having designated smoking roms would be absolutely better for my busi- ness," said Roger Mason, owner of The Dickens Restaurant, adding mûre than haif his patrons smoke. 1I tisink tisere's a happy balance that can be found here andi desig- nateti smoking ronms sounti like it is tise best solution." The Bingo Cisarities Association (BCA) agreed, saying a complete ban would seri- ously isarm its ability to raise funds tisrough its Bingo Country operations. "Ail of our revenues are variable, but aur costs are fixeti. We work an a profit margin of about eigjst patrons on average. There's a ver3' tisin margin tisat we work on," explaineti Mike Sisepherd of the BCA. "It (complete smoking ban) coulti very well mean tisat tise bingo hall would close." But tise healtis deparsment insists as 100 per cent smoke-free ia tise way ta go. That's tise anly way ta protect nos only otiser patrons, but business staff as well, saiti Julie Davis, environmental healts special- s for tise departinent. Comment ........ 6 Business........ 14 Dateline........ 15 Classified ...26-28 r- 5Ua a ai A 'I 121 Lames St., Milton