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A6 - The Canadian Champion, Friday, JuIy 25, 2008 OPINIONM Né' e CfeQanabîafl 0Eampion Lack of help Tg4E Q3D NEWS 'M'IAt TI4 COmnt L9Tewsae i 1860 for our youth yol skouw REIM>cE ÇA EV?905-878-2341 FAmlnïîo.Advertising Fax: 905-876-2364 Classified:905 875-3300 A bleak picture - wben il cornes to the mental state of Halton's youth - was presented tc Halton Region's bealtb and social services committee recently lÈs bad enough riait one in five Ontanio children struggles witb an emotional, mental or bebavioural disorder, but if you add to, that ibis regions atrocious wait times for services you have a recipe for disaster. The dire predicament of cbildren's mental health services (or lack thereof) was presented 10 the Region by Ron Rodgers, executive director of the Reach Out Centre for Kids, known as ROCK. Rodgers said in his presentation that fewer than 25 per cent of kids witb mental healtb issues are treated. Fewer than 25 per cent? That's not acceptable. Wait limes range anywhere from three montbs for ROCK'S community out-reacb program to a year for ils psy- chology services, occupational therapy and bebaviour man- agement programn. A year's wait? That's not acceptable. ROCK receives funding from the Province, Region and United Way It says il needs at least $1 million more for upgraded salaries and annualized cost of living. You have got to believe that with ibis region's unprece- dented growlh, the demand for such services will also increase at an alarming rate. Oakville Councillor Fred Oliver bas asked staff to0 report back on the creation of a task force to0 deal with youth men- tal bealth issues. "We need 10 bave the guts 10, gel up and do something," be said. We couldn't agree more. Wby wait for a staff report? Wby not create the task force now? The youth of today are our future. I-lton is a prosperous municipabty We can, and sbould, do better. The private sec- t, as well as aIl levels of govemment, must team together te, ensure our youth receive tbe tare tbey deserve. Now tbat would bie acceptable. Readers Write E-mail your letters to redtonal@miltoncanadianchamnpiofl.tm Too many negative stories on front DEAR EDITOR: We seem to bave lost oui small- îown cbarm. Our family recently wenî on vaca- tion and of course wyanîed to take our hometown newspaper with us t0 take our Champion Tracka photo. Unfortunately, for weeks leading up t0 our vacation, ail of the front pages looked more like something fromn the front page of a popular newspaper from, the big city to the east of us. I-ave we bast our smnall-îown cbarm now that ail the news on the front page bas toi be negative sensationalism -t dearli, drugs, car crashes, etc.? It's sad toi see our small-town paper cbanging like tbis when there are so many positive accomplishments being achieved by residents tbat seem toi gel pushed toi the back pages. MICHAEL BARATIO MARTIN STREET V.P. - Group Publisher Neil Oliver General Manager David Harvey Kditor in Chief 3:11 Davis Managing Edîtor Karen Miceli Advertising Director Debbi Koppaîan Production Manager MDm Coles Circulation Manager Charlene Hall Office Manager Sandy Pars %h Canadian Ciampion publWIsed every Wednedy wId Fdida* as a division ofMetnila"MediGrouptd. - PrIlident lmn Olivr Aâmn s&etdo h odiinta nteefto W5p08a85a tM nsprio f te ergsaie oapid the ente.in it eemt vit rexeoSe aflowame tu ffl tue W e e for buttebalae o e deuerentll be aifoaite aabe e, The Wie esee5sth tO ta"ie eadwt*ee ntas ordetlie. CCAB Audited Recognizesi for excellence by pnaOntal os csciy A x a Newssppff Association E§A Caada omssOSty Nespapes5soiato Editor'scesk- Both my car an~d my wallet are running out ofgzas Ils tirne wo take matters inwo our own bands. lts time for a gas revoit. I wonder how a major dedline in gas sales would affect prices at the pumps? We won't know until we ti3t Whlek rm sure Canadians aren't buying as much gas as they used tc sinply because ifs just not as affordable, I dont think we're sending a strong enough message. l'm not lalking about anytbing drastic like trymng 10 gel along without our cars or going out and buying a motorcycle. 1 mesti, seri- ously, arent there a lot of ways to cul back on gas usage? aA big one I see is right in front of us. August is coming soion and its probably the biggest monîli for suminer vacationing. How about for this yesr, try staying close toi home? 1 hear ifs called 'Staytripping.' The GTA and even Milton bave lots of destinations for'fun in the sun. People corne smail trips into one. Sbop where you cati gel from afar to enjny places like Kelso and everything you need, or do without unless ils Ratîlestiake Point conservation a necesslty areas, so why not make tie trip *Perhaps the best way t0 ourselves? Many new residenla s avoid the pumps la by usmng probably bave neyer been wo these ' , public transportation or car places. Lets explore our own poolmng, especially toi gel t0 backyard. work . Driving for employment Msnext suggestion is simple. bas got toi be the biggest gas Don't drive if you donft bave tc - guzzler and difficult to curtail kind of like during a really bad osiaice we ail need our jobs. This winler storm. If ifs not imperativeon svtl 10 go out, just stay home. Plan an - -If everyone look these mesas- event like a barbecue with your uires, even Just for the short neighbours and everone bring something. termi, tbink of the impact they could bave. Hopefully, somebody has a pool. Use modem Tbink of how a situation wbere "they pretly tecbnology toi stay in toucli with friends and luch got ya" could turn in our favour. family instead of travelling. l'm willing toi give il a try. How about you? -Plan ahead with grocery shopping and Karen Miceli can be reached ai other errands so you cati combine sîl your KMiceli@mniltoncanadianchalpiol.coin. The Canadian Champion us a proud media sponsor for: Jingle Bell Fund CANADA DAY OF MILTON TV AUCTION YYMCA T ll __________ ..,d" MILTONd SANTA CLAUS PARADE