PROVINCE RECOGNIZES FLAWS IN LAWS

Generally speaking, the rules of law are in place to ensure the
public's safety. However, the Ontario government this week is taking
action on two fronts to amend existing legislation after determining
current laws are not protecting the public as well as once thought.

On Monday, the provincial government announced it is planning changes
to the Liquor Licence Act-- changes that were prompted by attacks on
women whose drinks had been spiked with date-rape drugs.

Currently, no one in a drinking establishment is allowed to carry
their drink with them into a washroom. However, in the wake of
several attacks on women who had left their drinks unattended and had
knockout substances secretly slipped into those drinks, Gerry
Phillips, Minister of Government Services, announced patrons will no
longer have to leave their drinks while visiting the washroom.

While this simple change, which will be introduced tomorrow
(Thursday), will not take affect for several months, it is a step
towards protecting the public. The new law is not mandatory, but it
is anticipated most bars will apply for the liquor licence change,
which will come without additional costs.

The second, and more significant legislative change, concerns
Ontario's seatbelt law.

In the wake of Saturday's horrifying crash in Caledon in which four
people died, Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield introduced
legislation Monday that will make it mandatory that each person in a
vehicle must wear a seatbelt.

Unbelieveably the existing legislation does not make it illegal for
people to ride in a vehicle that doesn't have enough seatbelts.

Saturday's crash, which involved a minivan and tractor-trailer, saw
10 people riding in the minivan which was equipped with only seven seatbelts.

The new "one-person, one-seatbelt" should receive speedy passage and
close a loophole that should have been closed long ago-- a loophole
that may have resulted in the needless deaths of four people.