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12-The Canadian Champion, Friday. March 22.2002 /man seriously injured ini fail from truck iTeens successful He was listed in serlous condition as Tos'onto's Sunnybrook Hospital, yestcr- day. The accident i being investgatcd by thse Ontaio Minstry of Labour. in i:ý per cent oi smoke purchases Opein o s OrItro EtryYears Centres A PVI for Pcren+Ad&Thir CMcilrer\a A pLace in our community for parents and their young chiLdren. The new Ontario Early Vears Centre will serve as a gateway for parents to get answers to questions they may have as well as information on available programs and services - including those for children with special needs. The Centre will be staffed by experts, professionals and volunteers. Toll-free 1-866-821-7770/www.ontarioearlyyears.ca By KIM ARNOTT Special to The Champion The vast majority of Halton variety stores and gas bars are refusing 10 sel] cigarettes 10 teens. according to a recent report 10 Halton regional coun- culots. An enforcement prograro that sends 15 10 17-year-olds int stores 10 attempt to pur- chase tobacco resulted in 25 charges bcing laid acrots thc region in 2001. Hired by Uic Halton Regional Hcalth Department, Uic teens made visits 10 341 variety stores, gaa bars, restaurants and grocery stores 10 buy ciga- rettes. They were only succets- ful in 15 pet cent of Uieir attempts, down from 18 per cent in 2000. Groce ry stores easier to buy cigarettes from The program found teens were moat liely 10 be able 10 purchase cigarettes at grocery stores (27 per cent of Uic lime) and least Iikcly aI varicty stores (12 pet cent of the lime). 'Me report, distributed 10 thc Region's health and social services committee Tucsday, showed Uiat variety stores in St. John's-Kilmarnock School Burlington were most likely 10 sel teens tobacco (18 pet cent of the lime), while those in Halton His were least likely (only 4 pet cent of the lime). Milton variety stores sold the teens cigarettes 9 per cent of the lime, while Oakville stores did so, il per cent of the time. Under the Province's Tobacco Control Act, retailers can face a fine of $215 for sell- mg cigarettes 10 anyone under 19 years of agc. A ban on the sale of tobacco can be imposed if retailers are convicted of two or more sales offences withmn a five-year period, where the same person sold the tobacco. There were no prohibitions imposed in Halton in 2001. A systemi of offering untick- eted warnings to retailers seIl- ing tobacco to the health departsnent's 'test' teens was ended last September. Retailers now face charges if caught. "'Me change is 10 provide a greater deterrent t0 local tobac- co retailers in view of the fact that thc smoking rate among young people (grades 7 10 OAC) in Halton remnais at 27 petrcent," sald thc report by Halton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Bob Nosal. For moue Information, cotc Thse admissions office Tel: (519) 648-2183 Emal: àpsxle@sjkschuooLbresýlau.on.ca www.sikschool.Iweslau.on.ca eL-tdffHl 7 c ShWeSaed,5we r~~~~~~- E xce[[enceineducation i - - A 5 l-year-old Woodlsridge man sut- While unloadsng a truck aI the Parkhsll fered serious head injuses during a dcliv- Drive business, tise operator of thse dcliv- ery at Johnson Controla in Milton ery truck fe# off dhe back of t&e vehicle Wednk"y monsing. and was krnoked unconsciau. 917 Nipissing Road, Milton, ON 90587-144Ontario Mon. -Fri., 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Early Years Sat. - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.