ouo Her ime < Hemr cornce là to have your say Mtndon't waste it à itnresidents have several major opportunîties -over the coming months and they should take full adi- 0 vantage of them. é Those opportunities corne in the form of elections - eat every level of government. A provincial election is set for June 12. It will be fol- Slowed by a municipal election on October 27. £And if that isn't enough, in 2015 we'll go to the ballot Sbox again at the federal level. Voting is a right, an opportunity and a foundation of our democratic country. Yes, it may be tedious to sift through the campaign- ing process, endless photo ops, the jostling for posi- tion, poîîs and empty promises, but casting a ballot is a right, your right. Voting is something so. many in other countries only dream about. Look around you. Are you happy with the lançiscape? Have things bath- ered you? Have decisions made sense? Do you feel we are moving forward positively and productively? Whatever your answers, it's up to you to do the home- work and find the person you believe would best serve your community. With a provincial election thrust upon us - but a long time in the making - we should ail participate in the process. Now's not the time to be apathetic. We're ail far too quick to complain and criticize. Our municipal governments have seen their man- dates extended from the previous three, to four years of power. We had a provincial government that somehow man- aged a $1 billion-plus scandai and a change of pre- mier without an election call. Governments often play the blame game and voters don't understand which level of government looks af- ter which service. With the trio of elections in the offing, there's an op- portunity to learn about the people seeking office and what each level of government is responsible for in the community, province or across Canada. You'll be voting for those who make decisions about things that affect you. Do you think your property taxes are too high? If you've been to a hospital, how was your stay? Are your municipal services lacking? Can you access the services you need? Meet the candidates running for your vote. See if their promises make sense. Ask them to explain their plat- forms. This is your chance to have your say. This is where you can make a difference. This is where you can vote. lt's a privilege. Insidehalton.com Cham pion 555 lndustrial Drive, Milton, Ont L9IT 5E1 905-878-2341 Rural Roots Mohawk Racetrack opened in May, 1963 wath great fanfare. Built on a 432-acre parcel of farmland, the $3-million harnessi racing track featured a five-furlong track, five stables, bunkhouses, administration offices, grandstand and parking for 1,500 cars. A successful passing of a referendumn to, permit the sale of alcohol in 'dry Nassagaweya' was a condition of the Ontario jockey Club choosing this site. The Slst race meet will open next Thursday. Poliell, public must work together to make our roads safest in world Wouldn't it be nice if Canada's roads were the safest in the world? 1According to a Halton Regional ~ Police press re- lease that came , across my desk in early May, that's the aim of Canada Road Karen Micel SafetyWeekMay Managing Editor 13 to 19. The national campaign sees police ser- vices across the country, includling Halton police, take to the streets in force search- ing for impaired drivers, people not wear- ing seatbelts, aggressive drivers, those ignoring posted speed limits and those driving while distracted. And 1 couldn't be happier about the initia- tive - especially when 1 see the alarming number of preventable deaths and inju- ries. In Halton, there have been 49 deaths and 107 serious injuries related to vehicle collisions over the last four years.Thats 49 deaths and 107 serious injuries too many. The lifelong impact on individuals and families can't be captured in statistics:- Motorists - whether a driver or a passen- ger - must choose to exercise safe driv- ing practices. Drive sober and alert. Make sure you're buckled up and children are properly se- cured. Don't let yourself become distract- ed behind the wheel and obey the speed limits and other rules of the road. Police can't keep our roads safe on their own. Karen Miceli can be reached at kmîceli@mil- toncanadianchampion.com oron Twitter @ ChampionEditor. Advertising Fax: 905-876-2364 Classifled: 905-875-3300 Circulation: 905-878-5947 www.mitoncanadianchampion.com V.R - Group Publîsher Neil Oliver Regional General Manager Dald Harvey Director of Advertising Katy Letoumneau Editor in Chie f JiII Davis, Halton Reglon Managing Editor Karen Miceil Production Manager Manuel Garcia Circulation Director Charlene Hall Office Manager Sandy Pare The Canadian Champion, publlshed every 1bursday, Is a division of Metroiand Media Gioup Ltd. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, that portion of the aiivertisiflg space occupied b' the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be chargect for, but the balance of the advertisement wili be paid for at the applicable rate. 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