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In this country we have much to cele- brate and celebrate we should today. Despite some significant setbacks this year- like mad cow disease and SARS - Canadians have many reasons to hold their heads high and hc justifiably proud of the place they caîl home. The official opening of the Juno Beach Centre in France carlier this month is a shaping the world in which we live. In just 136 years since tbc Fathers of Confederation united the Dominion of Canada under the BNA Act, Canada has tbrived, expanded and welcomed people from every region of the globe to corne joi its ranks. Per capita, we remain an impressive exporter of world cases performers in the realms of art, music, dance, literature and film. Ini the scientific community Canadians have and continue to be at the forefront of innovation. Some of' Canadas contributions to the world in the last two centuries incîtide the Mclntosb apple. undersea cable, Standard Time, the first radio voice message, the gas mask, the snowniobile, the first AC radio tube, the variable pîtcls propeller, pablum, the bush plane, the paint rollcr and the space shutie program's robotic Canadarm. If you caîl yoursclf Canadian, you belong to the nation that put the game of hockey on the map, invented the game of baskethail and remains the only country outside of the United States to have cap- tured the World Series of basebal twice. More tmportantly Canada bas remained a place where freedom of expression is protected, respected and encouraged. July 1 is much more than a national hol- iday or a day to go watch ftreworks dis- plays. t's a day when we should refleet on Canadas past, look forward to its future and feel extremely proud of where we live. O UR READERS WRITE Alcoholjust as dangerous as pot: reader Reader says Halton police chief's letter Dear Editor: This letter is ini response to Halton Regional Police Chief Ean Algar's views on thse issue of decriminalizing marijua- na, wlich were reported recently in The Champion. 1 suppose ChiefîAgar doesn't consider alcohol a drug. Chief Algar, can you jus- tsfy marijuana as a greater threat to soci- ety than alcobol andi tobacco? Michael J. Dea Maine Reader agrees that letter was personally offensive Dear Editor: Wendy Schau is quite correct wben she identifies Peter Berrys personal snipes at Lynn Sbire as improper. In rhetoric, its known as the ad hominem fallacy. The ad hominem argument isn't auto- matically incorrect ini every case, however. For example, botb the fact that Mr. Berry didnt know bis personal comments were out of order and that be's a conservative support the likelibood that be's ignorant. Giad to be of assistance. Richard Hodgins Hoiiy A venue THE Cv2Di4v CI-iA'PIo N Box 248, 191 Main St. F. Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 (905) 878-2341 Editorial Fax: 905-878-4943 Advertising Fax: 905-876-2364 Classified: 905-875-3300 Circulation: 905-878-5947 Ian Oliver Publisher Nei Oliver Associate Publiaher Jili Davis Editor-in-Chief Karen Smith Editor Wendy McNab Advertising Manager Steve Crozier Circulation Manager Teri Casas Office Manager Tim Cotes Production Manager The Canadiein Champion, published every Tuesday and riday ai 191 Main St. t., Miltor, Ont., L9T 4N9 (Box 248), is are ot The Merolard Prnting Publihting & Dstrîlruting [id. group et saburban cempanies which includes: Aax/Picknering News Advertiser, Aliiston Herald/Coenier, Barrie Advance, Boter Enterprise, Brampon Guardiani, Burîingien Pest, Buringion Shopping News, City Parent, City et York Guardian. Clingweed/tNasaga Cerrectien, East Yerk Mirer, Erin Adocate/Ceentry Reutes. Etirticeke Guantian, Flanborreugh Pusi, Famberesgh Reiew, Frener Yung, Georgetown Independent/Acten iree Press, Hatis Business Times, Herenia Business Times, Lindsay Tbis Week, Markham Ecenomîisi & Sun, Midland/Peneiaeguishene Mirrer, Miter Shopping News, Mississauga Business Times, Mississauga News, Napanee Guide, Nasagaweya News, NewmaniietAunena tra-tanner, Nuthumberiand News, North Yenk Mrrrr, Oaieilie Bearer, Oatiite Shoepping News, Olditmees Hockey News, Oitlia Teday, OshawaNitiiby/Clariegton/Pert Perny Tbis Week, Peerborough This Week, Pecton Cnunty Guide, Richimond Hi/ThrnbllNaugban Liberal, Scan- bemeugh Mirrer, StnuftnilleftJxbeidge Tribune. Adveetising is accepted un the condition that, i he eseet et a type- graphical errai, that portionofetn adventising space uccupied by ihe erre- seouse item, tegeiber witb a reasenabie atiesance fnn signature, wil est bu cbanged for but thre balance efthtie aiteetisemeni wiil be paut tee ai tire appli- cable rate. Tbe pubtîshen recenses ther ighi te caingenize advedtisements er decline. The dine CaaadieanGbanpoe e a Reeyeiabie onî* regarding pot law contained incorrect info Dear Editor: Don't worry about tbc ncw tabled marijuana decrîminalî,atîon bill. The personal possession laws lor 30 grams or less of marijuana have been cleared in Ontario, a precedent sooni to spread to ail of Canada. Thse new bill to decriminalize marijuana possession of 15 grams or less will aso, be thrown out under the same court ruling that the past law was cleared, since it dues- u't make medicinal marijuana and its production available for the sick and dying in Canada. Thse new proposai will be voided for not satisfying tic Parker deci- sion of July 2000. As for the misinformation given by I-lton Police Chief Ean Algar, i wiil correct bim on two counts. Number une, your own statistics from youir RCMIP state the average potency of marijuana seized in your country is 5.7 per cent THC. nnt the 15 per cent figure quoted. Sampies of I8 per cent Thai marijuana were recorded back in 1974. You may check your own RCMP documents, pubiisbed in November of 2002. For furtber information, visit: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/crim- int/cuitivation e.htm. Survey resuits show that the THC content of the 3,160 marijuana samples analyzed duning the tbree- year period varies considerably. Aithougis the highest value recorded was 25 per cent, Uic year- iy country-wide averages are much lower: 6 percent for 1996 to 1997, 5.5 percent for 1997 to 1998 and 5.7 percent for 1998 to, 1999. In fact, almost a third of the samples were under 3 per cent. Number two, ini regard to mani- juana bemng uaughty, 1 quote the Canadian Senate Report. Volume One, circa 2002, page 165. "In total. based on ail the data from the research and the testimony beard regarding the effects and conse- quences of cannabis use, the Committee concludes that the state of knowledge supports the belief that. for the vast majority of recre- ationai users, cannabis use presents no barmfui consequences for phys- ical, psychological or social weii- being in eitber the short or the long tenn." Tbey recommended full legaliza- tion, with an age of consent of 16. Now if you had consulted a drug policy seholar while writing about drug policy matters, versus a police officer, you migbt have been prop- erly informed. Matthew Huiett New Jersey E-mail ait your letters to the edîtor to miltoned@haltonsearch.com. Pud by Steve Nease g g U WtÇfi #.i4I~IMT1!Z~%f~# '~Y~ 'Y!.Y»Y* *PW%~*I~t~9' I 6 - The Canadian Championi Tuesday July 1, 2003 SCOMMENT Much to celebrate