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Disposition of the Resolutions » Passed at the FWIO Annual Meeting, November, 1997 By Leila Pettigrew Guelph Area - requesting our government to continue its efforts in seeking an international ban on the production, sale and use of land mines and support efforts to remove such devices wherever laid The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lloyd Axworthy, responded thanking FWlO for their support. He stated that they are striving for the complete elimination of mines, and they will keep fueling the momentum created by the Ottawa Process until the complete elimi- nation of AP mines. - requesting the Minister of Health to sup- port the passing of a Natural Health Products Act which will deal fairly and exclusively with the category of "Natural Health Products” No response as of yet, Grey-Bruce Area c requesting that the appropriate branch of the United Nations take action to focus attention on the plight of women in Afghanistan who are being subjected to outrageously harsh persecution by an ex- tremist group A letter from Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of For» eign Affairs, stated that Canadians do not have direct influence in Afghanistan. How- ever, Foreign Affairs is actively working with the United Nations and with other interna- tional organizations to bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict and to encourage respect for human rights. Canada has been and continues to be one of the major donors supporting relief operations in Afghanistan. Canadian assistance includes food aid and extensive mine clearance training, The request for human rights is of utmost concern to the Canadian Government and will continue to constitute an essential element of Canada's Human Security Agenda. Simcoe Area - requesting the Department of Justice in- troduce legislation to impose severe sentences for adults engaged in any form of pornographic behaviour with those un- cler 18 years of age - requesting the Department of Justice to investigate ways that children be pro- tected from sex and violence on the Internet and to promote the availability and use of inexpensivs television "chips" which enable parents to control and block sex and violence on the home television The Minister of Justice, Anne McLelIen, reâ€" sponded stating that the Criminal Code was 3 Home l. Country, full ’98 amended in 1993 to protect children from the harmful effects of child sexual abuse and sex- ual exploitation The amendments address concerns about the need to curb the flow of child pornography. The maximum sentence for the production, sale. distribution and pos- session of child pornography was increased from two to ten years. The Government of Canada continues to look at ways to strengthen legislation with regards to child pornography and sexual abuse. London Area - requesting that the Ontario Minister of Transportation enact legislation requiring the installation of reflective tape on the sides and rear of all farm equipment ac- cessing roads in Ontario after dusk to increase farm equipment visibility (letters also sent to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and RuralAffairs and the Faith Safety Council) in response, the Minister of Transportation, Tony Clement, stated that currently under the Highway Traffic Act there are a number of provisions designed to address the issues of farm vehicle visibility. ...This government is committed to improving the safety of all road users. I will forward the FWIO's resolution to my staff so that it may be considered In the development of any future changes to farm vehicle requirements under the Highway Traf» fic Ad. - requesting that the Ontario Minister of Transportation enact legislation requiring the installation of a strobe light on all school buses in Ontario to enhance the visibility of the school bus - requesting that the Ontario Minister of Transportation enact legislation requiring each primary grade school bus in Ontario be equipped with a safety bar that makes the young child walk far enough ahead of the bus so that each child may be seen by the school bus driver The reply from the Minister of Transportation, Tony Clement: Strobe lights and safety gates have some merit. however there are no plans to enact legislation requiring their use. Strobe lights have Some value in increasing the visi- bility of school bUSES in inclement weather and bus operators may install amber strobe lights if they wish. It is felt that their large size . and bright chrome yellow colour make buses highly visible. It is also believed that the swing arm would not accomplish its aim. Safety information for students is more important and together with the Ministry of Education a School Bus Safety Response Guide is being produced. The development of safe and eff- cient school bus routes is a priority. After due consideration of these safety devices, neither the Canadian Standards Association nor Transport Canada have chosen to mandate strobe lights or swing gates on new buses. Northwestern Area - petitioning the Government of Ontario to enact legislation that prohibits the posesâ€" sion of a loaded firearm between roads and fences, or if no fences, within eight metres of the travelled portion of all secondary highways and maintained township roads in the Province The reply from the Minister of Natural Reâ€" sources, John Snobelen: From .lanuary to March 1997, the Ministry sought input and advice from hunters, trappers, municipalities, aboriginal groups and the forest and tourism industry with respect to the proposal to regu- late roadside hunting in Northern Ontario. This initiative was brought about by a number of concerns raised about the safety and ethics ofthis activity. In response to the invitation for comment the Ministry received more than eight hundred submissions from interested individuals and organizations. While there was some support for limited regulation of roadside hunting in the north, the majority opposed it at this time, The Ministry will con» tinue to monitor public opinion and consider proposals designed to ensure that hunting remains a safe recreational activity. Cluchnn WI Helps Meet the Needs of Young Families Janet Finder (left), Program Coordinator of the Parent-Chlld Resource Centre in West Elglri Com- munity, was presented a cheque {or $100 by Clachan WI member Christine Johnston (rlghfl and her three sons Bryan, Robert and Michael (H?). Services offered by the Resource Centre Include a Toy Lending lerary, Parent-Child "Drop In" Play Group, Parent Resource Library and Lounge. Pal" enting workshops and a Child Care Registry. It IS hoped that the Resource Centre wlll attractynung families Into the community and keep them by offering these services and a place to meet other young famllles. Clachan Wl supports Finder’s ef- forts with volunteers. Submitted by Hilde Maiden, Clot:th WI, Elgln W85!-