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Five resolutions were sustained at the annual board meeting in 1986. These resolutions were forwarded to the ministries and agencies to which they had been directed, accompanied by a letter outlining more fully the concerns of our organization. Replies have been received for all of the resolutions. In late November, a letter to Janet Hiepleh (past FWIO Resolutions Convener) was filed from the Minister of Transportation and Communica- tions re a previous resolution. In it the minister, Ed Fulton, reported on the ongoing studies of a School Bus Workers Group. He stated that seat belts in school buses increased the potential for head and neck injuries in a severe frontal collision. He also said the public is not heeding the flashing lights and stop signs on school buses. He said a type of educa- tional program which would effectively reach the public would rectify the problem. In the letter, he also discusses driving lights, loading areas and driving routes, as well as standing on school buses, and recreational trips. He says that school transportation is currently a comparatively safe way to travel. 1984-85 saw a decline in the number of accidents and injuries occurring within school transporta- tion, despite an increase in the number of vehicles and children being transported. ACID RAIN ‘ In response to our resolution re- questing the Ministry of Environment to give top priority and take effective action now to reverse damage to the environment from acid rain, Minister of Environment Jim Bradley reported on the progress being made by the four companies that account for 80 per cent of Ontario’s sulphur dioxide emissions. He reports great progress being made, stating that we need the support of the eastern United States and Washington to get acid rain control from Congress. He thanked us for our e enclosed a copy of Countdown id Rain Program. I have arranged 0 have ‘a copy sent to each area esolutions Convener. To arrange for Charlotte Johnson a speaker to address a meeting, write Acidic Precipitation in Ontario Study Coordination Office, 40 St. Clair Ave, West. 7th Floor, Toronto, M4V 1M2 or phone 416 323-505]. BANNING OF ADVERTISING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ON TV 1N ONTARIO In response to a letter to Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relaâ€" tions Monte Kwinter, he advised us that the Ontario Advisory Committee on Liquor Regulations had travelled to 18 Ontario communities to obtain public input on a variety of issues including lifestyle advertising. A copy of that report was received and I quote, “The Liquor Licence Board of Ontario directives on advertising con- tent require that advertisements be directed to the merits of the brand of alcohol and not to the merits of con sumptionf' They prohibit advertising which suggests that alcohol consump- tion “may be the realization of any lifestylel' One of the most common topics of argument is “lifestyle”. Many viewers perceive that there are many soâ€"called lifestyle alcohol adver- tisements on TV, and that the lifestyle depicted is not usually one of modera- tion and responsibility. At the end of the report seven recommendations were made. Specific standards were set out' and “beverage alcohol adverâ€" tising should be required to be consisâ€" tent with a philosophy of moderation and responsibility in the consumption of alcohol? Mr. Kwinter assured us he will keep our comments in mind when he reviews the findings of the advisory committee. LEGISLATION TO MAKE ALL POP AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTAINERS REFUNDABLE Letters were written to the Ministers of Environment and Health Replies to FWIO Resolutions re this resolution. Minister ril Hcaii h Murray Elston thanked u» lur bringing the matter to his attention, but matters relating to wash: disposal an: within the Jurisdiction iii lhi: Minixir, of Environment. Minister rii thllflfr merit Jim Bradley stated ihar our \J'Jlâ€"l' cerns are well founded srritc man; u! these beverage containcrs end up in the waste stream and as litier. Hr outlined new soft drink Lt'inlalricl' regulations introduced in 193:7 Thl~ ensures that 40 per cent of all 5011 drinks sold in Ontario are told in refillable containers, and that soil drink container manulacturcrs must ensure that 50 per cent of the non refillable soft drink COI’Ilall'le‘f: the} make are recycled by Nm. 1. 1988. The soft drink industry. in CONJUDCIIOH with the ministry and its municipal recycling support program. is financing wide-spread recycling projects across the province in order to meet thi< recycling requirement. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario is working with the ministry as well. trying to develop a recycling program for their containers in communities “here glass recycling has been established. He states, “Please assure your membership that the proliferation of Spent beverage containers is indeed a concern of my ministry and that we are working to remove this problem as an environmental concern." MONITORING THE JUDICLAI. SYSTEM 10 ASSURE A MORE REALISTIC AND CAREFUL ASSESSMENT OF EACH CASE IS MADE BEFORE RULING ON SETTLEMENTS IN LIABILITY CASES A reply from the Ontario Attorney General Ian Scott, stated that he had referred our letter and resolution [0 Mr. Justice Osborne. who is currentl) conducting an inquiry into motor vehicle accident compensation in Ontario. Mr. Justice Osborne noted our concern but would like specific cases identified. He states. "It is only through identifying specific excesses that the root cause of the problem can be identified?‘ To date a reply ha< not been received from the Minister of Justice in Ottawa. continued on page 2] H & C July. August. September 1987 ll