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wvlcomos your IN - tors. All submissions must be less than 400 words and must include a daytime telephone number. name and address The Sun-Tribune reserves the ri hl to publish or not publis and to edit for Clar» iry and Space. Letters to the Editor. The Sun-Tribune 6290 Main St. StoufMIle, 0N L4A IG7 is comprised of 100 community publications across Ontario. The York Region Newspaper Group also includes The Liberal. sewing Richmond Hill and Thornhill, Vaughan Citizen,The Era-Banner (Newmarket/Aurora). Markham Economist York Region Media Group community newspapers The Sun-Tribune. published every Thutsday and Saturday. is a division of the Metroland Media Group ltd, a whollyowned subsidiary ofTorstar Corporation. Metroland Sun, Georgina Advocate, York Region Business Times, North of the City, wrkregion.com and York Region Printing. @fi-Tribune Iauified Classified Manager Bonnie Rondeau brondva u ("{vrmg. mm DISTRIBUTION Circulation Supervisor Carrie MacFarlane rnuu‘fa rlaneéi’yrmgrom lmasonOyrmg.com dandrewsé‘yrmgrom mbam'illefilyrmg. mm cnormanfibyrmgrom Manager Dawna Andrews Stouflville Carolyn Norman lETTERS POLICY Fa: Lified: 1-800-743-1 Fax: 905-640-8778 ADVERTISING Retail Manager Mike Banuille EDITORIAL Editor lim Mason jmwmnmeg. mm Pnonucnon Manager Sherry Day MEDIA Marketing Advertising INTERACHVE DISTRIBUTION 905-640-2612 The Sun»Tribun( ADVERTISID 905-640-261 fi-Tribune 053-640-2612 905-640-8778 1:!)I'I‘ORIAI. DVER'I'ISINU ’05~64()A26 l 2 d: l~8()()â€"745-}355 o NI 0N swarm 6290 N Stouflville, 0 www.y0rkre PUBLISHER 1c Ontarians should hope, if the gov- ernment does soften its stance, it doesn't soften it too much. There's nothing wrong with a busiâ€" ness making a profit, but when it's the business of people’s health, profits must be kept within reason. There still may be concessions from Queen's Park following the announce- ment some are calling draconian, but at the heart of it, something must be done to rein in health costs and prescription drugs are a good place to start. One could argue pharmacies will need to put even more focus on customer service as profit margins decrease, not less. While pharmacy chains have launched protests, the hardest hit will be the small, independent drug stores where much of the trade is in pre- scriptions rather than the grooming products, groceries and greeting cards that are staples of the big Chains. Tightened spending is the new reality and pharmacies must adapt as is the rest of the health sector. Combine this with significant gov- ernment debt and ballooning health care costs â€" spurred on by an aging population more prone than people in other places in the world to rely on a prescription drug to cure what ails them â€"â€" and something had to give. Some pharmacies are threatening layoffs in the wake of the announce- ment, saying it will be a significant loss to consumers if pharmacists are no longer able to supply advice and counselling. However, many businesses and agencies are being forced to tighten belts and compete for customers and dollars in tough times. Yes, there has been a storm of pro- test over the proposed changes from the pharmacies, who stand to see their profits decline. But are these protests valid? At the heart of the problem is that Canadians are paying some of the highest generic drug prices in the world. It is costly to governments funding the public plans. It is costly to employers in the private sector where they help fund health plans for their employees. As a taxpayer and someone who relies on our publicly funded health care system, you should be pleased with the announcement by the health minister that the province will cut the cost of generic drugs and eliminate professional service fees paid by drug companies to pharmacies in a bid to save millions annually. Reining in drug costs right move Editorial There is a need politically to follow this standard and choose sites that are truly accessible. Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities 2005 (AODA) is law and under it are standards that are now law. Other standards are being worked on by committees. The customer service standard is law and within this standard are proâ€" visions for picking locations that are fully accessible. Others struggle to reach the ballot box or even be able to see the ballot and know where to place their mark. Elections Ontario officials say they are trying to do better. Let us hope they follow the law as written. In a Toronto byelection a couple of months ago, one determined voter had to leaVe his chair and grapple, with help, down a stairway to cast his ballot. A secret ballot is the most basic of all democratic responsibilities and rights. Why does Canada and Ontario not include people with disabilities in their thinking when making decisions as to voting sites? There should be no barriers to voting in Ontario Bill 231, a series of amendments to the Election Act, is now before the legislature, but it is not enough to take into account the full needs of voters with disabilities. There is reference to some new ways for people with disabilities to vote, but there is not guarantee of a secret ballot. Statistically the number with disabil- ities is a 1:7 ratio. Not one of us knows today if we will fit into this number be it from stroke, accident or worsening health. Let’s act today for tomorrow. '~--JOIN us NEXT \ WEEK WHEN we ‘ CONTINUE WITH ‘ YOUR RECIPE DiRECTIONS row M Letters to the Editor TX} You can read letters, columns and editorials firm: The Sun-Tribune on our website. Go to yorkregioncom Let's not make the voting proce dure one of the barriers. I want to commend the town on its forward thinking and hope that the legislators are as forward thinking when they make the amendments to Bill 231. Daily, people with disabilities face barriers often in getting where they need to go. Our committee will be reviewing each of the sites to assure they meet the needs of people with disabilities. As chairperson of the accessibility advisory committee for Whitchurch- Stouffville, I know every provision is being made to accommodate people with disabilities so each site is acces- sibie. Why nOt accommodate the people with disabilities in the same manner? There are portable polling stations for nursing homes, hospitals and even prisons, so those who cannot get out to a polling station can vote. PUBLISHER Ian R D What do you think of these issues or others? E-mail letters to the editor to jmason@yrmg.com 6290 Main St. Stouffville, 0N. L4A 167 www.mkregomcom HAVE YOUR SAY, STDUFFVILLE Tribune HEATHER ANDREWS WHI'H ,‘lIllRCl'lâ€"STOUFFVILLE 'roudfoot (I) E0110: IN Cum Debora Kelly There’s usually a good dose of Stouffville humour, includ- ing shots at local politicians and neighbouring communities. It's good. clean family entertain- mem. Many Maniacs swear by the experience. They've met good friends through the show, bonded with people they'd never met. Ifyou've never been, it's a great chance to connect with the roots of your community. You'll spot the bank teller in a dance number and your doctor in the chorus. You may even be inclined to sign up for next year’s show. All while entertaining the com- munity and spinning thousands of dollars back into good causes since the 1960s. But Music Mania has survived, albeit with smaller casts and audi- ences Iim Mason is editor of The Sun Tribune. Things change. Fri square dances are no women’s institutes are ken of in the past tense Back in the 19805, it wasn’t unusual for more than 600 people to pack the gym of the old high school for the weekend shows during the three-night run. Everyone knew someone in the show, be they a family member, friend or co-worker. Music Mania was the place to be. Busmzss MANAGER Robert Lazu rko The 50th edition ofthe produc- tion will be staged during the last week of the month at Stouffville District Secondary School. It wasn’t that many years ago that Music Mania tickets were as hard to get as Maple Leaf playoff ducats. The Leafs were in the playoffs back then and Stouffville was a somewhat different place. For the newbies, Music Mania is Whitchurch-Stouffville’s variety show. Entertaining Stoujfuille for 50 springs with Iim Mason Off The Top Friday night no more and are only spo- DIqucmn. ADVERTISING, DISTRIBUTION Nicole Fletcher Dinncmn, Unmons Barry Black