Wednesday, April 11, 2007 · Page 4 The Essex Free Press is an independent weekly newspaper, locally owned and operated by The Essex Free Press Limited The Essex Free Press is published every Wednesday from 16 Centre Street, Essex, ON N8M 1N9 Tel.: (519) 776-4268 Fax: (519) 776-4014 Email: essexfreepress@on.aibn.com Website: http://essexfreepress.reinvented.net Publisher: Laurie A. Brett The opinions expressed on this page are those of their original authors and do not necessarily represent the opinion of The Essex Free Press, its Editor or Publisher. E ssex County municipalities are finishing up their budgets for 2007. Councils had some hard decisions to make to bring increases within an acceptable range. Three per cent seems to be a popular benchmark of just what that is. Municipal budgets can't be balanced on what is called general government that is, everything from wages and benefits right down to copy paper and pencils. These costs are fixed, some of them by union contracts, and are not always spent. Positions are allowed to stand vacant and purchases are put off. Municipal budgets are frequently brought into line by the bill gay elimination of infrastructure projects, like the re-paving of Alice Street. This is often the only part of the budget where there are enough dollars allocated in order to make cuts. But the biggest cost to local municipalities is now policing. Those with municipal forces face higher costs than the Ontario Provincial Police, which can shift staffing and specialized units from one locale to another. These are things local forces must pay extra for. In Essex, Coun. Paul Innes noted that the increased cost of policing impacts on much needed capital works. At the same time, Leamington Coun. Rick Atkin pointed out that policing in that municipality takes one out of every three dollars allocated to general government. All this serves to bring forward the issue of which policing option is best for county municipalities. But are we comparing apples to oranges? Are Kingsville, Tecumseh and Lakeshore paying less for OPP service, but not getting as much coverage? I don't know. At some time in the not too distant future, the option of county-wide policing should be revisited. Could a combination of Essex, Leamington, Amherstburg and LaSalle as a single police service make a case for cost and operational efficiency? Or is county-wide OPP inevitable? Times are changing. As one local councillor thundered last year, in effect, dollars are more important than people. As the political boundaries have grown with amalgamation, such shortsighted thinking has gained appeal. Somehow, I don't think that's progress. Town staff perform better when treated properly. Coercion and surly attitudes have no place at any level of government, least of all the one closest to the people. Municipal councillors and staff put in long hours to do their best for ratepayers. The values that served us through good times and bad are a beacon for the future, not to be shoved aside for a few dollars. opinion C hase McEachern Ontarians to gather was an 11-yearand be active. old boy with big Statistics show that dreams when he passed Essex MPP Bruce Crozier using an AED combined away in 2006 from a rare with CPR within the first heart condition, but his with my and my colfew minutes can improve wish to see the use of leagues' efforts to make it survival rates from five per defibrillators in all schools a reality has resulted in a cent to 50 per cent or and hockey arenas lives province-wide initiative to more. on. make AEDs available in Each year; approximateLast year, I introduced public places. ly 6,500 people in Ontario my Private Member's Bill, AEDs save lives. That is suffer from a cardiac arrest "Heart Defibrillator Use why the McGuinty govern- outside hospitals, with 20 Civil Liability Act," and ment and I have been per cent of all cases occurafter hearing Chase's story, working hard to ensure ring outside the home. I renamed my bill in honthey are readily available Clearly this initiative our of him. The bill aims should they be needed. I'm will save lives it worked to promote the installation pleased to announce that for an NHL superstar. and use of Automated soon the arenas and recreDetroit Red Wings External Defibrillators ation centres in the riding defenseman Jiri Fischer (AEDs) by ensuring that of Essex will all have these almost died last November users of AEDs and the life saving devices. while playing in an NHL owners and operators of This will be possible game. He collapsed on the premises in which they are because the McGuinty bench; but thanks to the installed are protected from government is providing quick work of team doctors civil liability. $3 million to the Heart and and a nearby defibrillator, "The Chase McEachern Stroke Foundation of his life was saved. Act" passed second readOntario for the creation of The announcement of ing in April, and it received a `Thousand Defibrillators funding for defibrillators in such a great response that Program' for Ontario's community centres and the Ministry of Health recreational facilities arenas is an important adopted it and integrated it This historic investment investment in healthier into government Bill 171, provides Ontario's commu- communities and I am Health System Improvenities with important lifepleased that the McGuinty ments Act, 2007, which saving assistance. With government is leading the passed second reading just access to this life-saving charge. this week. tool, public facilities will I'm sure Chase would Chase's dream, along be safer places for have been pleased as well. commentary Laurie Brett Publisher & Editor Daniel Schwab Staff Reporter Ron Dunn General Sales Manager Cathy Campbell Accounts & Circulation Sarah Krauter Office Tom Warwick, Lana Garant, Mike Krieger Graphic Design Gary Ramsay, Wilber Brett, Judy Brett, Randy Chedour, Pam Sovran Production Subscriptions Canada: $37.10 U.S.: $100.00 (Prices include GST) Payable in advance to The Essex Free Press Limited. Advertising Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of an error, the portion of the ad occupied by the error, will not be charged for, but the balance will be paid at the usual rate. It is the responsibility of the advertiser to check their ads on first publication, and the publisher accepts no responsibility for errors in multiple insertions. 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