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Letters
February 3, 2003
Ottawa Sun - Letters to the Editor
RE "City debate irks chamber chair" (Jan. 28): So Mr. Glastonbury is irked
that Ottawa city council is spending too much time on health issues? Mr.
Glastonbury, how irked do you think people with asthma and chemical
sensitivities feel after they are involuntary exposed to secondhand smoke
and cosmetic pesticides, and then get sick?
The thousands of people in Ottawa with respiratory and immune diseases need
these protective bylaws so that they can work and contribute to our
community. No bylaws mean no work. And no work means no taxes for Mr.
Glastonbury's pet projects.
A city cannot have a healthy economy without a healthy workforce. Asthma is
the No. 1 reason why people miss school and work.The Lung Association
estimates that 30% of Canadians have allergic disease, and that respiratory
diseases cost the Canadian health care system $12.18 billion per year. The
Ottawa Hospital has said that smoking-related illnesses costs area
hospitals nearly $50 million a year.
I wonder how many Ottawa Senators hockey tickets and MRI machines this
money would buy instead? Mr. Glastonbury is a businessman. I'm sure that he
can do the math.
Carmela Graziani
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